truebluefan

The Arizona Diamondbacks left town Thursday with a chance to not only make the playoffs this season but for many years to come.

And that’s due in large part to a man who isn’t even with the club anymore.

Scouting director Mike Rizzo, who took the Diamondbacks from last to first in player development, departed Arizona last week to become the No. 2 man to GM Jim Bowden in Washington. He left his former team stocked with young players in the majors and the minors.

“I’m proud of that and feel good knowing they have as many good players as they have,’’ said Rizzo, a former Rolling Meadows denizen who grew up on the North Side of Chicago. “They’re going to be good for a long time, and that’s what it’s all about. Building a system like that is the joy of that job.’’

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