Arizona Diamondbacks 2003 Finish: 84-78, 3rd NL West	Select Team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Expos Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

Randy Johnson Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Batting Order
CF	Steve Finley Embracing a return to top of the order.
2B	Roberto Alomar 2,679 career hits; 498 career doubles.
LF	Luis Gonzalez Has averaged .314, 33 HRs, 115 RBIs in 5 years in Arizona.
1B	Richie Sexson Big-time power; big-time protection.
3B	Shea Hillenbrand Had a three-homer game against Colorado.
SS	Alex Cintron A pleasant surprise the final three months.
RF	Danny Bautista Will the real Bautista please stand up?
C	Robby Hammock In a platoon with Brent Mayne.
Rotation
LHP	Randy Johnson In first year of two-year, $33 million extension.
RHP	Brandon Webb First 13 major league starts were all "quality."
RHP	Elmer Dessens ERA shot up two full points in '03.
RHP	Shane Reynolds Six-time career double-digit winner.
RHP	Steve Sparks Won 14 games as a starter in Detroit in '02.
Bullpen
RHP	Matt Mantei 99 mph fastball, knee-buckling slider.
LHP	Casey Fossum Will be used to attack lefties and righties.
RHP	Jose Valverde Closer in waiting has 100 mph fastball, slider.
RHP	Oscar Villarreal Underappreciated setup man with four quality pitches.
RHP	Mike Koplove Quality setup man until overuse hurt shoulder.
LHP	Steve Randolph Good stuff, not such good command.
Prospects
2B	Scott Hairston Already has big-league offensive game.
RHP	Brian Bruney Another closer in waiting with 95 mph heat.
RHP	Edgar Gonzalez Above-average stuff; understands the art.

After winning the 2001 World Series with a $90 million payroll, the Diamondbacks promised no talent sell-off, saying they would not repeat the 1997 Florida Marlins' post-Series fire sale. But look at the Marlins now. And look at the Diamondbacks. Curt Schilling was sent to Boston to save the money needed to acquire power bat Richie Sexson from Milwaukee. The Diamondbacks will have an $82 million payroll this year and want to slim down into $55 million-$60 million range in 2005.

Five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson and second-year man Brandon Webb are the new 1-2 punch, with Webb replacing Schilling after a stellar rookie season. Johnson missed three months last year after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and rushed back after the All-Star break, although it was apparent he never regained top form. Webb was Baseball America's 2003 NL Rookie of the Year while stepping into the stopper role after injuries to Johnson and Schilling. Elmer Dessens, obtained for Erubiel Durazo at the 2002 winter meetings, will get another chance at the No. 3 spot after his worst season in the majors. Veteran signees Shane Reynolds, who won 19 games with the Astros in 1998, and Steve Sparks could move up a notch if necessary. Reynolds missed the second half of the 2002 season after undergoing back surgery but bounced back by winning 11 games in Atlanta last year. The Diamondbacks are interested to see how Sparks' knuckleball fares in their closed-roof controlled environment. A reliever in the American League last year, Sparks will get the first shot at the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

The D'backs shopped closer Matt Mantei and his $8.25 million contract in the offseason -- not only to economize but also because of a glut at the position with closers-in-waiting Jose Valverde and Brian Bruney. Because there were no takers for Mantei, the bottom line is larger, but the bullpen is loaded. Mantei has perfected a quality slider to complement his 99 mph fastball. Valverde has the same two pitches but throws even harder, and he finally found some command and consistency in 2003. Casey Fossum, mostly a starter in Boston, is seen as a guy who can get out both lefties and righties and could throw three or four innings if necessary. Oscar Villarreal, a quality starter in the minors, set an NL rookie record for appearances in '03 and has the repertoire to step into the rotation if needed. Bruney, a closer for Team USA in the Olympic qualifier in Panama last fall, also throws in the high-90s. Steve Randolph, Mike Koplove and newcomers Brandon Lyon, Shane Nance and Jesse Orosco are in the mix for the final spot. Orosco, who will turn 47 on April 21, was signed to a minor league contract with a spring training invitation.

The Diamondbacks pulled a surprise by signing second baseman Robby Alomar to a one-year deal in January, giving them a 10-time Gold Glove winner to stabilize their infield defense while also adding a speed guy to the top of the order. Alomar hit .336 in 2001 although he has struggled the past two seasons, first with the Mets and then with the White Sox. Shortstop Alex Cintron will open the season as a regular for the first time in his career after the mid-2003 jettison of Tony Womack. Cintron is a big guy -- his body reminds some of Alex Rodriguez's -- with some power and a solid glove. He hit fifth in the batting order 19 times last year, although that was more a function of roster composition than anything.

Richie Sexson and Shea Hillenbrand are the most powerful corners this team has ever had, even considering Matt Williams' glorious 1999. Sexson has averaged 39.7 homers in the last three seasons and has missed only nine games in that span, another plus on a team that has had trouble staying healthy. Hillenbrand hit 17 homers for Arizona after coming over in late May, and his big bat keeps him in the lineup.

Luis Gonzalez and Steve Finley, mainstays since 1999, return, although Finley will start the season in the leadoff role, a position he occupied in his early years with Houston and San Diego. He has the speed to make it work, and Gonzalez has been a steady 100-RBI man since his arrival. Danny Bautista appeared to be on the way to a breakout year in 2002, hitting .325 with 23 RBIs in 40 games before a dislocated left shoulder ended his season. He was nowhere near the same player last year but will get another chance. Veteran depth is lacking.

Robby Hammock and offseason signee Brent Mayne figure to platoon behind the plate. Hammock, recalled early last season as a catcher/corner infielder/corner outfielder, won the catching job the final two months with his pop -- 20 extra-base hits in 195 at-bats. He hit .308 against lefties, while Mayne is a career .274 hitter against righties.

Greg Colbrunn is one of the best pinch-hitters in the game, with a career .322 average and nine pinch homers, as well as being a quality clubhouse presence. His return is a plus. Carlos Baerga continued to resurrect his career by hitting .343 last year, but his defensive skills have eroded to the point he is best used as a pinch-stick. Gamer Matt Kata is way above average defensively at both middle infield positions and hit .372 with runners in scoring position in his half-season in the majors after his initial promotion last June. Projected top outfield reserve Luis Terrero is athletic but young and untested.

Managing general partner Jerry Colangelo and general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. are nothing if not decisive, although the tenor of their actions has changed since new investors came aboard two years ago. Colangelo is more cost-conscious than before, although his competitive gene -- the late signing of Alomar is yet another indication -- remains dominant and he is never afraid to make a midseason move in spite of the bottom line.

Fiscal responsibility does not necessarily translate into leaner times, although it does usually decrease the margin of error and place a premium on health. Arizona has won in the past with quality starting pitching, but the absence of Schilling and Miguel Batista may hurt. The Diamondbacks should be competitive in the difficult NL West, but for the first time since Year One of the franchise, they're counting on young players to keep them that way.

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