The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to re-sign manager Torey Lovullo to a two-year extension. Bringing Lovullo back was important for this franchise and its growth and where it may be headed in the future. Another reason as well is the potential shortage of managers to hire in Major League Baseball. Here are three reasons why it was necessary to extend the Diamondbacks’ manager.
Three Reasons Why Extending Manager Torey Lovullo Was Important
1. Stability and Culture
Bringing back Lovullo was key to the stability and culture that he provides for the franchise and clubhouse together. The Diamondbacks are far better off with someone they are familiar with instead of doing a search for a manager that may take time and may not get to coach right away because of a potential work stoppage in MLB. Lovullo is 750-768 with the Diamondbacks. So far in his time in Arizona, He has been able to build a solid culture that eventually transformed into winning more postseason games down the line.
This is important because, prior to the 2017 playoff appearance, the Diamondbacks did not reach the postseason after the 2011 playoff run. However, the stability and culture have improved.
Besides the under .500 record for Lovullo’s career, there have been some bright spots overall, but that needs to be consistent and backed by more regular-season success to bring more playoff appearances.
2. More Possible Postseason Success
After making the National League Wildcard in 2017 and winning a playoff series against the Colorado Rockies and losing in the National League Division Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona missed the postseason from 2018-2022 due to really poor regular seasons. However, the Diamondbacks were able to kick it into high gear in the 2023 season with a pretty solid all-around roster, which started with Arizona’s pitching staff.
In 2021, to really maximize the pitching staff for improvements in the road seasons such as 2022 and 2023, the Diamondbacks and Lovullo made an underrated hire in nabbing pitching coach Brent Strom. Right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen, who was one of the better pitchers in 2023, led that pitching staff as one of the top pitchers to watch during the postseason. In 2023 overall, there was a noticeable difference in the team’s performance compared to years in the past.
Under Lovullo in 2023, the Diamondbacks were also able to knock out the Dodgers in the NLDS and then the World Series runner-ups in 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies, in exactly seven games in the National League Championship Series. Arizona eventually went on to the World Series and faced the Texas Rangers, losing in five games. But the team finally went back to the World Series that season, not having been since 2001.
Nevertheless, Lovullo’s playoff record is not the greatest in his time in Arizona. He must keep having more success just to keep taking this franchise to higher places. It may not be the most popular re-signing, and there could have been a search for another manager, but Lovullo has what it takes to make the Diamondbacks competitive. He just needs to find more success overall.
Also, challenging the Dodgers for the National League West must happen more often because of the Dodgers’ success with World Series wins and appearances they have, including a possible World Series run this season.
3. Continuing Success Needed Overall
Lovullo will have more continued success in Arizona overall. In the 2026 season, the Diamondbacks barely missed the postseason; the team finished with a record of 86-76, much better than prior seasons. However, overall, 2023 cannot be just a fluke, and Lovullo must show he can still guide the team to October while, of course, doing really well in the regular season and showing that the team can beat elite franchises.
The biggest knock again is really having missed multiple postseasons and not being able to have consistent enough play during the regular season. It might be caused by the front office, but it does fall under the manager to have the team play overall. There is an opportunity to bring more success from Lovullo.
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