| Scott Miller's Take |
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Nobody expected the Diamondbacks to win the NL West last season, so now let's see what they can do with a bull's eye on their backs. This remains an exceptionally young team that should get better and better over the next few seasons. They were reminded incessantly last season that they shouldn't be winning because of their poor run differential -- opponents outscored them for the season, for crying out loud -- but they persevered. It only gets more difficult now. Video Outlook
Strengths
In former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, the D-backs have as good a one-two punch atop their rotation as there is in the league -- and, possibly in all of baseball. It's too much to expect a 40-something Randy Johnson to win 20 games, but if he can return from a second back surgery in two years and contribute, the D-backs could name their victory margin in the NL West. No. 4 starter Doug Davis is underrated -- he's not a big winner, but he's going to pitch his 200 innings and give you a chance to win on most nights. And young hitters Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, Stephen Drew and Chris Young should only get better.
Weaknesses
Last year's right fielders combined to rank 30th in the majors in offensive production. With Upton there full-time from the opening bell, that should get better. The Diamondbacks ranked 14th in the NL in runs scored a year ago, but Upton, Reynolds, Drew and Co. are a year older. Brandon Lyon is back as closer, and he'll face a stern test to duplicate Jose Valverde's 47 saves from a year ago.
Difference Maker
Dan Haren. The guy started the All-Star game for the American League last season and, though he's a fly-ball pitcher (that won't translate as well in homer-friendly Chase Field as it did in homer-killer McAfee Coliseum), he also is no longer facing designated hitters and monstrous lineups.
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| Top Prospects |
| 1. |
Max Scherzer, SP (R) |
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He could have been an option in '07 until a bad July slowed him down.
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| 2. |
Emilio Bonifacio, 2B/SS |
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He had 41 steals in Double-A, but he lacks pop and strikes out too much.
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| 3. |
Jarrod Parker, SP (R) |
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Haren trade decimated their system, so raw talent appears years before his debut.
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| 4. |
Jamie D'Antona, 3B |
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Has gotten lost in the shuffle, but the hunch here is he surprises many this year.
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| 5. |
Juan Gutierrez, SP (R) |
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Will be one of the Triple-A starters the D-Backs call on when injuries set in.
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Complete NL West prospects |
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Dan Haren won at least 14 games in each of the past three seasons and had a career-best 3.07 ERA last season. (AP)
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| Team Info |
2007 record: 90-72 (1st in NL West)
Manager: Bob Melvin, 4th year (243-243)
Stadium: Chase Field (49,033; grass)
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| Lineup |
| No. | Player | Comment |
| 1. | C. Young, CF | Has 30-30 potential after strong rookie year |
| 2. | O. Hudson, 2B | Playing for a new contract |
| 3. | C. Jackson, 1B | Looking to break out in third full season |
| 4. | E. Byrnes, LF | One of Arizona's top power hitters and stolen bases leader |
| 5. | M. Reynolds , 3B | Needs to cut down on his strikeouts (129 in 2007) |
| 6. | S. Drew, SS | Lots of promise and hoping for a better offensive season |
| 7. | J. Upton, RF | Will skip Triple-A to take the spot in RF |
| 8. | C. Snyder, C | Surge in production since late last season |
| Pitching |
| Rotation | Comment |
| 1. |
B. Webb (R) |
Coming off a career-high 18 wins in 2007 |
| 2. |
D. Haren (R) |
Second half of the rotation's one-two punch |
| 3. |
D. Davis (L) |
Needs to cut down his walks |
| 4. |
M. Owings (R) |
Hopefully perfected his new changeup and technique this spring |
| 5. |
R. Johnson (L) |
The 44-year-old is still day-to-day. E. Gonzalez fills in |
| Closer |
Comment |
| B. Lyon (R) |
Can he effectively replace the league's saves leader? |
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