Sports360AZ
THURSDAY THREE DOTS…
I’m willing to sit through some rebuilding, retooling and reloading periods for a pro sports franchise, but after awhile I get tired of seeing the wheels spin without any positive traction. The Diamondbacks are a perfect example. Former GM Dave Stewart goes public and says it was hard, working for three bosses in his two short seasons with the team. He also said in the same MLB Network interview that he had second thoughts about trading away former number one pick Dansby Swanson. A few things here. First, it’s no secret how the Diamondbacks franchise has been run since Ken Kendrick and Derrick Hall came on-board. They are going to have their say on things and that’s just the way it’s going to be.
Stewart clearly didn’t do his homework on the lay of the land over in the executive offices at Chase Field. Secondly, it was no secret early last season Stewart was thinking about returning to his sports agency business. His unhappiness wasn’t a surprise out on the coast. Here’s the thing that no one can explain to me in a good way. Trading Swanson isn’t the only move that can be second, third and fourth guessed (Ender Inciarte was part of that deal too). Now move over to the signing of Zack Greinke, where over 30-percent of the team salary is used on one guy, followed by the fuzzy picture of Paul Goldschmidts future. I think it’s fair to say that the Diamondbacks felt that they could win big in 2016 and that getting a front line pitcher to pair with Greinke was the priority. What Stewart said about having three voices to report to, means that they weren’t on the same page. In fact, they weren’t even in the same bookstore. It just seems so hard for these guys to get it right. Here’s what’s next. A slow start to the 2017 season will mean a fire sale of the roster and the big parts by Summer…
Then there’s the Suns…
Another All-Star break with the worst record in the Western Conference. They should be lining up for the Lonzo Ball contest, but instead gave LA a bone on Wednesday night. The Lakers clearly took the art of tanking out on the court to start the game. At the end of the season, if the Suns have one less shot at grabbing Ball in the lottery, go back to a meaningless win in mid-February against the Lakers. Just lose baby…
Markieff is ballin…
Just so we are clear, former Sun Markieff Morris is having a very good season in Washington D.C. and the Wizards are a solid playoff team in the Eastern Conference. Morris is shooting 47-percent from the floor since December and is averaging almost 15 points and 7 rebounds per game. Yes, he was not good at all here in Phoenix(I’m being kind), but once again, a change of scenery seems to have turned around a player that would’ve helped out in the rebuild mode. Morris will get booed and ripped when he comes back to the Valley on March 7th, but he’s the one starting on a playoff team. Just pointing out facts…
Commitment to Winning…
Good to hear that KPNX(Channel 12) has hired two front facing talent to go along with Bruce Cooper and Cameron Cox. A sports department that is four deep in on-air talent(plus producer and photographer) hasn’t been seen in the Valley in quite some time. I am sure that the other local TV sports guys are letting it be known to the powers-that-be that they are going into a sword fight with a piece of spaghetti when trying to cover one of the busiest sports markets in America. It’s one reason why I got out. Not committed to winning, not interested…
