Arizona D-Backs preview. 2/18/09

The D-Backs started their 2008 season(their 11th as a team) going 20-8 in the months of March and April and were way ahead in the NL West race. Brandon Webb won his first 9 starts and looked like he would be the key to their success. Then the offense went dead. They had to get Adam Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds for Micah Owings, Dallas Buck, and another prospect. With only two bat(Mark Reynolds and Adam Dunn) bringing in the runs even with the great start they fell short of the playoffs. They came second in the lowly NL West by 2 games losing to the LA Dodgers. They hope 09 will be better.

With Adam Dunn leaving via free agency the offense for Arizona will need to step-up so Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, and Jon Garland don't have to try and allow zero or one runs every night they pitch. The D-backs havent made any major transactions to help their offense. They have though for their pitching to keep them in games. They signed SP Jon Garland and RP Tom Gordon. They should help their starting rotation and bullpen. Other than that nothing much for them this year so far.

Here are some of my projections this year for D-Back players:

Brandon Webb: 19-9 with a 3.34 ERA and 186 strikeouts. He will compete for another CY Young. Webb will also be going for his 5th straight season with 220 or more innings pitched. Can you say Iron Man? Webb has also thrown an average of 100.3 pitches per game. He will also like to keep his 1.20 WHIP and oppent's batting average to 1.20 and .243 the same or lower. He will be going for his 100th win as a pitcher.

Dan Haren: 17-8 with a 3.51 ERA and 197 strikeouts. Haren has tied or either won more games every year of his career. He would also like to keep his 3 srikeouts to 1 walk ratio. Whcih is why he strikes out almost 200 batters per year and only walks 40 batters. No matter how good he does he will always be playing second fiddle to Webb.

Jon Garland: 14-10 with a 5.11 ERA and 83 strikeouts. His high ERA and WHIP are a concern for Arizona fans since there isn't a great offense in the desert. His strikeouts have also declined the last four years which isn't a good sign and his walks and runs allowed have went up which doesn't help at all. Arizona will want more from him.

Chad Tracy: .270 average with 12 homeruns and 47 RBI's. With constant injuries Tracy's production has diped. His homeruns, RBI's, OPS, slugging, and batting average have taken hits. If he doesnt get hurt all should go well for him. He averaged 18 HR's, 68 RBI's, batted .294, and averaged 153 hits. I think he will improve from last year.

Stephen Drew: .301 average with 25 homeruns and 71 RBI's. Suppose to be the next great SS? I think so. Drew improved his numbers greatly. He hit nine more homers, drove in seven more runs, had 59 more hits, scored 31 more runs, his batting average went up 53 points, and his slugging went up 132 points. But, he still could strikeout 100 times with only 40 walks which isn't good. His eyes at the plate should get better as he enters his prime. His numbers will only get better through the next years.

Mark Reynolds: .240 average with 26 homeruns and 90 RBI's. In his two years in the Big Leagues he has shown his power, low batting average, and his high number of strikeouts. His slugging is also below .500 which isn't good for a guy who can avergae 30 homeruns and 100 RBI's. Reynolds has also shown some speed stealing eleven bases last year. The D-Backs will need his power and run producing bat to be some what sucessful. If his eyes and dicipline at the plate improve this guy will be a huge threat.

Conor Jackson: .291 average with 15 homeruns and 75 RBI's. Jackson has shown some 20 homer and 80 RBI potential, but he looks like an Ichiro minus the spped. Alot of hits, good amount of RBI's, and low homeruns. If he could play more than 140 games(possibly 150) he could contribute more to the offense. But, he will be another key to Arizona success.

Justin Upton: .285 average with 20 homeruns and 68 RBI's. Suppose to be the next great line of OF's along with Jay Bruce and Adam Jones(not the football player). Hasn't did what they have did, but a 150 games played season should do the trick. He did hit 15 homeruns in 108 games played, but also didn't produce or score many runs. He also has over a 2 to 1 strikesout to walks( 1 walk for every two strikeouts) which is really bad. Just like alot of D-Backs and MLB players his plate dicipline and eyes at the plate need to be alot better to be a solid player. He should be able to do that considering he is only 20 years old.

I predict the D-Backs will go 88-74 and finish 1st in the NL West. LA's loss of pitching hurts them. Even if the Dodgers get Manny their loss of pitching will really hurt them unless Clayton wins 30 games. Unless the D-Back's pitching and offense go dead they should win the divsion. But, don't be surprised if the Giants, Rockies, or Dodgers pull an upset.

Is this one front page worth?

any comments.

Yep. I passed it to John and it was edit. It should be posted sometime soon. Also, if you are interetsed in writing on a regular basis would you be into reporting on your league? pick ups, standing, draft order, trades, etc?

I could do that if you wanted me too. I could still try and right some more previews for MLB teams. I dont have to do them all, but maybe some. Unless you guys would want me to all of them. I wouldn't mind reporting on my league.

Corey,

Much better with the edits. I think it'd be great if you could report on your league throughout the season. We're planning on running more content based on our leagues thicool if you want to get involved with that. Let me know.

I would be happy to write for the Eastern League.

Way to represent the AA Eastern League Corey. Keep up the great work!!