Merry Christmas to all the Diamondbacks Fans!
Merry Christmas Diamondbacks' Fans!! I hope this Christmas and holiday time is extremely fun and filled with love, support, happiness, and merryness.
Christmas with the Diamondbacks is so very exciting, even during a lockout. While we don't know all of the gifts that Mike Hazen will give us this off-season in advance of next season, we do know a bunch!
Let's go through all the gifts that Mike has given us Dbacks' fans so far since the end of what was a very trying season!
The very last move that GM Mike Hazen made right before the lockout was to give us a bonafide All-Star closer at the end of our bullpen. He signed Mark Melancon mere hours before it hit. This was a massive move and the first time he has signed a bullpen arm to more than a 1-year deal.
Another surprising move was his trade for Jordan Luplow. Luplow is a power-hitting corner outfielder who is known for his ability to hit lefties. That's one area the team has struggled with a lot.
Torey Lovullo added some much-needed veteran coaching experience to his bench by hiring former Rangers' manager Jeff Bannister to be his bench coach. It's about time Torey has a different voice in his ear, especially one so beloved like Jeff.
Yet another wonderful gift, perhaps the best to happen to the Diamondbacks in years, was the steal or hire of Brent Strom. He's widely regarded as the best pitching coach in the MLB, if not ever. It's an amazing achievement that he chose to come here. We finally have a pitching coach!
One final gift was the hire of Joe Mather. He's seen as a fast-rising hitting coach that knows his stuff. Many teams and players like him. Joe has a bright future in the league and it's exciting to know he's going to be helping the Diamondbacks' MLB hitters. We definitely need better hitting.
While I know that us Diamondbacks' fans truly don't love the direction the team seemed to be headed last year, have faith. GM Hazen has turned our MILB farm system from a bottom-ten rank to a yearly-top-ten rank. Once again, we are ranked among the top-ten and must rely on our minor league farm until we get an owner who is willing to spend money.
Regardless, there's so much to be thankful for with the Diamondbacks. We have a team! We are gifted by having Ketel Marte, Carson Kelly, and so many more young players who have amazing potential. Times might be tough right now, but the future is immensely bright.
As Always Diamondbacks Fans,
Merry Christmas,
and May the Force be with You...