I've been tweaking CounterSurveillance since the 1st entry so I haven't stuck with the same layout/format-most of my bets are always up though with several hours to spare between then and game time at the very least. From now, Ive decided to maintain a schedule through the baseball season, I'm going to break down 1 team per entry-basically the traits I look @ alongside the pitching match ups, before reading into that particular teams' immediate future (W/L). I'm going to start in alphabetical order-so we're gonna take this out west- a Diamondbacks team running empty on venom. I also will have all my plays/bets up for the day, and the lines I received when I placed them.
Arizona Diamondbacks
--Bats--
Torch: SS Stephen Drew
Dead Battery: OF Conor Jackson
--Arms--
Live: Ian Kennedy
Dead: Dan Haren
Sometimes I forget this team exists--that could be a midwest/east coast bias, but I doubt it. This is more due to their lack of relevance within their division/league. My choices for the "bats and arms" nominees are more or less wings, and obviously a pitcher like Dan Haren can turn his season around. He hasn't been nearly as dominant as in the recent past but Im not counting him out as a threat just yet, this is likely an adjustment period. However, based on the recent performances he put out he takes my cake for the Diamondbacks "dead arm" based on his disappointing start, especially by his standards. Edwin Jackson hasn't looked like the one of recent years either-he also seems to be having trouble getting it done in the National League but he shut out the Florida Marlins in his last start, a lineup of hitters that have been successful vs. Jackson in the past. Come to think of it, if these two (Haren, Jackson) get clicking alongside Ian Kennedy who has turned his life around since coming over from the Yankees that could be a mean looking rotation, especially when their true #1 starter Brandon Webb makes his EVENTUAL return (seems like an eternity). Starting pitching has always been important to that team, particularly to make up for the lack of production from that batting order. Being #2 in the National League in home runs, they have alot of power in that lineup (Upton, Reynolds etc.) but they don't hit for average. SS Stephen Drew (J.D's lil' bro) is the only one around the .300 mark, and he's not a full fledged power hitter, even though he has some pop in the bat. This team can go hot and cold as far as run producing per game, but its not a clutch lineup the Diamondbacks are working with- and will most certainly continue losing more than they win. They need formidable starting pitching to carry above the .500 mark-and although the potential is there, thats not what it is @ the moment.
The Board:
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