The Arizona Diamondbacks offseason leading up to the 2020 season had a lot of buzz. After an over performing 2019 season where the D-backs finished above .500 when they weren’t expected to, the organization went out and made some moves.
General Manager Mike Hazen acquired World Series Champion and MVP Madison Bumgarner, and got a gold glove outfield by bringing in Starling Marte and Kole Calhoun. Add in the young pieces of Carson Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Luke Weaver, and there was reason for slight optimism heading into 2020.
However, after a season unlike many other, all that chatter about the snakes seemed to be put to the way side. The 2020 season was anything from anticipated, as the D-backs rapidly underperformed and took multiple steps backwards in a 60-game season.
The team went 25-35, finishing dead last in the NL West, and it left people wondering when the season was going to end almost as quickly as it began. Longtime D-backs Archie Bradley, Robbie Ray, and Andrew Chafin were shipped off at the trade deadline, as well as Marte while the D-backs played the sellers in trade talks.
Gallen was stellar, going 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched, but other than that, the rest of the year could be viewed as a wash.
ESPN’s Pedro Gomez joined the Brad Cesmat Show on Monday to discuss the lackluster year for the team and the lack of excitement surrounding the club after the season.
“I don’t know that there is anything interesting with the D-backs,” Gomez said. “That’s a big part of the problem. They are very bland and there’s not a lot of talk on the D-backs in town. I don’t think I’m alone…I would say there’s a lot of apathy. You and I have had this conversation before. There’s nothing worst for a franchise than apathy because if people are throwing stones or barbs at you, at least they care. But when there’s no talk, that is worst because that means they don’t care.”
