NL West Report: Prematurely Revisiting the Offseason Blockbuster

Josh Byrnes shocked us all when he traded Daniel Schlereth and Max Scherzer in December.  You just don't see a young cost-controlled first-round pick with big league success traded often, but parting with two of the previous four first round picks in the same trade is exceptionally rare.  Three teams and seven players were involved, but this is the NL West Report after all - I'll look at the four with ties to the D-Backs.

Trades involving giving up youth/upside almost always involve sacrificing the future for the present, and for the most part, this is true in this case.  Ian Kennedy had just 0.124 years of service time to start the season, so there's no loss in youth by adding him.  However, Jackson becomes a free agent after next season, so the former Tiger/Ray/Dodger is already almost one-sixth of the way through his contract.

It is safe to say that this isn't the Edwin Jackson Arizona hoped they would be receiving.  With only three quality starts in his ten outings and 5+ ER in 4 of his last 6 starts, Jackson is doing nothing to buffer the loss of Brandon Webb early this season.  There's still time for "E-Jax" to right the ship, but, well, I hope he doesn't.

As Rox Girl postulated this offseason, Ian Kennedy has adapted very  well to the National League, providing some depth to the rotation.  Unfortunately, Kennedy (tomorrow's starter vs. the Rox) is not a #3 caliber starter, which is the role he is being asked to fill.  Note the WAR values for Jackson (0.7) and Kennedy (0.8).   To give some reference for Rockies' fans, Aaron Cook has himself a 0.7 WAR.   As far as WAR goes so far, Jackson+Kennedy=Cook+ Matt Belisle + Joe Beimel.  That for two first round picks?  Doesn't look good does it?

As for the two Byrnes gave up for Jackson and Kennedy:  Daniel Schlereth has thrown 21.0 innings, striking out 27 on the way to a 0.86 ERA.  But that's for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens.  Max Scherzer suffered greatly with the switch to the American League.  He is also in Toledo now.  

So what conclusions can we draw?  Well, nothing.  I don't mean to suggest the trade can be fairly judged at this point.  I just find it comical that the trade that shook the division in December has yielded Ian Kennedy as the most valuable player so far.

Team capsules after the jump, természetesen.

Arizona (20-25, 5th, L1, 6.5 GB)

Last Week: 5-2. 1-1 @ Marlins, 2-0 vs. Giants. 2-1 vs. Blue Jays.  After being shutout Tuesday by Josh Johnson, the offense broke out for 37 runs in a 4-game win streak, bottoming out at eight runs. 

Divisional Change: Gained one game on first-place San Diego.

This Week: 3 game road series @ Rockies.  3 game road series @ Giants.  The D-Backs begin a nine-game road trip against the NL West.  Arizona is 9-13 on the road.

You Should Know:  D-backs' pitchers served up ten home runs to Toronto over the weekend (six on Friday alone), five to Edwin Encarnacion (three on Friday).  Dan Haren won Friday despite serving up four solo home runs.  For comparison, Ubaldo Jimenez has never given up more than 2 HR in a game in his regular season career, allowing 2 HR's in a game only three times, the last time coming 63 starts ago.

News:  AZSnakePit's Jim McLennan tries to look into why Dan Haren is far less effective this season than we are used to seeing.  

Dan Haren

#15 / Pitcher / Arizona Diamondbacks

Height: 6-5

Weight: 215

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Sep 17, 1980

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Dan Haren	5-3	11	10	1	0	0	0	67.2	76	39	36	12	15	70	4.79	1.34

Twitter / Ed Price: #Diamondbacks acquire reliever Saul Rivera for cash.  Bob Howry was released.

Twitter / Jon Morosi: #Dbacks sign Luis Ayala to a minor league contract.  Ayala was a very valuable reliever for Montreal/Washington a few years ago but has been essentially worthless since 2008.  He was worth a flyer for Arizona.

After successfully passing through waivers,  RHP Blaine Boyer was reassigned to AAA Reno.

Tony Abreu was taken out of the game yesterday with a wrist injury and will likely land on the DL.  

Transactions:  DFAed Blaine Boyer, optioned OF Cole Gillespie and called up P Billy Buckner and OF Gerardo Parra.

Injuries:  Leo Rosales threw with one foot on a stool yesterday and could return by late next month.  Brandon Webb could start a throwing program this week.  Kris Benson is slated to pitch tonight in a rehab start.  Miguel Montero took batting practice Saturday and could return in the next two weeks. 

Los Angeles (25-19, 2nd, L1, 1 GB)

Last Week: 5-2.  2-0 vs. Astros.  1-1 vs. Padres.  2-1 vs. Tigers.  As expected, the Dodgers took advantage of a nice home schedule this week to vault into first place by Friday.  Los Angeles has lost zero of their past six series.

Divisional Change:  Gained 1.0 game on first place San Diego.  Passed San Francisco for second place in the division.

This Week:  3 game road series @ Cubs.  3 game road series @ Rockies.

You Should Know:  Before yesterday's loss, the Dodgers had won 12 of 13 and 14 of 16.

News: Eric Stephen from TrueBlueLA pointed out that Hong-Chih Kuo has been ridiculously dominant this month.

Hong-Chih Kuo

#56 / Pitcher / Los Angeles Dodgers

Height: 6-1

Weight: 235

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Jul 23, 1981

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Hong-Chih Kuo	0-1	11	0	0	0	0	0	9.1	3	2	2	0	3	9	1.93	0.64

Jim Bowden suggests that Los Angeles is a logical team to acquire Roy Oswalt.  Let's hope not.  Naturally, they would likely have to take on salary, which is unlikely. 

When asked Thursday if he will have the flexibility to make the necessary trades, Colletti replied, "I haven't been told that I don't." -Jon Paul Morosi, Fox Sports

That doesn't really breed too much confidence for Dodger fans. As Morosi points out as well, Los Angeles has chosen to give up top prospects rather than take on payroll in trades, even before the divorce.  One perfect example:  trading Carlos Santana for Casey Blake, rather than taking on $2million in salary.  Tom Krasovic implies the Dodgers might have made a mistake in the Blake/Santana deal.

Josh Towers earned his release from the Albuquerque Isotopes.  The former Rockie Sky Sox had an 8.05 ERA over 32 IP for the Dodgers' AAA affiliate.

Transactions:   Called up OF Xavier Paul.

Injuries:  Placed Andre Ethier on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.  He is hitting off a tee and is ahead of schedule, so he is almost a given that he will return when eligible.  Vicente Padilla threw on May 18 and felt no pain. After passing physical tests on Saturday, Rafael Furcal is due to rejoin the lineup tomorrow.

San Diego (26-18, 1st, W2)

Last Week: 4-3. 1-1 vs. Giants. 1-1 @ Dodgers. 2-1 @ Mariners.  The Mariners teed off for 15 runs Friday, all off Wade LeBlanc and Cesar Ramos.  Behind Mat Latos and Clayton Richard, the Padres allowed just two runs total in the following two games.  The Padres had 10+ hits in 4 of their last 6 games.

Divisional Change:  Lost one game to second place Los Angeles.  Lead the division for the fifth straight Monday.

This Week:  3 game home series vs. Cardinals.  3 game home series vs. Nationals.  

You Should Know:  The Padres have lost just one of their six series since facing the Rockies May 5, but they are just 9-7 in that span, a bland 11-10 in May.  

News:  Mat Latos is 22.  He is also really really good at pitching.  The right-hander has been doing some serious damage on the field of late, dominating in his last start with a migraine headache.  My hat is off to you, sir.

Mat Latos

#38 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-6

Weight: 225

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Dec 09, 1987

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2010 - Mat Latos	4-3	9	9	1	1	0	0	55.1	43	19	19	7	12	42	3.09	.99

Latos has also done damage off the field.  Early last week, Latos damaged the sun roof of the Giants' broadcaster's car when he threw a ball over the crowd into a parking lot at AT&T Park during batting practice.

R.J. Anderson points out that the Padres got a very good haul for Jake Peavy last season, but we shouldn't expect the Astros to get a similar value in return for Roy Oswalt despite the very comparable situations.

Tyler Matzek isn't the only top pick in the NL West yet to get into professional action.  Donavan Tate will debut next month with short-season Eugene, who plays in the same league as the Tri-City Dust Devils.  Tate's professional debut has been delayed by a sports hernia, a broken jaw in an ATV accident, a sprained shoulder and a concussion, each from separate events.

Transactions:  Scott Hairston was placed on the DL 5/18 retroactive to 5/16.  Kyle Blanks was placed on the DL 5/20 with a strained forearm.  Optioned LHP Cesar Ramos to AAA Portland.   Called up RHP Luis Perdomo, RHP Adam Russell and OF Chris Denorfia.  Then optioned Perdomo back down and called up OF Luis Durango.

Injuries:  Tim Stauffer (appendicitis) resumed playing catch Friday.  Transferred RHP Chris Young to 60-day DL on Monday.

San Diego Padres Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tim Stauffer	appendix	05/10/2010
Kyle Blanks	elbow	05/18/2010

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Chris Young	shoulder	04/07/2010
Matt Antonelli	hand	04/30/2010

San Francisco (22-21, 2nd, L5, 3.5 GB)

Last Week: 1-6.  1-1 @ Padres.  0-2 @ Diamondbacks.  0-3 @ Athletics.  Andres Torres doubled in the top of the seventh Friday to follow an infield single by John Bowker.  The ensuing run was the only one San Francisco scored in their weekend series against Oakland, the first time the Giants were held to one run in a three-game series in  61 years.  They have scored one run or less in 5 of the 7 games last week.

Divisional Change:  Fell to third place and lost three games to first place Padres.

This Week:  3 game home series vs. Nationals.  3 game home series vs. Diamondbacks. 

You Should Know:  San Francisco finally beat San Diego Tuesday (now 1-7 for the season), yet it was the only win of the week.  If you throw out the Astros series, the Giants have lost 9 of 10.

News:   With Roy Oswalt apparently available, fans of every team within four games of .500 want their team to acquire him.  The San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman suggests it might make sense to acquire an Astro, but the guy below instead of Oswalt.

Lance Berkman

#17 / First Base / San Francisco Giants?  Yeah, probably not

Height: 6-1

Weight: 220

Bats: B

Throws: L

Born: Feb 10, 1976

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2010 - Lance Berkman	30	103	10	24	6	0	5	14	18	24	0	1	.233	.347	.437