The First Half

[Dback Jon]

Well, we are more than half way through the season (Dbacks have played 89, have 73 left).


Despite the last week, I think we are all surprised by how well the Dbacks have done. Of course we are nervous about what is going to happen after the ASG

Dbacks still have the second best record in the NL

2 game lead on hosting WC

9.5 game lead on final WC spot



Dbacks will open the second half with a 6-game road trip at Atlanta and Cincy.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Not sure if "surprised" is the right word for me... I actually thought many of these guys were good enough to do this LAST season... so, last year was probably more of a surprise than this season. This season is more of a pleasant validation, that guys like Goldy, Dury, Owings, Peralta, Lamb, AJ (when he's healthy),Greinke, Ray, Archie, can perform like I thought they could...
Still, this team has serious holes to fill if they ever want to give LA a serious challenge. Not a ton of holes, but man - a righty batter who can hit and play a solid left field would be huge for this team. Right now, if you want to virtually guarantee a win against the Dbacks, pitch a lefty... The Dbacks are 29th in the Majors in batting average against lefties with the 6th most strikeouts vs lefties... As for a closer, I think we're gonna ride with Rodney for the rest of the season, which will mean a lot more ups & downs and all arounds... Does Archie step into the role next year? Or, does he move back into the rotation??

 

[AZ Native]

Not sure if "surprised" is the right word for me... I actually thought many of these guys were good enough to do this LAST season... so, last year was probably more of a surprise than this season. This season is more of a pleasant validation, that guys like Goldy, Dury, Owings, Peralta, Lamb, AJ (when he's healthy),Greinke, Ray, Archie, can perform like I thought they could...
Still, this team has serious holes to fill if they ever want to give LA a serious challenge. Not a ton of holes, but man - a righty batter who can hit and play a solid left field would be huge for this team. Right now, if you want to virtually guarantee a win against the Dbacks, pitch a lefty... The Dbacks are 29th in the Majors in batting average against lefties with the 6th most strikeouts vs lefties... As for a closer, I think we're gonna ride with Rodney for the rest of the season, which will mean a lot more ups & downs and all arounds... Does Archie step into the role next year? Or, does he move back into the rotation??

It seems to me an extra 140 mil would help fill those "holes" but that is not going to happen. No one wants to talk about salary cap differentials but I am guessing if we were playing fantasy baseball and you had $250 to spend and I had $110, you would kick my a$$. And if we switched the numbers the results would usually switch too. Considering everything, the DBacks are exceeding expectations, even though we don't have any. Revisit the predicted record thread for the DBacks and look at where we are at. I'll take it.

 

[82CardsGrad]

It seems to me an extra 140 mil would help fill those "holes" but that is not going to happen. No one wants to talk about salary cap differentials but I am guessing if we were playing fantasy baseball and you had $250 to spend and I had $110, you would kick my a$$. And if we switched the numbers the results would usually switch too. Considering everything, the DBacks are exceeding expectations, even though we don't have any. Revisit the predicted record thread for the DBacks and look at where we are at. I'll take it.

Of course the extra cash LA has to toss around gives them an advantage only the Yankees can match.

 

[overseascardfan]

It seems to me an extra 140 mil would help fill those "holes" but that is not going to happen. No one wants to talk about salary cap differentials but I am guessing if we were playing fantasy baseball and you had $250 to spend and I had $110, you would kick my a$$. And if we switched the numbers the results would usually switch too. Considering everything, the DBacks are exceeding expectations, even though we don't have any. Revisit the predicted record thread for the DBacks and look at where we are at. I'll take it.

To get around the market disparity, you need to draft extremely well, FLA won 2 WS with very low payrolls. Most of ARZ's roster is home grown cheap talent with few outside FA (Greinke the big one). Right now this team is in a real offensive funk. They really need to build up the farm if they want to compete long term because eventually they're not going to be able to hand out large contract extensions for Pollock & Goldschmidt with Greinke still on the books.

 

[AZ Native]

To get around the market disparity, you need to draft extremely well, FLA won 2 WS with very low payrolls. Most of ARZ's roster is home grown cheap talent with few outside FA (Greinke the big one). Right now this team is in a real offensive funk. They really need to build up the farm if they want to compete long term because eventually they're not going to be able to hand out large contract extensions for Pollock & Goldschmidt with Greinke still on the books.

And we have 1 player who is a top 100 prospect.

 

[DWKB]

And we have 1 player who is a top 100 prospect.

Which is why we should be aggressive buyers THIS deadline, IMO.

The "future" is this season.

 

[Dback Jon]

Which is why we should be aggressive buyers THIS deadline, IMO.

The "future" is this season.

What position would you recommend going after, and what would you give up?

 

[DWKB]

What position would you recommend going after, and what would you give up?

OF, Lorenzo Cain.

I honestly don't know enough about our system to say what I'd give up or even if there was enough to give from the Royal's perspective, but I think he's acquirable.

 

[Ronin]

http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/995947587748

 

[Dback Jon]

OF, Lorenzo Cain.

I honestly don't know enough about our system to say what I'd give up or even if there was enough to give from the Royal's perspective, but I think he's acquirable.

They could use a DH

 

[Ronin]

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[AZ Native]

They could use a DH

Did DB Jon really say that?

 

[Dback Jon]

Did DB Jon really say that?

I am all about the team. If that gives us the best chance going forward, then go for it.

 

[AZ Native]

Of course the extra cash LA has to toss around gives them an advantage only the Yankees can match.

So we agree that the DBacks have exceeded expectations? I personally never expected them to be here at this point.

 

[Bodha]

Im afraid that Rodney meltdown was the breakdown moment thatll send this season off the rails.

 

[AZ Native]

Could be but he has vastly exceeded my expectations of him.

 

[AZ Native]

To get around the market disparity, you need to draft extremely well, FLA won 2 WS with very low payrolls. Most of ARZ's roster is home grown cheap talent with few outside FA (Greinke the big one). Right now this team is in a real offensive funk. They really need to build up the farm if they want to compete long term because eventually they're not going to be able to hand out large contract extensions for Pollock & Goldschmidt with Greinke still on the books.

That's why I said "usually". But it is a short term solution at best.

 

[82CardsGrad]

So we agree that the DBacks have exceeded expectations? I personally never expected them to be here at this point.

Yep...