30 Clubs in 30 Days: No. 28 Arizona Diamondbacks

Coming in at 28th overall on our countdown is the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs made some good acquisitions during the off season, but after finishing last in the NL West in 2010 there’s not enough talent bringing their talent to the desert for the D-Backs to have a chance in hell of finishing any higher than that in 2011.

No. 28 Arizona Diamondbacks

Projected Rotation

1. Daniel Hudson-RHP
2. Joe Saunders-LHP
3. Ian Kennedy-RHP
4. Zach Duke-LHP
5. Armando Galarraga-RHP

Projected Bullpen

1. JJ Putz-RHP
2. Juan Gutierrez-RHP
3. David Hernandez-RHP
4. Sam Demel-RHP
5. Mike Hampton-LHP
6. Aaron Heilman-RHP
7. Joe Paterson-LHP

Projected Lineup

1. CF Chris Young
2. 2B Kelly Johnson
3. SS Stephen Drew
4. RF Justin Upton
5. 1B Russell Branyan
6. LF Xavier Nady
7. C Miguel Montero
8. 3B Melvin Mora

Analysis

Without a doubt the batting order is an improvement from the 2010 season. However, the inability to hit for contact and just go for the homerun was Arizona’s biggest weakness and it remains to be seen if that will get better in 2011. One thing is for sure though and that is the team has hitters from top to bottom.

Despite his awful performance in the homerun derby Chris Young is a talented youngster with a huge bat. In 2010 he belted 27 homers to go with 91 RBI but held a batting average of just .257, not ideal for a leadoff hitter. Young is still young (no pun intended) and 2011 could be the year he puts it all together.

Courtesy azcentral.com

Giving the D-Backs even more young talent is former first overall draft pick Justin Upton. Upton is one of the most exciting young stars in the game today and certainly has a bright career ahead of him. His 2010 season didn’t quite live up to the high expectations he set in 2009 but there’s no reason to believe that Upton can’t be a .300 avg, and 25 home run kind of guy.

If the D-Backs can avoid injury problems they actually will have one of the more solid lineups from hitting standpoint. Unfortunately, that is one big if. Miguel Montero was having a good season behind the dish as well as at the plate he also missed 77 games. The rest of the D-Back order is filled with capable hitters in Mora, Nady, and Branyan but there’s no telling how many games the older guys will be able to play. When they’re healthy they’ll be competitive, when they’re no they’ll struggle. That will be the story of the 2011 Diamondbacks.

Okay so thus far it doesn’t sound too bad right? That’s because I haven’t talked about pitching yet. In the offseason the D-Backs brought in JJ Putz who has a past of being a good closer, when he can get on the mound. Combine his injury history with the fact that it’s on his shoulders to rebuild a bullpen that had an ERA of 5.74, and 24 blown saves last season. Putz is not the answer to the disaster that is the D-Backs bullpen and it will be another painful season in the desert to watch this group.

The starting rotation isn’t much better, but projected ace Daniel Hudson had a fantastic second half of the season after being traded from the White Sox. Hudson went 11 of 11 in quality starts for Arizona and had an ERA of 1.69. The rest of the rotation is filled with inexperience and uncertainty and one really close no hitter. Sadly, that won’t be enough for the D-Backs to finish ahead of last place in the NL West.