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August 6 -- Raising Arizona
Monday, August 6, 2007
Subject: August 6 -- Raising Arizona
Time: 11:21:00 AM EDT
Author: cu21ti27mi
Winners: At this week ago, Arizona was making a push in the National League West, but still needed a strong showing against fellow contenders Los Angeles and San Diego to maintain that momentum. Done and done. The Diamondbacks (63-50, 5-1) are now in sole possession of first place, after two wins in three over the Padres and a three-game sweep of the Dodgers. Particularly impressive this week was Brandon Webb, who has returned to Cy Young form in a big way since getting hit around a little in Chicago back on July 20. He hasn't given up a run in three starts, including a shut out of LA yesterday, to pull his ERA down a half run to 2.92 in winning all three games. The best part for the D'backs is that they've survived a particularly rough schedule to start the second half, going 16-7 against five of the six other best teams in the league (plus Florida). Now they get a break, with three each against Washington, Pittsburgh and Florida.
• The only team that's as close to as hot as the Diamondbacks is the Yankees. New York (60-50, 5-1) is 18-7 thus far in the second half, though it is playing a much, much easier schedule. In contrast to Arizona, they've drawn four of the five worst teams in their league, including 15 games against either Tampa Bay and Kansas City. That's not exactly Murderer's Row, and with 17 of their next 23 games against Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles and Boston, we're going to see what the Bombers are really made of soon enough.
• When you've had as many bad weeks as Washington has, it's hard to get too excited about one diamond in the rough. But with six home games against middling NL Central teams, the Nationals (51-60, 6-0) took full advantage. They swept both Cincinnati and St. Louis by a combined 41-14, winning by at least three in five of six games. Of course, in a season as dismal as this one, dwelling on the present doesn't do much good. Instead, the Nats turn their attention to this week's trip to San Francisco, where Barry Bonds sits on 755. Going tonight for Washington is rookie John Lannan, who already made waves two weeks ago when he crippled Philadelphia's playoff chances with a pitch to Chase Utley's right hand. Lannan picked up his first career win Wednesday against Cincy, and goes for only the third time in his career -- this time, with history staring him in the face.
Losers: As baseball rolled into the All Star break almost a month ago now, it looked like Detroit might be the bestteam in baseball. What a difference three and a half weeks makes. The Tigers (61-49, 1-5) are collapsing, and can only take solace in the fact the Cleveland train wreck is following right behind. But its the defending AL champs who are in the toughest spot right now, having lost six of eight to Chicago alone in the past two weeks. This week, they were swept in three games by the White Sox after dropping two of three in Oakland. Though the pitching has righted itself somewhat since last weekend's 34-runs-in-three-days debacle in Anaheim, the Tigers still gave up seven runs three times in the span of four days during the middle of this week. Justin Verlander hasn't won since July 15. Jeremy Bonderman hasn't won since two days before that, Nate Robertson since the day after. Andrew Miller just went on the DL, and Kenny Rogers' return from the list lasted all of three days. With the Indians struggling almost as badly, it's not time to go into full panic mode in the Motor City. Still, the Yankees are bearing down hard in the wild card race, and if Cleveland wins the race to turn things around before Detroit, the Tigers might have to snuggle up close with their 2006 pennant and watch the 2007 playoffs from home.
• The Dodgers had a great opportunity this week to trip up the rolling Diamondbacks and regain some control on a division that's been slipping away for two weeks now. Instead, they went and got themselves swept, fell into third, and now have Colorado breathing down their necks. Probably not what Grady Little had in mind when Arizona came to town. Of course, LA has bigger-picture problems, having lost nine of its last eleven. After all, San Diego struggled against Arizona, too, but also swept last-place San Francisco to come out ahead for the week. The Dodgers couldn't even handle the Giants, losing two of three at home. Luckily, they get series against Cincinnati and St. Louis next; given the wonders these two worked on Washington this week, they should help LA regain a little form. Otherwise, this season could turn into a lost cause in a heartbeat.
• Last week, I tipped off that one team to watch was St. Louis, who had quietly moved within six games of struggling Milwaukee, and had a decent shot at reaching .500 on the season with five or six wins this past week. Anyone who followed that tip can return to their regularly scheduled programming -- the Cardinals (50-58, 1-5) stunk it up this week, dropping from four games under to eight.They lost two of three to last-place Pittsburgh, then were swept by the Pirates predecessor in the NL Central basement, Cincinnati. Next up they get San Diego, LA, Milwaukee and Chicago. Good luck going eight games over against those four.
• Kansas City (48-62, 1-5) rounds out the five-loss club this week. On the bright side, they didn't lose much ground on first ... their thirteen-game deficit only went up by a half game.
Movers: With Detroit and Cleveland falling back to the pack, Minnesota and Chicago took full advantage .The Twins (57-43, 4-2) in particular are now right back in the AL Central race, cutting a seven-game deficit down to just three and a half. The White Sox (52-59, 4-2) matched the two-and-a-half-game jump, though they still trail by ten games.
• Then there's the NL West, which reordered itself in a tidy fashion this week. The Diamondbacks captured first for themselves, taking a game and a half lead on the Padres, who are a game further back then they were this time last week. The Rockies, in turn, lost two games in the standings; the Giants are chasing history, but lost three games. Finally the Dodgers, who were in first, fell four games back of Arizona.
Streakers: Some said it could never be done ... but the Washington Nationals currently sport the majors' longest winning streak at six. As far as meaningful tears go, the Padres may not be the hottest team in the West, but their four-game streak is actually a game longer than the Diamondbacks' three. Of course San Diego is only 6-4 in its last ten -- the D'backs are 8-2.
• St. Louis and Detroit may have played in the World Series last year, but right now you'd be hard-pressed to find two teams playing any worse, Pittsburgh notwithstanding. Both the Cards and Tigers have league-worst five-game losing streaks
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Subject: August 6 -- Raising Arizona
Time: 11:21:00 AM EDT
Author: cu21ti27mi
Winners: At this week ago, Arizona was making a push in the National League West, but still needed a strong showing against fellow contenders Los Angeles and San Diego to maintain that momentum. Done and done. The Diamondbacks (63-50, 5-1) are now in sole possession of first place, after two wins in three over the Padres and a three-game sweep of the Dodgers. Particularly impressive this week was Brandon Webb, who has returned to Cy Young form in a big way since getting hit around a little in Chicago back on July 20. He hasn't given up a run in three starts, including a shut out of LA yesterday, to pull his ERA down a half run to 2.92 in winning all three games. The best part for the D'backs is that they've survived a particularly rough schedule to start the second half, going 16-7 against five of the six other best teams in the league (plus Florida). Now they get a break, with three each against Washington, Pittsburgh and Florida.
• The only team that's as close to as hot as the Diamondbacks is the Yankees. New York (60-50, 5-1) is 18-7 thus far in the second half, though it is playing a much, much easier schedule. In contrast to Arizona, they've drawn four of the five worst teams in their league, including 15 games against either Tampa Bay and Kansas City. That's not exactly Murderer's Row, and with 17 of their next 23 games against Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles and Boston, we're going to see what the Bombers are really made of soon enough.
• When you've had as many bad weeks as Washington has, it's hard to get too excited about one diamond in the rough. But with six home games against middling NL Central teams, the Nationals (51-60, 6-0) took full advantage. They swept both Cincinnati and St. Louis by a combined 41-14, winning by at least three in five of six games. Of course, in a season as dismal as this one, dwelling on the present doesn't do much good. Instead, the Nats turn their attention to this week's trip to San Francisco, where Barry Bonds sits on 755. Going tonight for Washington is rookie John Lannan, who already made waves two weeks ago when he crippled Philadelphia's playoff chances with a pitch to Chase Utley's right hand. Lannan picked up his first career win Wednesday against Cincy, and goes for only the third time in his career -- this time, with history staring him in the face.
Losers: As baseball rolled into the All Star break almost a month ago now, it looked like Detroit might be the bestteam in baseball. What a difference three and a half weeks makes. The Tigers (61-49, 1-5) are collapsing, and can only take solace in the fact the Cleveland train wreck is following right behind. But its the defending AL champs who are in the toughest spot right now, having lost six of eight to Chicago alone in the past two weeks. This week, they were swept in three games by the White Sox after dropping two of three in Oakland. Though the pitching has righted itself somewhat since last weekend's 34-runs-in-three-days debacle in Anaheim, the Tigers still gave up seven runs three times in the span of four days during the middle of this week. Justin Verlander hasn't won since July 15. Jeremy Bonderman hasn't won since two days before that, Nate Robertson since the day after. Andrew Miller just went on the DL, and Kenny Rogers' return from the list lasted all of three days. With the Indians struggling almost as badly, it's not time to go into full panic mode in the Motor City. Still, the Yankees are bearing down hard in the wild card race, and if Cleveland wins the race to turn things around before Detroit, the Tigers might have to snuggle up close with their 2006 pennant and watch the 2007 playoffs from home.
• The Dodgers had a great opportunity this week to trip up the rolling Diamondbacks and regain some control on a division that's been slipping away for two weeks now. Instead, they went and got themselves swept, fell into third, and now have Colorado breathing down their necks. Probably not what Grady Little had in mind when Arizona came to town. Of course, LA has bigger-picture problems, having lost nine of its last eleven. After all, San Diego struggled against Arizona, too, but also swept last-place San Francisco to come out ahead for the week. The Dodgers couldn't even handle the Giants, losing two of three at home. Luckily, they get series against Cincinnati and St. Louis next; given the wonders these two worked on Washington this week, they should help LA regain a little form. Otherwise, this season could turn into a lost cause in a heartbeat.
• Last week, I tipped off that one team to watch was St. Louis, who had quietly moved within six games of struggling Milwaukee, and had a decent shot at reaching .500 on the season with five or six wins this past week. Anyone who followed that tip can return to their regularly scheduled programming -- the Cardinals (50-58, 1-5) stunk it up this week, dropping from four games under to eight.They lost two of three to last-place Pittsburgh, then were swept by the Pirates predecessor in the NL Central basement, Cincinnati. Next up they get San Diego, LA, Milwaukee and Chicago. Good luck going eight games over against those four.
• Kansas City (48-62, 1-5) rounds out the five-loss club this week. On the bright side, they didn't lose much ground on first ... their thirteen-game deficit only went up by a half game.
Movers: With Detroit and Cleveland falling back to the pack, Minnesota and Chicago took full advantage .The Twins (57-43, 4-2) in particular are now right back in the AL Central race, cutting a seven-game deficit down to just three and a half. The White Sox (52-59, 4-2) matched the two-and-a-half-game jump, though they still trail by ten games.
• Then there's the NL West, which reordered itself in a tidy fashion this week. The Diamondbacks captured first for themselves, taking a game and a half lead on the Padres, who are a game further back then they were this time last week. The Rockies, in turn, lost two games in the standings; the Giants are chasing history, but lost three games. Finally the Dodgers, who were in first, fell four games back of Arizona.
Streakers: Some said it could never be done ... but the Washington Nationals currently sport the majors' longest winning streak at six. As far as meaningful tears go, the Padres may not be the hottest team in the West, but their four-game streak is actually a game longer than the Diamondbacks' three. Of course San Diego is only 6-4 in its last ten -- the D'backs are 8-2.
• St. Louis and Detroit may have played in the World Series last year, but right now you'd be hard-pressed to find two teams playing any worse, Pittsburgh notwithstanding. Both the Cards and Tigers have league-worst five-game losing streaks
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8/6/07 12:14 PM