2009 Record: 70-92 .432
Run Differential: -62
Arizona just missed the playoffs in 2008 and hoped as their young players continued to gain experience and mature that 2009 would bring the playoffs to the desert. What the team didn't expect was a rash of injuries to some of their better players. Once Brandon Webb went down the rotation scrambled for arms. No one stepped up and the team really fell apart. Conor Jackson was felled with Valley Fever and later pneumonia. Not all was lost though. After struggling so badly in April the team considered demoting him, Justin Upton exploded and put up a .900 OPS resulting in his name being on several MVP ballots. Mark Reynolds also had a career year that included 44 home runs and shattered his single season strikeout record. As well as Upton and Reynolds played last year was how disappointing Chris Young was. Long expected to be a star, Young lost his starting job. Now the team is concerned he'll never pan out. Rookie Gerardo Parra showed he was read for the show after receiving extended playing time and Miguel Montero finally lived upon his promise. Clearly it was a season defined with highs and lows.
With several young players and a solid rotation there's still hops this team can compete for a playoff spot.
