Diamondbacks expect to build on success of turnaround season

They're not yet playoff contenders, but an impressive 15-game improvement in the standings with a core of talented young players and an aggressive style has the Arizona Diamondbacks believing they are headed in the right direction.

"We're close," general manager Dave Stewart said on Monday.

Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa was a little more measured in his appraisal.

"I think we're close to playing meaningful games in September," La Russa said. "How realistic that is as far as contending to play in October, I think there's pieces that will hopefully fall in place this winter."

A year after finishing with the worst record in Major League Baseball, Arizona made a significant turnaround under first-year manager Chip Hale.

"It's a work in progress ... and I think we made some good progress this year," said Hale.

Arizona finished 79-83, third in the NL West.

Hitting was the team's strong suit. The Diamondbacks' 720 runs scored were second-most in the National League, behind Colorado's 737.

Center fielder A.J. Pollock had a breakout season to join first baseman Paul Goldschmidt as a 1-2 offensive punch. Goldschmidt hit .321, fourth-best in the NL; Pollock was seventh at .315.

La Russa said those two players "could go 0-for-the spring" next year and be assured of their spots in the lineup.

Pretty much every other position will be open to competition.

The Diamondbacks' weakness was pitching, particularly the starters, who often failed to go deep into games.

"We were running our bullpen out there almost every day and the guys weren't rested, which is a recipe for bad performance," said Stewart.

The Diamondbacks fired pitching coach Mike Harkey on Monday.

"We felt like a new voice in that spot was needed," Hale said.

A new local television deal will bring considerable revenue to the franchise next season, but Stewart downplayed the idea of acquiring a high-priced free-agent pitcher over the winter.

"I'm not sure what we want to do in that," he said. "It really comes back to doing a strong evaluation of what we have here.

"If Patrick Corbin one year from now is healthy, and we did get him through this season healthy, throwing the ball well, showing great signs of the pitcher he was in the past, then I'm not too sure there is a necessity to go out and get that guy.

"But if it makes sense ... then we'll do what's necessary. I guess that would be the best way to put it."

Four Arizona pitchers were coming off Tommy John surgery: Corbin, Daniel Hudson, Matt Reynolds and David Hernandez.

"We wanted to get to the end of the season with those guys pitching competitively, but being careful so that we ended the season with each of those guys being healthy, excited and ready to get into a full winter of working out with a clear feeling about coming into 2016," La Russa said.

Of particular concern was Hudson, who came back from two operations. He had a strong year, hitting the high 90s (mph) regularly in a relief role. In 64 relief appearances, he went 4-3 with a 3.86 ERA.

La Russa said it has not been determined whether Hudson will return to the rotation or stay in the bullpen next season: "We just know that he's a terrific asset."

Meanwhile, sidearm pitcher Brad Ziegler took over the closer role from the inconsistent Addison Reed early in the season and finished with 30 saves and a sparkling 1.84 ERA.

"Ziegler, while not the strikeout pitcher your typical closer is, the bottom line is he gets results," Stewart said.

Surrounded by teammates, Arizona Diamondbacks' Phil Gosselin (center) celebrates his walk off game-winning single in the 11th inning against the Colorado Rockies on Sept 29 in Phoenix. Norm Hall / Getty Images Via AFP

(China Daily 10/07/2015 page11)