Rob Neyer wonders if the Diamondbacks are the best team in the NL West:
And while I can’t believe I’m even thinking about writing these words, I don’t have a real choice … Maybe it’s time to take the Arizona Diamondbacks seriously, if for no other reason that on the 26th of May they’re in second place, with a better run differential than the WORLD’S CHAMPION Giants.
In looking at their situational hitting stats, I don’t see much that might indicate the offense has been lucky, except for hitting with a man on third and less than two out. In 96 plate appearances they’ve delivered 67 RBI with a .370/.404/.630 slash line, two successful squeezes and ten sacrifice flies. In a low scoring environment, delivering in that situation can make a huge difference. They are 12-7 in one run games.
A lot of the credit for success in that situation goes to Stephen Drew.
In that division luck in one-run games could make all the difference. Nobody is above water on run diff except the Rockies at an underwhelming +17.
The Dodgers and Padres look buried and they’re bad teams, well under breakeven on run diff. But the other three teams, yeah sure, any of them might luck into the title. The Giants are probably feeling a little queasy without Posey, but they’ve still got that staff.
I think the Rockies are the best team overall, but they’re not that good. Kind of like the Rangers looking like the best in the other western division but hardly dominant.