Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Arizona Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate
in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier in the week, I asked you to pick the one group on the 2025 Diamondbacks, whom you held most responsible for missing out on the playoffs, and the eventual losing record. Here, in ascending order of votes received, are the results.
Offense: 2%
Almost entirely absolved of blame were the hitters, though the D-backs scored 95 fewer runs than 2024. The OPS dropped by twenty points, but what did collapse was their production in the clutch. In 2024, the D-backs had the best OPS with runners in scoring position in baseball, at .852, forty-three points better than anyone else. This year, much the same cast were over a hundred points worse with RISP – .744, good enough only for eighteenth and almost exactly at league average (.745). It certainly seems to suggest that “clutch” is not a reproducible skill. If the 2025 D-backs had been as good there as the previous year, Arizona likely makes the playoffs.
Ownership: 7%
To be fair, Ken Kendrick did open up the payroll to a record level this year. But you can still blame him for how it was used. He accepted full responsibility for a nightmare signing: “If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you’re talking to the guy that should be blamed because I brought it to their attention.” That was $22.5 million which could not be productively used this year in other areas, completing what was certainly the worst two-year deal in franchise history. Hopefully, the lesson has been learned that, sometimes the best thing an owner can do is stop meddling, and get out of the way of more knowledgeable people.
Starting pitching: 12%
I’m a little surprised this was so low. After all, the D-backs’ rotation finished 19th in ERA and 21st in fWAR. Oddly, they were third for innings pitched on 885.2 innings. Every other team to get 880 innings or more from their starters, went to the playoffs. They did post a winning record, going 55-47. Again, the other five teams to get that many rotation W’s, ended up in the post-season. But in Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt, the D-backs were the sole team to have three pitchers throw 150+ innings, each with an ERA+ below 90. The Nationals and Cardinals were the only other sides to have more than one this year.
Management/Coaches: 20%
This is a bit of a “catch all” group, encompassing everything from the GM, through the front office, to the manager and down onto the terror which was Shaun Larkin at third-base coach. But it’s hard to find much objective data for this category. Though with regard to Larkin, the D-backs 21 outs at home was top five in the majors – their basepath outs elsewhere were below MLB average. But I think most people were likely leaning towards either Mike Hazen, for failing to construct a sturdy roster, or Torey Lovullo, for poor in-game choices, such as reliever usage. Though it appears his freedom in such decisions may be more constrained than fans think.
Relief pitching: 59%
This is my first unsurprised face of the off-season. The bullpen has been an Achilles heel for Hazen, for close to a decade, and this year was… yeah, again, it was bad. The 4.82 ERA they posted was ahead only of the nightmare which was 2021 (5.08), over Hazen’s tenure as GM. The same goes for the team’s 114 shutdown appearances, a number which ranked dead-last in the majors. Their Win Probability of -409% was ahead only of the White Sox – and that due only to Chicago posting a -47.5% in their penultimate game. Four home-runs by Suarez? Ten-run inning? There seemed no opportunity Arizona’s bullpen was not prepared to squander. Here’s to better in 2026! Please?
