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.