A fractured right ankle ended 28-year old lefty swinging SS Stephen Drew’s 2011 season early last year. He might not be ready to start the 2012 season on time. Drew played in 86 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 81 of 321 (.252 avg, .713 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 5 homers, 45 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 733 games in his first six years with the D-Backs and he is 750 of 2,782 (.270 avg, .773 OPS) with 376 runs scored, 70 homers, 321 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. Drew played in 84 games at SS last year for the D-Backs in which he had 7 errors while showing pretty awful range. The D-Backs shouldn’t rush Drew back to action, as they need him for the long haul.

34-year old switch-hitting Willie Bloomquist is likely #2 in line at SS for the D-Backs. He played in 97 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 93 of 350 (.266 avg, .657 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 4 homers, 26 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Bloomquist has now played in 845 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 588 of 2,226 (.264 avg, .654 OPS) with 318 runs scored, 17 homers, 170 RBIs and 124 stolen bases. He only had 5 errors in 59 games at SS last year while showing awful range.

37-year old righty swinging John McDonald played in 19 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 10 for 59 (.169 avg, .426 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs. He played in 84 games overall last year for the D-Backs and Blue Jays and he was 52 of 227 (.229 avg, .577 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 2 homers, 22 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 884 games in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 498 of 2,092 (.238 avg, .601 OPS) with 248 runs scored, 21 homers, 179 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. McDonald had 2 errors in 38 games at SS last year while showing out of this world range. If McDonald was a better hitter, he likely would have won some Gold Gloves by now as he is a wizard with the glove.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: B-

The D-Backs are hoping for big things out of 29-year old righty swinging 2B Aaron Hill in 2012. He played in 33 games for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 39 of 124 (.315 avg, .878 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 2 homers, 16 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Hill played in 137 games overall last year with the Blue Jays & D-Backs and he was 128 of 520 (.246 avg, .655 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 8 homers, 61 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Hill has now played in 908 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 920 of 3,450 (.267 avg, .737 OPS) with 459 runs scored, 98 homers, 425 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. Hill had 7 errors in 137 games at 2B last year while showing pretty poor range. The D-Backs are banking on Hill returning to being one of the better offensive 2B in baseball in 2012.

John McDonald and Willie Bloomquist will be Hill’s backups in 2012. McDonald played in 21 games at 2B last year and he only had 1 error while showing off good range as he is a wizard with the mitt. Willie Bloomquist played in 1 error-free game at 2B for the D-Backs last year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: B

The Diamondbacks appear ready to fork over the starting 1B job to 24-year old righty swinging Paul Goldschmidt in 2012. Goldschmidt played in 48 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 39 for 156 (.250 avg, .808 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 8 homers, 26 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He did whiff 53 times last year for the D-Backs, but that’s the price you pay for his power. Goldschmidt also played in 103 games in AA-ball last year and he was 112 of 366 (.306 avg, 1.061 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 30 homers, 94 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Not only does Goldschmidt have big time power in his bat, but he also has a solid glove. He didn’t make any errors in 43 games at 1B last year.

35-year old lefty swinging Lyle Overbay will likely give Goldschmidt a few days off this year against tough righty starting pitchers. Overbay played in 18 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 12 for 42 (.286 avg, .840 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer, 10 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Overbay played in 121 games over last year for the Pirates & D-Backs and he was 92 for 394 (.234 avg, .670 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 9 homers, 47 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Overbay has now played in 1,259 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 1,158 of 4,283 (.270 avg, .793 OPS) with 566 runs scored, 131 homers, 571 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Overbay had 8 errors in 109 games at 1B last year so he needs to improve with the mitt in 2012.

31-year old lefty swinging Mike Jacobs will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball. Jacobs played in 117 games in AAA-ball for the Rockies last year and he was 128 of 429 (.298 avg, .910 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 23 homers, 97 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Jacobs last played in the majors in 2010 for the Mets. He has played in 556 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 489 for 1,930 (.253 avg, .787 OPS) with 244 runs scored, 100 homers, 310 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Jacobs is not a good defensive 1B.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: B

28-year old lefty swinging Miguel Montero had a true breakout year for the D-Backs in 2012. He played in 140 games for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 139 for 493 (.282 avg, .820 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 18 homers, 86 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Montero has now played in 513 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 442 for 1,629 (.271 avg, .789 OPS) with 216 runs scored, 58 homers, 246 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Montero had 11 errors and 8 passed balls in 134 games behind the plate for the D-Backs last year. He also threw out 28 of 80 (35%) runners trying to steal on him last year and D-Backs’ pitchers had a 3.60 ERA with him behind the dish. The D-Backs are hoping that Montero can stay healthy again in 2012 and build off his success of last year.

40-year old righty swinging Henry Blanco will back up Montero again in 2012. Blanco played in 37 games for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 25 for 100 (.250 avg, .870 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 8 homers and 12 RBIs. Blanco has now played in 900 games in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 584 of 2,563 (.228 avg, .662 OPS) with 257 runs scored, 68 homers, 277 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Blanco only had 1 error and 1 passed ball in 37 games behind the plate last for the D-Backs. Blanco threw out 8 of 24 (33.3%) base stealers last year and Diamondbacks’ pitchers had a 4.63 ERA with him behind the dish. Blanco is still a great defensive catcher and he can whack a homer once in a while too.

28-year old righty swinging Craig Tatum is in camp but he will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball. Tatum played in 31 games for the Orioles last year and he was 17 for 87 (.195 avg, .475 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 0 homers, 7 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 100 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 60 for 269 (.223 avg, .554 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 1 homer, 22 RBIs and 2 stolen base. Tatum played in 30 games behind the plate for the Orioles last year and he had 3 errors and 1 passed ball. Tatum threw out 8 of 28 (28.6%) base stealers and Orioles’ pitchers had a 5.97 ERA with him behind the plate.

32-year old righty swinging Ryan Budde will also be starting the year in the minors in 2012. Budde played in 68 games in AAA-ball for the Blue Jays last year and he was 51 for 218 (.234 avg, .707 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 7 homers, 30 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He last played in the majors back in 2010 with the Angels. Budde has now played in 29 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 7 for 33 (.212 avg, .599 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: A

The Arizona Diamondbacks added righty Takashi Saito and lefty Craig Breslow over the winter to the bullpen and it will really tighten it up for 2012. Here is a look at the 2012 bullpen as of right now:

Closer: J.J. Putz: 34-year old righty J.J. Putz will try to duplicate his outstanding 2011 season in 2012 for the D-Backs. He pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 2-2 with 45 saves, a 2.17 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Putz has now pitched in 457 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 32-26 with 151 saves, a 3.06 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

Set-Up Man: David Hernandez: 26-year old righty David Hernandez was outstanding in 2011 in his first year as a full-time reliever. He pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 5-3 with 11 saves, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 135 games (27 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he was 17-21 with 13 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. I look for Hernandez to be even better in 2012 for the Diamondbacks.

Righties: Takashi Saito: 42-year old Takashi Saito will take over as the 7th inning man for the D-Backs as long as he can stay healthy. He pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Saito has now pitched in 322 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 21-15 with 84 saves, a 2.18 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. This was an outstanding addition for the D-Backs as Saito is a pretty darn good relief pitcher.

Brad Ziegler: 32-year old submariner Brad Ziegler will be with the D-Backs from the start of the year in 2012. He pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 0-0 with a 1.74 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He pitched in 66 games (0 starts) overall last year for the A’s & D-Backs and he was 3-2 with 1 save, a 2.16 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He has now pitched in 246 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 11-13 with 19 saves, a 2.43 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He is going to be a big time asset for the D-Backs in 2012.

Bryan Shaw: 24-year old Bryan Shaw looked pretty darn good in his first taste of the majors last year. He pitched in 33 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 1-0 with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Shaw also pitched well in the minors last year. He pitched in 31 games in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 4-1 with 16 saves, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.

Sam Demel: 26-year old Sam Demel is going to have to fight for a spot in the pen this spring. He pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 2-2 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Demel has now pitched in 71 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 4-3 with 2 saves, a 4.88 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.

Jonathan Albaladejo: 29-year old Jonathan Albaladejo pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in Japan last year and he was 2-2 with 2 saves, a 2.45 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2010 for the Yankees. He has pitched in 63 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 6-3 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He will make the D-Backs’ bullpen if he has a good spring.

Jensen Lewis: 27-year old Jensen Lewis had a rough year in 2011. He pitched in 22 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Indians last year and he was 3-2 with 2 saves, a 5.14 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. Lewis last pitched in the majors in 2010 for the Indians. He has pitched in 161 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 7-11 with 14 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. A change of scenery could do wonders for Lewis, who has pitched pretty well in the majors to this point in his career.

Lefties: Craig Breslow: 31-year old Craig Breslow came to the D-Backs over the winter in the Trevor Cahill deal with the A’s. Breslow pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the A’s last year and he was 0-2 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 295 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 12-17 with 6 saves, a 3.06 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Breslow will be the lefty used latest in games by the D-Backs in 2012.

Joe Paterson: 25-year old Joe Paterson turned in a solid rookie season as a Rule 5 Draft Pick in 2011. Paterson pitched in 62 games (0 starts) as a rookie for the D-Backs in 2011 and he was 0-3 with 1 save, a 2.91 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Paterson will likely be used just like he was in 2011, as a situation lefty.

Zach Kroenke: 27-year old Zach Kroenke pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs last year and he was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He also pitched in 23 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 10-3 with a 5.89 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Kroenke has now pitched in 7 games (1 start) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. He will likely start the year in AAA-ball in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: A