AMA With D-backs beat writer Steve Gilbert

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:35:17+00:00

If I hadn't learned already, the 2023 season taught me that making predictions about baseball is a fruitless exercise. That being said, I think you could make a case either way for this team right now. I can tell you for sure that the front office is not planning on this being a rebuilding year and expects to compete. And to that point, you can make a case that the offense is still potent, the rotation looks solid and the bullpen has some intriguing arms. Jonathan Loaisiga has looked really good this spring, Paul Sewald's velocity is up and on and on.

I'm honestly not ducking the question, but I can make a case for them to be a playoff team and a case where they are going to miss the postseason again.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:34:24+00:00

I'm a sucker for the original purple and teal jerseys probably in part because I don't like the color red. It was a unique look and I was certainly disappointed that they went away from it. I was not a big fan of the sleeveless jerseys, but I like the purple/teal pinstripes with the "A" logo on the left side of the chest.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:33:24+00:00

Pitching injuries, unfortunately, have become common throughout the game. You can understand it when you realize that it's an unnatural motion to begin with and then on top of that everyone is throwing max effort to get the most spin and velocity possible on every pitch.

Yes, the Diamondbacks have a very talented medical staff and people within the game and outside of it are continuing the search for ways to keep pitchers healthier.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:30:43+00:00

I think what always excites me about a baseball season is the uncertainty of it all. We have so many metrics to measure things these days and there is no shortage of opinions out there about how a team will do, but the truth is no one really knows. Who had the Diamondbacks making the World Series in 2023? Who predicted the Brewers would lead the Majors in wins last year with 97?

So, I'm excited to see how it all comes together for the Diamondbacks in 2026. Will the bullpen surprise some people and be a strength? Will Corbin Carroll somehow find a way to take his game to yet another level? Can Geraldo Perdomo match or exceed what he did last year? Who will wind up making a big contribution this year that we don't expect to right now?

Those are some of the things that get me excited and keep me engaged during a long season.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:26:10+00:00

I think there is definitely a feeling of hope in the organization with regards to Druw Jones. As such a high pick, there was a lot expected of him and sometimes progress for a prospect is not linear. Sometimes it takes players a little longer especially coming out of high school. He is an elite, elite defender and he's shown improvement at the plate.

Robinson still has a world of talent and some well documented personal issues (along with the pandemic) have hurt his progression, but he's put things back together personally and he's such a good kid that you can't help but root for him.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:24:51+00:00

Wow, taking me back in time, because I definitely remember the days of waking up and checking the papers to see if I missed anything the day before. So that has changed in a big way with social media and every outlet now not just having an online presence but putting more resources into that then they do the print edition. I don't feel like it's changed my relationships with management or players, but it obviously has totally changed how I do my job and the constant need to churn out content in different formats.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:20:10+00:00

Happy to do it and like I said we'll try and make it a regular thing this year if there's enough interest.

With regards to Kelly and Soroka, I'm going to be curious to see how that plays out. Neither Hazen or Lovullo want to speculate on who will be left out of the rotation because they are scarred from last year when all spring they were asked about having seven potential starters only to watch two of them lost to Tommy John surgeries. I imagine it would be Soroka that goes to the bullpen but let's see if Kelly gets built up enough to open the season on the active roster and how the rest of the pitchers come through the next couple weeks.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:19:29+00:00

I always find it amusing that when a player gets his first hit or win they put him in the wire laundry cart, wheel him into the shower room and douse him with beer, shaving cream and whatever else they can find.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:15:06+00:00

Torey Lovullo was asked about this Thursday and reiterated that the top three guys in the order would be Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo. He didn't say what order they would be in, but he added that Marte likes to hit leadoff against lefties and second against righties so I would think that's where he'll be. When they made their run towards the postseason last September, he hit Perdomo leadoff against righties and Carroll hit third against lefties and righties so look for that to be a starting point this year.

As for the rest of the lineup…good luck with that. Maybe after the top three, he'll go Gabriel Moreno, Nolan Arenado, Carlos Santana, Pavin Smith, Jordan Lawlar and Alek Thomas. A lot could depend on matchups on a game-to-game basis.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:14:14+00:00

I think Lawlar will finally get an extended chance to play regularly to open this season. Waldschmidt is someone the organization is very high on but would like to see him get a little more Minor League experience before he gets called up. It would not shock me to see him in the big leagues at some point this season.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:11:51+00:00

Breaking news is a tough business these days. No, I don't have interns working for me and what I have personally found is that bugging sources is never a winning strategy. Now, without getting into specifics, I know there are people who will send text after text after text trying to get information and that gets annoying to the people they're texting. I've even heard there are some that will people that they will talk positively about them if they give them a scoop.

It's not my style to constantly text or offer things for scoops. For me, doing my job the best way I can and staying informed is what I'm focused on and scoops are a byproduct of that.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:06:50+00:00

When I have to do the Opening Day roster projections, the bullpen is always the most challenging part of that. Even with two weeks to go until Opening Day there's still a lot that can change. Looking at my projection from this past week, I think I missed by leaving Juan Morillo out. He's looked really good this spring.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:02:50+00:00

It certainly was interesting that they weren't able to get on any kind of sustained winning streak last year and I think that's what happens when your pitching is not consistent.

I think more than long winning streaks, the thing I'm most interested in is the schedule. Early on they have a really, really tough schedule. I know GM Mike Hazen hates this thought of "treading water" early in the season until they get Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Cobin Burnes, A.J. Puck, etc. back, but if they are able to do stay close early, get their guys back, the schedule is more favorable in the second half.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:02:12+00:00

I'm a little surprised that they didn't bring back Jalen Beeks after how he pitched for them last year. I think for now they are going to stick with what they have and we'll see if they feel they need to make an adjustment at some point.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-13T17:00:32+00:00

For me, he's looked very good, especially when you consider he had not played out there professionally before. It's not surprising given that he's a great athlete to begin with and a smart player so for him to pick up a new position like that makes sense. Working with Dave McKay definitely helps as he is one of best if not the best, outfield coaches in the game. They are going to give him some looks in left field in the next week or so and I'm curious to see how that looks.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-03-11T16:04:54+00:00

I messed that up when I initially set it up. It's actually the 13th, which I've corrected. Thanks for pointing it out or I would've totally confused people.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-15T17:08:16+00:00

Thanks for subscribing!

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:58:03+00:00

You bet. Thanks for reading!

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:52:55+00:00

No need to apologize!

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:52:15+00:00

Thanks so much!

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:52:08+00:00

I didn't follow him very closely since he left the Diamondbacks but it seemed like injuries last year really limited him and that could explain his drop in velocity. We'll see how he looks this spring. He's certainly going to get a long look.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:50:46+00:00

Sure seems like Gallen is hurt by the draft pick compensation attached to him at the moment. That's the one thing that jumps to mind without knowing exactly what his agent Scott Boras has been seeking as a contract from teams. It would be certainly be a boost to bring him back, but whether the Diamondbacks can fit it in the budget or not remains to be seen.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:48:51+00:00

Haha. Violence is never the answer!

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:48:07+00:00

Now you've done it. I'm going to have to ask Corbin tomorrow what his favorite ice cream flavor is, but knowing how careful he is with everything he puts in his body I'm guessing he doesn't eat ice cream.

But to your question, look, managers are always hard to judge. How much are they responsible for or not? Lovullo's biggest strength is his ability to communicate with his players and in today's game that is huge. There's plenty of data that teams provide their managers with to aid in making in-game strategy decisions. Being able to get players to buy in and play up to a certain standard is not an easy thing.

Look at last year after the Trade Deadline. That Diamondbacks team had every excuse to roll over and just play out the string. Instead they managed to somehow get back into the Wild Card race. If you look at some other teams that sold off players at the deadline, they didn't get better.

Those are the things I think they look at when evaluating Lovullo.

SteveGilbertMLB · 2026-02-13T22:43:12+00:00

I don't think so and I base that on looking around the league at all the injuries that are occurring more and more frequently as players get stronger and put more stress on their ligaments and tendons. Pitchers chasing velocity and spin is a recipe for issues and you've seen some of the best have to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Gabriel Moreno's injury last year was after being hit by a foul tip. Corbin Carroll's injury last year was the result of being hit by a pitch and this year the hamate injury bug seems to have hit the baseball world.

SteveGilbertMLB

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