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Top 5: Reasons To Be Happy About The Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks Nation has been feeling a bit frustrated about the start to the season for the Snakes.
Perhaps our expectations were too high. Our sense is that this team is capable of much more than they have consistently shown so far. But we have not lost faith.
Rather, we think the team is capable to achieve great things in 2009. We only want to see the Diamondbacks play to the true level of their abilities.
There are plenty of reasons to be happy about the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here are our Top 5 --
1. The Rotation Is Strong. The win-loss record does not show it, but the Snakes' starting pitchers have been incredible in 2009. Through thirteen games, Arizona’s rotation has made five quality starts (defined as at least six innings pitched with three runs or fewer allowed). But even when they've not met the QS-standard, the starters have kept the team in games.
Only twice in the first thirteen have the Diamondbacks starters really taken it on the chin. Those games featured...
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Melvin’s Pink Slip is Showing
Press, press, press. For two weeks now, the Diamondbacks have pressed. And for a long time before that, if we want to be honest.
Spring Training was Pressure Fest ’09. We shouldn't care about wins and losses in the Cactus League, but we couldn't help notice the way the Snakes were losing. Arizona had Mark Reynolds booting balls, Justin Upton striking out, Brandon Webb and Max Scherzer and the bullpen all not right.
That followed an off-season in which nothing went to script, from Randy Johnson’s departure to San Francisco, to Orlando Hudson’s defection to Los Angeles, to the degradation of the infield defense, to the egg-on-our-faces discovery of money for Jon Garland when Johnson and Hudson were allowed to walk to division rivals.
We understand that an arbitration offer to Adam Dunn could have been a disaster. Were he to accept, he might have commanded a salary in the eight-figure range. The team already has four starting OF and only one 1B job for Chad Tracy, Tony Clark and...
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Series Preview: Diamondbacks @ Giants
* PREVIEW: ARI @ SF - There are just two teams in the National League off to a poorer start than the Diamondbacks (3-6). The first is the dysfunctional Washington Nationals (1-7) franchise; the other is the San Francisco Giants (2-7). The Snakes will have wait until May to sink their fangs into the Nats, but as Arizona embarks on its first road trip of the season, the NL West-rival Giants look like a feast of kangaroo rats.
The Diamondbacks just completed a three-series home-stand that ought to have been a springboard into contention, but was more akin to a backyard trampoline accident. San Francisco fared even worse over their first nine games. After winning a home set with the Brewers, they were swept on a six-game trip through San Diego and Los Angeles. Thanks to the Giants, the Diamondbacks are not the doormats of the division.
How brutal has San Francisco been? For a sample, consider the probable starting pitchers for this weekend.
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Diamondbacks Notes: April 15. 2009
* CARDS TAKE GAME 3, SERIES - On a blustery day, the Diamondbacks showed off their bats and not much else in a 12-7 loss to the Cardinals. High winds whirled through Chase Field, an atmospheric effect that made the location seem more like St. Louis than Downtown Phoenix. The weather must have made the Cards feel at home, as they recorded hit after key hit against their hosts.
It was nice to see the Arizona offense maintain the roll that began with Tuesday's big walk-off victory. Unfortunately, even their seven runs were insufficient on a day when the Snakes' pitching labored and their defense was spotty.
Starter Jon Garland (3.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 5 BB) threw 88 pitches without retiring a St. Louis batter on strikes. After walking Joel Pineiro to begin the Cardinals third inning, Garland fell asleep on the mound and allowed Pineiro to steal his first career base. Five runs would score before Garland could record the third out.
In the field, the performance was mixed. Chris B. Young...
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Diamondbacks Notes: April 13, 2009
* WEBB TO DL - Althought no structural damage was found in his MRI results, Brandon Webb is still feeling some stiffness in his throwing shoulder. The malady has been described as bursitis, which involves a build-up of fluid that impairs the sufferer's range of motion. So rather than have him push through the injury, Arizona elected to place Webb on the disabled list retroactive to April 7, the day after his last start. That makes web eligible to return on April 22.
The team and the player are cautiously optimistic. Injury guru Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus also seems none too worried by the development. While we appreciate the wisdom in prioritizing Webb's long-term health over the desire to have him return immediately, Diamondbacks Nation cannot help but worry about Arizona's best and most important player. Get well soon, Webby.
* MORE SAD NEWS - Still reeling from the death last week of Nick Adenhart, baseball lost two more high-profile figures today.
Long-time...
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