Hardball Retrospective – The “Original” 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks
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 |
Honorable Mention
The “Original” 2006 Diamondbacks OWAR: 40.4 OWS: 213 OPW%: .523
Brandon Webb (16-8, 3.10) achieved Cy Young honors as Arizona attained its first National League Wild Card berth.
On Deck
The “Original” 1922 Browns
Previous Articles
References and Resources
Baseball America – Executive Database
James, Bill, with Jim Henzler. Win Shares. Morton Grove, Ill.: STATS, 2002. Print.
Retrosheet – Transactions Database
Derek Bain is a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games. He has written a number of articles for Fangraphs and Seamheads, and enjoys spending quality time with his family.