The question that many people are thinking, if not saying, is does Bob Melvin need to get the divisional title in order to keep his job?  This is Melvin’s 4th year with the Diamondbacks, and given last year’s playoff failure in the playoffs in Colorado and then the two previous sub .500 years, Melvin may be more on the hot seat than you think.  With this year’s team struggling, Melvin will at least need to put forth a strong race for the West division championship to be sure of his job.  Another falter, like last year, combined with some pretty mediocre results previously may start some rumblings about the appropriateness of the job for Melvin.

Let’s not forget that 2008 marks the 10 year mark of baseball in Arizona.  In that time, the Diamondbacks have made their mark on expansion team history as one of the most successful expansion teams in sports history.  The team has earned 4 NL West Division titles and even took down the mighty New York Yankees in the World Series of 2001.  Despite the team’s struggles, given that they’ve faced similar before, you have to have great hope for this season’s 2008 Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon has 24 saves including his last 4 opportunities.  Despite that however, the closers’ ERA has nearly doubled in the last month and now stands at 4.14.  See bookending those four saves are two games on each end where Lyon has given up 2,2,5,2 runs respectively.  In order for the Dbacks to get into the post season they will need to have a consistent closer in Brandon Lyon.

The Diamondbacks 16 game winner and ace, Brandon Webb, will try to salvage something from a horrific series this weekend against the Atlanta Braves.  The Diamondbacks, like most teams in the NL West, have been absolutely dominated  by both teams from the NL Central and NL East this year - even those like the Braves who are playing for next year.  Webb needs to help Arizona stop the bleeding.

The AZ Star had an interesting article about Micah Owings’ return to the minors and his first start with AAA Tucson.  Anyway you look at it Owings has been a project with the D-Backs.  It may start to be time to look at dealing Owings, who surely has potential, to another system while he retains some value.  This would likely occur at the end of the season.  I am not positive this is the best farm system for Owings to mature.  In the MLB this year he was 6-9 with an ERA of nearly 6.00.

Before tonight’s game with Atlanta, the following list were the team’s leaders.

AVG C. Jackson .315
HR M. Reynolds 24
RBI M. Reynolds 77
R C. Jackson 71
SB C. Young 8
W B. Webb 16
SV B. Lyon 24
IP B. Webb 163.0
ERA D. Haren 2.75

As if the progress of the game so far tonight hasn’t been disappointing enough, we now find that Orlando Hudson’s wrist injury may be somewhat troublesome for him and the D-Backs.  He left the game in the 6th inning.  His over .300 batting and consistency in the infield will be sorely missed, for any period of time.

The Diamondbacks are in an all out battle with the Dodgers for the NL West.  Neither of these teams has any chance of winning the Wild Card, so it’s all or nothing in the division.  It’s quite interesting that two East Coast rivals from the Red Sox and Yankees (Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez) will be combining in LA to beat up on last years Baby Backs.

Conor Jackson is still hitting over .310 for the Diamondbacks this year.  He has become an integral part of the team and has even fit into the outfield without too many mishaps.  With Byrnes and him in full stroke we have some really nice fire power out there.  Still looking for all of this to come together and despite tonight’s troubles in Atlanta, we’re looking pretty good.

We need some more fire power to really make a run this year.  Friday we heard in the newspaper that Eric Byrnes, who has struggled this year and then went on the DL, will be back sometime this season.  This is good news for the Diamondbacks chances to get into the post season and then to possible make some waves.