N.L. west

Sporting News, The, June 24, 2005

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

2B Craig Counsell is one of the few D-backs hitting well with runners in scoring position. The reason: Counsell goes to the plate with a plan in mind--and sticks to it. Many players lose sight of their plans in the heat of the moment, but he remains focused throughout the at-bat. ... Scott Hairston, who was impressive in center for Class AAA Tucson, likely will get time there at the big-league level with backup OF Luis Terrero (groin) on the D.L. and Jose Cruz Jr. (back, leg) not yet 100 percent. Hairston is ready to hit in the majors. ... The club demoted RHP Mike Koplove to Class AAA after command problems caused his confidence to sag. The demotion also served as a wakeup call to the rest of the struggling bullpen that no job is safe. NO. 1 DRAFT PICK: A five-tool player, SS Justin Upton, 17, has a lean, athletic build. With good plate coverage and extension, he can hit the ball to all fields. He has a strong arm but has had problems with accuracy at times.--Steve Gilbert

COLORADO ROCKIES

IF Desi Relaford and OF Dustan Mohr signed with Colorado thinking they would get consistent playing time, and that's finally happening after injuries to 2B Aaron Miles and LF Matt Holliday. Relaford has hit to all fields consistently. Mohr is gaining a rhythm but must curb a high strikeout rate and hit better against righthanded pitching. ... Journeyman C Danny Ardoin, called up after C Todd Greene's hamstring injury, clearly throws better than Greene and J.D. Closser and will get consistent time. ... After faltering in early-season home starts, RHP Jamey Wright has found his sinker and is less prone to yielding homers. NO. 1 DRAFT PICK: SS Troy Tulowitzki, 20, followed in the footsteps of fellow former Long Beach State SS Bobby Crosby and is the same kind of big, strong-armed player with good feet. He has power to all fields and showed it with Team USA last summer. He'll begin at advanced Class A.--Thomas Harding

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

2B Jeff Kent hit better in the first half of June and seems to have come out of his slump. The Dodgers count on his production from the cleanup spot, especially because CF Milton Bradley (finger) is out. Although RF J.D. Drew also has been hot at the plate this month, he has struggled most of the year, leaving manager Jim Tracy with few options when Kent can't carry the load. ... Injuries have forced the Dodgers' bench to get even younger. That doesn't give the team many options if starters play poorly because the bench players have little chance of doing better than the players they replace. NO. 1 DRAFT PICK: Luke Hochevar is a tall, physical righthander with a powerful sinking fastball and a hard slider. A Tennessee product, he was considered one of the best college pitching prospects available but dropped out of the first round because of concerns about how hard it would be to sign him. The team doesn't plan to rush him through the system.--Ken Gurnick

SAN DIEGO PADRES

RHP Adam Eaton has emerged as one of the N.L.'s premier starters. After posting a disappointing 11-14 record in 2004, Eaton has put it all together, mixing his mid-90s fastball with a big curve, a change and a slider to consistently pitch late into games. Few pitchers are as capable and confident at the plate. Manager Bruce Bochy occasionally uses Eaton as a pinch hitter. ... Phil Nevin once again is driving in runs consistently, with an extraordinary ability to deliver with the bases loaded. He's most dangerous when he's using the whole field and not trying to yank everything out of the park. ... An upper respiratory virus ripped through the clubhouse, sidelining players for several days at a time. RHP Jake Peavy was hit hard by the virus, missing a start. NO. 1 DRAFT PICK: University of Miami RHP Cesar Carrillo, taken 18th overall, is mature and capable of rising quickly through the minors. Carrillo has a lively arm with a versatile repertoire and excellent command.--Lyle Spencer

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

RHP Jesse Foppert, who underwent elbow surgery in 2003, likely will join the team's rotation shortly after pitching well at Class AAA. He has altered his motion, adding more follow-through, but the team still is concerned about a possible return of a blister problem on his finger. ... LHP Noah Lowry's change in mechanics adds velocity, takes stress off his arm and allows him to fully extend it. With his arm lagging behind his body, Lowry lost command. ... IF/OF Pedro Feliz is battling a slump. He is being fooled by off-speed pitches and must quit trying to pull the ball. Playing full time has exposed his penchant for doing so. However, he is learning to go with outside pitches, which could boost his average. NO. 1 DRAFT PICK: OF Ben Copeland, a fourth-round pick from Pitt, has great speed and hits with power. He has an accurate arm that is a shade above average. Copeland, who bats lefthanded, led his team with a .384 average and is an excellent basestealer.--Rich Draper