2012 NL West Thread

[JMarkJohns]

Dodgers looking good and Diamondbacks beat Giants.

These are my top three in the division and I think all finish with 80+ wins.

[ducks]

dodgers playing padress they suck
dodgers are going to be third
giants 2
dbacks 1


hopefully j-up and paul goldsmidth will be like fielder and braun

[IronMexican]

Hoping for something good this year. 90 wins and second place and I'd be more than content.

[ducks]

dbacks taking care of home field

[midnightpulp]

3 and 0, baby.

Just Hand Us The Division.

[NewcastleKEG]

Attended the Saturday game between Padres & Dodgers

My Division Predictions
1. Arizona (Title contender)
2. San Fran (Wild Card)
3. Colorado
4. Dodgers
5. Padres

[ducks]

dbacks come back 6-0 with 5 errors to beat giants 8 straight times

[IronMexican]

"us":lol

Kemp is something else. Can't win em all.

[JMarkJohns]

Diamondbacks sweep series despite nary an RBI from Upton and their front three pitchers all doing worse than expected. At least three of the four of them will figure it out. That's a scary thought. In two years their bullpen went from one of the worst ever to one of the best in the game today.

[ducks]

gibson should have played upton more in spring
I like Josh but they made him work on the curve ball so much that maybe going to double a is the thing he needs to do...
Upton hits well against padress ...

Tim of the giants said it was going to be a statement game aqainst dbacks now they got swepted
Are dbacks in giants heads?

[JMarkJohns]

Collmentor is not long for the rotation. He's got this year... and even that isn't promised. He's got a great delivery for being a valued member of a successful bullpen, as he typically does great first time through lineup (or at least first 1-6 batters).

With Miley pitching solid, that's an early season option for this year, but with Bauer, Skaggs and Corbin, both Collmentor and Saunders are on notice. Diamondbacks have two top-20 overall pitching prospects waiting for their chance, and, a third top-100 guy who's arguably been more impressive in Corbin who appears prime for this season.

It's a nice problem to have, no doubt.

[JMarkJohns]

In all honesty, save for the bullpen, the Diamondbacks have played like garbage more often than not thus far, yet they are still 4-0.

Not sure what to read into that. Luck or just that good?

[ducks]

yeah the o is not there yet...

[midnightpulp]

:lol Poordres

http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/andre-ethier.jpg

[KSeal]

Dodgers would win the division if they still had Broxton.

[JMarkJohns]

Diamondbacks starters will get right. Dodgers look good and the Giants are the Giants, but the Diamondbacks haven't even clicked yet and they are 5-2.

[ducks]

wilson could be out all year..
that will hurt giants
wonder what triple a players they have to trade for a closer

[IronMexican]

Kemp is something else.

[midnightpulp]

Kemp is something else.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ydk3KOgwe9s/TFazlnAzLuI/AAAAAAAABEc/wDdtBATc8kU/s1600/kemp+poster.jpg

[ducks]

upton looked good last night tonight he sucks
parra is on fire tonight
upton left 7 on base tonight
he needs to get it going.. He needs to get going to have 100 rbi's

[ducks]

young over .400 right now 5 homeruns 13 rbi's
giving matt kemp all he can handle right now

[JMarkJohns]

Starting rotation has looked good beyond Hudson and Collmentor. I trust Hudson to get right. Kennedy going tonight, Hudson tomorrow. We need a sweep.

If Young can keep anything close to this up and Upton finds his swing, the Diamondbacks offense will be killer.

[misterx91578]

upton looked good last night tonight he sucks
parra is on fire tonight
upton left 7 on base tonight
he needs to get it going.. He needs to get going to have 100 rbi's




via @JackMagruder: #Dbacks Upton to see hand specialist Dr. Sheridan today. Will get MRI. DL not out of the question, Gibson said.

[JMarkJohns]

Of fucking course... Young is finally crushing the ball, hitting .400 with half his hits being of the extra-base variety and now early reports have him with a likely separated shoulder. Twixt Upton and Young being out, Diamondbacks pitching needs to get it's shit together because the offense isn't scoring more than 3 runs a game.

[misterx91578]

lets see what Pollock can do

[ducks]

dbacks need to trend water tell upton is out

[misterx91578]

Hudson on the dl now who is next on the dbacks to get hurt

[JMarkJohns]

It is amazing how fast fortunes can change. For all the money the spent on depth, that nearly 20 million spent on Hill, Kubel and Sanders should have been used on an impact veteran 3B bat, then shift Roberts to 2B.

They desperately need to tread water these next few weeks.

[Venti Quattro]

:lol Dodgers
:lol 0-12

[ducks]

upton looks like he might be getting going
miley is making a case to be a starter

[ducks]

do dbacks trade Kubel for david wright

[ducks]

oh dbacks exactly where they were last year at this point of the season

[Robz4000]

Tbh what's the over/under on how many games the Padres will win this year? 40?

Really sucks what this team has been reduced to...:depressed

[midnightpulp]

Die, Javy Guerra.

[JMarkJohns]

oh dbacks exactly where they were last year at this point of the season

But in worse shape... Hudson is on the DL, Kennedy isn't an ace right now, Upton is working through an injury, Young could be going on the 60-day DL and there's no telling when Drew gets back.

Hard to think they recover as quickly. Doesn't mean all is lost, but there far from being in the exact spot they were in last year at the same point. That team was young, hungry, and, most importantly, healthy.

[ducks]

looks like josh is going to bullpen
I love josh but I think that is best
corbin I bet gets the ball tuesday

[ducks]

oh and all the time I did not want sanders
he has been the best pitcher in the mlb

[midnightpulp]

Just. Hand. Us. The. Division.

[ducks]

is it time to trade for a third baseman
roberts is not a third baseman second base not third base
throw to third cost the dbacks the game today

[ducks]

trading j parker was a mistake towers
upton needs c y I guess
dbacks are playing terribel errors and not productive outs
very poor baseball

[ducks]

if k towers did not trade parker already they could trade one of their studs for a thirdbaseman

[lefty]

lol baseball

[ducks]

dbacks finally win a series in may

[ducks]

matt back to the dl

maybe the west will be close
dbacks just need to gain a game or two a week

[ducks]

•The White Sox are expected to target veteran bullpen help if they're in a position to add to their roster in July, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
•Knobler hears the Diamondbacks will call top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer up “soon” (

[ducks]

•The Red Sox called the Diamondbacks about Joe Saunders after Arizona acquired the left-hander in 2010, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. One MLB executive can imagine a trade involving Saunders and Kevin Youkilis, though the person doubts the Diamondbacks would be interested in taking on considerable salary or parting with a significant prospect

[ducks]

dbacks last year got back to .500 at 24-24
this year 30-30
with all the injuries that is not that bad
drew also could be added soon

[JMarkJohns]

Diamondbacks might be smart to see what they can get for Saunders and a mid-level prospect, but they'd be stupid to go anywhere near Youkilis. He's complete garbage at the plate, which is where the Diamondbacks need the upgrade most, he's injury prone, very expensive, and possibly a chemistry issue.

There have got to be lower price/risk and higher reward 3B out there available.

[ducks]

would love to package cy and saunders for a great third base not named youkilis
eaton .390 in triple a and A.J. Pollock . pollocked look ok after the first 20 at bats when he tried to get a hit to hard

[ducks]

drew is suppose to join team wed
he has taken some balls at third
cy was brought back way to quick and is about .150 since he has came back
time for him to go and be 4 outfiielder until parra is proven he can not play center

[AussieFanKurt]

After long stretch of bad form offensively, watch out for the Cardinals, been getting a few hits lately

[JMarkJohns]

After long stretch of bad form offensively, watch out for the Cardinals, been getting a few hits lately

Same with an actual NL West team, the Diamondbacks.

[ducks]

dodgers are in a bad form offensively right now
all the young pitchers lost confidence or the pitchers figured it out where they can not hit it

[symple19]

Giants looking good. Where are the dodger people? lol

[IronMexican]

I can never stay up late enough to watch an entire game.

[symple19]

I can never stay up late enough to watch an entire game.

It was a rhetorical question :lol

I haven't commented much because I've followed baseball/the Giants less this year than I ever have before.

Hell, I had barely ever even heard of some of the guys who played in the all-star game

[ducks]

bauer sucks cocky does not listen to anyone
walks to many people in minors walks more in pros
send him back to double a NOW

[JMarkJohns]

I am going to flip my shit if the Diamondbacks trade Upton and prospects like Skaggs and Corban for an overpaid Lee or Hernandez.

[JMarkJohns]

Diamondbacks may ultimately have won the trade deadline for not over-thinking things, and trading key pieces for pennies on the dollar of what they are actually worth. This team really is stacked offensively with six guys that are inconsistent, but effective all-around, who each can carry an offense when hot, and if two or three get going at once like has happened recently, they are one of the best teams in the NL.

I still don't understand the Breslow for Albers/Podsednick deal, but I figure it's a wash and Podsednick is an experienced bat in case of injury or, maybe for the playoff roster at the expense of a Chris Young who might be cold at the plate? Albers has strikeout rates that the Diamondbacks coveted from a late-reliever.

What helps elevate the Diamondbacks moves to the top is the acquisition of 3B Chris Johnson. He's been injured some this year, but is healthy now, and just last season he hit over .300, and with the Diamondbacks he is hitting .545 with 2 HR, 7 RBI. For the year the Diamondbacks had bottom-3 production from 3rd. If they can get even league average from 3rd, they'll be better than most think. But it's what the Diamondbacks gave up that makes it so great, in that they gave up a DH-type of hitting prospect who'd hit his ceiling as a AA slugger (Krauss) and a talent, but under-achieving talent who has more strikeouts in his minor league career than hits and walks combined (Borchering). They were two of the Diamondbacks bottom-20 prospects, and they brought back a club-controlled, inexpensive, short-to-long-term option at 3B who is already winning them games.

Unlikes the Dodgers' big-name 3B who costs 5Xs as much and who's done less in 3X the games, Johnson gets it and the records of 3-0 vs. 3-5.

Hanley just got shut the fuck down by the Diamondbacks backend of the rotation.

Should the Giants lose tonight, Diamondbacks will be just 2.5 back, and with Kennedy having a sub-2.5 ERA the last three starts, Miley finding his stride, and the offense finally finding its groove together, they could make that up pretty quick.

Or it could fall completely apart, but this is starting to feel like last year.

[ducks]

I heard they had upton for dempster and others
they trade j-up this offseason when his value is at lowest I will be ticked

dbacks calling up corbin saying he was the best starter out there was smart!
corbin>bauer
hanley has done jack shit the last 2 years

j-up turn it around like matt kemp did in 2010 next year as a dback

goldy just destroys the nl west
he is over .344 against west

Albers is suppose to be like david
starter made to reliever
throws just as hard
Podsednick has more power then overbay makes sence

but I heard they made the boston trade thinking j-up and the cubs would get a deal done and needed another outfielder..


I just pray that j-up does something this postseason and the owner will be stuck with j-up instead of trading him

[JMarkJohns]

Corbin is not better than Bauer. Not even close. He's far more ready, thanks to several years in the minors (as opposed to less than one full year for Bauer), so he's better right now, but by 2015, Bauer will be a great #1 or #2. He has to focus on three pitches. The gimmick of 6 or more is too much variety. Focus on Fastball, changeup and slurve, as those are his three best, then work on an occasional true slider or curve for three or four times a game. Then, work on location of fastball and change. These will aid him the most, so master them first. Next, stop trying to strike everyone out. Trust the fastball placement, trust the changeup placement, and get quick outs.

It's all doable, none has anything to do with his approach or preparation.

That said, Corbin and Miley are great examples of how very good pitchers can be a great impact thanks to extensive coaching in the minors. Both will be great as the 4/5 in rotation after Bauer, Skaggs and Kennedy fill out the front three.

[ducks]

bauer needs to work on 3 pitches and get them masterd
heck josh won 10 games with 2 pitches

dbacks got lucky no one bit

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/8/1/3213409/arizona-diamondbacks-trade-deadline-starting-pitcher-patrick-corbin

oh and if you pitch corbin 4 or 5 he will be greater then then the other teams 4 or 5 starter by far

I bet my life the yankees or boston wished they had the dbacks pitching prospects and corbin and miley


I sure hope the dbacks learned their lesson on trading parker

[ducks]

oh and dbacks were further back this time of year then last year
however they were 6 or 7 games more above .500

[ducks]

oh and dbacks were further back this time of year then last year
however they were 6 or 7 games more above .500

[JMarkJohns]

Also, Podsednick was granted his release, so he's not even on the team.

What I heard they offered for Garza was Cahill/Corbin/B-level prospect like Winkler, Marshall, Eaton, etc.

Apparently nobody wants Cahill. I'm still pissed we traded Parker for him. Imagine Arizona's flexibility for trade if they still had Parker, then could add one of either Miley or Corbin? They easily would have had Garza, and probably could have had Josh Johnson if they wanted with that package.

Lastly, the Diamondbacks have an All-Star in Miley, and great looking young starter in Corbin, and still have their #1 (Bauer), #2 (Skaggs), #3 (Bradley), #4 (Holmberg), #5 (Chafin) and #9 (Meo) to call from for trade or call up. Prospects 1-3 need to be untouchable, and one of Chafin or Meo need to be as well. I'm fine with trading Holmberg and either Chafin or Meo with any of our #15-20 pitching prospects come the offseason for a legit #3 starter with some success in the playoffs. Someone who's been in the bigs for 5-7 years, is approaching or just turned 30 and who's been on some teams who faced pressure. Garza is ideal. Might have to showcase and include a Corbin with Holmberg and a latter prospect, but it'd be worth it.

[ducks]

I cringe when cahill pitches in chase field

[ducks]

this chris johnson guy has a bat

[JMarkJohns]

For two C-level prospects, only one of whom is likely to play in the bigs and who's under club control for several more years.

[symple19]

The Giants and the Dodgers are really gearing up for an epic finish. Time to start paying attention to baseball again

[JMarkJohns]

Stats say the Diamondbacks should be much better than they are. Underachieving assholes...

[symple19]

Stats say the Diamondbacks should be much better than they are. Underachieving assholes...

still think they have enough young talent to be in the mix for the foreseeable future, despite this lackluster year

[symple19]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/486462_10151188380398488_1467339700_n.jpg

[ducks]

if dbacks do not give j-up and ian away dbacks have a bright future
right now dbacks can not hit good pitching
dbacks were 4-6 against teams above .500
now they play 10 games that teams are below .500
I expect they need to be 10-0 in order to do anything. dbacks still face giants 9 times and dodgers 6 times.

dbacks have never won more then 4 in a row this year they stay around .500 it stinks

[symple19]

if dbacks do not give j-up and ian away dbacks have a bright future
right now dbacks can not hit good pitching
dbacks were 4-6 against teams above .500
now they play 10 games that teams are below .500
I expect they need to be 10-0 in order to do anything. dbacks still face giants 9 times and dodgers 6 times.

dbacks have never won more then 4 in a row this year they stay around .500 it stinks

So can you arrange it so that you guys lose to the giants and sweep the dodgers?

lol

[ducks]

j-up needs to work on hitting breaking balls this offseason
pitchers are not giving him the pitches he had last year when he was 4 in mvp voting

[ducks]

I heard rumors that Gambo and Burns am620 show recently that the DBacks have sent out season ticket renewal packages that have ZERO pictures or mentions of Upton


any truth in that?

[JMarkJohns]

Skaggs dominating... Beautiful!

[ducks]

yeah
I am against trading upton
but if you trade him you MUST MUST INCLUDE CAHILL