Venom Strikes » Daniel Schlereth

D-Backs Ace Ian Kennedy Has Lofty Expectations to Meet in 2012

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:05:02 +0000

April 1, 2011; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Diamondback pitcher Ian Kennedy pitches during the fourth inning of the opening day game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-US PRESSWIRE

Ian Kennedy didn’t exactly come from out of nowhere in 2011. When you’re a top prospect of the Yankees farm system it’s nearly impossible to slip under the radar.

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Diamondbacks Preview: Second Base

Scott Allen — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:39:13 +0000

One position the Arizona Diamondbacks did find some production in last year was second base. However, they still never saw the utmost potential that they were looking for. They started the 2009 season with Felipe Lopez, who right now unfortunately finds himself as a free agent. He was a guy who hit over .300 but really never consistently produced any tangible results for the Dbacks before they shipped him off last summer.

After Lopez left, it was a platoon situation with Ryan Roberts and Augie Ojeda. Augie didn’t quite produce the numbers he did in 2008 and Roberts really showed some strength at the plate, sharing time between the infield and the outfield. In September, the Dbacks traded pitcher Jon Garland to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the up and coming Tony Abreu.

This year at second base look for the recently signed free-agent Kelly Johnson to try and revive his career after finishing his time in Atlanta on a down note. Abreu will get his shot, but the Dbacks would be wise to move him along at a proper pace. Not Daniel Schlereth or Max Scherzer pace.

The infield is loaded and several guys on the active roster can fill in at second base, so don’t be surprised if Johnson or Abreu can’t cut it, the Dbacks would revert back to Roberts or Ojeda, that is of course either one is still with the team coming out of spring training.

Scott Allen

Proposed Three-Way Deal Not Good For Dbacks

Scott Allen — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:27:20 +0000

By now you’ve heard about the proposed on again off again deal involving the Diamondbacks, Tigers, and Yankees. In the deal, the Diamondbacks would get pitchers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy. In return, the Dbacks send pitcher Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth. Please say it ain’t so Josh Byrnes!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I like Jackson. I don’t like the money situation. If the Dbacks get Jackson, they are on the hook for some serious money. So much so, it probably leaves them out of the running for any more free agents in this off-season. What is also does is it rids the Dbacks of Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth, two young promising arms. I realize we still don’t know what the right role for Scherzer is, whether it is as a starter or reliever. However, thius team over the past few years has been known to give up on promising talent early. Brad Penny, Lyle Overbay, Dan Uggla, I could go on forever. I worry the Dbacks hit the panic mode before they know what they have. On the flip side, they tend to hang on to veterans a little too long. You know them too, names like Eric Byrnes, Tony Clark, Doug Slaten, again just to name a few. I will never understand Josh Byrnes and this current organization. At least win or lose, you knew what you were getting when Jerry Colangelo and Steve Garagiola were running the show.

I know what we will get if this deal is pulled off. A couple of decent arms that are going to cost some money that will not be around as long as Scherzer and Schlereth. Ughhh….do I really want Spring Training to come along?

Scott Allen