Hardball Retrospective – The “Original” 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks

by DerekBain

February 10, 2015

In “Hardball Retrospective: Evaluating Scouting and Development Outcomes for the Modern-Era Franchises”, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original team. Consequently, Dave Winfield is listed on the Padres roster for the duration of his career while the Athletics claim Rickey Henderson and the Twins declare Rod Carew. I calculated revised standings for every season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

Expanding on my research for the book, the following series of articles will reveal the finest single-season rosters for every Major League organization based on overall rankings in OWAR and OWS along with the general managers and scouting directors that constructed the teams. “Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital form on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay and KoboBooks – other eBook formats coming soon. Additional information and a discussion forum are available at TuataraSoftware.com.

Terminology

OWAR – Wins Above Replacement for players on “original” teams

OWS – Win Shares for players on “original” teams

OPW% – Pythagorean Won-Loss record for the “original” teams

Assessment

The 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks OWAR: 37.3 OWS: 274 OPW%: .542

Josh Byrnes and Joe Garagiola, Jr. procured all but one of the ballplayers on the best “Original” Diamondbacks roster in team history – the 2013 crew. Thirty-nine of the 50 players entered the organization via the Amateur Draft with the remaining 11 signed as amateur free agents. Byrnes’ selections focused on the pitching staff while Garagiola placed a distinct emphasis on offense. Based on the revised standings the “Original” 2013 Diamondbacks secured the National League West division title with an 88-74 record .

Max Scherzer (21-3, 2.90) anchored the starting staff and earned the Cy Young Award with a dazzling campaign. Arizona’s first selection in the 2006 Amateur Draft fashioned a League-best WHIP of 0.970, whiffed 240 batsmen in 214.1 innings pitched and merited his first All-Star appearance. Portsider Jorge De La Rosa compiled a 16-6 record along with an ERA of 3.49. Fellow left-hander Wade Miley (10-10, 3.55) eclipsed 200 innings pitched in his sophomore season after placing runner-up in the 2012 NL ROY balloting. Jarrod Parker (12-8, 3.97) yielded admirable results from the fourth slot in the rotation. The D-Backs bullpen featured a capable collection of late-inning relievers, none of which assumed the reins of the closer’s role.

ROTATION	POS	WAR	WS
Max Scherzer	SP	6.47	19.96
Jorge De La Rosa	SP	4.06	13.45
Wade Miley	SP	1.59	11.13
Jarrod Parker	SP	1.58	9.37
Ross Ohlendorf	SP	0.98	4.31
BULLPEN	POS	WAR	WS
Sergio Santos	RP	0.84	3.97
Javier Lopez	RP	0.76	4.56
Ryan Cook	RP	0.72	7.32
Josh Collmenter	RP	0.36	6.56
Bryan Shaw	RP	0.29	6.8
Charles Brewer	RP	0.04	0.4
Tommy Layne	RP	-0.06	0.28
Mike Belfiore	RP	-0.14	0
Trevor Bauer	SP	-0.15	0.15
Evan Scribner	RP	-0.19	0.78
Daniel Stange	RP	-0.23	0
Jose Valverde	RP	-0.25	0.94
Chris Capuano	SP	-0.48	1.99
Barry Enright	SP	-0.65	0
Edgar Gonzalez	RP	-0.69	0
Eury De La Rosa	RP	-0.73	0
Brett Anderson	SP	-0.85	0
Hector Ambriz	RP	-0.86	0

Paul Goldschmidt (.302/36/125) finished second in the 2013 NL MVP voting. Arizona’s eighth-round pick in the 2009 Amateur Draft topped the Senior Circuit in home runs, RBI and SLG (.551). Justin Upton jacked 27 long balls while outfield mate Carlos Gonzalez swatted 26 big-flies. Dan Uggla contributed 22 taters but struggled mightily at the dish, batting a mere .179 while striking out in nearly 40 percent of his at-bats. Miguel Montero experienced an off-year and Carlos Quentin endured an injury-plagued season for the second straight campaign. Stephen Drew tied a career-high with 67 RBI while A.J. Pollock laced 28 two-base knocks in his first full season. Gerardo Parra collected his second Gold Glove and supplied some pop as the fourth outfielder.

LINEUP	POS	WAR	WS
A. J. Pollock	CF	1.51	13.64
Stephen Drew	SS	3.48	16.78
Carlos Gonzalez	LF	2.37	17.34
Paul Goldschmidt	1B	6.38	32.05
Justin Upton	RF/LF	3.75	23.27
Dan Uggla	2B	2.25	12.14
Miguel Montero	C	1.59	10.93
Carlos Quentin	DH/LF	1.56	13.46
Matt Davidson	3B	0.24	2.38
BENCH	POS	WAR	WS
Gerardo Parra	RF	1.11	16.67
Chris Owings	SS	0.27	2.18
Zach Walters	3B	0.1	0.56
John Hester	C	0.03	0.11
Lyle Overbay	1B	0	8.59
Adam Eaton	LF	0	5.2
Jake Elmore	SS	-0.03	1.66
Mark Reynolds	1B	-0.06	10.77
Chris Snyder	C	-0.14	0.46
Emilio Bonifacio	2B	-0.16	8.56
Pedro Ciriaco	SS	-0.16	2.65
Marc Krauss	LF	-0.18	1.46
Alfredo Marte	LF	-0.2	0.19
Collin Cowgill	LF	-0.22	1.65
Ryan Wheeler	1B	-0.32	0.06
Alberto Gonzalez	3B	-0.33	0.98
Chad Tracy	3B	-0.46	0.37
Scott Hairston	LF	-0.47	1.99

The “Original” 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks roster

Player	POS	WAR	WS	General Manager	Scouting Director
Max Scherzer	SP	6.47	19.96	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Paul Goldschmidt	1B	6.38	32.05	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Jorge De La Rosa	SP	4.06	13.45	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Justin Upton	LF	3.75	23.27	Joe Garagiola
Stephen Drew	SS	3.48	16.78	Joe Garagiola
Carlos Gonzalez	LF	2.37	17.34	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Dan Uggla	2B	2.25	12.14	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Miguel Montero	C	1.59	10.93	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Wade Miley	SP	1.59	11.13	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Jarrod Parker	SP	1.58	9.37	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Carlos Quentin	LF	1.56	13.46	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
A. J. Pollock	CF	1.51	13.64	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Gerardo Parra	RF	1.11	16.67	Joe Garagiola
Ross Ohlendorf	SP	0.98	4.31	Joe Garagiola
Sergio Santos	RP	0.84	3.97	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Javier Lopez	RP	0.76	4.56	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Ryan Cook	RP	0.72	7.32	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Josh Collmenter	RP	0.36	6.56	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Bryan Shaw	RP	0.29	6.8	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Chris Owings	SS	0.27	2.18	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Matt Davidson	3B	0.24	2.38	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Zach Walters	3B	0.1	0.56	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Charles Brewer	RP	0.04	0.4	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
John Hester	C	0.03	0.11	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Lyle Overbay	1B	0	8.59	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Adam Eaton	LF	0	5.2	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Jake Elmore	SS	-0.03	1.66	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Mark Reynolds	1B	-0.06	10.77	Joe Garagiola
Tommy Layne	RP	-0.06	0.28	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Chris Snyder	C	-0.14	0.46	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Mike Belfiore	RP	-0.14	0	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Trevor Bauer	SP	-0.15	0.15	Kevin Towers	Mike Bell
Emilio Bonifacio	2B	-0.16	8.56	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Pedro Ciriaco	SS	-0.16	2.65	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Marc Krauss	LF	-0.18	1.46	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Evan Scribner	RP	-0.19	0.78	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Alfredo Marte	LF	-0.2	0.19	Josh Byrnes
Collin Cowgill	LF	-0.22	1.65	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Daniel Stange	RP	-0.23	0	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Jose Valverde	RP	-0.25	0.94	Joe Garagiola
Ryan Wheeler	1B	-0.32	0.06	Josh Byrnes	Mike Berger
Alberto Gonzalez	3B	-0.33	0.98	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Chad Tracy	3B	-0.46	0.37	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Scott Hairston	LF	-0.47	1.99	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Chris Capuano	SP	-0.48	1.99	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Barry Enright	SP	-0.65	0	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Edgar Gonzalez	RP	-0.69	0	Joe Garagiola	Tommy Jones
Eury De La Rosa	RP	-0.73	0	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Brett Anderson	SP	-0.85	0	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch
Hector Ambriz	RP	-0.86	0	Josh Byrnes	A.J. Hinch