This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
On Friday, Gilbert held an Ask Me Anything on Reddit with fans at r/azdiamondbacks. This mailbag features questions and answers from there, lightly edited for clarity. The full AMA can be read here.
How is Jordan Lawlar looking defensively in center field?
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 -- 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.
What is your general gut-feeling prediction for how this season will go? Do you feel this is a rebuild season/won't make it to the postseason? Very confident once Corbin Burnes etc. return?
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 Loáisiga 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.
I feel the D-backs will need to go on a nice win streak at some point in the season to be a playoff contender. The Diamondbacks were only able to hit a five-game winning streak twice last year. Can you see the team going on an eight games or more winning streak this season? Will they make the playoffs without getting hot at some point this year?
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., Burnes, A.J. Puk, etc. back, but if they are able to stay close early, get their guys back, the schedule is more favorable in the second half.
From where it stands right now, what’s your projected batting order for Opening Day?
D-backs manager 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 toward 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.
What’s your favorite Diamondbacks jersey of all time and why is it the pinstripes?
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.