Second Half Keys for Success- NL West

Hello Leatherheads, the trade deadline has came and passed so I'm here to give you the second half keys for success. In this post, I'll be doing the teams in the running for the National League West division.

Eric Gagne, the prize of last year's trade deadline acquisitions

So I present to you, the NL West:


Arizona Diamondbacks: The D'Backs have been playing better ball of late winning seven out of their last ten, but overall, they've just been a mediocre team. Left Fielder Connor Jackson has been the brightest spot of the offense hitting .321 with 12 home runs, 56 RBIs and a .404 OBP. At second base Orlando Hudson does what he always does, hit slightly above .300 with little power and an average OBP. Over at third base, Mark Reynolds is all or nothing, hitting .246 with 21 home runs, 67 RBIs and a .330 OBP. At first base Chad Tracy is a decent contact hitter, not much more than that. I could picture him being more in a platoon at first. In center, Chris Young covers a lot of ground out there but hasn't been doing much at the plate, hitting .236 this season. In right, Chris Burke has been a terrible option as Justin Upton remains on the DL. In their rotation, Brandon Webb and Dan Haren have been their usual great selves as Webb has 14 wins while Haren has so far posted a 2.36 ERA. In the bullpen, Brandon Lyon hasn't done a great job holding games down blowing five saves thus far this season. Middle relief hasn't been good either but Jon Rauch (4-2, 2.84 ERA, 46Ks in 50 innings) show be great in the 8th and maybe even the 9th inning down the stretch.

Analysis: The D'Backs mediocrity sadly makes them just good enough to win the division. The team has a lot of needs. They missed out on the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, he would have fit well at first base once again making Chad Tracy a right fielder. They still need another bat to help protect Connor Jackson in the lineup, Reynolds does not cut it. Hopefully Chad Qualls will step up becoming the 7th inning guy. One more pitcher in the rotation would help too because Doug Davis will not hold up in the playoffs. Maybe Micah Owings will find himself again after being optioned to AAA. Or maybe he'll go all the way back to A to become an outfielder. Any one of these scenarios will ice the division for the D'Backs, but will they make a move?


Los Angeles Dodgers: For teams in the NL, especially in the West, all it may take is a move or two to push your team out of the chasm of mediocrity. The Dodgers have done just that, effectively assuring they will be battling for the NL West crown as opposed to falling apart like they did last year. They still won't overtake the Diamondbacks, but they should keep it interesting. First, the acquisition of Casey Blake for two minor leaguers. GM Ned Colletti wanted to acquire a shortstop, as he pushed hard for Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson, Toronto's David Eckstein, and Washington's Cristian Guzman. But when talks deteriorated, Colletti acquired Blake who was having a decent year in Cleveland (.296 AVG, 12 HRs, 60 RBIS). They hope Nomar Garciaparra can come back and play a respectable shortstop, but that will be a stretch, and it's also at least a month away from happening. Colletti also found away to erase the gamble they took on Andruw Jones who's career has crashed and burned over the past two seasons. They acquired the embattled, but overpowering offensive force that is Manny Ramirez. With the team hoping Matt Kemp can cover massive amounts of ground in center, the team is currently sending out Ramirez in left, Kemp in center, and Andre Ethier in right. The team also got an unexpected boost from set-up man Jonathan Broxton when closer Takashi Saito went on the DL with a elbow sprain. He has been five for five in save opportunities and only letting up one run since taking over as closer on July 18th.


Analysis: I do praise these moves that Colletti made. After a few seasons of having mediocre to just outright terrible seasons, he saw that this would be the best time to take a shot at the division. It also appears that though Manny will still be Manny, he does seem to have great respect for Joe Torre and has repeatedly said he will do anything Torre wants him to do for the best interest of the team. Though it remains to be seen if these recent comments are just Manny being Manny (aka bullshit). While I like the back-end of their bullpen with Saito (when he comes back) Broxton and Joe Beimel, I do not like their rotation at all. It's pretty much the veteran Derek Lowe and four unproven pitchers. That will not get you to the postseason.


Colorado Rockies: Normally I wouldn't even mention a team that is eight games out of a terrible division but in lieu of what the Rockies did last year, you can't count them out. Even though they didn't make a significant move at the deadline, they didn't last year either. But until they can get hot, injuries and inconsistencies are plaguing this sub-.500 team. Wily Taveras is not having a good year at the plate, Brad Hawpe is solid in right but I know the team had to have been expecting better than the .282 AVG, 17 HRs, and 56 RBIs he has this season(decent OBP at .383 though). Matt Holliday remains the only positive consistent element of this squad, doing his MVP thing he does every year (.346 AVG, 21 HRs, and 67 RBIs). In case your wondering he is hitting .317 on the road so there isn't much of a Coors Field effect. Garrett Atkins has been playing a serviceable first base and hitting like he always does (.294 AVG, 15 HRs, and 68 RBIs), filling in for the injured Todd Helton who is suffering from a "degenerative back condition." Ian Stewart is doing okay, but not providing much pop at the hot corner (.297 AVG, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs). He has also been tearing lefties up to the tune of a .526 AVG. Troy Tulowitzki is still trying to find himself after being injured most of last season. The bullpen is very streaky. Brian Fuentes is closer once again after faltering in the position last year and has been very good (2.86 ERA, 49 SO, 20 saves, in 44 IP). Manny Corpas is back to his set-up role again after serving as closer from the end of last season through the first few months of this season. In terms of middle relief Luis Vizcaino and Matt Herges have decent stuff but have not shown it this season. The starting rotation is unproven after Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook. Those two are always good but Ubaldo Jimenez, Glendon Rusch, and Jorge De La Rosa will not get you very far.


Analysis: I've learned to never count out the Rockies but I'm not sure how they will come back this year, especially with how strong the NL Central has turned out to be. I see the Cubs or Cards taking the wildcard, whoever doesn't win the division. Unless their pitching goes on a ridiculous run like they did last year the Rockies don't have a shot at the postseason.

Obviously, at this point, you can count out the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres.



Thanks for reading Leatherheads!! Up next for me, the AL Central.