The Week That Was
A 3-3 week against the Padres and Giants. The Roxs currently stand at 9-14. Seven and half games back from division leading Los Angeles in fifth place. Currently 4-5 at home and 5-9 on the road, the Roxs have outscored its opponents 115-113 (expected wins is 10 versus historical wins at 9). On pace for 63 wins with 810 runs scored and 796 runs against.
Fifteen percent of the season done and the Roxs sit 7.5 games behind division leading LA. Not to panic but the Roxs are digging themselves a hole four weeks into the season. Obviously last year the D-backs jumped to a huge division lead and ultimately fell back to earth so I don't think we should mail it in but the Roxs need to start playing with some urgency. Winning some series is a start. Winning at home would be huge. The underlying positive to all of this is the Rox 115 - 113 run differential. Having scored more runs than their opponents should indicate that the Rox should have 11 or 12 wins. For this team to really be competitive the bullpen really needs to settle in.
Fifteen percent of the season done and the Roxs sit 7.5 games behind division leading LA. Not to panic but the Roxs are digging themselves a hole four weeks into the season. Obviously last year the D-backs jumped to a huge division lead and ultimately fell back to earth so I don't think we should mail it in but the Roxs need to start playing with some urgency. Winning some series is a start. Winning at home would be huge. The underlying positive to all of this is the Rox 115 - 113 run differential. Having scored more runs than their opponents should indicate that the Rox should have 11 or 12 wins. For this team to really be competitive the bullpen really needs to settle in.
April Showers Bring May Wins?
Looking at the April schedule before the season started it was certainly a difficult stretch. I thought a 9 - 11 start would be a great April. The team finished at 8 - 12. Really a good start considering we went 1 - 5 against LA. Unfortunately LA is playing lights out and put the Rox in a 5 game hole.
Minuses
- Starting pitching has been inconsistent. Cook took all of April to find his groove (we hope!), Jimenez showed some moments, Marquis earned his pay, and de la Rosa was hit or miss. No real 5th starter although Morales did have one good game. If Cook and Jimenez can get it together in May then hopefully we will see some changes.
- Bullpen has been awful. Hurdle didn't seem to help things by having no defined roles out of Spring Training. The bullpen just seemed out of sorts. Street and Morales had a great first game and then just melted down. Rox were 0-6 in one run games and if the offense wasn't scoring runs then the Rox weren't winning.
- The offense showed some brilliance but also found itself not being able to get runners in.
Pluses
- A 9 - 11 record with Cook and Jimenez not finding the plate. A bullpen still in disarray.
- Offense doesn't appear to be missing anything without Holliday (5 runs, 18 hits, 1 HR, 12 RBI, .240 Ave) and Atkins, Tulo, and Iannetta haven't really started hitting
- Dexter Fowler
So hopefully May will bring some more wins. Certainly will get more games at home. Will the Bullpen settle in? Street find his pitch? Will musical lineup continue?
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