NL West Report: Divisional headway from Rockune, Peavy might be out for the year
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 15, 2009 5:00 PM MDT
in Know Your Foe
Email
PrintThe Rockies have been blasting through opponents like a Tornado (or a Tornadough?) the last 11 games, outscoring their foes 73-28 in that span. It's a bit unfortunate that none of those games were intradivisional, but if there's any way to guarantee you'll make up some ground, it's to win every game.
Here's the standings as of Monday morning, before San Francisco plays the Angels tonight at 8:15 MDT:
We're still a ways back, but an 11-game streak will put a dent in any deficit. Here are the standings from June 3, immediately prior to the streak.
So in 11 games, we've made up the following on the divisional teams:
- Los Angeles (5 games)
- San Francisco (2.5 games)
- San Diego (7 games)
- Arizona (6.5 games)
If the teams continue as they have the last 11 games, even if we win another 11 straight, we'll still be in 3rd place. This is why April and May do matter. And that's why we have a 3.30% chance of winning the NL West. I'd talk about the Wild Card, but well, this is the divisional report.
NL West Report |
Arizona (27-37, 5th, L2, 15 GB)
Last Week: 0-1 @ Padres, 1-2 vs Giants, 1-2 vs Astros. A bad week makes the bad season worse. Funny thing is, they're only 8 games off their Pythagorean pace for 2007.
This Week: 3 game road series @ Royals, 3 game road series @ Mariners
News: Chris Young is having a horrible Atkins-like season. AZSnakepit discusses what should be done with their CF.
Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com reported recently that the Diamondbacks are destined to be sellers at the trade deadline, with only Justin Upton, Max Scherzer and Dan Haren being untouchable.
Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com, who is closer to the team, refuted that proclamation last night, stating that we should not expect a trade and that Josh Byrnes may even add a player at the deadline.
Scott Bordow at the East Valley Tribune believes it's time to trade Felipe Lopez, Jon Garland and Doug Davis, but Arizona may becontent to let them leave as free agents and just take the compensatory picks.
The D-Backs claimed relief pitcher Blaine Boyer off waivers from the Cardinals and optioned Daniel Schlereth to AA..
Mark Reynolds earned co-NL Player of the Week honors for last week, sharing it with our very own Huston Street.
Arizona had 7 picks in the top 64 in last week's draft, most in the majors. Check out their top picks. They bucked the trend and selected only 2 pitchers with their top 8 picks, the first coming at pick #45.
More on the rest of the division after the fold.
Los Angeles (42-22, 1st, W2)
Last Week: 1-1 vs Padres, 2-1 @ Rangers. In case you are wondering, the Dodgers have lost just two series since Manny Ramirez was suspended, and one of them was their first series following the announcement.
This Week: 3 game home series vs Athletics, 3 game road series @ Angels.
News: Everyone knows all about TIm Lincecum and Dan Haren, but maybe Chad Billingsley is the best ace in the West. Eric Stephen at TrueBlueLA looks at his stats over the last claendar year. They are elite.
Despite convincingly being the best team in MLB and having the 3rd best NL offense, the Dodgers have zero position players projected to start the All-Star Game via fan voting. Orlando Hudson is the only player even in the top 5 at his position; he's 2nd behind Chase Utley. East Coast bias apparently also means no love for LA.
Popular owner Frank McCourt wasn't so popular with Andruw Jones, even though McCourt okayed the ludicrous contract Jones signed with the Dodgers. Apparently, McCourt was the reason Jones wanted out.
Jayson Stark suggests the Dodgers may try to trade Juan Pierre when Manny Ramirez returns from is suspension. It's unclear how much of Pierre's contract LA might have to eat.
LA didn't pick until #36, two picks after the Rockies selected their third player. Their picks.
San Diego (28-34, 4th, L3, 13 GB)
Last Week: 1-0 vs Diamondbacks, 1-1 @ Dodgers, 0-3 @ Angels. The Padres have failed to string together consecutive wins since May 27. They are 5-12 in that span.
This Week: 3 game home series vs Mariners, 3 game home series vs Athletics.
News: Hold your trade talk. Another NL West ace is hurt and probably won't be going anywhere at the deadline. Jake Peavy landed on the 15-day DL Friday due to an ankle injury and will be out a month, perhaps the rest of the season.
Hindsight being 20/20, CBSSports' Scott Miller says the Padres screwed up by not accepting the Braves' offer in November.
The Padres' front office is looking to add a "big-name" international player once the international signing period starts July 2.
San Diego released IF Chris Burke this week.
The Pads selected Donavan Tate with the third pick in the draft Tuesday. GM Kevin Towers talks about the draft. I'd give you a list of their picks, but I'll just say that GasLampBall doesn't have one instead.
San Francisco (34-28, 2nd, W3, 7 GB)
Last Week: 0-1 @ Marlins, 2-1 @ Diamondbacks, 3-0 vs Athletics. Bruce Bochy's staff allowed just 17 runs in the 7 games last week.
This Week: 3 game home series vs Angels, 3 game home series vs Rangers
News: Henry Schulman at SFGate states the most obvious headline of the year: The Giants need a power bat to contend.
SI's Jon Heyman reports that Jonathan Sanchez is on the market, despite an apparent slip recently in his stuff. Tom Verducci suggests that the Giants try to use Sanchez to net that power bat. Maybe even Garrett Atkins.
Grant at McCoveyChronicles discusses the Giants' selection of Zach Wheeler over Tyler Matzek. Matzek was Grant's #1 choice, but the Giants passed on his top three to select Wheeler.
And just because, here's a big Pablo Sandoval home run.
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I have heard Holliday to SF rumors
Although Sabean denies everything.
Beltre might be a good fit for SFG, moving Fat Ichiro to 1B and Ishikawa to AAA or whatever.
Chris B Young at least has excellent CF defense.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
Fat Ichiro
I prefer to call him Kung Fu Panda.
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
by PioneerSkies on Jun 15, 2009 11:26 PM MDT up reply actions
An eleven game streak is beautiful
but you’re right. April and May matter. We dug a hole deep enough that it is not only going to take good playing by the Rox, but also fortunate loses by the Dodgers and other divisional teams. Man, I was so excited when I heard Manny was out, because I thought that would be enough to buy us some room to move up, but instead, no such luck.
Sigh
Well at least the wild card is looking more and more feasible. I just hope we don’t start selling. I like our stuff and the wins are flowing. Lets not dink with it too much (losing an Outkins would be acceptable, however)
if you're reading this, it means my undying support for your team will result in its failure.
Interesting
that Webb isn’t listed as “untouchable”. I think I’d still rather an ageing Webb over a developing Max Scherzer.
"Don't tell me about the world. Not today. It's springtime and they're knocking baseballs around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball." -Pete Hamill
Juan Pierre eay?
As a left fielder and a lead off hitter he can come back to Coors Field. Plus you can never have enough OF’ers. The Rockies could have a pitcher, a catcher, Helton at 1st, and 6 OFers. 3 deep OFs, and 3 shallow OF’s. THINKG OUTTA THE BOX PEOPLE!
That's waaaay out of the box
I’ve always liked Pierre, even though he never walks and has the weakest outfield arm I’ve ever seen. Doesn’t mean he’s all that good— better than Willy Taveras, although, who isn’t?—but I like him. He’s sort of like David Eckstein, with wheels. For a 4th outfielder, the Dodgers could do worse.
Regarding Andruw Jones’ spat w/ McCourt:
If I paid $36 million for an overweight outfielder whose SLG was lower than his .256 OBP, I’d want the dude out, too. Then again, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to throw that kind of money at Jones in the first place.
by J. Henry Waugh on Jun 15, 2009 11:12 PM MDT up reply actions
Pierre
His biggest problem is his contract. That’s a lot of money for a 4th OF and the Dodgers can’t move him.
It’s kind of funny how much praise Pierre gets and how many people want to send Dex down when you compare their stats.
I think the Rockies need more speed
and while Pierre doesn’t walk a lot, he’s had a consistent bat all his career. Sure his arm is so bad it would be a liability in CF, but I wouldn’t play him in CF, I’d play him in LF.
An OF of Pierre, Fowler, and Hawpe would be a very good OF. That would push CarGo and Smith to the bench and I’m not sure that’s ever good, but both could come in defensively. As a player…it’s a fit…..but:
Pierre’s contract is OUTRAGEOUS and no way the Rockies could pay it. Also it would be a trade in the division which wouldn’t happen either. Especially while each team is competing. I think Pierre would be a great DH in the American League.
Angels 8
Giants 1. Bottom 6th. That will help.
Gah, I hate days with no Rockies, but I know they needed a day off. Great work as always, PF!
And how far back are we now?
Giants made it interesting
But Fuentes saved it. A couple of ex Rockies (Herges and the Viz) blew a big lead for Cleveland.
by KindredSprites on Jun 15, 2009 11:44 PM MDT up reply actions
There were former Rockies everywhere
Herges, Viz, Carroll, Counsell, Wedge…
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 15, 2009 11:48 PM MDT up reply actions
Juan Uribe!
"DAMMIT! No, calm down. Learn to enjoy losing." --Hunter S. Thompson
by PioneerSkies on Jun 16, 2009 11:16 AM MDT up reply actions
You guys love your East Coast Bias
I didn’t know Milwaukee and St Louis were on the east coast.
And sure, no Dodgers besides Orlando Hudson are in the top 5 at their position…but all three OF’s are in the top 15, with Manny just missing the top 5 at #6. The only one who might deserve to start is Manny (Kemp over Beltran would really be stretching it) and well, let’s all be happy that Manny won’t be voted in and we’ll be spared the media storm that would have resulted.
The NL vote totals so far actually look like they show the influence of attendance quite a bit, as well as the good ole’ triple crown stats. (Look at BB-ref’s list and sort by total attendance.) The guys on the list not from one of the top 6 teams in total attendance are mainly big stars (Berkman, Tejada, HanRam, Chipper, Dunn [not in the other guys’ league, but multiple 40 HR seasons help]) or guys having years impossible to ignore (Gonzalez, Zimmerman [hit streak], Tejada again). The rest are still wowing in one of the triple crown categories: Brandon Phillips (neck and neck with Utley and Uggla for the most RBI among 2B’s), Molina (tops among C’s in RBI, plus SF is 7th in attendance) and Brian McCann (tops among C’s in BA).
That comment was completely in jest
Though I am surprised LA doesn’t have anyone in the top 5, especially when teams like the Brewers were leading at so many positions
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 16, 2009 7:59 AM MDT up reply actions
Besides Hudson, what position player would you send?
There are too many good OFs (Beltran, Pence, Braun, Hawpe, Werth, Ibanez, etc) in the NL to consider Ethier and Kemp.
mark loretta lol
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
by TuLoRocks2008 on Jun 16, 2009 8:34 AM MDT up reply actions
Oh I wouldn't send any of their players
I’m not stating the players are deserving, but that I am surprised that a team with that much success throughout in a big city doesn’t get more fan support. Their success has come from good to very good production up and down the lineup, not elite production from a handful.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 16, 2009 8:46 AM MDT up reply actions
"Not elite"
that’s probably a big part of it. The candidates who most fit the type are Hudson (whose in the top 5) and Manny (we all know about that).
And while the OF’s aren’t in the top 5, one is #6 and all 3 are in the top 15.
Werth?
I’d skip Werth, but in addition to your list, Upton is having a breakthrough year and Beltran is Beltran, so they’re good candidates, too. If they required two CF’s instead of stuffing the roster with corner guys with the best triple crown stats, I think Kemp would be a good choice.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
