2007 Arizona Diamondbacks: Wild West

2007 Arizona Diamondbacks: Wild West

[paypal_donation_button]2007 Arizona Diamondbacks: Wild West

The National League West division was as tight as it could possibly be in 2007 as 3 teams battled each other for 2 playoff spots. The Arizona Diamondbacks managed to be the team to win the division with a 90-72 record, finishing just a ½ game over the Colorado Rockies and 1.5 games over the San Diego Padres. Head-to-head play was a factor for much of the regular season for all 3 teams as the Diamondbacks went 8-10 against the Rockies and 10-8 against the Padres in head-to-head play. The Diamondbacks went 50-31 at home and 40-41 on the road.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson batted .294 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI’s off 152 hits, 28 doubles, 9 triples and 10 stolen bases. Left fielder Eric Byrnes batted .286 with 21 home runs and 83 RBI’s off 179 hits, 30 doubles, 8 triples and 50 stolen bases. First baseman Conor Jackson batted .284 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI’s off 118 hits and 29 doubles. Third baseman Mark Reynolds batted .279 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI’s off 102 hits, 20 doubles and 4 triples in 111 games. Center fielder Chris Young had 32 home runs and 68 RBI’s off 135 hits, 29 doubles and 27 stolen bases. Shortstop Stephen Drew had 12 home runs and 60 RBI’s off 129 hits, 28 doubles and 4 triples.

Catcher Chris Snyder had 13 home runs, 82 hits and 20 doubles in 110 games. Third baseman Chad Tracy had 60 hits and 18 doubles in 76 games. First baseman Tony Clark had 17 home runs and 55 hits in 113 games. Catcher Miguel Montero had 10 home runs and 48 hits in 84 games. Left fielder Scott Hairston had 13 doubles in 73 games.

Starting pitcher Micah Owings found some success with the bat as he had 4 home runs, 20 hits, 7 doubles and 1 triple in 60 at-bats. On the mound Owings was an anchor for the starting rotation, going 8-8 with 106 strikeouts, recording 2 complete games and 1 shutout. Brandon Webb was the ace in the rotation, going 18-10 with 194 strikeouts and a 3.01 ERA, recording 4 complete games and 3 shutouts. Livan Hernandez went 11-11 with 90 strikeouts and 1 complete game. Doug Davis went 13-12 with 144 strikeouts. Randy Johnson went 4-3 with a 3.81 ERA but a collection of injuries would cut his season short. Edgar Gonzalez went 8-4.

Closer Jose Valverde had 47 saves and a 2.66 ERA. Relief pitcher Tony Pena went 5-4 with 2 saves and a 3.27 ERA. Brandon Lyon went 6-4 with 2 saves and a 2.68 ERA. Juan Cruz went 6-1 with a 3.10 ERA. Doug Slaten went 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA.

The Diamondbacks would make quick work of the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series, sweeping the Cubs 3 games to none. In Game 1 on October 3 at Chase Field the Diamondbacks won 3-1. Brandon Webb pitched 7 innings and gave up 4 hits, 3 walks and 1 run, but he also recorded 9 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 4th inning Stephen Drew hit a solo home run. In the top of the 6th Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot got his team on the board with an RBI single, but no one else would pick Theriot up. In the bottom of the 7th Mark Reynolds hit a solo home run, and then Conor Jackson followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs got up for Game 2 on October 4, but they would still be outscored by the Diamondbacks 8-4. In the top of the 2nd inning catcher Geovany Soto gave the Cubs an early lift by drilling a 2-run home run, but Arizona would have a response. Chris Young smacked a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 2nd, and Eric Byrnes would follow with an RBI triple. In the bottom of the 4th Drew had a 2-run triple. In the bottom of the 5th second baseman Augie Ojeda had an infield RBI single, and then Doug Davis would score another run with a bunt fielder’s choice. In the top of the 6th pinch hitting first baseman Daryle Ward had a 2-run double, but Chicago wouldn’t be able to mount a comeback.

The Diamondbacks completed their 3-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field with a Game 3 win on October 6, winning by the score of 5-1. Livan Hernandez pitched 6 innings and gave up 5 hits, 5 walks and 1 run while recording 2 strikeouts. In the top of the 1st inning Young hit a solo home run, and then right fielder Justin Upton followed with an RBI single. In the top of the 4th Byrnes grounded into a forceout at second base to score Montero. In the bottom of the 4th the Cubs got their only run off an RBI groundout by catcher Jason Kendall. In the top of the 6th Byrnes hit a solo home run, and in the top of the 9th Drew hit his own solo home run to secure the victory.

Unfortunately for the Arizona Diamondbacks, there would be no redeeming highlights in the National League Championship Series as they ran into a hot team that played in their own division. Meeting up with them again to rekindle the flames of a National League West rivalry, the Diamondbacks fell to the Colorado Rockies in a 4-game sweep. Arizona lost Game 1 on October 11 by the score of 5-1, lost Game 2 on October 12 by the score of 3-2, lost Game 3 on October 14 by the score of 4-1, and then lost Game 4 on October 15 by the score of 6-4.

While the outcome wasn’t what they were expecting, the Arizona Diamondbacks proved to the baseball world that they were to be taken seriously, and they proved to be an exciting part of a wild National League West division.