OPINIONS.AZCENTRAL.COM There’s always next year for the dumpster fire we call a ball team

My prediction for the rest of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ season: They will lose 17 straight games, but will win their last two and General Manager Mike Hazen will affirm that they are an up-andcoming team that jelled at the right time, closed out the season strong and the core group of this amazingly talented team is poised for a run at the Dodgers in 2022.

CEO Derrick Hall and owner Ken Kendrick will sign head coach Torey Lovullo to a new contract in perpetuity and make him the lowest paid manager in MLB, as is fitting of his abilities.

They will talk of the great front office job they’ve done and announce they will hire 100 new season-ticket employees as they expect a surging demand for those tickets from their loyal Diamondbacks suckers ... oops, sorry, fan base.

Torey will state that Ketel Marte will be 250% healthy for next year and will play all 162 games at second base and centerfield and will also be the closer and bullpen coach.

Also, Torey will say he believes in this unit and with better weather, a few more umpire calls going the Diamondbacks way, a better post-game meal caterer and the end of COVID-19 will make us contenders next year.

George Schele, Phoenix