Spring Training Poll - NL West

Trek · Post by **Trek** » July 21, 2008, 8:43 pm

Canelek wrote:The NL West should be absorbed into the collective farm systems of the other divisions. It is lol.

Right, because the other divisions havent had bad years. Besides 31 of LA's 48 wins are from all those better divisions.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » July 27, 2008, 12:11 pm

The Mets are a whopping 17-12 against the minor league west (which is in part to their 6-0 run at the end of the 1st half, meaning they where 11-12), perhaps they should join the PCL as well.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 27, 2008, 4:36 pm

The D'Backs are above .500 and still 1st in the NL West. Webb picked up his 14th win yesterday although it should have been 15. The D'back's closer gave up 5 runs in the 9th Inning his previous start to hand Webb a no decision.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 27, 2008, 6:53 pm

They're ONE game above .500.
In a division where every other team is below .500.
They'd only be 4th in either of the other 2 NL divisions, and as bad or worse in the AL divisions.
If they manage to lose 1st to the Dodgers (who are only 1 game behind) they'd be so far out of the Wild Card they wouldn't make the playoffs.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 27, 2008, 8:07 pm

1999 NL West Champions (win division by 14 games) 100-62 record
2001 NL West Champions (World Series Champions)
2002 NL West Champions
2007 NL West Champions
2008 NL West 1st Place from beginning of season until present (April, May, June, -July 27th) and counting

For a sucky team, they've sure won a lot of Division titles in the last 10 years and even a World Series with 5 Cy Youngs in that same time period. 4 Randy Johnson, 1 Brandon Webb

Oh, Randy Johnson picked up his 292nd win today pitching seven shutout innings. I hope the #2 all time strike out leader can be forgiven for only managing two K's during those scoreless innings.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 28, 2008, 12:43 am

way to deflect.
I didn't call them a sucky team, and I didn't call into question their history.
I was just presenting the other side of the statements you made in the previous post (both our posts were factual) about their current standings in the current season.

defensive much?

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » July 28, 2008, 9:45 am

The only team in the West with a winning record against the East is San Fran. The only team in the East with a losing record against the West is Washington. Be glad you clownboats are in that weak ass piece of shit division. They should not even allow a team from the West to be in the playoffs this year.

Is anyone but me tired of this unbalanced schedule crap? When you have a league-wide race for a Wild Card and some teams get a huge assed advantage of playing seriously inferior teams 15 times a year, it makes it rough for teams in good divisions to take that Wild Card.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » July 28, 2008, 10:46 am

Truant wrote:way to deflect.
I didn't call them a sucky team, and I didn't call into question their history.
I was just presenting the other side of the statements you made in the previous post (both our posts were factual) about their current standings in the current season.

defensive much?

You must skip all of Winnow's other sport threads...

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 28, 2008, 11:11 am

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote: Is anyone but me tired of this unbalanced schedule crap? When you have a league-wide race for a Wild Card and some teams get a huge assed advantage of playing seriously inferior teams 15 times a year, it makes it rough for teams in good divisions to take that Wild Card.

If you want to address unbalanced wild cards in sports, start off by removing the crappy East wild card teams in the NBA.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » July 28, 2008, 12:13 pm

As far as I am concerned they can eliminate all but 4 team from the East NBA playoffs. It is not like the Celtics and Pistons won't trounce the worthless West anyway this year. Too bad Phoenix couldn't make it to the Finals to get their ass beating before completely screwing up their team and having to rebuild.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 28, 2008, 12:32 pm

The Suns won three championships in a row. (2004-2007) This will be revealed after the cheating scandals get sorted out.

Aardor · Post by **Aardor** » July 28, 2008, 12:46 pm

Winnow wrote:The Suns won three championships in a row. (2004-2007) This will be revealed after the cheating scandals get sorted out.

Why did you have to curse the Suns =(

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 28, 2008, 1:27 pm

this is a baseball thread. keep your nba discussion to the nba thread.
thanks.

Aardor · Post by **Aardor** » July 28, 2008, 2:08 pm

Truant wrote:this is a baseball thread. keep your nba discussion to the nba thread.
thanks.

Only if you promise to enforce people staying on topic in every thread.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 28, 2008, 2:12 pm

Aardor wrote:
Truant wrote:this is a baseball thread. keep your nba discussion to the nba thread.
thanks.
Only if you promise to enforce people staying on topic in every thread.

Suck me off and we'll talk about it after.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 28, 2008, 4:31 pm

Truant wrote:this is a baseball thread. keep your nba discussion to the nba thread.
thanks.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » July 29, 2008, 1:32 am

Well the NL is toast now, Jones, Sweeney and Berroa all had RBI hits so far.

Crazy talk

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 29, 2008, 3:17 am

Trek wrote:Well the NL is toast now, Jones, Sweeney and Berroa all had RBI hits so far.

D'Backs and Dodgers both lost. Business as usual.

Dodgers lost at home to a team the D'Backs just got done sweeping though.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 29, 2008, 11:59 am

And the Diamondbacks just lost to the Padres.

The third-worst-record-in-baseball-Padres.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 29, 2008, 12:41 pm

Truant wrote:And the Diamondbacks just lost to the Padres.

The third-worst-record-in-baseball-Padres.

Yeah, well Mikah Owings sucks. Haren, Webb and Johnson will be back up shortly!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » July 29, 2008, 2:21 pm

TBH, there are some PCL teams that would cockthump just about every west team. Granted, the Dodgers are more hampered by injuries and Andruw Jones. Not much of an excuse for the rest of em!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 29, 2008, 3:02 pm

D'Backs have the pitching. At least 3 quality starters that can keep Arizona in any game.

I'd rather have the pitching and work on hitting than the other way around.

Even that shows signs of life:

SAN DIEGO - Conor Jackson's red-hot bat was a topic that Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin didn't even want to talk about, much less try to explain Monday, but Jackson didn't shoot down one theory as to why he has looked so comfortable at the plate the past few weeks.

Not long after Jackson became the club's everyday left fielder, his offensive game jumped into high gear. It could be more than just a coincidence.

"I think that's more of a natural position for me than first base," said Jackson, who on Monday was named the National League's Player of the Week for July 21-27, a span in which he hit .542 (13 for 24) with a 1.083 slugging percentage.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » July 29, 2008, 4:47 pm

And I thought Bay Area fans were the most delusional....

Yes, there are definately some fantastic arms there. IF AZ can land Texiera, they may rise above the rest of the mediocre teams. I just don't see them getting past the first round.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » July 29, 2008, 8:02 pm

Canelek wrote:
Yes, there are definately some fantastic arms there. IF AZ can land Texiera, they may rise above the rest of the mediocre teams. I just don't see them getting past the first round.

Tex went to the Halos.... thats quite a pick up

Truant · Post by **Truant** » July 29, 2008, 8:13 pm

Trek wrote:
Canelek wrote:
Yes, there are definately some fantastic arms there. IF AZ can land Texiera, they may rise above the rest of the mediocre teams. I just don't see them getting past the first round.

Tex went to the Halos.... thats quite a pick up

That's a HUGE pick up for them.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » July 29, 2008, 8:19 pm

I wouldnt say its huge, Kotchman is pretty good in his own right. Decent avg and power and a bit younger. Not saying he is better then Tex, but he is beter then many 1b out there.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » July 29, 2008, 8:33 pm

Winnow wrote:D'Backs have the pitching. At least 3 quality starters that can keep Arizona in any game.

I'd rather have the pitching and work on hitting than the other way around.

That didn't work out so well for the Astros in recent years...

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » July 29, 2008, 8:56 pm

Oh wow. I think that is indeed a huge pickup for the [insert socal city here] Angels. Even though they are one of the best teams in baseball, they needed more power and they do definately have that now in the porky firstbaseman.

Guy can slam it.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » July 30, 2008, 9:12 am

Thank GOD we got Kotchman for Texiera! Of course the way this year has gone, that only means Kotchman should be on the DL by August 8th. Put me down for that date in the pool.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » July 30, 2008, 1:12 pm

And you also got Hampton back. He won like 20 games for the Astros in 1976.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 30, 2008, 1:32 pm

Doug Davis had a perfect game with two outs in the 7th. He picked up the win on a combined 2 hitter.

It would be great to see Doug Davis step up and be a solid #4 pitcher behind the big three.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » July 30, 2008, 2:53 pm

In your world does that count as a no hitter since the last 2 innings were obviously rigged by Bud Selig?

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 30, 2008, 4:02 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:In your world does that count as a no hitter since the last 2 innings were obviously rigged by Bud Selig?

Only if it was one of the big three. I can believe that Doug Davis may have missed his spot on a pitch.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 31, 2008, 1:51 am

Arizona is now three games above .500 heading into LA tomorrow with a +1 lead in the division over them going in.

Haren picked up the Win tonight

Webb
Johnson

are the pitchers up next for the D'Backs.

D'Backs
Dodgers
Rockies

are all 7-3 over their past ten games. Maybe NL West isn't as bad as people think.

Cubs have the best record in baseball...didn't the D'Backs take 2 out of 3 from Chicago earlier in July? Ah, why yes they did!

Trek · Post by **Trek** » July 31, 2008, 6:00 pm

Nice trade

Im sure we will miss LaRoche in a few years, but by then the Pirates should be ready to trade him anyways. Morris is a hard thrower but cant seem to put it together.

Hope to see him in the lineup tommorrow, even though it means Pierre sits (I actually think Pierre is a solid player). Jones can rot on the bench, while Manny, Kemp and Ethier lead us to the postseason

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 1, 2008, 1:33 am

Great game.

Webb gets another win. (league leading 15th) (pitched 8 innings, gave up one run in the 8th)

D'Backs 2
Dodgers 1

+4 over .500, 8-2 last ten
+2 over LA

Manny vs Big Unit tomorrow.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 1, 2008, 1:14 pm

Just a rental, but Ramirez is a HUGE pickup for LA. Now, will Torre be able to handle him? I suppose it doesn't matter too much--he is an enormous distraction, but dude can swing.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 1, 2008, 1:46 pm

Canelek wrote:Just a rental, but Ramirez is a HUGE pickup for LA. Now, will Torre be able to handle him? I suppose it doesn't matter too much--he is an enormous distraction, but dude can swing.

I'm looking forward to tonight's game. Manny's no Andrew Jones (who was responsible for the final out last night)

Big Unit pitching to Manny could result in a monster home run although Randy Johnson's had a terrific last three games ETA-wise, etc, he's working on a 14+ scoreless inning streak (Chi Cubs being part of that). He's not a sure thing these days.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 1, 2008, 10:22 pm

Glad I have MLB package on Direct TV!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 2, 2008, 2:34 am

Series:

Game 1 (Webb Win)

D'Backs 2
Dodgers 1

Game 2 (Johnson Win)

D'Backs 2
Dodgers 1

Awesome game. I was tense the whole time down to Manny's at bat in the 9th. D'Backs and Dogers seem to always play close games. Loving Arizona's pitching from starters, relievers to closer right now.

+5 over .500
+3 over LA

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 2, 2008, 2:35 am

Great game as usual between these 2 clubs. Unfortunately Torre plays Jones since Johnson is a lefty, like it matters.....Pierre should be in CF just to hustle to the balls hit in left-center area so he can help out Manny a bit. Kemp in CF against righties

Ah well, Dodgers gotta win the next 2

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 2, 2008, 2:37 am

Funny thing in game 1 LA scored 1 in the bottom of the 6th then AZ scored 2 in the top of the 7th for a 2-1 win, same scoring in game 2

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 2, 2008, 2:45 am

Next two games might be a different story. Doug Davis is a decent pitcher but I'm not even sure who #5 is with Micah Owings sent to the minors.

Haren pitched the game before this series so it's going to be tough wins for Arizona to with the next two.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 3, 2008, 11:49 pm

Huge salvage of the series, we have 10 of our next 13 against the Cards, Phils and Brew-crew. Should be a real test for LA. We really need Furcal and Penny back in a huge way.

On nother note Andrew should be in AAA by the end of the week! Need to send Sweeney with him. I like Sweeney but he just cant produce anymore, should give a few youngsters a chance to shine. Its kind of funny how things work out, I am positive if Jones was batting .230-.250 with 10-15 HR we would not have picked up Manny.....perhaps Jones is our savior after all

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 4, 2008, 12:18 am

Manny's looking good.

Haren, Webb and Johnson are due up for the D'Backs next series @ home vs Pittsburgh. Atlanta and Colorado after that.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » August 4, 2008, 12:24 am

Yeah, I saw that schedule. Its a really good chance for the snakes to pad their lead, might even be the stretch that decides it.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 6, 2008, 1:02 am

Webb picks up win #16 with a one run complete game. The pirates managed a run in the 9th.

Pirates 1
D'Backs 3

Webb has more wins than any other pitcher since 2005. Doesn't that make him pretty good?

Webb's main Cy Young competition comes from his own team mate Dan Haren who has even better stats but less wins this year.

This is a comparison before Webb's 9 inning, one run game tonight so take that into account:

Add a win, a few K's, and lower Webb's ERA a little.

Pitchers should have a "run support" stat as well. Also, two games ago, Webb took a 4 run lead to the 9th where Lyon blew the game for him.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » August 6, 2008, 10:19 pm

Umm no... Lincecum is better than either of them. Peavy is too probably but I am not a Pads fan. I just pray he is durable because he is a once in a generation pitcher to watch pitch.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 7, 2008, 2:54 am

Pherr the Dorf wrote:Umm no... Lincecum is better than either of them. Peavy is too probably but I am not a Pads fan. I just pray he is durable because he is a once in a generation pitcher to watch pitch.

nope. do they have more wins over the last three years? More wins this year? Only 12 wins for Lincecum (WHIP 1.23). (8 for Peavy) If you're a good pitcher, all you need is one run from your team. If Arizona had some bats, Webb and Haren would be even better as well so a shitty team is no excuse.

With all the chatter about how shitty AZ's offense is, Webb has 16 wins. I suppose for this argument, it will be twisted around somehow.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » August 7, 2008, 8:48 am

Winnow wrote:
Pherr the Dorf wrote:Umm no... Lincecum is better than either of them. Peavy is too probably but I am not a Pads fan. I just pray he is durable because he is a once in a generation pitcher to watch pitch.
nope. do they have more wins over the last three years? More wins this year? Only 12 wins for Lincecum (WHIP 1.23). (8 for Peavy) If you're a good pitcher, all you need is one run from your team. If Arizona had some bats, Webb and Haren would be even better as well so a shitty team is no excuse.

With all the chatter about how shitty AZ's offense is, Webb has 16 wins. I suppose for this argument, it will be twisted around somehow.

Actually shitty offences would be the point... SF's being worse than Az's. Last 3 years mean jack squat as far as this year goes and anyone who watches knows that Lincecum is the more dominating and electric arm, that is why they pull him early... not like they are going to win anything this year anyways.

Who will win the NL West?