411mania- MLB Fastball 08.22.08: The Battle For The NL West Crown

 

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Battle For The NL West and Playoff Contention

Manny Ramirez Is batting .406 in 19 games since joining the Dodgers

The National League West may represent the worst division in all of Major League Baseball (though I’m sure a great case could be made for the American League West), but it’s still garnering a ton of attention because of the two-horse race at the top. Following Thursday night’s action, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers are separated by just two games and appear ready to keep the competition close in the remaining 35 games on each teams’ schedule. And considering the unlikelihood of the NL Wild Card going to a team in the NL West, whatever teams comes out as the No. 1 when the season wraps up next month should be the only representative from the division.

The battle between the two clubs has been one fought both on and off the field. We’re beyond the non-waiver trade deadline from three weeks ago, which saw the Dodgers add Manny Ramirez, as well as Casey Blake, for some much needed offensive support. In the waiver stage of the trade period, both Arizona and Los Angeles made impactful transactions – the Diamondbacks countering Ramirez’ addition with a big bat of their own in the form of Adam Dunn and the Dodgers adding a veteran arm to the starting rotation in Greg Maddux. Though Maddux has yet to suit up for his new team and thus an assessment of the trade cannot really be made, Ramirez and Dunn have been no less than spectacular for their new clubs.

Since being acquired by the Dodgers on July 31, Ramirez has been a model player for the team. In 19 games, he is .406 at the plate with a stellar .494 on-base percentage. He’s belted six balls out of the park, tallied 21 RBIs and crossed home plate 12 times. In addition to his production at the plate, Ramirez has apparently been a ball in the clubhouse, which translates into a big morale boost for his new teammates.

Dunn has been a Diamondback for 10 fewer games than Ramirez has been in LA. But in just nine games, he’s batting .296 with an incredible .537 on-base percentage, two homers, eight RBIs and eight runs scored. All this considered, he’s appeared much more disciplined at the plate. I’m sure as his tenure continues in Arizona, Dunn’s batting average and OBP will decrease, while his power stats and strikeouts dramatically increase. But for now, he’s been doing a tremendous job of adding some plate production to the Diamondbacks’ game and countering the efforts made by Ramirez in Los Angeles. Plus, according to Scott Bordow of The East Valley Tribune, the rest of the Diamondbacks players are being alleviated of some of the pressure felt prior to Dunn’s arrival in Arizona.

Dan Haren earns 4-year extension

Earned four-year extension and club option in 2013 with the Diamondbacks Tuesday.

When Billy Beane made his usual pitcher for prospects deal with Dan Haren, he probably figured the 27-year old right hander would follow the Barry Zito or Mark Mulder mold faster than he would perform like Tim Hudson. It turns out, Haren has done better than all three with his new team, and the Arizona Diamondbacks have rewarded their No. 2 starter with a contract extension.

The new contract runs four years and with a club option for the 2013 season. The extension totals $44.75 million and will see Haren earn $7.5 million next season, $8.5 million in 2010 and $12.75 million in 2011 and 2012. The 2013 option is worth $12 million, bringing the potential total to $56.75 million over five years. If Arizona wishes to decline the option year, they hold a $3.5 million buyout opportunity.

In today’s baseball market, numbers like that can be considered a steal considering his tremendous 12-5 season with a 2.75 ERA and 142 strikeouts through 23 starts. He has combined wit Brandon Webb (15-4) to form perhaps the strongest 1-2 starting rotation punch in the entire league. And he’s played a crucial role in getting the Diamondbacks to the top of the NL West, which they currently hold by 1.5 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Even more than just holding onto a very strong pitcher at a decent price, the Diamondbacks are retaining somebody who loves playing in Arizona.

“I knew I’d like it here, but I didn’t know I’d like it this much,” Haren said. “A lot of these guys are going to be around for a while and I’ll be one of them. I just couldn’t be happier.”

One of those players Haren hopes will be around for a long time is the man that comes before him in the rotation – the ace, Brandon Webb. Like Haren’s old deal, Webb’s current contract comes to an end in 2009 with a team option in 2010, paying him $6.5 million and $8.5 million during those years, respectively. There isn’t any progress in negotiations, as the AP reports talks have been “tabled.”

As the Diamondbacks have become accustomed to, the 29-year old Webb has been an extraordinary ace. He has 15 wins with a 3.04 ERA and 130 strikeouts through 23 starts this season. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner is well on his way to the first 20-win campaign of his career and has earned the right to a new deal worth more money than he’s set to earn on his current contract.

With a 1-2 punch as effective as Webb and Haren rather difficult to find around the Majors, keeping them together over the long haul would serve the Diamonbacks very well. Both players are in their prime and appear content with taking less money than what would be available in two years on the free agent market. With Haren locked up, it’s imperative Arizona gets to work on doing the same thing with Webb.