Diamondbacks hanging tough despite big issues

The Diamondbacks have two problems. One is at the front of the rotation. The other is at the back of the bullpen.

Nearly 10 percent of the season is in the books. The Diamondbacks have a winning record, a fighting spirit and two budding problems.

They have an ace who no longer looks the part, a quirky sort who is threatening to become the next pariah in Arizona. And at the back end of the bullpen, they have a closer who could bring unnecessary drama to a team hoping to end up on the playoff periphery.

One comes with an easy solution. The other could cripple the franchise, tapping into the deep well of negative energy in the Valley.

First, Zack Greinke, who has been a mediocre pitcher over 29 career starts with the Diamondbacks. Owner Ken Kendrick said his $206.5 million investment does not have health issues. He likened Greinke to Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, who struggled against certain opponents. He does not sound overly worried, and unlike his relationship with former star Justin Upton, he will not voice any disappointment or frustrations.

“The longer I’ve been involved in this game, the more I’ve come to rely on professional judgment,” Kendrick said. “I entrust all of that to (General Manager) Mike Hazen and his guys.”

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Greinke’s sudden decline is baffling. From 2013-15, he was one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. Yet his ERA ballooned nearly three points to 4.37 in 2016, his worst season in 11 years. After much speculation about his declining velocity in spring training, he hasn’t been much better so far this season.

Most sports fans don’t take kindly to underperforming players who earn exorbitant salaries, especially when their personality doesn’t elicit empathy or resonate with the paying spectators. The reactions can be acute in Arizona, where many transient fans take pleasure in ridiculing the local teams that fail, the ones that don’t measure up to their hometown favorites.

If Greinke doesn’t get better soon, he will become a subject of derision at the ballpark and around Valley water coolers. Just ask Andre Wadsworth, Anfernee Hardaway, Russ Ortiz and Eric Byrnes how that feels. It could even happen to a player as beloved as the Honey Badger, especially if Tyrann Mathieu can’t stay on the field after signing a $62.5 million contract extension with the Cardinals.

Remember this: Greinke isn’t to blame for his salary. He merely accepted an extremely generous offer. Meanwhile, Kendrick should be cheered for taking an enormous financial risk to win a championship. And in real time, most of the Valley was electrified by the acquisition, believing a legitimate ace would put the team over the top.

If Greinke, 33, has lost whatever made him special, he could go down as one of the biggest busts in free agent history. He’s practically untradable at the moment, and his contract could make it impossible for the team to keep Paul Goldschmidt or sign any big-name players in the future.

My advice? Keep calm and carry on to the concession stand. Be assured that the highly analytical Greinke spends more time at his craft than most starting pitchers. If anyone can figure out how to reverse this unnerving trend and bring commensurate value to the mound, it’s Greinke.

The closer, Fernando Rodney, is something different altogether. He’s 40 years old and unleashed a 98-mph fastball to close out Monday’s victory against the Dodgers. He’s one of four pitchers to average more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched while throwing more than 30 innings after the age of 39. Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan are also in that exclusive club.

Johnson and Rodney have also penned two of the strangest split seasons in baseball history before joining the Diamondbacks. Johnson spent the first half of 1998 in the tank, posting a 9-10 record with the Mariners. He was traded to Houston and was practically untouchable.

Rodney did the same in 2016, only in reverse. He allowed only one earned run in 28 games with the Padres, but was simply atrocious after being traded to Miami. His debut season with the Diamondbacks has offered a little of both.

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Entering Tuesday’s game against the Padres, Rodney had an eye-popping ERA of 8.53, allowing six runs in 6 1/3 innings. He was also 5-for-5 in save situations. That’s why he’s considered more of an experience than a relief pitcher.

Rodney has the necessary swagger that his position demands. But a never-ending tightrope act can wear out a team and its fan base, especially if the Diamondbacks are playing meaningful baseball games in August and September. Fortunately, the team might have a ready replacement in Archie Bradley, a pitcher who is finally coming into his own and could be perfectly suited for a closer’s role. Nobody knows for sure until they encounter the pressure that comes with recording the last three outs.

“I’m pleased with the start,” Kendrick said. “They absolutely do not give up, which is a great trait for any squad to have. But it’s not quite clear the level of talent we have when you take it piece by piece. We have areas of real strength and areas where we aren’t exactly sure.”

This much is certain: If Greinke can find his way back to dominance, things will brighten considerably. Maybe the incoming humidor will unlock his missing magic. If not, he might want to spend some of that money on ear muffs.

Reach Bickley at [email protected] or 602-444-8253. Follow him on twitter.com/dan.bickley. Listen to “Bickley and Marotta” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.