Hazen careful not to overrate early goings-on

First-year D-backs GM still early in the evaluation process

March 6th, 2017

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- D-backs general manager Mike Hazen is cautious when it comes to Spring Training evaluation, preferring not to draw too many conclusions early.
"We're watching everything," Hazen said. "It's not that you don't evaluate, it's that you try not to put too much stock in results. We're working more with the process. Knowing some guys are just working into their stuff, you have to be careful not to evaluate too early especially with the bigger arms guys they may not get their velocity until a little later in camp and then you'll see the real thing."
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Here are some of the other topics Hazen touched on Monday:
On 's impressive two starts this spring: "We knew he came in in shape, and he's talked about having something to prove. We don't necessarily feel that way, but we understand it. We feel like Shelby Miller is a really good pitcher, has been a really good pitcher in this league and will be again."

On the starting rotation: "The entire starting rotation so far has been doing a good job. We've got a long way to go. It's still just an innings buildup thing, but so far so good."
On whether they were still looking to add players at this stage: "Nothing that has happened in games so far has led us to feel like we have to address things in terms of player acquisition. The bullpen is still an area that we're still going to be open-minded toward. I think we have a lot of really good pitchers in camp and we're hoping that the bullpen will be comprised of those guys that are here, but we also have to be cognizant of what everybody else is doing. There will probably be some movement at the end of Spring Training with other camps."
On the health of shortstop Nick Ahmed: "Physically, he looks like he's back to 100 percent. I think having the competition with the shortstops has been a good thing in the sense that we're trying to maximize his downtime as much as we're trying to maximize his time on the field in Spring Training. We knew coming off the surgery that we'd need to be mindful of the volume that we placed on his hip early. But he's answered the bell every day. He's doing great. I think he's moved well, I think he's done well on defense, and he's swung the bat well."