Nice to be one Top

The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to go from the bottom of the National League West to the top of the division to surprise all of the MLB last season. Baseball experts new the Diamondbacks were going to be good, but it was supposed to take a little longer.

That first good year was supposed to be this year. What is nice for all those fans in the desert is that the team that shocked everybody last season has been able to continue their domination. After the Rockies problems some people wondered if the Diamondbacks of last year were just a glimpse into the future and a sophomore slump was going to take hold the ball club this season.

With just a few weeks before the MLB All Star game, Arizona has put those fears to rest as they have put together as fine record. It helps that nobody else in the division is playing worth a dime. Still the Diamondbacks have played well behind great pitching and good run support. Chase Field may see World Series tickets before the season is through.

Major League Baseball must be happy that somebody is playing well in the West and the National League managers are sure to pick one of the Diamondbacks starters for the All Star team. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren have been the one-two punch Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes imagined when he obtained Haren this past winter.

His arrival comes in time for Randy Johnson’s age to catch up to him. Johnson can still scare any MLB player with his fast ball, but his is entering its twilight as he is now well past 40 years old.

All of Phoenix would feel a little safer if the offense would hit a little better, but the sub-par hitting has not stifled the run production. Chris Young and Mark Reynolds are among the team leaders in RBIs despite struggling to hit .250. The MLB experts questioned the hitting in the offseason and when it comes down to the playoffs they may be right, but for right now Arizona is sitting pretty in the NL West.

Fans should enjoy the dry summer heat at Chase Filed while they can, because before they know it football season will start. The Cardinals are far from the best team in the NFL, or even a watch-able team. The Suns look like they are about to fall apart after the Shaq trade. And, do Phoenix sports fans even care about hockey? The Diamondbacks are perhaps the cities best hope for good sports in 2008.