The Diamondbacks have a very unique rotation

No trade chip has more value than a young talented starting pitcher.
Pitching wins games, most teams could use at least one talented starter.

Have that pitcher be young and under financial control and you have yourself a great pick up.

Well, maybe it is because they play in the desert, but not a lot of people are giving the Diamondbacks credit for some quality trades that have given them a very good rotation... the likes of which I have never seen before.

Turn the clocks to the end of the 2009 season.
Ian Kennedy was a talented if enigmatic pitcher for the Yankees and supposedly one of the pitchers of their future.
Joe Saunders was coming off 17 and 16 win seasons and was a young All Star for the Angels.
Daniel Hudson had just gone 14-5 in the minors at age 22 and was one of the White Sox's best pitching prospects.
Trevor Cahill was one of the top 15 prospects in all of baseball and at age 21 had spent an entire season in Oakland.

Fast forward to 2011, and all 4 are members of the Diamondbacks who are the defending NL West Champs and have a manageable payroll and a young rotation poached from other teams.

Yeah they traded some talented players to get these pitchers (Danny Haren, Edwin Jackson, Max Scherzer) but look at all the times people have traded good players and got Gotch in return. (I'm looking at YOU Minnesota after dealing Johan Santana. I'm looking at YOU Oakland after dealing Tim Hudson!)

The trades have settled and they have a terrific rotation to take on the Giants and defend their title.

I can't remember a playoff caliber rotation that is almost exclusively the result of shrewd trades to bring in young talent. Usually there are a few free agents or home grown players thrown in. Sure the Red Sox in 2004 had 5 starters in the rotation brought in from other teams. But Pedro and Schilling were established stars when they arrived in Boston.

I can't think of one off hand. Hats off to the Diamondbacks front office.

So Diamondback fans... SHOW UP! You have a great and unique product.


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A payroll observation about Milwaukee vs Arizona

The Brewers and Diamondbacks played a thrilling 5 game Division Series.

The Milwaukee Payroll was $86 million.
The Arizona Payroll was $53.8 million.

The Brewers payroll was lower than what the Yankees paid for A-Rod, Sabathia, Teixeira and A. J. Burnett in 2011.

The Diamondbacks payroll was lower than what the Red Sox paid for Lackey, Crawford, Drew and Dice K for 2011.

Keep that in mind when discussing payroll in baseball.

A payroll thought about the Red Sox and Diamondbacks

Here's something to think about when people bring up payroll and how money brings in pennants.

The Diamondbacks won 94 games, overtook the World Champion Giants and nearly got into the NLCS.

The Red Sox collapsed under the weight of their overblown expectations and lousy pitching staff.

The Diamondbacks payroll was $53.6 million.
The Red Sox payroll was $161 million.

Let me put that a different way:
The Diamondbacks payroll was lower than what the Red Sox paid John Lackey, Carl Crawford, J. D. Drew and Daisuke Matsuzaka for their 2011 seasons.

It might be time for the Red Sox to get younger.

Only thing I would have changed about the Brewers/Diamondbacks game

The Brewers and Diamondbacks finale had everything you could have ever wanted in a Division Series Game 5.

Great pitching. A fabulous highlight reel catch by Chris Young. A big homer by Justin Upton.
A game tying, series on the line safety squeeze. A series winning walk off hit by Tony Plush himself, Nyjer Morgan.

Awesome game.

One objection.
Why couldn't the Brewers be wearing their old bad ass M-B hats for the game?

Isn't Friday "Throwback Uniform" day?

Ah well.
I guess Brewers fans will have to be content with a thrilling 5 game victory and home field advantage in the NLCS.

I can't believe the Brewers and D'Backs are already in the 6th

Didn't it JUST start?
They are in the 6th?

I guess I am used to Red Sox/Yankees games. Sox and Yankees would still be in the top of the second.

We haven't seen a day like today since October 15, 2001

OK, who is playing in the NLCS.
We have no clue at this point.

It could be Brewers vs. Phillies.
It could be Diamondbacks vs. Phillies.
It could be Brewers vs. Cardinals.
It could be Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals.

And we will find out by the end of tonight. For the first time since October 15, 2001, both Division Series of a league are going the full 5 games.

For the first time in 10 years the right to go the LCS is basically a one game affair.

In 2001, like this year, there were actually 3 game 5's.

The Diamondbacks and Cardinals played a thriller that ended with Tony Womack's walk off hit in the bottom of the 9th, making Curt Schilling a complete game winner.

The Mariners, who won 116 games that year, forced a fifth game after coming from behind and winning the 4th game in Cleveland. Jamie Moyer out pitched Chuck Finley to give the Mariners the 3-1 win.

In New York, just 2 days after Jeter's flip to Posada, the Yankees looked to come all the way back from the 0-2 hole. They fell behind in the game 2-0 but an error by Eric Chavez put the Yankees up for good in the third. They would hold on to the 5-3 win.

Who will be the heroes tonight?
What will the match up be?

One team playing tonight will have home field advantage in the World Series eventually.
Two teams will become obscure playoff participants.

We've been waiting 10 years for a night like this.

Has Ron Roenicke taken Randy Wolf out yet?

Seriously, I think Randy Wolf is still on the Chase Field pitchers mound.
After the Brewers quickly cut a 5-1 hole down to 5-3, I would have had Wolf on the shortest leash possible.

Like "next batter who gets on, adios."
Goldschmidt (whose name SOUNDS like a brewer) got on and stole second.
BYE!
GONE!
OUT!
When Young walked I thought "There is no way to leave him in there."

A base hit by Cowgill and 2 runs later and it was back to 7-3.

I'm not saying that cost the Brewers the game, but they were taking momentum back.
And now they have to fly back to Milwaukee where best case scenario has them NOT having Gallardo in the NLCS until Game 3. And the WORST case scenario has them wondering "How did we blow a 2-0 hole."

You can get off the mound now, Randy.

The Ted Lilly Playoff Home Run Reaction Award goes to...

... Brewers pitcher Shaun Marcum.

Remember a few years ago in the 2007 Division Series, Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly let up a go ahead homer to Diamondbacks centerfielder Chris Young?

Lilly saw it was gone the second it left Young's bat. And he reacted by throwing his glove on the ground in disgust, a la Tanner.

Well last night Shaun Marcum let up a game breaking grand slam to Paul Goldschmidt.
Same mound as Lilly, Marcum threw his glove in the air in a gesture that said "Well THAT wasn't what I wanted to do."

Well done, Shaun Marcum. We need more unrepentant emotion on the mound.

What Fox Wants For The World Series... 2011 Edition

It has become a tradition at Sully Baseball. For the fifth consecutive, me and the staff try to figure out what Fox wants for their World Series match up and rank them from biggest ratings potential to absolute disaster.

We did it in 2007.

We did it in 2008.

We did it in 2009.

We made a video for it in 2010.

And now we have 2011.

Now keep in mind, this is not what I want nor what would make for the best baseball. This is solely taking into account what media markets and fan bases Fox wants to tap into.

And seeing that nobody in baseball seems to know how to market a team that doesn't play in Boston, New York or Philadelphia, there will be a lot of East Coast Bias.

Teams like the Rays, Diamondbacks and Brewers should be media darlings. But they aren't. That would take effort.

And of course Fox Sports executives wet their pants when the Red Sox stumbled out of the playoff picture. Lots of transplanted Red Sox fans are around the country which means lots of eyeballs on the TV. Now they have to do that thing that all TV networks hate to do: Make an effort to find an audience.

Now of course what they SHOULD want is a 7 game intense World Series. Short of that, let's see what they want to sell.

1. Yankees vs. Phillies

Once again, this is what they REALLY want. Two Northeastern teams and recent champs with lots of fans sprinkled across the country. Lots of recognizable names on both teams. A rematch of the 2009 series, which was one of the highest rated series in recent years. This would require the least amount of effort to sell and probably be the most popular. And of course, as fans bitch and moan about big budget East coast teams dominating the press, a meeting of two northeastern powers with the two biggest payrolls in baseball will undoubtedly draw the biggest ratings. Go figure.

2. Yankees vs. Cardinals

If any team can match the passion of the northeastern baseball fans, it is the Cardinals. With one of the biggest and most loyal fan bases in the country and many transplanted fans, this has the potential of being a great draw. The Cardinals didn't draw any viewers outside of their fan base in 2006, but against the Yankees there would be a clear villain.

3. Yankees vs. Diamondbacks

Normally any series involving Arizona wouldn't get much buzz (even though it should because they are a young exciting and energetic team.) But having the Yankees and Diamondbacks meet again on the 10th anniversary of the Post September 11th World Series would be pretty special. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera are still suiting up for the Yankees 10 years later.

4. Yankees vs. Brewers

The last of the Yankee match ups, which means the last potential match up that Fox would possibly want. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun coming to Yankee Stadium would be sweet. So would Bob Uecker calling the games on the radio. Plus there are enough midwesterners all across the country who would adopt the Brewers.





Now after this, sadly, the match ups would require baseball and Fox to market their sport and not just rely on the fans they take for granted. Which will NEVER happen. So even though virtually every single OTHER match up would include young superstars, solid pitching and potentially exciting baseball, Fox and MLB are dreading each and every one of them.

Let's list them anyway.

5. Rays vs. Phillies

A rematch of the 2008 World Series best remembered for a prolonged rain delay. I put this one high up because if the Rays get this far it would probably mean they would have slain both the Red Sox and Yankees. The little team that could would take on all three Northeastern Goliaths and win. That would be an amazing story. Too bad you can't sell a story like that.

6. Tigers vs. Phillies

The Phillies are the only potential National brand in the National League. And Detroit has a lot of fans living across the country because... well... a lot of people wanted out of Detroit. A Verlander vs. Halladay Game 1 would be amazing. So would Hall and Oates singing the National Anthem in Philadelphia and Eminem singing in Detroit.

7. Rangers vs Phillies

Can Texas become a baseball haven? They are incredibly likable and exciting. But that's football country. Just ask any fan of Friday Night Lights! And this could be a little Good Ole Boys vs. South Jersey rivalry. Sirloin vs. Cheesesteaks.

8. Tigers vs. Cardinals

Because EVERYONE loved the 2006 World Series. It's the "Maybe Leyland will have the pitchers take infield practice before the Series" Series.

9. Rays vs. Cardinals

The "If you put money on this being the World Series match up on September 1st you will be a millionaire" Series. The two teams that stormed into the playoffs after being left for dead going head to head would be great TV. So would seeing the fun and loose Joe Maddon square off against hard nose by the book written about him Tony LaRussa.

10. Rangers vs. Cardinals

The "To Hell With Either Coast" Series. Pujols hitting in the launching pad of Arlington. Hamilton, Young et al taking aim in St. Louis. A city of great baseball tradition against a team with a budding tradition. The Cardinals will bring out Ozzie Smith, Stan Musial, Bruce Sutter, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson. The Rangers will have Nolan Ryan and... um... Toby Harrah?

11. Tigers vs. Brewers

Nothing like two franchises that have never met square off against each other in the World Series. Sadly that isn't happening here. Here you have two teams that not too long ago were in the same division. I guess the fans of Detroit and Milwaukee will have fun driving through Chicago and honking at Cub fans on the way to the World Series games.

12. Rangers vs. Brewers

It's the "We both got rid of Carlos Lee before his contract became a behemoth" Series. (Seriously, what other history do these two teams have?)

13. Rays vs. Brewers

The "Maybe we can convince everyone it is a Buccaneers vs. Packers game" Series. Again, the teams will be filled with some of the most exciting players in baseball each fighting for the franchise's first ever World Series title. But something like that can't be promoted or used to get fans attention. How can that? It's not New York, Boston or Chicago?

14. Rangers vs. Diamondbacks

The "Is it hot enough for you?" Series. Or perhaps the "It's Hot but it's a dry heat" Series. You certainly can't claim East Coast bias in a series played in Texas and the desert.

15. Rays vs. Diamondbacks

Ironically, THIS is the series that fans should be hoping for. Two low budget, small payroll team with home grown stars made smart moves and made it to the World Series with guts, determination and smart baseball. You stick Brad Pitt in the middle of this World Series and people would pay attention. Instead it will probably be a ratings disaster... which is a disgrace.

16. Tigers vs. Diamondbacks

The World Series will be shown regionally. The rest of the country will see "The Making of Terra Nova."



So I will be watching no matter who is playing. I don't think there is a bad match up in the bunch. But what do I know? I'm not at Fox.

Reason to hope for the Champs?

What's THIS?
The Giants won.
The Diamondbacks lost.

The World Champs are 6 games back.
That's too much, right?

Wait a second...
Let's say the Champs do well against the Rockies and the Padres show some resolve against Arizona.

And then let's say the Giants slap the Dodgers around next week.

Let's say it is possible for the Giants chop Arizona's lead to 4 or 5.

Then on the 23rd, 24th and 25th the Giants play the Diamondbacks.
What happens if the Giants sweep that series?

I'm just saying....
The defending Champs are still defending....

10 Reasons why the Arizona Diamondbacks winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

Today we continue the Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game series by taking a look at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Who predicted the Diamondbacks winning the 2011 NL West?
Not CNN, who had them dead last.
Not one of their 12 experts had Arizona winning the West.
Not one of ESPN's 45 experts had Arizona winning the West.
All of Yahoo's experts had the Diamondbacks in dead last.
And I picked them to be dead last as well.

Yet here we are with a little bit more than 2 weeks to go and the Diamondbacks have the division all but sewn up. And, like the 2002 Angels and the 2003 Marlins, they are that most dangerous of playoff teams: One without lots of star power and too young to realize that they don't belong.

The idea of a World Championship being won in the desert might not be pleasurable to Fox executives, but there are many reasons why a casual fan should become Diamondback fans this October.

10 Reasons why the
Arizona Diamondbacks
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball

1. A championship would be a celebration of Kirk Gibson, which is always a good thing.

Kirk Gibson is everything you wanted in a player. He had talent, played hard, played hurt and came up big in the big game. He was a Michigan boy who became a star for the Tigers, helping them win the World Series by launching a dramatic home run off of a Hall of Fame closer, Rich Gossage, in the 1984 World Series.

And that wasn't even the most dramatic World Series homer off of a Hall of Fame closer in his career. (I think you know which one I am talking about.) Like a championship Johnny Appleseed, he took over a rudderless Diamondbacks team and after half a season is stunningly putting them in the post season. More clips of the 1984 and 1988 World Series? More tough minded players playing above their abilities?

Yes please!

2. Baseball needs new stars like Justin Upton to shine on the biggest stage.

As baseball turns the page from the Steroid Era, they need new superstars to bring style AND substance to the field. Justin Upton, who was already fine if inconsistent player before 2010 has become an MVP candidate under Gibson. He's exciting, talented and thankfully doesn't have a Lou Ferrigno physique.

Baseball needs to market players like Upton to the fans as the new generation of hitting heroes to go against the Tim Lincecums, Felix Hernandezes and Justin Verlanders on the mound. Having him win a World Series would help matters.




3. Kevin Towers and Jerry DiPoto would show everyone how to rebuild a team into a champion.

Previous GM Josh Byrnes netted Ian Kennedy in a massive three team trade but the bulk of the teams upheaval is the result of front office men Kevin Towers (GM) and Jerry DiPoto (VP of player development.) DiPoto got Daniel Hudson from the White Sox while Towers rebuilt the bullpen and both put their confidence in Kirk Gibson. In less than a year since the A. J. Hinch experiment failed, the Diamondbacks went from 97 losses and being the second worst team in the National League to coasting to the playoffs.


4. Yankee haters would relish seeing Ian Kennedy as a World Champion ace.

Remember when Brian Cashman went into the 2008 season trumpeting pitching development? They were going to build a new pitching staff around Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.

That turned out to be a disaster as the Yankees finished in third place, missing the playoffs for the first time since the Wild Card era began. The next year they went back to buying free agents which is what Cashman does best. But Kennedy DID develop into a front line starter for a playoff team. Just not the Yankees as he came over in the multi team deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.

Both sides did well in the trade, but the Yankees could use a young arm like Kennedy in their rotation.



5. Lyle Overbay winning a title would be a cool link to 2001.

As the 2001 World Champion Diamondbacks celebrate their 10th anniversary, one player links that team and current Division leaders: Lyle Overbay. He played a handful of games as a call up with the 2001 squad and wasn't on the playoff roster. Now he came over as a late season pick up and has contributed with some big hits.

Having him be part of TWO World Championship Diamondback teams, no matter how tangential, would be a cool legacy.


6. Joe Garigiola could join the broadcaster booth for the World Series

I'll say it. Joe Garigiola is my favorite ever baseball voice. He is funny. He is knowledgeable. He is unique. And he is sincere. Listen to him call the 1975 World Series... or his insights in the 1986 World Series... or when he called the Phillies first ever title in 1980 he had the restraint to say "The crowd will tell you what happens" and let the moment speak for itself.

His son has been one of the big wigs at the Diamondbacks from the beginning and Joe does some announcing for them. Why not have him call a game or two? At least an inning? Or is it illegal to have someone other than Joe Buck and Tim McCarver in the announcer booth now?



7. A ring for unlucky Charles Nagy.

Charles Nagy was a member of the 1997 Cleveland Indians, a team that was a mere 2 outs from being most beloved team in Cleveland history. (Technically they were one out away because the game tying run in the 9th inning of Game 7 was on a 1 out sacrifice fly. Had Manny Ramirez thrown an Ichiro-esque laser to home plate, the Indians would have been champs.)

Poor Charles Nagy, who was part of the massive Indians rebuilding process in the early 1990s, was brought out from the bullpen to help clean up Jose Mesa's mess. He got out of the 10th but Tony Fernandez's error in the 11th kept the inning going. Eventually he let up Edgar Renteria's single that went off the tip of his glove.

He will always be labeled the losing pitcher of Game 7 of the World Series.
He retired ringless. It wasn't his fault.
He deserves a ring.


8. The first World Series title may have come too quickly. Not this one.

The Diamondback fans didn't really have to suffer for a World Championship, did they? They had one bad inaugural season. Then their second season they had a 100 win team. Their third season they had a contender. Their fourth season they won the World Series. For all the Cub fans transplanted to Arizona, it must have seemed a smidge unfair. How was a 4 year wait earning a title?

Besides, the team was almost entirely cobbled together from other organizations. The franchise was young but the tea, was an old veteran squad filled with players dying for their first ring. The team earned their championship. Not sure the fan base did.

Well it has been 10 seasons since then. They are a 14 year old team with many homegrown players and some roots in the community. A Diamondback championship this year would be a tip of the cap to the organization, not wreck less spending.


9. Maybe THIS World Championship would make Phoenix a big baseball city

I've written about this before, but Phoenix should be a baseball crazy city. The Diamondbacks are the only team to deliver a World Championship to the city. Lots of terrific baseball comes out of Arizona and Arizona State. And going to Chase Field should be a destination during the hot Arizona summers. And yet they don't have the reputation of being a great baseball first fan base.

I've heard all the reasons. The newness of the team. The transplanted fan bases who don't change their allegiance. The team being merely hired guns. The Suns being the number one team.

Well here's a tip, Cub fans and Indian fans living in Arizona. Your adopted city can give you some baseball joy. Not only did they make the playoffs 3 times in their first 5 seasons, but after they split the team up after the 2002 playoffs, it only took until 2007 to get back to the NLCS. And after falling from contention after the 2008 season, it took just 3 years to get back to the playoffs again. And native Arizonans! You have a winning team! Embrace that winning tradition.

Phoenix should be like St. Louis, Boston, New York and Cincinnati as baseball first cities. They don't have their tradition, but they are building it!



10. It's the EXACT kind of team that people claim could never win the World Series.

The Diamondbacks payroll is 25th out of 30.
They don't play near a traditional large media market.
They don't sign big priced free agents.
They are the kind of team that people wring their hands about at the beginning of the season saying "What chance do they have?"

Well it looks like they have quite a big chance now! They are going into the playoffs and have a shot to have home field advantage in the Division Series. And how would they fare against Philadelphia? Well what were the Giants chances last year?

Casual baseball fans should be cheering on the Diamondbacks. as the very underdog that supposedly has no shot in baseball. (Isn't it odd that EVERY year there is a low budget underdog that gets in but nobody ever notices that?)


So while at first glance the Diamondbacks might not capture the imagination of a baseball going public, look again.

There's a lot to root for and not a lot to root against.
And it could be the continuation of a winning tradition in the desert.




If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

CLEVELAND INDIANS
DETROIT TIGERS
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
NEW YORK YANKEES
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

That's it for the Champs

7 games back.

Losing 2 must win games.

Scoring a grand total of 3 runs in the final 2 games.

It looked like a magical repeat season was going to happen in San Francisco, but I suppose it was the Law of Averages kicking in.

All of those walk off wins and 3-2 nail biters went their way all through 2010 and the first four months of this season. Now they broke the other way.

This team isn't going to make up 7 games. That's a week of games with 3 weeks to play.

Best keep this core together, let Beltran go and hope Posey is back and can hit in 2012.

Anyone who had the Diamondbacks winning the west, I want to hear from you.

This could be baseball's worst September in 25 years

September is shaping up in a very unique manner for baseball and trust me... it isn't pretty nor is it good for the game!

Since the expanded playoffs were first executed in 1995, we have seen some truly tense pennant races. In 1995, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2009, a one game playoff was needed to decide with the Division or the Wild Card.

Down to the last weekend chases have been the norm and last year we were one game away from a three way tie.

Going back each complete year since before the Wild Card...

The Braves and the Giants had their epic chase in 1993.

The Blue Jays and Brewers went down to the last weekend in 1992.

The Braves and Dodgers fought until the last weekend in 1991.

The Red Sox won the Division on the last day of the 1990 season with Tom Brunansky's sliding catch.

The Blue Jays finally held off the upstart Orioles on the last weekend of the 1989 season.

The Red Sox staggered into the 1988 playoffs by one game over the Tigers.

The Tigers and Blue Jays squared off in the memorable end of the 1987 season 1-0 clincher for Detroit.

In other words, for the past 25 years, we have been assured that at least ONE pennant race will be a nail biter.

With the Diamondbacks win tonight over Tim Lincecum (who knew that Ian Kennedy would get to 18 wins?) and the Tigers furious come from behind win over the White Sox, it is clear that it won't take much to have the current leaders make the post season.

Let's take each currently leader and see what their record would be if they just went .500 the rest of the way. (For teams with an odd number of games left, I'll put them at one game UNDER .500 for the remainder of the season.

The Phillies... if they go 13-14 the rest of the way, they will finish at 101-61.

The Braves... if they go 12-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 93-69.

The Brewers... if they go 11-11 the rest of the way, they will finish at 94-68.

The Diamondbacks... if they go 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 90-72.

The Yankees... if they go 12-13 the rest of the way, they will finish at 96-66.

The Red Sox... if they go 12-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 96-66.

The Tigers... if they go 11-12 the rest of the way, they will finish at 88-74.

The Rangers... if they go 11-11 the rest of the way, they will finish at 90-72.

In order for the Cardinals to catch the Braves, they would have to go 19-4.

In order for the Cardinals to catch the Brewers, they would have to go 20-3.

In order for the Giants to catch the Diamondbacks, they would have to go 17-6.

In order for the Rays to catch the Red Sox or Yankees, they would have to go 21-3.

In order for the Indians to catch the Tigers, they would have to go 16-7.

In order for the Angels to catch the Rangers, they would have to go 15-8.

Which of those teams strike you as being capable of such a winning streak? And all of these are under the assumption that the leaders will be .500.

There is a real danger, especially with the AL and NL Wild Cards all but secure, that September will be totally dead for baseball.

No pennant races. No buzz around the league. No spoilers. No reason to go to the park.

And with football starting up, interest in baseball could be staggeringly low in October. I hope not. But unless a leader falls on their face, the playoff teams might all be wrapped up with 2 1/2 weeks to go.

The bright spot?

The last time there was no real pennant race down the stretch?

1986.

And that was one of the great POST seasons of all time.

Let's hope if October 2011 is as great as October 1986 that people are watching.

The Giants World Series defense could end this weekend

On July 28, the Giants had a 4 game lead and added Carlos Beltran to the lineup.

If you told me 33 games later that the NL West could be wrapped up, I'd say "Well, the Diamondbacks had a nice year, but it is the Giants division."



Instead we have the Giants, the defending World Champs, the great new team to market and promote, are fighting for their very lives.



The best way to illustrate how the Diamondbacks and the Giants have gone in different directions in the past 33 games is to look at their records since July 28th.



The Diamondbacks are 22-11.

The Giants are 11-22.



The Giants are 6 games out.

The Diamondbacks magic number is 20.



The Giants MUST win 2 of 3.

They SHOULD win all 3.



A sweep will mean it is a 3 game hole.

2 of 3 for the Giants would mean a 5 game hole.



LOSING 2 of 3 would mean the Giants would be behind a week in the standings with only 3 weeks left to play.



If the Giants get swept... they will be down 9 games in the standings with 22 games to play.

The Diamondbacks Magic Number would be 14.



Come on Giants! Show a little something. I do NOT want to see a Phillies-Diamondbacks series.

Potential Giant Regrets

There has been a whole lot of strangeness going on by China Basin.

The defense of the Giants' World Championship has hit some unexpected snags.



In late July, the Giants took 2 of 3 IN Philadelphia and took a 4 game lead over Arizona in the West. Then they got Carlos Beltran to spark the offense. Winning the west was merely a formality.



Instead in 17 games, they went from 4 games up to 3 1/2 back of Arizona.



A 7 1/2 game swing in less than 3 weeks!



So after the Braves series, the Giants saw the lowly Astros and the not exactly world beater Padres were on deck. And during those games the Diamondbacks went on a 6 game losing streak.



The Giants won just one game during the D'Backs slide... and they were playing two of the worst teams in the league.



If the Giants don't win the Division, or are scrambling in the last week and throwing Lincecum on short rest, remember August. Remember these series against the Astros and the Padres.



These games count just as much as the games at the end of September.

Let's hope the Giants didn't lose the Division here the way the Padres did last year.

Wait, Wily Mo Pena is on the Mariners?

Wasn't he the toast of the Arizona Diamondbacks like a minute ago?



Now he is in the Pacific Northwest?



Is there more than one Wily Mo Pena?



Someone get on this.

Remember when Houston had a major league franchise?

I had a whole blog post written in my head for when the Astros beat the Diamondbacks tonight.

It was about the final 44 games and how the Giants and Diamondbacks are basically playing an abbreviated season.



You will forgive me for almost jumping the gun. I mean the lowly Astros had a 5-1 lead going into the 8th inning. I mean even HOUSTON could hold onto a 4 run lead over 2 innings.



They even had a 2 run lead with 2 outs and 2 strikes in the bottom of the 9th.

So forgive me for thinking the Astros had a shot to win.



I didn't expect a 2 out game tying homer from Paul Goldschmidt who was in AA about an hour ago,



And I didn't think slumping Chris Young would get a walk off shot.

Sorry that the idea of the Diamondbacks getting 7 unanswered runs in the last 3 innings hadn't crossed my mind.



So the minor league franchise in Houston is on pace for 110 losses. The franchise has never had a 100 loss team. This one is all but assured that.

The Astros would have to go 25-19 the rest of the way to avoid a 100 loss season.



If tonight is any indication, that is an impossibility.



But the worst crime they committed? They prevented me from using a blog post that I all but wrote in my head.



The bastards.

The low point for the Giants

If you are a Giants fan you better HOPE this is the low point.

On July 28th, the Defending World Champions took 2 of 3 from the Phillies IN Philadelphia. They opened up a 4 game lead on the Diamondbacks, who were a nice story but let's face it, didn't have the legs to contend deep in the season.

The Giants added Carlos Beltran and the West was all but clinched.

Since then? The Giants have lost 10 of 13 games including 2 to the Pirates who couldn't beat a Tee Ball team in the last few weeks.

The Diamondbacks haven't exactly been world beaters. They have gone 7-5, right around the same winning pace that I would have expected.

But here we sit... in Mid August... and the Diamondbacks are in first place and the Giants are out of the playoff picture.

Indeed if the Playoffs Started Today... the Phillies and Diamondbacks would match up and the Brewers would have home field over the Braves.

In the promos for the Showtime series about the Giants, there is a clip of Brian Wilson on the golf course saying "Mark it down. Repeat."

Ironically if the playoffs started now, that's what the Giants would be doing... playing golf.

And the Diamondbacks don't have to do this for the long haul. They have 45 games left. A team get get hot in a 45 game spurt. When a team is in first place all by themselves with 45 left, then guess what? They are a legit contender.

Now if you have no dog in the fight, you might think that rooting for the Diamondbacks is the right thing to do. A low budget club with lots of young talent is what people should want in the post season.

But, as I said in one of the Sully Baseball videos, the Giants have a unique opportunity to become one of the true marquee franchises in baseball. A fun, more relaxed alternative to the rough and not so friendly Red Sox and Yankees domination. And it would be a shame to see them be a one year wonder.

The Giants have the day off and the Diamondbacks are playing the minor league team that plays in Houston. So in all probability, the Giants will start Friday's game in Florida a full game back.

Let's see what you are made of. Defend that title.

Um Giants... what the hell happened?

It's August 2nd. The Giants are supposed to be cruising to the NL West. On July 29th, they had a 4 game lead and had added Carlos Beltran to the mix. They had taken 2 of 3 from the mighty Phillies and were poised to show all of baseball that not only were they the Defending World Champs but that they were the team to beat.

A series with Arizona at home was on the horizon. If all went right, they could bury the Diamondbacks in the standings and cruise through August and September.

What has gone right since?
Um... well nothing.

The got clobbered by the Reds last weekend and the Diamondbacks came into AT&T and said not so fast.

A 5 game losing streak at any point in the year sucks and with the Giants constantly playing with fire in their high wire act they were bound to hit a bad patch.

But any talk of "The Diamondbacks can't keep up with the Giants" or "They are a nice story but they'll fade" can't be taken seriously.

The Diamondbacks don't need to outplay the Giants for a whole season. They just need to outplay them for 52 games.

Sure they are doing it with smoke and mirrors and Justin Upton.
But I remember a certain National League West team last year making their big push in August and September and riding it all the way to a World Series title.

Do NOT slack off, Giants. A 10 game losing streak late in the season doomed the Padres last year. The Giants are half way to matching it.

Essentially the Giants and Diamondbacks are going to play a 52 game season. The team with the most wins takes the West. Don't look at home field advantage over the Phillies. Don't even take notice that the Brewers are not only looking good but could take home field advantage in the Division Series away from the Western Champion.

Win tomorrow afternoon. Avoid the sweep.
Giants, YOUR magic number is 53.

You have a title to defend.
Go get them.

Not THAT Wily Mo Pena!

The Diamondbacks won a heartstopping game against the Indians. The Tribe had a wonderful comeback in the 9th but with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th up stepped Wily Mo Pena.

Yes.
Wily Mo Pena.

I never hated Wily Mo Pena. I just hated the trade. There was no reason to trade Bronson Arroyo for a backup outfielder. I said it then and I say it now.

Ah well... so Pena went from the Reds to the Red Sox to the Nationals... then out of the bigs in 2009 and 2010... off to Buffalo and Columbus and independent Bridgeport... then to Portland and Reno.

Now at 29 years old he is in Arizona and watch him become the very player Theo imagined when he shipped off a decent starting pitcher who has given the Reds some All Star numbers and a lot of innings eaten.

Just saying.