Casual Dbaks fans

[Skkorpion]

I am a casual baseball fan. About this time of year, I start paying attention and start watching the dbaks. Knowing almost nothing about this team yet, nothing stupid will escape my lips.

For the hard core fans - a question - Are the dbaks for real or are they just an early season fluke?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

We knew that the team was going to be able to hit the ball and play pretty good infield defense if they stayed healthy. So far mostly everyone has been playing so those preseason assumptions are panning out. The biggest questions going into the season werr basically all aspects of pitching.

So far, the starting pitching has been a very nice surprise. Webb and Ortiz haven't been walking everybody, Vazquez looks like he has regained his moxie, Halsey has been a solid #5 and Estes has been Estes. The bully on the other hand only has a couple bright spots. Cormier has looked good and Lyon looks like the Schilling deal wasn't merely a waste of time. However, the rest of the bullpen is shaky at best and right now is the obvious weakness of the team.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I am a casual baseball fan. About this time of year, I start paying attention and start watching the dbaks. Knowing almost nothing about this team yet, nothing stupid will escape my lips.

For the hard core fans - a question - Are the dbaks for real or are they just an early season fluke?

I guess that depends on what you mean by "for real." Potential World Series winners? Probably not. Enjoyable team with the opportunity to make a run in a weak division? Most definately. Their bullpen is still a big sore spot, but is slowly improving as a couple healthy bodies are returning. The starting rotation has been an unbelieveable surprise, but even if they cool off a bit they should still be able to do a solid job. The offense has been kind of an enigma, they have shown flashes of brilliance followed by complete silence. The offense has yet to really find its nitche, but getting Cruz back soon would be a big boost. This is a completely different team from last years, and will be fun to watch.

 

[BC867]

As disappointing as our bullpen has been, help is on the way.

Valverde is back and working his way into shape. Acquino is due back before too long.

Add the two of them to Lyon, who's leading the league in saves, and we'll have 3 Diamondbacks closers (from the past three seasons) at one time.

That should give Mel the opportunity to weed out the dead wood.

As much as I hate to say it because he's a frail guy who was overused, Koplove seems to be nothing more than mediocre. It will be time to ask, "What can you do for us now?"

The weeding out started today. The Diamondbacks purchased reliever Kerry Ligtenberg's contract from Triple-A Tucson (for long relief) and designated left-hander Randy Choate for assignment.

 

[Stan C]

I don't know if you can call this a weak division anymore. The dbacks, padres, giants, and dodgers all should be over .500 teams, that's alot of beating up on each other. Granted there are no St. Louis Cardinals, but I think the west may be the toughest division to get through. Comments?