SI writer unsure D-backs can repeat as NL West champs
Mar 26, 2012, 7:08 PM | Updated: 8:58 pm
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a good team that most have
reaching the postseason for the second time in two years.
However, it won’t be easy, and as Tom Verducci of the MLB
Network and Sports
Illustrated points out, it will be
tough to hold off San Francisco for the NL West crown.
“It seems to be a great race out west every single year,”
Verducci told Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo. “I
like the Giants because of the edge in starting pitching
and assuming now that their offense is going to be decent
with Melky Cabrera and Buster Posey for a full season.”
Indeed, the Giants, who won the World Series in 2010,
would seem to be Arizona’s biggest threat out west.
“When I look at the Diamondbacks, I love the team,”
Verducci said, “but I feel pretty bad holding this against
them, but so many things went right for them last year
it’s difficult for all those things to happen again.”
Verducci pointed to the team’s record in one-run games
(28-16) as well as the health of the starting rotation
(Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Joe Saunders all made 33
starts) as things that propelled Arizona last season, but
may not be there this time around.
He may be right, but the D-backs made some solid moves in
the offseason that should help them out in 2012,
especially the somewhat-surprising addition of Jason
Kubel.
“You really have to love the Diamondbacks’ bench,”
Verducci said. “There’s a lot of experience there, great
character guys, clubhouse guys.”
It’s a similar formula to the one Arizona used last
season. And, with any luck, they’ll have similar results.
