Buster Olney Ranks the 2012 rotations

[Chris_Sanders]

DBacks come in 5th

5. Arizona Diamondbacks
It's a deep group that thrived in 2011 despite working in a park generally viewed as a hitters' haven. Ian Kennedy finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting this year, as he learned to use his fastball. And Daniel Hudson demonstrated great command, walking only 50 in 222 innings -- and now the Diamondbacks have added ground-ball machine Trevor Cahill in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. Scouts say that Cahill seemed to lose some sink on his fastball in 2011, along with his mechanical consistency, and there is optimism in the Arizona organization that Cahill will work well with pitching coach Charles Nagy. Josh Collmenter is lined up as Arizona's No. 4, with the No. 5 starter still to be determined, but part of what should make this rotation great is the strength around it -- the Diamondbacks have an excellent pipeline of talent on the way, and a deep bullpen, as well.

We are primed for a great 2012 season.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog...id/7389540/mlb-10-best-starting-rotations-mlb

 

[Dback Jon]

Very excited for our staff

 

[82CardsGrad]

Shold be great fun! Only issue I have is that we lack a quality left hander in the rotation.

 

[Gaddabout]

Still scratching my head why Chase Field is considered a hitter's park. Back when it opened -- and well into the first five years -- hitters called it fair. Yes, it's dry, it has some minor elevation (about 1,100 feet above sea level), and that big green backdrop helps pick up the ball. But the place is NOTHING like Coors Field or that zoo of an outfield like Minute Maid. If the numbers show Chase Field to be a hitter's park, it's most likely due to the below-par pitching staff for the home team.

More likely, I think the outdoor parks along the coasts skew the numbers because the humidity during the summer makes mediocre pitchers better. Like Dodger Stadium. High humidity keeps the ball down and gives weak-armed benders more break from release to plate.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Still scratching my head why Chase Field is considered a hitter's park. Back when it opened -- and well into the first five years -- hitters called it fair. Yes, it's dry, it has some minor elevation (about 1,100 feet above sea level), and that big green backdrop helps pick up the ball. But the place is NOTHING like Coors Field or that zoo of an outfield like Minute Maid. If the numbers show Chase Field to be a hitter's park, it's most likely due to the below-par pitching staff for the home team.

More likely, I think the outdoor parks along the coasts skew the numbers because the humidity during the summer makes mediocre pitchers better. Like Dodger Stadium. High humidity keeps the ball down and gives weak-armed benders more break from release to plate.

Ball flies out of Chase, especially when the roof and panels are open. It isn't as bad as Coors used to be but since they went to the humidifier it has become comparable. The thin air doesn't help.

 

[Lefty]

Still scratching my head why Chase Field is considered a hitter's park. Back when it opened -- and well into the first five years -- hitters called it fair. Yes, it's dry, it has some minor elevation (about 1,100 feet above sea level), and that big green backdrop helps pick up the ball. But the place is NOTHING like Coors Field or that zoo of an outfield like Minute Maid. If the numbers show Chase Field to be a hitter's park, it's most likely due to the below-par pitching staff for the home team.

More likely, I think the outdoor parks along the coasts skew the numbers because the humidity during the summer makes mediocre pitchers better. Like Dodger Stadium. High humidity keeps the ball down and gives weak-armed benders more break from release to plate.

The hitters see the ball very well at Chase do to the background. By the way, Chase was at #5 this past season.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

 

[Black Jesus]

Bauer in the 5 spot