PHOENIX (AP) — Looking back on it, the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2009 season may have ended after four innings.
That's how long Brandon Webb lasted against Colorado on opening day. The Diamondbacks won the game but lost their ace for the season to a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery.
But injuries were only part of the story. In early May, desperate to jump-start a slumping team, the Diamondbacks replaced manager Bob Melvin with A.J. Hinch, a front-office staffer with no managerial experience. The move produced no improvement on the field, where the Diamondbacks seemed mystified by fundamentals.
The end result was a 70-92 record and Arizona's third last-place finish in its 12-year history.
