Out of the cellar, but make no mistake the Arizona Diamondbacks still are sellers this season, even after their impressive 5 run 8th and season high 5-game winning streak. Burnsy also lacks optimism for the “Mark the Vote” campaign, as it appears Reynolds will fall short in the end. But, in the end, didn’t the 5 names that didn’t get into the All-Star game didn’t get in because the fans didn’t get it right the first time? So why not give them another chance, only this time we’ll narrow the choices. Like someone that can’t do an essay question, so you give them multiple choice answers instead. I hate that. Instead, we should have a veto vote for the fans. You give them names of players who were voted in that really don’t deserve it. The fans get the veto power, and the manager appoints a worthy replacement. The list for veto includes:

1. Derek Jeter – good offensive numbers, not great, and is anything but great at SS anymore
2. Josh Hamilton – has been hurt – c’mon!
3. Dustin Pedroia – 762 OPS, and gets the nod ahead of Lind and Kinsler!
4. Tim Wakefield- managers choice, for the record, but why choose anyone with a 4.30 ERA?
5. Yadier Molina – OK, he’s a catcher, but a .389 SLG???

Amare Stoudemire speaks - But who’s really listening? Probably not the Suns, at least not in regards to a contract extension. That has Amare questioning his future with the organization, but is there really a future direction for this organization? Burnsy doesn’t see it, all while seeing teams like Dallas committing to acquiring players like Shawn Marion, while the Suns just seem interested.

Doesn’t it seem like everyone is really interested in the Cards right now? Yeah, just ask Darnell Dockett, who held the Valley hostage via his Twitter account. It’s unofficial pre-pre season hype time for the Arizona Cardinals. People are geared up; they are ready for another Super Bowl run, but are expectations manageable for a team that has gone to the playoffs twice while in Arizona, and to the Super Bowl only once in it’s existence. How good do you feel about this team’s Super Bowl chances, as compared with some of the other great Arizona teams coming off of their greatest seasons?

October, 1993 – Suns coming off a magical 62-20 season, and heartbreaking NBA Finals loss to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Jordan has since retired, leaving the Suns as one of the frontrunners for the NBA championship. Their roster is basically intact; Tom Chambers is gone, and AC Green is in. Richard Dumas has fallen off the wagon again, and Joe Kleine was added as a free-agent.
Confidence meter: 90 out of 100
Result: 56-26 record, and semifinal loss to the eventual NBA Champion Houston Rockets in 7 games.

October, 1994 – The disappointment of the previous year has caused Phoenix to load up in the offseason. Danny Manning was added for pocket change, and a promise from Jerry Colangelo. The Suns also added Wayman Tisdale through free-agency and 3-point specialist Wesley Person through the draft. The Suns did lose center Oliver Miller to the Pistons, and Cedric Ceballos to the Lakers.
Confidence meter: 90-100
Result: A great start and an incredible regular season OT win over the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic quickly subsides when Manning is lost in February. Despite this, the Suns take the eventual champion Houston Rockets to the limit, losing in 7 games to the team that would meet (and defeat) the Magic in the NBA Finals.

July, 1999 – The Arizona Cardinals head to camp coming off their first playoff season in Arizona. But, key members from that team have left Arizona in the offseason, including Lomas Brown, Larry Centers, and Jamir Miller. They still future a young nucleolus of Jake Plummer, Frank Sanders, Andre Wadsworth, and Simeon Rice. They’ve also added (via the draft) L.J. Shelton and David Boston
Confidence meter: 70-100
Result: The magic was not back, and the Cardinals were not back in the playoffs. They finish 4th in the NFC East with a 6-10 record. Their once promising offense ranks 30th out of 31 teams in points scored.

February, 2000 – The Arizona Diamondbacks begin their 3rd spring training with big expectations. The D-backs are coming off a 100 win season and a playoff loss to the New York Mets. The team is basically back, with the exception of starter Andy Benes.
Confidence meter: 75-100
Result: A disappointing start is aided, briefly, by the addition of Curt Schilling. Injuries to Matt Williams and irritation with manager Buck Showalter eventually bring the team down, though. Arizona wins 85 games, but misses the playoffs; Showalter is fired at years end.

February, 2001 – Like the Suns in 1995, the D-backs disappointment has caused Colangelo to go on the offensive. He adds FA Mark Grace, and Reggie Sanders. Everything else is in tact, although Todd Stottlemyre is shutdown with injuries.
Confidence meter: 85-100
Result: It worked. Schilling and Johnson combine to be the most dominant 1-2 combo this side of Koufax and Drysdale. Sanders provides a punch-less lineup with some much needed pop, and Byung Kim steps in for Mantei at closer. Despite some shaky pitching from Kim, the D-backs beat the Yankees in 7 in the World Series.

February, 2002 – The defending World Series champs still have Johnson and Schilling, and still have issues on offense and with their #3 starter. An increased role for Danny Bautista (Sanders is gone) and Rick Helling is supposed to help both (but neither really pans out).
Confidence meter: 95-100
Result: It starts well, with the D-backs 37 games over .500 by late August. But adding injury to inefficiency, Gonzo goes down and the offense never really recovers. This wastes another stellar year from Johnson and Schilling, and the D-backs are bounced from the NLDS in three games to the Cardinals.

October, 2005 –Suns coming off another 62-20 year, albeit an unexpected one, since they finished with 29 wins the year before. The Suns also deal with the unexpected departure of Joe Johnson, who wants to go to Atlanta. The Suns oblige and get Boris Diaw and draft pick in exchange. They acquire James Jones from Indiana to help offset the Johnson departure, along with FA signee Raja Bell. The club also acquires Kurt Thomas to play center.
Confidence meter: 87-100
Result: Surprising in many regards. Bell does well in Johnson’s absence; Diaw steps in for an injured Amare. Still, after a memorable series with Kobe and the Lakers in the 1st and the other LA team in the 2nd, the Suns go down, once again, in the Western Finals, this time to the Dallas Mavericks.

October, 2006 – Amare is back, along with the core of last year’s team. Tim Thomas has departed for the Clippers, and the Suns add Marcus Banks to be Nash’s backup after Eddie House is not retained.
Confidence meter: 94-100
Result: Well, this is mixed bag, Amare returns, despite a pre-season knee scare (minor surgery is needed), and plays very well. Diaw does not, perhaps since Stoudemire has taken his role in the offense. Again, the Suns beat the Lakers and again the fall to the Spurs, in controversial fashion. There’s an asterisk next to this one.

October, 2007 - After finishing the 07 playoffs in controversial fashion, the Suns seem hungry for a title. Kurt Thomas is gone, and so is James Jones. Grant Hill and Brian Skinner are brought aboard thru free-agency and the Suns finally keep their draft pick! Alando Tucker from Wisconsin is selected with the 29th overall pick.
Confidence meter: 95-100
Result: This one just never really took off. Marion is disgruntled and the Suns fail to add Kevin Garnett in the off-season. The Suns also miss out on high draft pick, after the lottery balls land the Hawks the 3rd overall pick (it was lottery pick). The Suns respond to the off-season turmoil with a sluggish start and Mike D’Antoni lashes out at the fans. The Lakers overtake Phoenix in the Pacific and land Pau Gasol. The Suns deal Marion to Miami for Shaq, but the trade never really delivers anything but another painful playoff loss to the Spurs.

February, 2008 – The D-backs are coming off a memorable season, one which saw them win 90 games and return to the NLCS. The team added Dan Haren in the off-season and features a young nucleus that can only get better, with Chris Young, Conor Jackson, and Stephen Drew all entering their prime years. Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds also figure to get better. Randy Johnson is also healthy and figures to round out a strong rotation featuring Brandon Webb, Haren, and Doug Davis.
Confidence meter: 92-100
Result: After a scorching April, the rug is pulled out from underneath Arizona. Brandon Lyon fails to replace Jose Valverde, as the young lineup struggles to score runs. Orlando Hudson goes down in September once again, and the D-backs trade for Adam Dunn in an effort to replace Hudson’s bat and keep up with the Dodgers, who have added Manny Ramirez. It doesn’t matter, though, as Arizona finishes 82-80, 2nd to LA in the NL West standings.

July, present – The Arizona Cardinals are coming off a Super Bowl appearance with their roster basically intact. Edgerrin James is gone at RB, with Beanie Wells being drafted as his eventual replacement. Anquan Boldin was not traded and is now Rosenhaus-less. Darnell Dockett still employs Rosenhaus, but will not holdout. Todd Haley is now the head coach in Kansas City, and Clancy Pendergast is his defensive coordinator.
Confidence meter: ?????