MLB Baseball Betting - Arizona Diamondbacks

Manager: Bob Melvin (fourth season).

2007: 90-72 first place, NL West

Training: Tucson Electric Park, Tucson, Ariz.

Home Park: Chase Field, Phoenix Arizona, Cap. 49,033, Grass, Opened March 31, 1998.

World Series Titles: (1) 2001

Acquisitions: RHP Dan Haren, RHP Chad Qualls, RHP Juan Gutierrez, RHP Billy Buckner, 1B Chris Carter, RHP Connor Robertson

Departures: RHP Jose Valverde, LHP Dana Eveland, RHP Livan Hernandez, RF Carlos Quentin, OF Aaron Cunningham

Outlook: The Arizona Diamondbacks won the NL West last season despite one of the lowest-scoring offenses in all of baseball by putting one of the game’s best defenses on the field every night.

The D-Backs have used their top-notch farm system to build a club that appears as if it will be a legitimate contender for years to come as five of Arizona’s eight everyday players last season were originally signed by the Diamondbacks

Despite ranking 14th in the National League in runs scored, while getting outscored for the season 732-712, the Diamondbacks decided not to mess with their lineup of young homegrown position players and add former Oakland A’s gem, Dan Haren for six players, including impressive young left-hander Dana Eveland and five of the top 12 prospects in their abundant farm system.

While Haren will join former Cy Young award winners Brandon Web and Randy Johnson in the starting rotation, the Diamondbacks could be a bit thin in the bullpen after trading closer Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros.

Chad Qualls, Tony Pena Jr. and Brandon Lyon will compete for the closer’s job but all have three players have question marks.

Haren however is coming off a 15-win season for a mediocre Oakland A’s team last season and has averaged 14 wins and 221 innings over the past three seasons.

If the Diamondbacks  can get one more solid season out of Johnson, who is coming off of a third back surgery, they could boast one of the best starting rotations not just in the National League, but in all of baseball.

The Diamondbacks are also counting on young hurler Micah Owings this season after throwing him in the fire last year and watching him survive with a 8-8 record and respectable 4.30 ERA in his first full season.

The Diamondbacks position players were led by left fielder Eric Byrnes season, as the highlight-reel making defensive ace batted a respectable .286 while hitting 21 home runs and driving in 83 runs.

Arizona will need more production from centerfielder Chris Young, who has all the tools to succeed but batted just .237 last season in 569 at-bats while driving in just 68 runs. While Young hit 32 home runs to lead the team, he also struck out a whopping 141 times.

Another young player, Connor Jackson is being counted on to take over full time at first base while the D-Backs are expecting much bigger things from talented shortstop Stephen Drew who batted just .238 in 150 games and 543 at-bats.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson has the look of a future all-star after batting .294 in 517 at-bats and posting a very solid .376 on-base percentage.

Third baseman Chad Tracy is coming off of microfracture knee surgery and could be a bit unsteady to start the regular season though backup Mark Reynolds did a respectable job replacing him last season, hitting .304 with runners in scoring position and will likely open the season as the starter at third base.

The Diamondbacks open the season at +2000 to win the 2008 World Series in the BetUS.com Sportsbook.

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Official Website: www.arizonadiamondbacks.com