- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Early signs prophetic amid D-backs’ tough season
- Updated: October 3, 2016
PHOENIX — Maybe the D-backs’ 2016 season was doomed the moment A.J. Pollock’s right elbow gave way and fractured during the second-to-last game of the Cactus League season, depriving the team of its second-best hitter and best defensive player for all but a handful of games.
Maybe it started spinning out of control when ace Zack Greinke struggled on Opening Day and Shelby Miller followed suit the next game. It showed that Greinke might not be his usual invincible self, and it definitely increased the already high pressure on Miller.
Or maybe it’s as simple as the D-backs not being nearly as good as many thought they were when they were cruising through Spring Training.
Whatever the case, the 2016 season will be remembered as a disappointing one for the franchise.
• D-backs aim to push reset button on pitching in ’17
There were plenty of injuries. In addition to Pollock, outfielder David Peralta missed significant time due to injuries, while Greinke spent a prolonged period on the shelf and fellow starter Rubby De La Rosa missed most of the season.
Add the injuries to the underperformance by Miller and just about everyone in the bullpen, and you wind up with a team that not only didn’t make the postseason but really wasn’t even in the hunt after June.
Record: 69-93, fourth place, National League West
Defining moment: On June 25, the D-backs were in the midst of a 10-game road stretch and had gone 7-1 on the trip to that point with two games left against the Rockies. They had climbed to just four games under .500, and that night’s starter, Miller, was coming off one of his best games of the year. There was hope that they might just be able to salvage this season.
Miller, though, allowed seven runs in an 11-6 loss, and the following night, the D-backs …
