Around the NL: How the West is won (and lost)

How the West is won (and lost)

Cy Young award winners Brandon Webb and Barry Zito have already joined one of baseball’s elite fraternities, but on Sunday they found themselves on opposite ends of the pitching spectrum.

Webb became the fourth pitcher in MLB history to have a 6–0 record before the end of April when he outdueled reigning Cy Young winner Jake Peavy and the Padres 2-1. Arizona also played host to the last two 6-0 April starts — Randy Johnson in 2000 and 2002, both Cy Young award-winning yeard.

Meanwhile, Zito’s record dropped to a miserable 0–6 after allowing eight runs in three innings against Cincinnati. He became only the third pitcher in the last 50 years to “accomplish” that feat in April.

Thus are the seasons of the San Francisco Giants and The Arizona Diamondbacks. Webb has established himself as one of the game’s premier pitchers on baseball’s best team while Zito is mired under the huge expectations that come with signing a seven-year, $126 million contract. The Giants are holed up in last place in the West and likely will be there for the duration of the season.

Since Zito joined the Giants in 2007, he has a 4.91 ERA and an 11–19 record. Not exactly what you’d call bang for the buck.

Meanwhile, Webb’s Diamondbacks have won his last 10 regular-season decisions in a span of 11 starts. He has given up more than three earned runs only once (four) during that stretch and has been particularly brilliant this season, especially with runners in scoring position. Opponents are 3-for-34 against him this year with runners in scoring position. That’s a hit about once out of every 11 at bats that a runner reached second or third. Incredible.

With Webb just beginning to reach his full potential, the D-Backs continue to be the team to beat in the West.

Something’s fishy

Florida in first? Really? Those same words seem to come natural whenever the Marlins’ latest rebuilding project starts to come together. They were said in 1997 and 2003 when the Fish won the World Series and now, at 15–10 through April 27th, they’re in command of the NL East once again, albeit for only a month.

For the latest batch of guys you’ve never heard of, try Josh Willingham, Jorge Cantu, Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez (OK, maybe you’ve heard about that last one…see below). Or perhaps the pitchers: Mark Hendrickson, Scott Olsen and Kevin Gregg. Sound familiar? Didn’t think so.

Two reasons for the Marlins’ success are a 6–1 record in one-run games and 35 home runs, good enough for second in the majors. Still, there are plenty of smoke screens too. They rank second-to-last in fielding percentage (.974) and second in strikeouts (212) to name a few.

It’s too early to tell whether the Marlins can hang on and become a factor late in the season but one thing’s for sure: The Marlins are winning the only way they know how — in obscurity. No one’s paying attention to them, yet they’re ahead of the Mets, Phillies and Braves in what’s expected to be one of MLB’s most hotly contested divisions.

April Players of the Month

Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia
Utley has been on a tear during the season’s first month. He leads the majors with 10 home runs, 23 runs and is second behind Chipper Jones with 37 hits. Utley has helped carry the Phillies to a respectable 14–12 record while super slugger Ryan Howard has been awful, to put it nicely. Add 21 RBIs, two stolen bases and a glove that’s making outstanding plays nightly to the mix and Utley is Athlon’s NL Player of the Month.

Honorable mention:

Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta — .433, 18 R, 20 RBIs, 7 HR
Jones would likely have been the POTM if he’d remained healthy.

Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida — .337, 22 R, 18 RBIs, 8 HR, 9 SB
One of the game’s best all around players a major reason Florida leads the NL East.

Lance Berkman, 1B, Houston — .322, 23 R, 23 RBIs, 8 HR, 4 SB
Standout Astros’ first baseman regaining slugger mentality.

Derrek Lee, 1B, Chicago — .359, 22 R, 21 RBIs, 7 HR, 1 SB
Lee’s big bat has the Cubs off to a hot start.

Pat Burrell, OF, Philadelphia — .349, 18 R, 25 RBIs, 8 HR
Say what you want about his contract year, Burrell has been on fire in April.

April Pitchers of the Month

Brandon Webb, SP, Arizona
As mentioned above, Webb has been pitching like an ace all season. He’s allowed nine runs in 41 innings pitched and won all six of his starts with 34 Ks. Hey, who said there was no chance of seeing another 25-game winner in the big leagues?

Honorable mention:

Edinson Volquez, SP, Cincinnati — 4–0, 1.23 ERA, 33 K
The Reds acquired Volquez from the Rangers, and the youngster is paying immediate dividends.

Jake Peavy, SP, San Diego — 3–1, 2.09 ERA, 38 K
Reigning Cy Young winner still looks sharp in a dreary Padres team.