It reminds me of the Suns from a few years ago. The first year of Steve Nash, remember? They were picked to finish sixth, seventh, eighth in the West. Some didn’t think they’d make the playoffs.

That team blew the doors off the NBA and went to the Western Conference Finals. And even though they lost that series and failed in their goal to get to the NBA Finals, it didn’t matter. That series loss stung for, I don’t know, 20 minutes. Tops. Because you knew it was just a start and the future had limitless potential. I wasn’t upset by that series loss, I was encouraged.

The same goes for the 2007 D-Backs. Getting swept by Colorado hurts, especially when you add up all the breaks that went their way. Seth Smith hitting a dying quail for a two run bloop double was absurd. But the D-backs talent is young and getting better. The GM is bright and deft in his touch. The manager turned heads, opened eyes and changed opinions with his style this year. There is nothing to be disappointed about. Here’s quickie run down on the D-backs headed into the offseason.

Pitchers:

Brandon Webb: Only going to get better. Watching him and Jake Peavy battle each other for the Cy Young award for the next half-decade will be treat.

Doug Davis: The numbers he put up this season are very similar to what you’ll get out of him every year. Still don’t trust him, he’s awfully hit-able. But you can’t argue with the second half results.

Livan Hernandez: Free agent. He’s gone.

Randy Johnson: If you had to bet a paycheck that he’d be healthy for even half a season, would you? Me neither. Just don’t think he can hold up but he’ll give it a go next year.

Micah Owings: Intriguing. Does he hit eighth next year? Seventh? Fifth? Does that bruise egos? Do they find a position (first base) for him to get his bat in the lineup? He needs to get more economical. He has a tendency to have that one inning where the pitch count goes through the roof. But watching him drill Matt Holliday in Game 4 was a revelation.

Jose Valverde: The 11^th inning of Game 2 against the Rockies aside, he was the D-backs MVP this year. Is it asking too much to expect him to duplicate his success next year? I fear it might.

Brandon Lyon: Don’t know how he does it, but he does. Despite not being much of a strikeout guy, had a lot of success in the eighth. I like his makeup a lot, he’s got guts.

Tony Pena: Was dominant except for a three week stretch in September when fatigue led to a drop in confidence. If Valverde falters, Pena’s the man.

Juan Cruz: Electric. Very valuable.

Dustin Nippert: Curious to see what happens with him. Every time he’s been put in the starting rotation he’s been just so-so, but as a reliever he was great. I actually felt comfortable with him in the game. Does he get another shot?

Edgar Gonzalez, Yusmeiro Petit: No opinion whatsoever.

Infielders:

Chris Snyder: The leader. Respected. Love this guy. If he hits like he did in the second half he becomes one of the most well rounded catchers in the National League.

Miguel Montero: Good stick, but with no Livan next year, who does he catch? Pales in comparison to Snyder defensively.

Conor Jackson: Just doesn’t have the pop. Don’t think he ever will. He’ll give you a good at bat, but, first base is a power position. If you’re going to play a contact hitter at first then he better be able to pick it. Connor can’t. Would be gone if not for Chad Tracy microfracture.

Tony Clark: Must keep him here. Must.

Orlando Hudson: He’ll be back next year. Was missed against Rockies.

Stephen Drew: Breakout postseason, hit .387 in the NLDS and NLCS. Baserunning mistake in Game 2 (assuming he’s out when he was actually called safe) and swinging 3-0 in the 9^th in Game 4 showed his youth. But give him time, he’s going to get there and stay there.

Mark Reynolds: Along with Justin Upton, is the guy who most impacts what the D-backs could be. He is the legit 30-35 home run threat this team is dying for. Can he get there next year or do they need another power bat now?

Augie Ojeda, Jeff Cirillo, Alberto Callaspo: Nothing special and certainly replaceable.

Outfielders:

Justin Upton: Don’t know if it will be next year or the year after but the kid is going to be fantastic. Like Reynolds, in time, he’ll be the power bat the team needs.

Chris Young: Must cut down on the K’s. Average and On Base Percentage have to improve. But the White Sox have to be watching this kid and wondering what they were thinking about when trading him away. The tools are there.

 

Eric Byrnes: The first half of the season was huge for Byrnes, the second half he was known more for what he said than what he did. At times he was just invisible in this lineup. Time to start earning the contract. I don’t mind the razzle dazzle stuff as long as he backs it up. Flip all you want after you throw the ball, just so long as you’re throwing it where it needs to go and you’re not popping up every other pitch.

Jeff Salazar: Like this guy as fourth outfielder, but not as platoon player.

Management:

Josh Byrnes: Has done such a good job. Savvy beyond his years. I am very comfortable with him in charge making baseball decisions. Can’t help to wonder if he was overridden by Jeff Moorad in the Eric Byrnes deal. Did he really want Byrnes back at $10 million a year for three years? The waiver-wire decisions (Kim, Kennedy and Cirillo) were really the only poor decisions during his tenure.

Bob Melvin: Many of the moves in the NLCS didn’t work out. I stand by his decision to leave Valverde in game two. But I thought he left Micah in too long in Game 4. And there just wasn’t enough of putting the runners in motion against the Rockies. But, that’s small-picture thinking. Big picture? He is the Manager of the Year in the National League and it’s not even close.