Aaron Hill drives in Arizona's only run in a 6-1 loss to the Dodgers on 5/21. Image: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

They are now 10.5 games out of first place.  Their #2 pitcher has been missing since week two of the season.  And if you read the comments by fans on mlb.com, their best player has been, ahem, lacking focus.  It would be easy to completely dump on the Arizona Diamondbacks.   I won’t do that, at least not now but I will say this:  it is time for Diamondback fans to think of the Wild Card as the entry into the playoffs.

Let’s face it, the Los Angeles Dodgers will not be caught this season.  Beginning last August 1^st, the Dodgers are a robust 63-33 and barring a major injury, show no signs of slowing down.  Actually, their best player, Matt Kemp, has been hurt missing seven games so far and the team has thrived without him.  In fact, LA should only get stronger as ownership has been stabilized and will make the necessary improvements to make sure the team remains in first place.  With Arizona’s bullpen already overworked, it would seem impossible the D-Backs will be able to repeat as National League West Champions.

This is not to say 2012 is lost for Arizona.  As we have seen time and again, deficits like these, particularly at this point of the season, are not insurmountable for teams who make a Wild Card run.   There is still too much talent and too many players that will be heard from in the second half of the season.  One of those players might be Trevor Bauer who could get a call to the Majors in order to alleviate the tremendous burden on the relief pitchers.  And unless the team totally collapses, I would think GM Kevin Towers as a deal or two in him to help the team make it to October baseball.

Hang tight, fans.  No one said it was easy to follow the day to day grind of a baseball team.  Forget about winning the division as the route to the postseason will be through the Wild Card.  After that, dream those big World Series dreams.

Follow me on Twitter @ltj41 and at www.clearthebases.net

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @venomstrikes

Mar 6, 2012; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young (24) smiles on second after doubling during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Chris Young of the Arizona Diamondbacks has always been able to hit home runs.  He has averaged 23 dingers during his five year career in Arizona.  His bugabbos at the plate have been low batting averages (.240 career average) and his high strikeout totals (an average of 147 per season).   Hopefully for Young and the D-Backs, his hot Spring start (hitting almost .500 as of March 12^th) can translate to a monster season.

According to a piece written by Steve Gilbert at MLB.com, Young started his off season program of hitting in November about a month earlier than usual.  He also has made a slight adjustment with his hands, holding them higher on his bat.  A notorious pull hitter, Young has been making a concentrated effort to hit the ball to all fields.  Hopefully, the extra work can carry over to the start of the 2012 season.  Let us also hope that this new approach does not reduce the home runs that D-Back fans have grown accustomed to from their Center Fielder.

They say to win in baseball you need to be solid up the middle (Catcher, Second Base, Shortstop and Center Field).  With Stephen Drew’s return uncertain from his ankle injury, Young will be counted on more heavily to be a consistent run producer and continue to play solidly in the field.   If the early Spring numbers are any indication, Chris Young will be up to the challenge.

Follow me on Twitter @ltj41 and at http://clearthebases.net

Like Venomstrikes on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @venomstrikes

Tyler Skaggs, who started 27 games in the Diamondbacks minor league system last season, is rated as one of the top southpaw prospects in the MLB. Mandatory Credit: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

MLB.com released their first Top 100 Prospects list this morning, and the Diamondbacks top three pitching prospects all cracked the top 25 of a future star-studded list.

Trevor Bauer, the 21-year old right-hander drafted out of UCLA with the third overall pick in this past June’s draft, leads the DBacks prospects on the list at number 9 overall.

(more…)