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The D-backs entered the All-Star break with a record of 49-47, in second place in the NL West, and coming off a sweep of the reigning World Champions. I think we would probably have taken that on Opening Day, especially considering the Vegas sports books had Arizona predicted to be under .500 this season. It’s on pace for an 83-game final mark which… might be good enough to get us a playoff spot? Probably not though. But it’s not as if the team is lacking ways to improve. First-base has been historically terrible. CF and DH not much better. Our rotation currently consists of E-Rod, guys with ERA+ of 80 and 92, and two more who combined have six career starts and a 5.70 ERA.
Personally, I’m wondering how the heck we are above .500, especially considering the team has been outscored (by thirteen runs, 416-429) and are just okay in one-run games (16-14 – no team in the NL has played more of them). There are positives. The bullpen ERA of 4.00 is the lowest for the Diamondbacks since 2018. But that’s still only 14th-best in the majors. Corbin Carroll, despite the recent slump, is still deservedly an All-Star, Geraldo Perdomo has bounced back, and Gabriel Moreno might be the first-half MVP. Eduardo Rodriguez has been amazing, and J.J. Putz has a better save percentage than many, far more highly-paid closers.
The All-Star break is a chance to sit back, take stock and see where the team sits. The record is the same as Arizona were in 2024, and three games better than last year, at the same point. But it is five games below where the D-backs sat after 96 contests, the last time they made the post-season, in 2023. It feels like the team dodged a bullet in Los Angeles. A defeat, or worse yet, a sweep, and rather than 49-47, we could have been as bad as 46-50. Mike Hazen might have been leaning over to pull the plug in that situation. Instead, it feels like adding a good first baseman/DH, and perhaps a starting pitcher, and the team could be well-placed for a second-half push.
Or is it the case that the team simply has too many holes to fill? You answer to that question likely is related to how you feel the team performed in the first half, and that’s what this week’s poll is about. We have our usual five options, and of course, please explain yourself in the comment section below…
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