As of today (July 2, 2008) the Diamondbacks sit a top the NL West by 2.5 games over the Dodgers with a .500 record. So what’s the difference between this year’s squad and the squad that went to the NLCS last year with the best record in the N.L.? Simply put, knowledge.
We see this every year in every sport. The Cinderella team. Last year the D-Backs were the Cinderella story. Young, talented to be sure, but unknown to the rest of the league. Which always plays into a team’s favor. Pitchers don’t know the hitters and hitters don’t know the pitchers. For the young guys on the Diamondbacks last year they were just playing on instinct and momentum. Sometimes teams get on a roll, gain confidence and carry that through to its conclusion.
This year’s team looks better on paper. With the addition of Danny Haren the Diamondbacks have one of the best 1-2 pitching punches in the league. But that’s why they play the games on grass and not paper.
This year teams are ready for the D’Backs. Pitchers have scouting reports on the hitters. They now know their tendencies. Don’t get me wrong. I think the Diamondbacks have a good team right now. Not a great team. They need a BIG bat in the lineup. The only true superstar position player they have is Orlando Hudson, arguably the best second baseman in the game.
We’ll see if the Diamondbacks can hold on to their lead in the NL West. No other team in the division looks very strong, so it’s not a long shot that the D’Backs could win the division with .500 or worse record. With Webb and Haren though, their chances in the playoffs would look very good.
Diamondbacks Lucky to be in 1st
As of today (July 2, 2008) the Diamondbacks sit a top the NL West by 2.5 games over the Dodgers with a .500 record. So what’s the difference between this year’s squad and the squad that went to the NLCS last year with the best record in the N.L.? Simply put, knowledge.
We see this every year in every sport. The Cinderella team. Last year the D-Backs were the Cinderella story. Young, talented to be sure, but unknown to the rest of the league. Which always plays into a team’s favor. Pitchers don’t know the hitters and hitters don’t know the pitchers. For the young guys on the Diamondbacks last year they were just playing on instinct and momentum. Sometimes teams get on a roll, gain confidence and carry that through to its conclusion.
This year’s team looks better on paper. With the addition of Danny Haren the Diamondbacks have one of the best 1-2 pitching punches in the league. But that’s why they play the games on grass and not paper.
This year teams are ready for the D’Backs. Pitchers have scouting reports on the hitters. They now know their tendencies. Don’t get me wrong. I think the Diamondbacks have a good team right now. Not a great team. They need a BIG bat in the lineup. The only true superstar position player they have is Orlando Hudson, arguably the best second baseman in the game.
We’ll see if the Diamondbacks can hold on to their lead in the NL West. No other team in the division looks very strong, so it’s not a long shot that the D’Backs could win the division with .500 or worse record. With Webb and Haren though, their chances in the playoffs would look very good.
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