David Peralta at the plate against the Reds. Image by Hayden Schiff. The day is June 1st, 2014, and the D-backs are in last place. The night before, Johnny Cueto’s fastball found A.J. Pollock’s hand and fractured it. With Mark Trumbo out since April with a fractured foot, the D-backs were running low on outfielders, … Continue reading A Farewell to David Peralta
Is the D-backs’ Hot Start Sustainable?
D-backs pitcher Zach Davies, then a Brewer, fires a pitch. Photo taken by David B. King. The D-backs are one of the hottest teams in baseball. Yes, the squad that went just 51-111 last season has now won 11 of their last 14 to improve to 17-14 on the season. As ludicrous as this sounds, … Continue reading Is the D-backs’ Hot Start Sustainable?
The Ketel Marte Extension, v 2.0
Photo taken by Hayden Schiff. Offseasons for non-contenders tend to be long and dreary. Your favorite player gets traded away for prospects, the best signing is a middling reliever or washup starter, and the eager expectation for the upcoming season lacks its pristine shine. While some of these characteristics are found in the D-backs’ offseason, … Continue reading The Ketel Marte Extension, v 2.0
Fall Prospect Notes
Archie, the Reno Aces mascot. Image curtesy of Ken Lund. The following are prospect notes based on live looks from the Arizona Fall League and the Arizona Complex League from Fall 2021: Slade Cecconi, RHP: Cecconi was a breath of fresh air among the Fall League. The league’s pitching is never quite as refined as … Continue reading Fall Prospect Notes
The Deterioration of the D-backs’ Rotation
Photo taken by Barry Stahl The D-backs’ collapse seemed rather sudden in the moment. A team that had been above .500 for three consecutive years and fairly aggressive in free agency (by their standards) somehow found themselves with a 77-145 record from 2020-2021. In hindsight, it seems a bit more predictable. The impoverished farm system … Continue reading The Deterioration of the D-backs’ Rotation
Welcome Back to Roof and Panels Open!
Welcome (back) to Roof and Panels Open! Before we bring in the actual baseball content, I wanted to take a quick moment to introduce myself and explain my goals for this site. Who are we? Well, “we” might be a bit generous. It’s me, Joshua Inman, and I intend this site to be a sabermetrically-inclined … Continue reading Welcome Back to Roof and Panels Open!
An Archive of My Work at The Rattle
I have been so honored to cover the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons at The Rattle. Below, you can find links to each piece that I wrote during that time:
Roof and Panels Closed
I have enjoyed writing at Roof and Panels Open over the past year, and I am excited to announce that I will now be writing at The Rattle with a talented team of writers. With that in mind, I will no longer be actively posting to Roof and Panels Open. The site will remain open … Continue reading Roof and Panels Closed
2019 Minor League Preview
Thanks in part to a front office that has held most of the farm together, the Diamondbacks' system has naturally begun working its way back towards to top of the league. Without international restrictions, the Dbacks have succeeded recently in the international markets, with the team particularly thriving in the Bahamas. In the states, the team's lower-level depth is beginning to graduate to the upper-minors, bringing long-awaited MLB graduations to the doorstep. While they have continued to struggle with the last two first-round draft picks, a heavy 2019 draft should bring this farm close to the top of the league, an incredible accomplishment for Mike Hazen.
Not Tanking When Everybody Else Is
Hazen has said over and over again that the Dbacks are looking to stay competitive, not going with the tanking route that has been so popular ever since the Astros lost their way to dominance. In a sense, it is hard to believe; they traded away their best player and casually let their next two best walk away without a fight. But Hazen isn't saying that the Dbacks are staying competitive just to sell tickets; he actually is gunning for a competitive season. Hazen chose not to trade away David Peralta, Nick Ahmed, and Robbie Ray, players that certainly could bring back large hauls but are losing their value as the clock ticks closer to free agency, instead waiting to see if the Dbacks will fake their way to playoff contention in the first half of the season.
Roof and Panels Open 