March 16, 2009
Team Offense, Arizona Diamondbacks
Chris Young
Photo: Icon SMI
The series on team offense continues with the Arizona Diamondbacks. I plug the probable lineup from CBSSportsLine into the Lineup Analysis Tool, and fill in the numbers with Marcel the Monkey projections. For pitchers, I used the DBacks 2008 numbers. The results:
- Best lineup: 4.78 runs per game
- Probable lineup: 4.53 runs per game
- Worst lineup: 4.29 runs per game
- Regressed lineup: 4.36 runs per game
The Diamondbacks scored 4.44 runs per game in 2008.
I almost get the feeling Ralph Houk is managing this team. Ralph liked to lead off with his second baseman, no matter how high or low or player's OBA. Felipe Lopez only fits the role of a leadoff man in that he has no power. Melvin compounds the mistake with Chris Young batting second. He projects to post the lowest OBA on the team. Given this poor top of the order, I'm not surprised the probable lineup ranks halfway between the best and worst lineups the Diamondbacks might assemble.
The saving grace of the team is their power. While they don't have an outstanding slugger, seven of the players project to good slugging percentages. What they lose in failing to get on base they make up somewhat in moving the batters who do get on around the bases.
Plus, there's a good chance that Marcels underestimate some of these hitters due to their youth. Upton, Drew and Young are all on up slope of their careers. Unless Eric Byrnes returns, none of the starting eight will have a seasonal age of 30 in 2009. With everyone either in or approaching their prime, the offense just might catch lightning in a bottle, much like the Rockies did two years ago.
Other teams in this series:
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