First of all it feels as though it lasts forever. Although the calendar shows that January only has 31 days in it; it feels as though the month has at least 62 days. This is probably because it is the last full month without Major League Baseball. Next month pitchers and catchers will report to Tucson and the long off-season will finally be done. It will signal that winter is finally over and spring is just around the corner. Secondly, January is always the coldest month of the year. After multiple shoulder, knee, wrist, and ankle surgeries I don’t get along with cold at all. The warm weather of Arizona was one of the biggest reasons we moved here; that and the fact that I had a much better chance of seeing a major league baseball game than I ever would living in Idaho. Getting through January with some amount of sanity is always a challenge every year.

By this time I am usually getting very antsy and pacing back and forth waiting for the calendar to turn. This year I find I am not nearly as prepared as I have been in the past. I have barely cataloged the scorebooks from last season and haven’t even thought about picking up new scorebooks for the upcoming regular season. The seat cushions have not been emptied since the last game of the 2008 season. I am usually diligent about getting things out of the cushions and have them stored for the winter. Every time I think about it I can’t seem to talk myself into looking at the seat cushions. The way the 2008 season ended is still too painful to think about. No matter how many times I play it out I still cannot comprehend how the Diamondbacks could fall apart like they did that first week of September. I feel like I am trapped in the movie Groundhog Day. No matter how much I want to wake up to find a new day has dawned and the Diamondbacks did not lose to the Dodgers; it never works out.

Maybe this is why I want January over so quickly. I need Spring Training to come and with it a new beginning. I need to see the youthful excitement of the young Diamondbacks players who have not forgotten the pain of last September but are instead using it to drive them to be better than they were a year ago. I need the next 37 days 22 hours and 58 minutes to go faster; that’s what I need.

Rather than subject myself to some form of physical comedy that is usually funnier to the people observing I decided to take it easy this evening. I’d make myself some dinner and sit down and watch the MLB Network. Ah, I don’t think I am ever going to get tired of saying that; MLBN. Having a television channel dedicated to providing 24-hour a day baseball programming just shows that there is a God and he loves the people of the earth. God may not love all the people of the earth but at least he loves those who have satellite or cable television that have partnered with Major League Baseball. The rest God made Pittsburgh Pirates fans.

I flipped on the television turning the DirecTV receiver to channel 213. I paused for a second to notice that after 6 days my DirecTV remote was already starting to show wear on the 2, 1, and 3 buttons. As the channel changed I found the program just beginning. Every Tuesday the MLB Network shows episodes of the 1994 Ken Burns documentary “Baseball”. It’s hard to believe that it has been 15 years since this was released. I remember when it first came out and I sat glued to the television (I would say literally but that’s another story. Just a tip, don’t try to fix a television knob with Super Glue it would be bad).

Tonight the MLB Network was showing the segment that described the origins of baseball. I sat and marveled at the photos and the accounts as the narrator described how this great game came to be. It is amazing to think about how far this game has come since its birth. I was especially fascinated with the descriptions and accounts during the Civil War era. In all the years I spent in American History classes in school I never remember any of the teachers talking about baseball and the War Between the States. I found myself staring at the black and white photos and intently listening as they talked about how companies of soldiers would be playing baseball while battles were waged within ear shot.

In all it was an interesting evening spent remembering figures who long ago shaped the game we love. And I’m happy to report that I came away relatively unscathed from my evening alone. I can’t say the same for the oven. Who knew that a potato would actually explode while baking it? Mashed potatoes make a good meal too even if you do have to scrape them off the sides of the oven.

I put on my Diamondbacks sweatshirt over my Diamondbacks polo shirt, slipped on my Diamondbacks jacket checked my Diamondbacks watch, grabbed my Diamondbacks key ring, checked my Diamondbacks wallet, and headed for the mall. Notice I said mall and not team shop. Unfortunately the team shop was closed so I had to improvise. I can’t believe my family thinks I have too much stuff with a Diamondbacks logo on it. As any diehard fan can tell you, there is no such thing as having too much stuff with a Diamondbacks logo on it.

I spent the next two hours going from store to store looking for some new Diamondbacks merchandise that I didn’t have. I am a little embarrassed to admit that it took me two hours. I honestly figured it would be a 15 minute trip but the team merchandise I found I already had. I was beginning to think that maybe there was some validity to what my family said. That all changed though when I got to the Hat Club. Leave it to them to prove that I didn’t yet own every piece of Diamondbacks gear. In fact I found at least 8 D-Backs hats that I didn’t own. Don’t tell me I have everything. I felt a little like Charlie when he entered Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. Just as I was about to burst into a verse of “The Candy Man” I was snapped out of my daydream by a high school kid asking if he could help me. I introduced myself and said I was looking for a new D-Backs hat. Me and my new best friend spent the next 20 minutes going through each hat trying to find the perfect one to start 2009. In the end I walked out of the store wearing a new all black hat with a black snake logo and Sedona Red eyes. It looked very menacing and was a perfect fit.

I wondered as I walked back to the car if the family would buy the argument that I haven’t gotten a new Diamondbacks jersey all year? It’s worth a shot isn’t it?

With a fairly young core of players there were not a lot of roster spots up for grabs but still there are questions surrounding the starting pitching rotation and the bullpen. Then of course there is the continuing saga of Brandon Webb who was close to signing a 3-year extension last season before the offer was pulled from the table by the Diamondbacks. Fans everywhere expected that General Manager Josh Byrnes would hammer something out this off-season with the team’s ace but so far nothing has been forthcoming.

The Diamondbacks did make one move; they resigned Webb’s battery mate Chris Snyder to a three year contract. The terms of the deal will keep Snyder in Sedona Red through the 2011 season with a club option for 2012. Snyder has been primarily known as a defensive catcher since he was promoted in 2005. Each year Snyder has matured being a better hitter as well as calling a great game behind the dish. The pitching staff love working with Snyder and many of them comment on Chris’ work ethic and preparation which makes the pitcher’s job so much easier. The contract provides the Diamondbacks with cost certainty through all of Snyder’s arbitration years and the first two years of free agency. This allows them to maintain a known payroll over the next 3 seasons when they can monitor how Chris will fit in the long term plans of the team.

So while this may not have been the flashy news that other teams have made this off-season it shows that Arizona is willing to reward those young players who they feel are integral to the future success of the club. Congratulations Chris Snyder; we look forward to watching you in a Diamondbacks uniform for the next few years.

By mid-season it was clear that Chris Burke had fallen out of grace with the Diamondbacks front office and before the trade deadline Arizona made a rare in-division trade with the Padres reuniting Tony Clark with his Diamondbacks teammates. Clark saw limited action on the field but did have a few meaningful at-bats during his tenure last year. When the 2008 season ended Clark once again found himself a free agent. Both Arizona and Clark wanted to make a deal that would keep Tony in a Diamondbacks jersey.

This was especially important this season since Arizona was already losing clubhouse leader Orlando Hudson. With such a young group of core players it was important that they have a strong member in the clubhouse that could help mentor these young players so that they learn to play the game the way it should be played.

Today’s announcement that Clark had resigned probably did not come as a surprise. I for one welcomed this news. I’ve been a little nervous about the leadership and character of this team. I was around for the 2004 debacle when the “baby backs” invaded then Bank One Ballpark thinking they were bigger than the game. There was a lot of grumbling during that season. Part of it was a result of being in the process of losing 111 games but part of it was a lack of strong clubhouse leadership. I have no doubts that Clark will not allow history to repeat itself. He is like having an additional coach and will be especially helpful to the bench players as he mentors them in how to approach pinch hitting. This may be the last year we see Tony Clark as a player and his statistics may not be the same as we have seen in years past but a player’s value cannot always be measured by his statistics. When Tony finally decides his playing days are behind him I can see him being offered an opportunity to begin a coaching career within the Diamondbacks organization. His knowledge, temperament, and willingness to teach would make him a natural for helping young players as they begin their professional careers.

I assumed the “big news” was the signing of Tony Clark which had been rumored to be close for the past couple of days. No, that was not it. I was told this was huge and that I needed to get to a computer quick. I dropped the birthday decorations and ran to the computer. I pulled up a web browser and immediately saw the reason for the phone call. The headline read, “Diamondbacks Partner Jeff Moorad Resigns to Buy San Diego Padres”. My mouth fell open. To say this was unexpected would be an understatement. I had no inkling that there was a potential ownership change in the works.

From what I could gather from several sources; it appears that Jeff Moorad had aspirations to be the General Partner of a Major League Baseball franchise. His goal in joining the Arizona Diamondbacks was to be the General Partner but the other owners were hesitant to hand over one of their franchises to a former player agent. The ownership transaction took much longer than anyone anticipated and when the dust finally settled it was Ken Kendrick who was named General Partner leaving Moorad with the title of Partner and Chief Executive Officer for the Diamondbacks. Given how things were playing out it became clear that Jeff would never obtain the title of General Partner. Rather than be satisfied with that arrangement Moorad decided to explore other avenues. With the San Diego Padres being sold as a result of a messy divorce, the situation presented itself to allow Jeff to put together an ownership group to purchase the team and become the General Partner. Since MLB does not allow a person to have an ownership stake in more than one franchise it became necessary for him to resign from the Diamondbacks and sell his ownership stake.

I’ve spoken to countless baseball fans and most did not have good things to say about Jeff Moorad. Personally I don’t understand that. I think the Diamondbacks have built a world-class organization under Moorad’s reign. He created a very strong front office and with the other owners of the team put a competitive team on the field and made the experience of going to a Diamondbacks game very enjoyable. If anything I was a little nervous to think who might be named his successor and what changes that might mean.

Those fears were immediately dissolved when I read that Ken Kendrick and the other owners had promoted Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the club. I cannot say enough good things about Derrick and his staff. I have had the pleasure of talking with him on several occasions and each time I have been more impressed than the last time. He has a great vision of where he wants to see the Diamondbacks go and he has the fan’s interests at heart in everything he does. On many occasions I have provided feedback or input into things I have seen around Chase Field and each time Derrick has intently listened and done what was right for the fans. With this promotion I have renewed confidence that the team is moving in the right direction and we’ll be ok.

Congratulations Derrick, I wish you nothing but the best in your new role. I think I can speak for all the Diamondbacks fans when I say we are looking forward to not only the 2009 season but for others in the future. I know you’ll do the right thing and I’m confident that you and your staff will do whatever is necessary to make sure the fans are taken care of. The future just seemed to get a little brighter with this announcement.

I sat down and began to contemplate go through the past 12 months. This past year had definitely been filled with a lot of experiences both good and bad that helped to shape me as a person. I had survived a health scare myself and watched my mother as she battled through cancer. I watched as my children each reached major milestones in their life from graduation from school to beginning a new phase and moving away. I watched as the year began full of confidence and hope and ended with uneasiness and concern. I saw investments fail and businesses fold and I watched as others began with the hopes of succeeding. As I went through each cycle I became even more amazed at what had transpired. In the midst of all of these was one constant; baseball.

As 2008 began I was eagerly awaiting the beginning of Spring Training. My mind was still filled with visions of the National League Championship Series and close the Diamondbacks had come to their second World Series birth. I eagerly made the trip to Tucson to watch the team as they began another year older and with a little more experience than their men their age should have. I watched as the team got off to a torrid start building a big lead in the National League Western Division and becoming one of the best teams in baseball. I watched as young players tried to make their mark and older players tried to hold on or reach that final milestone of their career.

By mid-season I saw a team with less confidence. Once who did not have the same swagger as it had when the season began. I watched as management made a decision to give up a little of the future for the present and saw as the team dynamic changed when players left or came to the team. In the end I watched as the players and the fans saw their dreams disappear in the last month of the season. It was painful to watch the Diamondbacks clean out their lockers while the Dodgers, Brewers, Cubs, and Phillies went on to the post season. When the year ended, some of these players we had cheered for each game were no longer Diamondbacks either through trade or free agency. It was just like seeing my children grow up and leave home. Some would return but it would never quite be the same.

I sat there contemplating all of these things and I realized that my life is the happiest when I am somehow connected to baseball. Whether playing, coaching, or watching life is better with baseball. It was at that moment that I knew what my resolution would be for 2009. I wrote my thoughts down and then went to meet with the rest of the family.

When it became my turn I recounted all of my memories of 2008 and what they meant to me. Finally I spoke of what I wanted to accomplish in 2009. My resolution list consisted of 1 item, “See more baseball.” My family sat there staring at me. Their eyes were large and their mouths hung open. Finally my son said, “Dad, is that even possible?” What a silly question, of course it is possible. Right now I only go to 83 games at Chase Field and 10-12 Spring Training games. There are a lot more games than that I assured him. At this point there erupted a lot of conversation arguing the pros and cons of my resolution. It’s funny I seemed to be the only one arguing the pros.

My problem was that my resolution only seemed possible from March through October. The other 4 months would be a problem but then it dawned on me. Major League Baseball was launching a new television network MLBN which would be devoted to 24-hours a day baseball. This would be the perfect tool to help me stick to my resolution. Trina sat at the table crying. I too felt the emotion. It’s a beautiful thing when you are aligned with the universe.

Even before the sun crept over the horizon I was up and getting ready for the day. I had read and re-read the email I received from the Arizona Diamondbacks outlining the event and what I should expect. I retrieved the seat relocation forms that I had mailed/faxed/emailed/delivered to the Diamondbacks so that I had the 16 choices I had prioritized. This was going to be awesome and I just could hardly wait.

My appointment was for 11:00 AM and by 10:00 AM I was pacing back and forth around the house willing the clock to move faster. Finally Trina became frustrated with me and offered a sound piece of wisdom. “Why don’t you just go down to Chase Field now? You can always kill some time in the team shop.” Wow, she is brave. The last time I was allowed to go to the team shop unsupervised I came home with 3 hats and 2 jerseys. I was not about to remind her of that small detail. Instead I grabbed my packet of information, my camera, my Diamondbacks hat, and my keys and ran for the door. In my rush I nearly forgot to take Tiffany who wanted to go down with me to the event.

We arrived at the stadium a half our early. I entered the Diamondbacks parking garage where the attendant reminded me that parking for season ticket renewal was free today. Just another indicator that today was going to be a special and magical day. We parked the car and I commented how many cars in the garage had Diamondbacks license plates. It is always great to see others who are as devoted as I am that they are willing to have a D-Backs license plate on their car.

We walked from the garage to Chase Field and entered the team shop. We were greeted by the friendly staff who pointed us to the sale racks and offered to show us the new merchandise that they had received. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I probably knew their merchandise better than they did considering how often I am in the team shop. No nothing was going to damper this perfect day. I wandered around the store making mental note of what items I need to add to my Christmas list. I also noted those articles that would make great gifts for others. Before long I realized that this year like years past I should be able to do all of my Christmas shopping in just this one store.

I carefully watched the clock so that I didn’t lose track of time and miss my relocation appointment. Ten minutes before our allotted time we left the team shop and entered the stadium. I went to the registration desk and introduced myself. They looked up my name and account information and gave me a name tag that had my current seat location and my priority number. The young woman then explained the process to me. There would be a meeting at 11:00 AM where we would be briefed then we would be allowed to wander around the stadium to see the various seats that were available. We were free to look at all the seats. After 20 minutes of this we were to find the seats we wanted. An announcement would be made. A Diamondbacks representative would be there to assist. After the announcement we were to take the papers from our new seats and take them upstairs to complete the relocation transaction.

Before we began I looked from the concourse over the stands and saw several prime seat locations that I would love to have. I was extremely excited. I was a mere minutes away from selecting my seats and having my new address for the 2009 season. The roof was open and the sunlight shown down upon the stadium seating area. It was perfect and I could barely contain my excitement.

The Diamondbacks signified the beginning of the process and our group of 20-30 people made our way down into the stands. I walked down into Section 131 and found two seats in Row 12. They were awesome seats and were actually in the section and row of my first choice. I was extremely excited about it and thought for sure that this was a sign from the Baseball Gods. There was just one slight problem. For the 2009 season these seats were now classified as 1st/3rd Base Reserve not as Baseline Box. This is a new seat classification from last year and the price of these seats was $1,079 higher for each seat over my current location just across the row. One of the last things Trina said to me before I left the house was, “Don’t upgrade to a more expensive section!” Somehow I think she meant that as she had that evil eye that I usually get right before I do something really stupid. Usually I tend to ignore her when she says stuff like that but in this case I thought it would behoove me to heed her counsel.

After quickly surveying the situation I concluded my best choice was Section 132 Row 8 Seats 17-18. This section was exactly opposite from our seats in Section 112. This was perfect! I would be on the Diamondbacks side and we would not have to go any higher than were were last season. Again the Baseball Gods had smiled upon me and things were working out. The problem was that there was someone already in those seats. I went to look at the seats. The gentleman currently sitting there could tell I was very interested. A Diamondbacks employee came over when he saw 2 fans wanting the same seats. He explained to us that in cases such as this the person with the lower priority number would receive preference. My priority number was 5205 while his was 5295 meaning that I would get the seats. This was perfect. Tiffany and I sat down surveying our new seat location. I was already envisioning watching the games from these seats and how great 2009 was going to be.

Somewhere in the midst of my joyous daydreaming I missed the little old lady and her grand children who wandered over to the seats. She too was interested in these seats. Her priority number was 5010 meaning that if she wanted these seats she would have them over me. My heart sank as the Diamondbacks representative explained this to me. Suddenly my thoughts of cheering on the Diamondbacks from the comfort of Section 132 were crushed. I stood there dazed as though someone had punched me in the stomach. The little old lady was very nice about it and apologized over and over. The pain remained and intensified when she explained that she didn’t go to many games but when she did she thought she would like these seats. Not only was I going to miss out on these two seats but I would do so to someone who didn’t even go to that many games. Where is the justice in that?

I took the remainder of the time wandering around the stadium at the limited number of seats that were still available. My heart really wasn’t in it though. I went through each choice I had listed on my relocation form and found that either they were not available or they were now listed in the new 1st/3rd Base Reserve classification that meant more money. This meant I could either be happy in my seats and miserable at home with Trina or I could be miserable at Chase Field but have a wife that would talk to me. It took every second of the 20 minutes to try and decide which would be better.

In the end I walked back up the stairs to the concourse sad and dejected. For the first time in 11 years I was unable to relocate my seats at Chase Field. I cannot tell you how painful that is to say. This day started so brightly and with such high hopes and now I found myself slowly walking away from Chase Field with nothing to show for it. I’ll still go to the games next season but it won’t be quite the same knowing I was a mere 200 priority numbers away from having what I thought were awesome seats. There will also be a long and heated discussion between Trina and me about priorities, hers and the Diamondbacks. Somehow those two need to get in sync better if my life is going to be balanced. I’m not sure I could feel any worse at this point unless of course I find out that Rally Sally just got the seats in front of me next year. This really is going to be a long off-season.

Going into the 1998 inaugural season Arizona had high hopes for a young outfielder they selected in the expansion draft. Karim Garcia had a cannon for an arm and scouts everywhere raved about his power. During the season Garcia’s stock dropped among the Diamondbacks brass and by season’s end he was definitely on the trading block. On December 28, 1998 the Diamondbacks made a trade with the Tigers that sent Karim Garcia to Detroit. In exchange Arizona received journeyman outfielder Luis Gonzalez and cash. Garcia would never live up to expectations and would bounce from team to team while Gonzalez blossomed in the desert and would have his most successful times while a member of the Diamondbacks culminating with the game-winning hit in Game 7 of the World Series to win Arizona’s first world championship.

Luis Gonzalez would become the face of the franchise from his humble beginnings in 1999 through his final appearance in a Diamondbacks uniform in 2006. The team was not always squarely in Gonzo’s corner. Before the 1999 season Arizona left Luis Gonzalez off their list of nominees for the all-star game because they had planned on trading him prior to the beginning of the season. Unfortunately or in this case fortunately they could not find a taker and had to settle keeping him. They anticipated he would be the fourth outfielder that year playing behind Bernard Gilkey. No one included Luis anticipated that his production would take such a jump as to make him the starter and begin his meteoric rise to stardom.

Gonzo conducted himself in a very admirable way both on the field and off. He made countless appearances and was always approachable even during the dark years of 2004 when the team lost 111 games. By the end of the 2006 season Gonzalez had begun to lose a step and the organization had decided to dedicate themselves to a youth movement. In a well publicized manner General Manager Josh Byrnes met with Gonzalez over breakfast to tell him that not only was the team going to decline his contract option but that they had no intention of re-signing him no matter what the price.

From that moment Luis Gonzalez became a former Diamondbacks player as far as the team was concerned. He took the news very personally and vowed to sign with another team in 2007 to show the Diamondbacks the error in their ways. He signed with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers just to have to opportunity to play the Diamondbacks 18 times. Unfortunately things did not work out well for Gonzo in LA and after that season he was non-tendered and once again became a free agent. Still thinking he had something to offer Luis signed a contract before the 2008 season to play for the Florida Marlins. During his tenure this past season Gonzo played left and right field but was predominately used as a pinch hitter. He had a fairly productive year and by season’s end he had accumulated 596 career doubles a mere 4 away from a major milestone.

Now we are hearing from various news organizations in Phoenix that Luis Gonzalez is interested in returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks to finish his career. He has accepted that his role would be one of a pinch hitter and spot starter but Luis believes that he still has a lot to offer a team and at the top of his list is Arizona. This news quickly spread with Diamondbacks fans clamoring for the team to re-sign the most beloved player in franchise history. The question is does it make sense?

Currently the Diamondbacks have a plethora of outfielders on their roster. Current starters Chris Young and Justin Upton return next season. Left-fielder Eric Byrnes believes he will be at 100 percent when spring training starts. Add to this the fact that Conor Jackson played well in the outfield and seemed more comfortable than he did at first base. The Diamondbacks are still very high on Alex Romero who played well in the spot situations he was given last season. Jeff Salazar also factored into the fray late in the season. So far that is six outfielders for three spots. Clearly this is not a position where the Diamondbacks are lacking.

Pinch hitter and team leader Tony Clark will be a free agent so there may be an opening on the roster. Although Clark had a down year last season, you cannot discount the leadership qualities he provided in the clubhouse with these young players. It was almost like having another coach assisting these young kids. Regardless of Tony’s offensive numbers, his defense was outstanding and provided Bob Melvin with a late inning defensive replacement. Add to that fact that Clark is a switch hitter and that provides additional flexibility.

Gonzalez likewise was characterized as a clubhouse leader and mentor for the Marlins this past season. He provided assistance to several of the younger players helping them to find their way in the major leagues. That is somewhat different than how it was when Gonzo left Arizona. There were reports that several of the young players found Gonzalez difficult to approach.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Hopefully Josh Byrnes and his staff will look at this scenario with an objective eye and do what is best for the team regardless of the sentimental value. No one is discounting the fact that Luis Gonzalez was an important piece of the Diamondbacks and that he may go down as one of the most beloved members of this franchise. But this isn’t 2001 and no one should expect the same player who hit that final single in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series. This is a new team with new players and it just might not be a good fit. Fans need to understand that and move on.

We shouldn’t feel too sorry for Luis Gonzalez. He has had a tremendous career and accomplished many things not just on the field. And after his one year with the Los Angeles Dodgers he may just be branching out to other industries as well. Gonzo along with other Major League Baseball players started in the music video for “I Can’t Dance” from High School Musical 2. From the looks of his dance steps and dialog he may be on to something. We’ll have to wait and see if he can use that to launch a lucrative career of cameo appearances on Disney videos.

When expectations are not met especially expectations as high as those placed on the Diamondbacks, we’ve come to anticipate that there will be changes made. Since it is much easier to change the coaching philosophy than it is to change the players I think the fans expected that there would be a shake-up of the Diamondbacks coaching staff.

This group has been together for nearly 3 years as a whole and while last year was very good, overall people were left wondering if the team had reached its potential. Nothing had come out at the conclusion of the season other than the fact that manager Bob Melvin would be meeting with General Manager Josh Byrnes to discuss the season and what needed to happen for next year. Both men were non-committal when it came to questions around the coaching staff.

Earlier this week it was announced that pitching coach Bryan Price would return next season. That should not have been much of a surprise considering the job that the pitchers have done during Price’s tenure. Although the bullpen struggled at times overall pitching has been the strength of this franchise. The same cannot be said for the other aspects of the game. There have been countless stories and opinions given about the Diamondbacks lack of aggressive base running, the increase in the number of errors committed in the field, and the lack of consistent hitting. The question becomes whether these problems are a result of the player’s youth and lack of discipline or if it is a philosophical difference in how the players are implementing the plans the coaches are giving them.

It was therefore somewhat of a surprise when the Diamondbacks announced today that the entire coaching staff has been retained and given contracts through the 2009 season. Considering that each coach was given just a single year is indicative that management is monitoring the situation closely and will not hesitate to make changes if the team gets off to a slow start or does not show signs of improvement over last year. It also should tell the coaches that they should not shoulder all of the blame. Each player should review the year they had and try to make improvements so that the inconsistency can be reduced or eliminated.

I was especially happy to see that Glenn Sherlock had been retained as bullpen coach. Sherlock is the one member of the Diamondbacks family who has been here since the inaugural season. He has survived each management change as well as a change in ownership. He has seen players come and go and even watched as several of the first Diamondbacks retired. I feel he has done a great job and I’m grateful that the Diamondbacks front office has agreed.

Hopefully this off-season will be spent with the coaches reviewing their various assignments and developing plans on how they will help these young players grow beyond what we have seen so far and become the types of players that will lead this team into the post season not just in 2009 but for several years to come.