As Sam Sees It<br>

The season is over for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The loss of Danny Bautista, Craig Counsell, Luis Gonzalez and Brian Anderson to injuries was more than the team could overcome. The St. Louis Cardinals had much to overcome as well, and did so in such a way as to give them confidence going into the National League Championship Series. Of course, the San Francisco Giants will pose a formidable foe after ousting the always-tough Atlanta Braves. The winner of the Minnesota Twins-Anaheim Angels series for the American League Championship will be a Cinderella team regardless of which squad prevails. Most who had not picked the New York Yankees to repeat had the Oakland Athletics as the favorites?

One last look back and congratulations to the Diamondbacks is in order. The team, Phoenix and the rest of Arizona did themselves proud last year in the manner in which they celebrated their first championship. There were no cars overturned, no fires started and very little, if any, foolish violence of the sort that too frequently marks such events.

The one radio talk show whose bad taste gave Phoenix a bad name with the Cardinals and their fans is gone now. He deserved the canning he got and probably should have gotten it quicker than he did. If he had been working for the Diamondbacks, he probably would have.

This remains a class organization of the type not seen frequently enough in sports or any other business. The Diamondbacks have good people working for them from the players on the field, to the front offices and to those part-timers who man the elevators and other posts around the stadium.

There will be some changes in the make-up of this team next year. Father Time has caught up with some. Others have become too expensive for what they bring to the team. Many others may be back, but details have to be worked out to make that happen. The farm system has produced some young players who are ready to move up and make a difference with the parent club. Most notable of these are first baseman Lyle Overbay and pitcher John Patterson. Look for both to be with the Diamondbacks from the beginning next season.

Getting Gonzalez, Counsell and Bautista back and healthy will improve this team dramatically.

Pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling will be a year older, but there is really no reason to believe that they will not continue to be the catalyst for success. There are many other questions about the pitching staff to be answered. The closer role is probably up for grabs between B. H. Kim and Matt Mantei. Many of the middle relievers may be gone. The role of Miguel Batista is yet to be determined. Is he the third starter? Or a hybrid starter/reliever?

Erubiel Durazo will probably draw the most speculation as long as he remains in Phoenix. He may be trade bait for a top quality pitcher, say one of Oakland’s three young guns. For those who are anxious to see “Rubi” go, a word of caution: he has the potential to be another Babe Ruth. Trade him if you must, but get appropriate value.

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