Monday, April 25, 2005

Snakes in the grass

Nobody gave the Diamondbacks much of a chance to compete in the NL West this season, but here they are in second place at 11-8 and ready to take on the first-place Dodgers.

Brandon Webb (3-0, 2.63 ERA) appears to have rediscovered his sinker and 24-year-old lefty Brad Halsey (2-0, 2.74) is showing why he was a highly regarded prospect. Russ Ortiz and Shawn Estes also have ERAs under 4. If Arizona can continue to pitch like this and get Javier Vazquez straightened out, watch out. Brandon Lyon has 8 saves in 9 chances and a 1.64 ERA.

Meanwhile, newcomer Troy Glaus, who spurned the Tigers to sign in the desert, is batting .268-6-15 and Luis Gonzalez has rebounded from his injury-plagued 2004 campaign to go .286-3-12. Tony Clark and Chad Tracy are both batting over .300 and have driven in 10 runs apiece. Plus Shawn Green and Jose Cruz Jr. add some punch.

Of course, the biggest addition was the return of Craig Counsell. The Diamondbacks never were worse than 84-78 in Counsell's four years with the team.

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