Garland Is First Step In Arizona’s World Series Path

By Jason M. Williams

The Arizona Diamondbacks have just officially signed free agent pitcher Jon Garland.  Garland will now step into his comfortable number-three hole to balance a top-heavy staring rotation featuring Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.  Given his previous postseason success with the 2005 champion Chicago White Sox, he adds another dimension to this team aching to get back to the World Series for the first time since 2001.

But is the Garland signing enough?  Sure, Garland is solid.  In the hitter-friendly American League, Garland has posted a career mark of 106-89 with a 4.47 ERA.  Most notable about Garland is his consistency and unflappable calm on the hill during pressure situations, as he has made at least 32 starts and pitched 191 innings in each of his last seven seasons.

But he is only the first piece of the puzzle for the D-Backs.  With the pitching staff now set, they must improve the lineup.  Arizona lacks power and it has hurt them in the past couple of seasons.  Sure, they can bring back free agent Adam Dunn to provide some pop, but there is one glaring move that could seal the deal for this team to win the NL West and possibly put them over the top to become NL champs:  Sign Manny Ramirez.

Not only would adding Manny give them a charismatic personality in the clubhouse and put fans in the seats, but it would also rip the hearts out of the division rival Dodgers and give them Earth’s most feared hitter.  Grabbing Garland was a savvy move to bolster their starting pitching, but adding Manny may be the final piece of the puzzle.