BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Tough to watch what’s going on in National League West

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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Tough to watch what’s going on in National League West

The five-team division went to work for the 23rd consecutive day Wednesday without a team having a winning record. The first-place Arizona Diamondbacks entered their game against the Chicago Cubs with a 50-50 record, marking only the second time that a division leader failed to have a winning record this late in a full season.

“It’s like the old Phyllis Diller beauty contest,” says Joe Garagiola, former catcher and TV host. “Everybody finishes third.”

That wasn’t the case a year ago, when everybody but the Giants finished with a winning record, the San Diego Padres missed by the postseason by one game and the last two teams standing in the NL were the Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, who advanced to the World Series.

“It’s kind of shocking to see how bad it’s been,” Diamondbacks infielder Augie Ojeda says. “You go into the season thinking how good the division would be, and now look at it. Nobody even has a winning record. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

Division leading Arizona hasn’t had a 3 game win streak since winning 4 in a row May 13-16.

shoewizard Posted: July 24, 2008 at 03:22 AM | 12 comment(s)
Related News: General, Arizona, Colorado, LA Dodgers, San Diego, San Francisco

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1. Russlan roots for the the mediocre Mets Posted: July 24, 2008 at 06:41 AM (#2870972)

It'd be kind of cool if the division winner in the NL West had a negative run differnetial again this year. It's not very likely but certainly possible.

"It's gotten so bad that you really look forward to that off-day," San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers says, "because when you're off, you got a real good chance to gain ground on the rest of the division."

Ouch.

2. xdog Posted: July 24, 2008 at 06:52 AM (#2870978)

Let's take off 2.

3. 1k5v3L Posted: July 24, 2008 at 09:55 AM (#2871074)

It'd be kind of cool if the division winner in the NL West had a negative run differnetial again this year. It's not very likely but certainly possible.

It'd be kind of cool if the division winner in the NL West had a sub-.500 record this year. It's quite likely and certainly possible.

4. Watch Crispix Attacks geek out Posted: July 24, 2008 at 10:03 AM (#2871082)

Currently there are three teams in the NL Central with a better record than anyone in the NL East, and three teams in the NL East with a better record than anyone in the NL West.

I'd feel bad for the Cardinals if they weren't the embodiment of evil as well as being a longtime juggernaut competing with two teams that have been highly sympathetic and unlucky doormats for nearly the entirety of their existence.

5. Boots Day Posted: July 24, 2008 at 10:54 AM (#2871132)

In last night's Cubs-Diamondbacks game, six different players pinch-hit. All six struck out.

6. Alan S Posted: July 24, 2008 at 11:04 AM (#2871146)

Another reason not to feel bad for the Cardinals is that just two years ago they became possibly the worst team ever to win a World Series.

7. RB in NYC (Now a Man with Options! Maybe!) Posted: July 24, 2008 at 11:06 AM (#2871148)

Riccardi must be pulling his hair out. Throw his mediocre collection into the NL West and suddenly they're a half game out of first.

8. 1k5v3L Posted: July 24, 2008 at 11:08 AM (#2871152)

In last night's Cubs-Diamondbacks game, six different players pinch-hit. All six struck out.

Good pitching

9. JoeHova Posted: July 24, 2008 at 11:09 AM (#2871154)

It'd be kind of cool if the division winner in the NL West had a sub-.500 record this year. It's quite likely and certainly possible.

That's never happened before, right? I know it probably would have in 1994 with Texas leading their division while being 10 under, but other than that, no, correct?

Another reason not to feel bad for the Cardinals is that just two years ago they became possibly the worst team ever to win a World Series.

what about the 1987 Twins? They had a pythag of 79-83. They get my vote, but the Cards are definitely up there.

10. zonk Posted: July 24, 2008 at 11:28 AM (#2871173)

Perhaps this is why the Astros fancied themselves buyers rather than sellers?

Did anyone notify Drayton that it's been 15 years since the 'Stros were in the NL West?

11. shoewizard Posted: July 24, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#2871540)

Since 1995, the NL West Playoff teams have a combined post season series record of 10 Series won, 24 series lost. Since 2003, that series W/L record is 3-7, all 3 coming in 2007, (2 series wins from the Rockies, 1 series win from the D Backs)

12. RB in NYC (Now a Man with Options! Maybe!) Posted: July 24, 2008 at 02:29 PM (#2871587)

Since 1995, the NL West Playoff teams have a combined post season series record of 10 Series won, 24 series lost. Since 2003, that series W/L record is 3-7, all 3 coming in 2007, (2 series wins from the Rockies, 1 series win from the D Backs)

Jesus. That's horrible. Espcially for a division that has had 3 pennant winners in that period. Brutal. (Espcially the Dodgers, the only franchise in the West not to make the World Series since '95.)

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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Tough to watch what’s going on in National League West

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