N.L. west

Sporting News, The, July 8, 2005

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

1B Chad Tracy matched his home run total from 2004-his rookie season-by mid-June. He has gotten stronger, knows the pitchers better and has learned to elevate the ball when he gets a pitch he thinks he can drive. ... RHP Brian Bruney has added a curveball to go with his fastball, slider and changeup. The club would like to see Bruney ditch the slider because it is hard for a relief pitcher to get comfortable with two breaking pitches while warming up. Bruney is keeping the slider for now because he likes it as a weapon against lefthanded batters. SCOUTING REPORT: The team still is trying to get a handle on RHP Claudia Vargas after claiming him off waivers in early June. He throws a mid-90s fastball with movement and has a sharp slider that reaches 86 mph. The club would like to see him add a slower pitch, either a changeup or a curveball, to present a significant speed change to hitters.--Steve Gilbert

COLORADO ROCKIES

Adding RHP Dan Miceli wasn't simply a move for this season. The Rockies hope to build the 2006 bullpen around Miceli, RHP Jay Witasick (who has excelled in a setup role) and LHP Brian Fuentes (the closer)--if the Rockies don't trade Fuentes for a package of several prospects at the deadline. ... 3B Garrett Atkins concentrated on improving his agility during his pre-spring training work with third base coach Mike Gallego, but the results have been mixed. Atkins has made several strong diving plays to each side, but his throwing has been erratic. SCOUTING REPORT: Look for more of RHP Marcos Carvajal, 20, a Rule 5 draft pick. Carvajal's best pitch going into the season was his changeup, but he has improved his fastball and slider by working on getting extension coming out of his delivery. The team has been using him in long relief but sees him as a possible starter in the future. He could get a spot start before the season is over.--Thomas Harding

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

When RHP Eric Gagne went in for major elbow surgery--which would have been the second such procedure of his career--doctors discovered it wasn't necessary. Scar tissue was removed, and Gagne's recovery time was reduced from one year to six months. That means he should be ready for spring training. Gagne will begin tossing in two months. ... With Gagne out, the closer job is rookie RHP Yhency Brazoban's to lose. G.M. Paul DePodesta will explore internal solutions to bolster the bullpen before looking to trade. ... DePodesta says his plan to add a starter before the trading deadline might be adjusted to address other weaknesses created by injuries, specifically in the outfield. SCOUTING REPORT: Rookie RHP Franquelis Osoria opened eyes after being recalled from Class AAA. Osoria relies on a hard sinking fastball thrown with a sidearm delivery. Osoria has good control and prefers to induce groundouts rather than pursue strikeouts.--Ken Gurnick

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Phil Nevin (strained left oblique) is on the D.L., and Mark Sweeney will be Nevin's primary replacement at first base. That will put a strain on a bench that has been very effective filling in for other injured starters. ... Dave Roberts' aggressiveness in center field and on the bases was expected, but his ability to drive the ball as a leadoff man has been a surprise. Among the regulars, only RF Brian Giles and LF Ryan Klesko had a higher slugging percentage than Roberts entering the week. SCOUTING REPORT: Signed to a minor league contract in the offseason, versatile Robert Fick excelled as a pinch hitter before playing better than expected when filling in for C Ramon Hernandez (wrist). Fick established an immediate rapport with the starters and received high grades from manager Bruce Booby for his game-calling. Fick has extensive experience in the outfield and at first base, and Bochy said he would be comfortable playing him at third. Fick's bat also has been a plus.--Lyle Spencer

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Adding OF Alex Sanchez to the mix gives the team more experience and depth and will help keep rookie CF Jason Ellison from wearing down as he did late last year at Class AAA. ... 2B Ray Durham has returned to the leadoff position after his switch hitting in the No. 5 spot helped cleanup hitter RF Moises Alou see better pitches. The team expects Durham to add more production at the top of the order. ... Rookie OF Todd Linden has been impressing the team with his power. He has shown consistency from both sides of the plate, and his batting average is climbing after a slow start. SCOUTING REPORT: RHP Jason Schmidt's long stretch of inconsistency appears over-his velocity is rising and his fastballs are staying down in the strike zone. He's using more sliders and changeups than ever, which is boosting his strikeouts. Schmidt's confidence also has returned after weeks of struggling with his command and location. He must avoid his tendency to overthrow.--Rich Draper