The Arizona Diamondbacks were one of baseball’s surprise teams in 2023. After initially making the postseason in 2017, Arizona would go five straight seasons without going to the playoffs. After a run like that, these days most teams fire their manager. However, Arizona opted to stay the course. This year, Arizona managed to just snag the final Wild Card spot and went all the way to the World Series. This might not have happened if they fired manager Torey Lovullo. Arizona’s loyalty to Lovullo is a lesson on the power of patience.
A Surprisingly Successful First Season
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter the 2016 season, the Diamondbacks fired manager Chip Hale after two seasons. The Diamondbacks never had a winning season during Hale’s short tenure. In his place, Arizona hired then-Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo. He was hired due in part to him and general manager Mike Hazen working together during their time in Boston. Hazen was the general manager in the Red Sox front office under Dave Dombrowski during Lovullo’s time in Boston’s dugout.
The first year went surprisingly well for the Diamondbacks. Arizona made it back to the postseason for the first time in six years. They would win their Wild Card game against the Colorado Rockies before being dispatched by the Dodgers in the NLDS. For his efforts, Lovullo would be named the 2017 NL Manager of the Year.
Five Lean Years
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite a promising start, the following five years would be very trying for Arizona. The Diamondbacks would miss the postseason all five of those years. This included a 110-loss nightmare in 2021. The Diamondbacks would also see the departures of many key players including Paul Goldschmidt, Robbie Ray, Zack Greinke, A.J. Pollock, Patrick Corbin, and Brandon Drury.
The Diamondbacks Patience Paid Off
Embed from Getty ImagesMost teams would’ve fired their manager after the past five seasons Arizona had. Despite Arizona being in a rebuild, most managers often don’t get to see the brighter days. However, despite the lean years, Arizona didn’t fire Lovullo. Instead, they stuck to his philosophy. Under his tutelage, Zac Gallen, Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, Christian Walker, and Gabriel Moreno are looking like bonified stars. All five of those players have become core members of this team.
Two years after losing 110 games, the Diamondbacks returned to the postseason. The D-Backs managed to secure the final wild card spot on the last day of the season. Despite being a heavy underdog, Arizona swept the Brewers and Dodgers on the road. In the NLCS, the Diamondbacks would upset the Philadelphia Phillies in seven games sending them to their second World Series ever. However, despite putting up a good fight against the Texas Rangers, the clock would strike midnight for Cinderella, and they’d lose the World Series in five games.
In an era where owners and general managers are impatient to win, Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks proved that patience is a virtue. Having continuity with a coaching staff is the key to success in baseball. Continuity gives players a chance to develop into stars and teams the opportunity to win championships. Seeing what the Diamondbacks were able to do this year with that model, I believe more teams should try to emulate it. After all, if the Diamondbacks can do it so can the rest of the league. The result of keeping Torey Lovullo through hard times is that the future has never looked brighter for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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