PHOENIX -- The tree appeared a bit disheveled this season, but the root system is strong.
The Diamondbacks have not not had the season they wanted, and part of the fallout will include a new position for general manager Kevin Towers should he remain in the organization. Part of Towers' legacy, however, will include a farm system that is deep in prospects and enjoying unprecedented success.
The D-backs placed five minor-league affiliates in the playoffs this season, the most of any major-league team. Only one other team, the Los Angeles Angels, had as many as four. The D-backs' Hillsboro affiliate won the Northwest League championship, and their farmhands are also on the brink of titles in the Pacific Coast League and the California League.
And while player development is job one at the minor-league level, the D-backs also believe development is enhanced when the lessons learned include participation in meaningful games along the way.
They want to win, and they have.
"We do talk about winning a lot," said Mike Bell, the D-backs' director of player development. "We think that is important. Any time the teams can be involved in the playoffs, it's good.
"We find that when you try to win and play games to win, you do things naturally that are good for the players. It's a different atmosphere. The speed of the games can pick up. More important, they (the players) find out about themselves in that situation. We keep it perspective, too. You always have to do what's best for the players, but for our guys to pitch and play in the playoffs, it's huge."
First-year manager Phil Nevin has guided the Triple-A Reno Aces into the Pacific Coast League championship series against Omaha that begins Tuesday. Class A Visalia is one victory away from a California League title as it prepares for Game 4 of a five-game series against Bakersfield on Tuesday. Robbie Hammock is in his first season as manager there.
Hillsboro manager J.R. House won a league championship in his first season in that job after serving as the Hops' hitting coach last year. South Bend manager Mark Haley, the Midwest League's manager of the year in 2013, took the Silver Hawks to the playoffs for the seventh time in his 10 seasons there.
"Our coaching staff is so strong right now. They show the players the right way to go about their business," Bell said.
Charles Brewer
Right-hander Charles Brewer typifies the Aces' move into the Pacific Coast League championship series for the second time in three seasons. Brewer has a 1.64 ERA over five consecutive quality starts, and his 7-3 victory over Las Vegas on Saturday clinched a berth in the final series against Omaha that starts Tuesday.
"He looks real relaxed and comfortable. He's coming into his own," Bell said.
The Aces won 11 of their final 13 regular-season games and won a win-or-go-home game on Nick Ahmed's 10th-inning single to beat Sacramento 2-1 in the final game of the regular season. Shortstop prospect Ahmed hit .312 in the regular season and had eight hits, including a home run, in a four-game series victory over Las Vegas in the league semifinals.
"He wants the ball hit to him in those situations. He wants to be at the plate in those situations. He rises to the challenge," Bell said.
Left-hander Andrew Chafin, who handled his major league debut in August well, shut out Las Vegas on four hits in a 6-0 win in Game 2 of the Las Vegas series.
The Aces won the Triple-A championship in 2012.
Andy Green won his second consecutive Southern League manager of the year award this season as the BayBears made the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, but their string of three straight championship series appearances was stopped with a loss to Jacksonville in a semifinal series.
Mobile was the end point for several of the D-backs' top pitching prospects, including Arizona Fall League-bound Archie Bradley, Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair. All made playoff starts, and Blair was 4-1 with a 1.94 ERA in eight regular-season starts in Mobile, his third stop in his first full season after being a sandwich pick in the 2012 draft. Bradley continued to hit mid-90 mph with his fastball, but he walked 36 in 54 2-3 innings.
Jake Lamb was the league MVP despite missing the final month of the regular season after being promoted, and left fielder Tom Belza joined Lamb on the postseason all-star team. Third baseman Brandon Drury played well in the final month after a promotion from Visalia.
"Having a chance to play in that environment was good" for Drury and the other prospects, Bell said.
The Rawhide entered Tuesday night one victory away from their first California League title in 35 years, helped by strong seasons from Drury, first baseman Rudy Flores, outfielder Alex Glenn and closer Enrique Burgos.
Flores, who opened eyes with his hitting in major league spring training games, started slowly but came on strong, finishing with 35 doubles, 28 home runs and 100 RBI. He led the league in strikeouts and hardly walked, but his plate discipline improved as the seasons went on, Bell said.
Glenn, who attended Arizona Christian University after transferring from USC, had 24 homers, 89 RBI and stole 22 bases in his second full season. He almost doubled his totals in all three categories.
"As you get at-bats, you get better," Bell said. "You get more comfortable with who you are."
Burgos' fastball has hit 100 mph and is regularly north of 95 mph, and with more command this season came greater success. Burgos,6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, struck out 83 and walked 26 in 54 2-3 innings in the regular season, and he had saves in each of the two playoff series. He averaged 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings and is headed for the prospect-driven Arizona Fall League.
"He looks like a closer," Bell said.
Shortstop Andrew Velazquez made minor-league history when he reached base safely in 74 consecutive games, the longest known streak of its kind, although minor-league records are somewhat sketchy.
One thing that was known -- Velazquez, a seventh-round pick in 2012, made extensive strides after becoming more disciplined at the plate. When the Silver Hawks were eliminated in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs, Velazquez was promoted to Visalia for the rest of the postseason.
Left-hander Will Locante, an 11th round pick in 2011, made the same postseason move. After going 3-0 with four saves and a 1.53 ERA in South Bend, Locante made two scoreless appearances in the Rawhide's championship series. His fastball reaches the upper 90s.
The Hops were the first D-backs' affiliate to the top this season, winning their first Northwest title in their second season since moving from Yakima, Wash. The Hops swept a pair of best-of-three playoff series, beating three-time defending champion Spokane in the finals.
Left-hander Zac Curtis, a sixth-round choice in the 2014 draft out of Middle Tennessee State, saved all four playoff games, striking out seven and giving up two hits in four innings.
In a path similar to the one taken by D-backs outfielder David Peralta, outfielder Stewart Ijames was signed out of the independent Frontier League in July and finished with the Hops, who won 18 of their final 21 games.
Ijames had nine homers and 28 RBI in 27 games between Missoula and Hillsboro, joining the Hops the last week of the regular season. He was 5 for 14 with two homers and five RBI in the four-game playoff sweep.
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