You may need to take a second, possibly third look at the scorecard this season when you make your way to Chase Field. The Arizona Diamondbacks have more than a few fresh faces as they open the 2019 season.
If Thursday was any indication, it could be a tough year for the Local Nine.
“It’s going to be very difficult,” ESPN MLB Insider Pedro Gomez told Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat when asked if the D-backs could surprise in the National League West this season. “Look, you lose [A.J.] Pollack, you lose [Paul] Goldschmidt, you lose [Patrick] Corbin. Now you lose [Steven] Sousa.”
Get the idea?
“There’s a lot of negative check marks,” Gomez continued. “It’s really hard to play this game over 162 games. It’s probably going to be a very difficult year.”
History says some of the past teams with low expectations proved the so-called experts wrong but the NL West is as tough as ever with the Dodgers, Rockies and new-look Padres all projected to finish ahead of Arizona when the dust settles.
Would a poor season signal the end of General Manager Mike Hazen’s tenure in the desert?
“I think Hazen probably is safe, should be safe,” Gomez said. “If somehow there is a change there, that’s really going to signal some more deeper issues.”
Arizona opens their 2019 home schedule Friday, April 5th against the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
