The Diamondbacks’ players are rallying behind GM Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson, Jack Magruder of FOX Sports Arizona writes. “The kind of start we got off to, I don’t know if you can explain it other than we have just played horribly,” says third baseman Eric Chavez. “It’s completely on the players. We take full responsibility for our lack of production on the field. We have to get it done in here, in this clubhouse.” Earlier this week, catcher Miguel Montero told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert he would be “disappointed” if Towers or Gibson were to be fired.
The Diamondbacks are off to an 8-18 start (although they’ve won their last three games), which has led to speculation about whether Towers and Gibson might lose their jobs. As FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal recently pointed out, though, there are obstacles to firing them now — there are few internal candidates to replace them, and firing a GM six weeks before the draft can be disruptive.
What happened to the D-Backs pitching staff? It was only a few years ago they had strong starting rotation and really good bullpen…
Well, Ian Kennedy came back down to Earth after 2011, and they lost potential TOR starter Daniel Hudson to Tommy John (and then a second TJ during rehab from the first). Trevor Cahill never got his walk troubles under control. Patrick Corbin went down to TJ surgery, and top RHP and LHP prospects Bauer and Skaggs were traded away for non-pitching pieces.
Wade Miley remains the only “constant” in the staff, and it is becoming abundantly clear that Towers doesn’t have a clear vision for how to right the ship in terms of the rotation now.
Sack Towers and keep Gibson a little longer until the players stop falling on their swords to the media. Gibson can’t really do much damage, but the Dbacks have the draft to think about and Towers doesn’t appear to be their guy anymore.
I don’t think the players would gripe in public. This seems to me when players support their manager in public after a horrible start, the manager is on a short leash.