It wasn’t so long ago, folks, that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies were facing each other in the NLCS for the right to play the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.  In fact, just seven months ago, these two teams (along with the Phillies) were being hailed the prizes of the National League, full of youth, talent, and excitement.  As the 2008 season has unfolded, however, both these teams have stumbled.  But the struggles haven’t remained within the two organizations; the Dodgers and Padres have both played well below expectations and the San Francisco Giants are, by my considerations, the only team exceeding expectations.  So why is this?

Arizona Diamondbacks. Lets start with the division leaders (barely), the Diamondbacks.  Floating at an even .500 mark of 40-40, the Diamondbacks lead the piss-poor division despite winning just 9 of their last 24 games in the month of June.  Brandon Webb and Dan Haren have both been fantastic, leading 11-4 and 8-4 records respectively and captaining the rotation ahead of the Big Unit, Micah Owings, and Doug Davis.  Everyone has been on Micah Owings jock for his ability to hit…but I’m on his ass for his lackluster pitching performance this year.  Owings ERA is north of five and you have to go back to May 25th for a start in which he allowed less than three runs, May 14th for a start in which he didn’t allow a run.

The essence of their success last year, timely hitting, has been lacking this season.  Super-talent Justin Upton has struggled since his incredible start to the year.  Eric Byrnes, the catalyst for much of the Diamondbacks offense, has struggled this year, having his average dip to .210 since coming off an injury in which he tore both of his quad muscles.  How is that even possible?  Anyways, Byrnes was hitting a whopping 100 points higher last season at this point.  Don’t get too caught up in Chris Young’s power numbers; he’s hitting a dismal .230 and his OBP of .300 is concerning, especially for a leadoff hitter. Read the rest of this entry »

Holliday and crew try to bring another year of Rocky Mountain refreshment to NL West. There’s no argument; the Colorado Rockies were the surprise of the 2007 baseball season. Going on an improbable run in September that saw them win over 20 games in a row, the Rockies surged up the National League West standings into the playoffs and eventually the World Series. Even though Colorado’s mile high run through the playoffs ended in a mountain of disappointment at the hands of the Red Sox, the Rockies have an avalanche of young talent that is here to stay.

Bats. Pound for pound, the Colorado Rockies may have the best lineup in the National League. The emergence of two unbelievable talents in Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday (finally) has turned this lineup into one of the league’s most potent. All Tulowitzki did in his first major league season was rake .291 while hitting 24 home runs and driving in 99 RBI’s. Combined with his superb defensive ability, Tulowitzki was a stand out rookie and finished second to Ryan Braun in the Rookie of the Year voting. Unlike former Rockies flashes in the pan, Tulowitzki isn’t allowed to carry deer meat up stairs. He’s also not going to be given any room to slack off from his 2007 success, setting the bar high enough that he’ll be expected to perform like an all-star for seasons to come whether he likes it or not. Like Tulo, Matt Holliday had an unbelievable 2007 campaign. The runner-up in MVP voting to Jimmy Rollins hit .340 while slugging 36 home runs and driving in 137 RBI’s. In one swoop, Holliday took Todd Helton’s leader torch and ran with it to left field, carrying the burden of being the featured offensive threat in the lineup with him. Don’t expect teams to sleep on Holliday anymore; not after last year’s success and the publicity generated by it. He’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League and, combined with the way balls fly out of Coors Field, should put together another MVP caliber season. Speaking of Helton, the gritty first baseman returns for yet another year in Colorado. Unlike years past where Helton was rumored to be traded, he’ll remain the wily veteran in the clubhouse and come up with big hits in big moments. Helton can still play, and if he has to take you out “on a hunting trip deep in the woods” to prove it, he will. Read the rest of this entry »

Hosts: Sonny, Ryan and Rich: This episode focused entirely on the National League West. With the hiring of former Yankees skipper Joe Torre, are the Dodgers ready for their youth movement to finally make a playoff run? Or will Brandon Webb’s Arizona Diamondbacks repeat? Can the Colorado Rockies continue their magical run of 2007? And can Jake Peavy and Chris Young carry the Padres back into the postseason? All of this and more on the Sportable Spot.

Note: We’ve recorded our podcasts for the AL Central and AL East. They will be posted in a few days after we complete the NL West team previews.

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Call the National League what you want.  It may not be as loaded as the American League is but at least there’s a little bit of parody.  Who honestly didn’t expect the Red Sox to be in the ALCS?  Who honestly didn’t believe the Yankees would make the playoffs…again.  Now i pose a new set of questions to you.  Who would have thought the Rockies would essentially run the table and find themselves in the NLCS?  Who would have given the Diamondbacks a chance over teams like the Mets, Phillies, and Cubs?  Not many.

As we embark on this NLCS, many of us have no idea what to expect.  It’s hard to make judgements on two teams that most of the country didn’t know existed or could hardly name a player from.  The Rockies?  People along the eastern seaboard thought they were contracted a few years back with the Expos.  Now they’re four wins from being in the World Series and boast one of the best offenses you’ve never heard about.  Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, and crew are bashing their way through opponents the old fashioned way with timely hitting and decent pitching.

On the flip side are the Snakes out in the desert.  The Diamondbacks have been here before, though it was with a completely different roster and coaching staff.  They’re only three years removed from a season in which they lost 111 games.  Now they, like the Rockies, are knocking on the door of the World Series.  Many people wonder how they get it done.  The answer seems to be relatively simple.  It’s a youth movement and everyone’s invited! Guys like Justin Upton, Stephen Drew, Mark Reynolds, and Chris Young have emerged from the farm system to become the catalyst for this team.

I’ll be honest when I say that I have absolutely no idea who’s going to win this series.  While pitching matchups such as Ubaldo Jimenez vs Doug Davis may be tough to get excited about, we know that the games will be exciting.  Funny how the NL West went from the NL Worst to the apparent NL Best. 

Last night’s wild card play-in game might have been one of the best I’ve ever watched. We had several lead changes, several crucial mistakes, and several players step up when it mattered most. First and foremost, I shouldn’t shy away from my belief that Matt Holliday should be the MVP. His numbers are without a doubt some of the best by any player this season and, even though I like Jimmy Rollins, a lot has to be said for Holliday’s impact on this team. I hate to use this example but if you were to take Rollins out of that Phillies lineup, it’d still be a relatively competitive team. I think if you take Holliday out of this Rockies lineup, you have the same 10 to 15 games under .500 team that you had before he developed into the monster he is.

And what’s the deal with Jake Peavy? Over the past three seasons, Peavy has asserted himself to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. When it comes time for the big game, however, Peavy has choked with remarkable Buffalo Bills consistency. His outing last night was far from spectacular and the six runs he surrendered were as many as he had given up in his past four starts combined. Sure, he’s a lock for the Cy Young, but does it really mean much if he’s sitting at home watching the Rockies face the Phillies in the divisionals?

Finally, my case against instant replay. I don’t care if Matt Holliday touched the plate. Matt Holliday even said in the post-game interview that he didn’t know if he touched the plate. Regardless, the umpire called him safe and that should be the final verdict. This game isn’t like football. Baseball isn’t a non-stop action sport. The integrity of the umpires and the integrity of the game would be compromised with a review system. And aren’t the blown calls just a part of the game anyways? The strike zone is an invisible box that is created by the umpire. This game is built around the umpire using his two eyes, not multiple camera angles. It should stay that way.

The art of fans running onto the field is something I will never quite understand, let alone try and do. In the past, there have been incidents where fans have come onto the field simply to jerk off and run around, and there have also been incidents where fans have come onto the field and tried to attack players or managers. Last night was something in between those two.

After Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit a jack to put the Rockies within one run of completing a five run comeback, a fan jumped onto the field. The fan charged at reliever Bob Howry, though he was decked with a clothesline before he could reach Howry.

“As soon as I turned around the guy clotheslined him and took him down,” said Howry. “He said, ‘What are you doing?’ I’m trying to give up home runs, what do you think?”

You’ve got to love the sense of humor Howry had during the incident. While he’s not that great of a reliever, it’s pretty well understood that he’s trying to get guys out. Knowing that, you’ve really got to credit the fan with one of the most ignorant questions in recent history. But more importantly, you have to credit the fan with being one of the biggest morons in recent history as well. Even on one of your worst days, when the chips are against you and you’re at a ball game where beer is readily available, why in the hell would you run on the field? That is, of course, unless you like getting hammered into the ground, carried out of the stadium in cuffs, and being banned from the ballpark for the rest of your life.

If I were a player, I’d be ready to throw down. You have no idea what the fans intentions are, or if they might have a blade or a gun. Hell, once you enter the field, you’re in the ring and you should be fair game. Anyone who is stupid enough to think they can attempt to take on a 25 man major league roster should get their face rearranged.