Bridge Ball

Bobbing for Bob
Well, the D'backs, who have been snakebit this year, finally took a step in the right direction. Did they make a big trade? Lower their ridiculous debt? Get a new owner? Nope, nope and nope. The team took its frustrations out on Bob Brenly, firing him for um, not winning many ball games.

The roots of the season's demise came early when the team has traded away almost one quarter of its active roster during the off-season for one of the most fearsome sluggers in baseball, Richie Sexson. This is same Sexson that tore up his shoulder on a check swing in late April and is out for the season. Anyways, it appears that at least for 2004, the Diamondbacks paid too much for Sexson. The Brewers received five usable players. The D'backs got a month out of Sexson. At least it was a good month.

Outside of the Sexson disaster, the team has also made some other questionable deals. Like signing Robbie Alomar to a contract (on the cheap, no doubt, but still), trading Curt Schilling for Casey Fossum and not very good prospects, and trading B.K. Kim for Shea Hillenbrand. The team always seems to go after a "name" instead of real prospects when there is a chance to improve by trading useful veterans.

Sure, Bob was probably not having the best season. But hey, he didn't fuck up the roster. It seems like GM Joe Garagiola, Jr. should take the heat for making bad deals. Instead Garagiola works the phones, trying to get what he can for Randy Johnson. Hey Joe, ask The Boss for something more than Bubba Crosby.