D-backs will be most-improved cellar dweller in 2010
Article By cbahr.tsn on 7th January, 2010
Chris Bahr
We might never again see a worst-to-first story comparable to the 2008 Rays (from 96 losses in 2007 to the World Series in '08), but that doesn't mean a last-place team can't grab some headlines for impressive year-to-year improvement. This past season, for example, the Mariners rebounded from a 101-loss disaster to finish eight games above .500. But which last-place team from '09 will be the most-improved in 2010?
Stan McNeal says the Nationals will be noticeably better, but Chris Bahr says the real turnaround will come from the Diamondbacks:
Heading into the 2009 season, the Diamondbacks were pegged -- at least by Sporting News -- as the second-place team in the N.L. West. Sure, there were costly offseason losses, including Adam Dunn, Orlando Hudson, Randy Johnson, Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon, but the division was expected to be weak. And Arizona still had the dynamic 1-2 rotation punch of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.
After four innings on opening day, however, Arizona's season was all but over. In that start, Webb experienced shoulder discomfort, made an early exit and never threw another pitch all season. The Diamondbacks won the opener, but that marked the only time all season they were above .500. The end result: a 70-92 record -- only five fewer losses than the team's inaugural season in 1998.
But there is potential for a much different result in 2010. Three reasons why:
A healthy shoulder should mean an improved Brandon Webb. Webb will be back. The 2006 N.L. Cy Young Award winner and 22-game winner in 2008 eventually had shoulder surgery, but he will be 100 percent in spring training. Because the procedure on his shoulder was of the cleanup variety, there is far less concern about his health than if he had required labrum or rotator cuff repairs. Even if Webb doesn't completely return to dominant form, he will be a big upgrade and sh...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Stan McNeal says the Nationals will be noticeably better, but Chris Bahr says the real turnaround will come from the Diamondbacks:
Heading into the 2009 season, the Diamondbacks were pegged -- at least by Sporting News -- as the second-place team in the N.L. West. Sure, there were costly offseason losses, including Adam Dunn, Orlando Hudson, Randy Johnson, Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon, but the division was expected to be weak. And Arizona still had the dynamic 1-2 rotation punch of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.
After four innings on opening day, however, Arizona's season was all but over. In that start, Webb experienced shoulder discomfort, made an early exit and never threw another pitch all season. The Diamondbacks won the opener, but that marked the only time all season they were above .500. The end result: a 70-92 record -- only five fewer losses than the team's inaugural season in 1998.
But there is potential for a much different result in 2010. Three reasons why:
A healthy shoulder should mean an improved Brandon Webb. Webb will be back. The 2006 N.L. Cy Young Award winner and 22-game winner in 2008 eventually had shoulder surgery, but he will be 100 percent in spring training. Because the procedure on his shoulder was of the cleanup variety, there is far less concern about his health than if he had required labrum or rotator cuff repairs. Even if Webb doesn't completely return to dominant form, he will be a big upgrade and sh...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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