Maybe we should have known that Miami Marlins‘  owner Jeffery Loria was capable of gutting his team one year after building a brand new ballpark.  You could see the Heath Bell trade coming because all of South Florida wanted him out by season’s end.  Given what transpired on Tuesday, perhaps Arizona Diamondbacks‘  General Manger Kevin Towers could have inquired about the availability of other players during the Bell negotiations namely a certain shortstop.

Jose Reyes in a D’Back uniform would have been nice. Image: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Should the D’Backs have asked for Jose Reyes last month?

From a baseball standpoint, it is a no-brainer.  Shortstop is Arizona’s most pressing positional need and acquiring the dynamic Reyes and sticking him at the top of the lineup would make the offense so much better.  If it took Trevor Bauer and Matt Davidson to get him, I think you would have to swallow hard and go for it.  Reyes turns 30 in June, still plenty of life left in his career and I would think he wouldn’t mind playing half his games in the desert.

Of course, the flip side of this is the money.  Reyes is due to make $10 million in 2013 and $16 million in 2014, certainly not too bad.  But then starting in 2015, the number jumps to $22 million and stays there for the rest of the contract (expires in 2017 with an option for 2018).  That kind of money at the end is prohibitive for a team like the D’Backs.  Another factor to weigh in is Loria also asking Towers to take back Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, two of the other high-priced names sent to the Toronto Blue Jays.  That would have killed any chance of Reyes coming to the D’Backs as the money due to the other two guys would send the payroll soaring.

In the end, who knows if Towers asked about the availability of Reyes.  During his exchanges with Miami’s brass,  he probably knew something was up.  I know the contract is huge for Arizona but I would have asked Reyes to maybe trade in some money for an extra year or two.  Bringing him to the D’Backs would create the excitement that is currently felt in Toronto right now.

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Chase Field. Image: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

If you told me at the beginning of the 2011 season that in August of that year the team was three games over .500 and within striking distance of the N.L. West lead I would have been impressed. But since that 2011 team had a huge breakout season posting 94 wins, it makes the team of 2012 seem like a flop.

Record Notes: With their win(s) on Wednesday the team improved to 64-61 and sits six full games behind the first place Giants. It was the team’s fourth straight four game split and they’re now 1-1-4 in four game series this season. Luckily for the Dbacks as they continue to play .500 ball this late in the season so do the Giants, Dodgers and the Pirates who Arizona trails in the Wild Card by just 4.5 games. Despite all the ups and downs and disappointing games this team has played they still sit right in the thick of things when it all matters- something we should all be excited about.

*The Diamondbacks completed their first ever doubleheader at Chase Field with a sweep on Wednesday on the backs of two rookies, Tyler Skaggs and Wade Miley.

GOOD: Wade Miley was again exceptional on Wednesday night hurling eight shutout innings while allowing just four hits. He capped his night off by striking out the side in the eighth. It was the fifth time this season he worked at least six innings without allowing an earned run and the thirteenth time in twenty-two starts that he’s allowed one or fewer runs. Miley has to be the front runner for Rookie of the Year honors with 14 wins and an ERA of 2.80.

*David Hernandez and J.J. Putz are the most reliable relievers on the team right now and for the first time since April 12^th Putz can say his ERA is under 3.00 (2.95). Putz had an awful April and May but looks like he’ll still finish with 30-35 saves and his ERA will hopefully hover around the 3.00 mark the remainder of the season. Hernandez worked two innings against the Marlins and struck out five hitters. In his last 9 2/3 innings he has recorded 16 strikeouts and a win while posting an ERA of .93.

*Aaron Hill had six hits against the Marlins while knocking in all three runs in game one of the double header with a two run homerun in the first and an RBI single in the third. He now has five multi-hit games in his last seven contests and has not struck out in his last twenty-nine at bats.

*Tyler Skaggs produced quite the debut on Wednesday working into the seventh before giving way to Brad Ziegler after he allowed a two out walk. Gibson said Skaggs could have finished the inning but because it was his debut he wasn’t going to allow him to get the loss after such a great outing. The two runs he allowed came after a leadoff walk in the second to Giancarlo Stanton and then two pitches later served up a long homerun to dead centerfield. He walked five batters in all- something that he may not be so lucky with minimizing damage next time out. Another advantage to relieving Skaggs in the seventh was that he was able to walk off the field to a standing ovation at Chase Field, something he said was the “greatest feeling I’ve ever had.” It was a pretty great moment being at the game and watching him walk towards us as he tipped his cap.

BAD: Trevor Cahill was not as fortunate as Skaggs in his outing on Tuesday despite being spotted a five run lead in the first inning. He was unable to make it out of the sixth as he allowed seven hits and four earned runs on the day. He escaped without the loss as the team headed to extra innings later in the night. Cahill continues to be inconsistent and unimpressive throughout his first season as a Diamondback and has a 9-10 record with an ERA of 3.86.

*Chris Johnson’s playing time has diminished as of late and he recorded just two hits against the Marlins- although they both resulted in an RBI. He is now just 3 for his last 28 with 8 strikeouts since he hammered two homeruns on August 7^th against the Pirates.

UGLY: Joe Saunders posted his worst outing of his career on Monday working just 3 2/3 innings while allowing nine earned runs on twelve hits. He surrendered two homeruns in the outing and has tossed up four dingers in his last two starts where he’s now allowed 14 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Since August 9^th when his ERA was a very respectable 3.52 he has seen his earned run average sky rocket to 4.22 and dropped to 6-10 on the year.

*One-run games. A year ago [when everything went right for the club] the team was a major league best 28-16 but 2012 has been a different story as they’re just 10-18 this season in one-run games. The team blew a five run lead to the Marlins Tuesday to fall in extra innings 6-5 and then won a one run game 3-2 on Wednesday.

NOTES: Jason Kubel gunned down Jose Reyes as he headed to third on Monday to record his 12^th outfield assist tying a club record with Eric Byrnes and Gerardo Parra.

*Ryan Wheeler recorded his first major league multi-hit game on Tuesday finishing 2 for 3.

*With their extra inning loss on Tuesday, the team dropped to 1-2 in such games. The team has played the fewest extra inning games of all major league teams.

*Justin Upton pulled up limping after scoring in the first inning Tuesday and was removed from the game. He sat out both games of the double header but is believed to be ready for action this weekend.

*The homestand continues tonight as the Dbacks take on the San Diego Padres who have won four straight heading to Chase Field. The Dbacks will send their third consecutive rookie starter to the hill in Patrick Corbin who’ll face off with Eric Stults.

Kennedy delivers in DC 5/3/12. Image: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE

After consecutive one run losses in Washington, the Diamondbacks finish off their first trek out East with a stop in New York to face the maddeningly inconsistent Mets. The D-Backs will be calling on rookies Wade Miley and Patrick Corbin to help them finish off this 10 game road trip.  Given the spastic nature of their opponent, anything can happen this weekend at Citi Field.

Let’s start with last Monday when the Mets were completely lifeless, getting swept in a doubleheader by the Giants.  The  Marlins, obviously looking for big things and also the return to New York of Jose Reyes, were hungry for victories.  Instead, the Mets swept the Fish and headed to Colorado looking to build on a 3 game winning streak.  Then came Friday night.  They lost probably the ugliest game you will ever see.   The team gave up 18 runs to the Rockies, 13 of them in the 5th inning and committed an unbelievable 6 errors.  They then won the final two games of that series.  So now you are thinking the Mets can go on a little run.  Guess again.  They get swept in Houston by the improved but still 2011, 105 loss Astros.  They return home against the D-Backs which should make for an entertaining series.

Both teams will be looking to get back on track after a tough first half of the week.  the D-Backs want to head back home with a winning road trip.  It started with much promise in Florida with a little despair in DC.  In a New York minute, they want to make it at least 2 wins against the Mets.

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