FoxSports Initial 2009 Power Rankings: Dbacks at #9
FoxSports releases their first power rankings for the 2009 season. Of course, take this with a grain of salt, as rosters aren't even settled yet, but they've got the Dbacks at a surprisingly strong #9. (Next NL West team is the Dodgers at #17) Their blurb on the boys in Sedona Red goes thusly:
The Adam Dunn rental is over and Orlando Hudson's sure glove at second is gone. Picking up Jon Garland and Felipe Lopez to fill some holes look like solid moves. This appears to be the NL West favorite for whatever it's worth.
almost 3 years ago
DbacksSkins
12 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Holy crap...
CBS Sportsline has us at #6:
Their record will look better than it should, because they’ll spend a good chunk of the season pounding on the nancies of the NL West. … The young talent here remains borderline intimidating. Imagine if Chris Young (25 on opening day), Stephen Drew (25) and Justin Upton (21) all happen to take the expected leap forward at the same time. … Fetchingly tousled free spirit Eric Byrnes provides gnarly-dude-isms and sporadic kamikaze dives into home plate for a mere $22 million through 2010. Gosh, every team needs one of those.
If this makes any sense, I feel like both Fox’s #9 and CBS’ #6 are too high. Just a gut feeling.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Wait...
“Their record will look better than it should” but they have us at #6?
"How'd you beat me? You have the street smarts of a cartoon princess!"
-The Guild
I guess
that means they think we’re going to win 110 games or something.
There’s a reason CBS Sportsline is one of the lower-tier sports sites.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Yeah
these seem to built entirely around an if/then assumption. If the young players play to their potential. If the offense is consistent. I think we can fight for the NL West crown, but are in no way a lock. I think a more tempered expectation might be a solid second place.
I am Shiva the destroyer, your harbinger of doom this evening.
For what its worth
The What If Sports prediction had us at 19 and the Blue Boys at 6.
I thin something closer to the middle of the two is more likely
You know how to cut to the core of me, Baxter. You're so wise. Like a miniature Buddha, covered with hair.
Um, yeah....
that’s a little ridiculous, too.
Who’s their ace? Jason Schmidt?? Derek Lowe and Brad Penny are gone, as is Saito. The Dodgers probably aren’t even competitive this year unless they re-sign Mandy — and even then, he won’t have an OPS+ of 219. I don’t think any team in the division has regressed as much this offseason as the Dodgers.
Granted, just having Mandy for a full year might be enough to win this division, and they won’t have Andruw Jones “contributing” at-bats anymore, either.
Over at Purple Row, they’re indignant that nobody has them ranked higher than 21st. I find that amusing.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
by DbacksSkins on Feb 18, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
Well
They really should compare how they failed to meet last year’s high expectations to how they exceeded 2007’s low expectations. Maybe this’ll motivate their team!
"How'd you beat me? You have the street smarts of a cartoon princess!"
-The Guild
Well
the summation of their off-season moves are bringing in Carlos Gonzalez (should do well) and a bunch of pitching, which is notorious unpredictable in Coors Field. I’m not really sure what they expect, it’s not like they brought in a bunch of undisputed aces.
I am Shiva the destroyer, your harbinger of doom this evening.
The Dodgers probably aren’t even competitive this year unless they re-sign Mandy
Not so fast. Lowe and Penny combined for about 300 IP of league average ERA in 08, and LA may replace those innings with the likes of Wolf, Stults, and Kershaw’s projected workload increase (I’m assuming Kershaw will pitch a little better this yr). Granted, the uncertainty there combined with Saito’s departure may still leave em a little short – but they led the NL in ERA+….it’s still a good staff.
The Hudson pickup is huge. It addresses middle defense two ways (Hudson>Kent, and also Hudson/Furcal > Lopez/Drew). Offensively, in the event they dont sign Manny, it enables DeWitt to slide to third, so someone like Blake can play left instead of Pierre. It aint Manny, but that’s still a solid upgrade. Like the Dbacks, LA also has that young corps expected to improve. It could be a nice lineup, even without Ramirez.
by Diamondhacks on Feb 20, 2009 11:49 PM EST up reply actions
The league is full of very bad teams. Teams are relying so heavily on youth at least the d-backs youth has been in the bigs for 2 years or so not every team can be the Rays.
We got two great pitchers thats puts us in the top ten. We also have the resurgence of EB, he told us he will be an all-star…count them up…4 all stars this year coming from the d-backs
I won the powerball, and quite that stupid job at the bank.
Sports Illustrated’s NL West Spring Training preview calls us “the team to beat”.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
