The Diamondbacks are sitting in last place currently in the West. The team is 14 and 23, just a few games ahead of the league cellar dweller, the Washington Nationals. Certainly slow starts by big bats has had an impact. Currently on the DL, Connor Jackson has been a huge disappointment. With the talent on this team and in the farm system, this thing can definitely still be turned around.
The 4-7 start for the Arizona Diamonbacks has not been what we hoped for. In fact, already it seems really hard to even imagine this team in the World Series in 2009. Their young talent is amazing, but inconsistent. With Los Angeles and San Diego (!) playing so well, the same postseason opportunity that existed previously for NL West teams seems to be gone. Already, in these 11 games, the team is -20 in runs scored to runs given up. Let’s cross our fingers for a turn around
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.