Inside The N.L. West

Sporting News, The, Oct 2, 2000

Who's HOT

A big reason the Giants have been so difficult to beat in the second half is closer Robb Nen, who had not allowed a run in his past 27 appearances until he gave up a garbage run last Thursday. He had given up one run since the All-Star break.

Who's NOT

Diamondbacks batters could not have picked a worse time to go silent. In three games at Los Angeles last week, Arizona managed one run. Though the Diamondbacks held L.A. to four runs in the series, they still were swept and fell into third place.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

Based on recent history, here's something you can count on in 2001: The Giants will not win the division. Since the Dodgers won in 1994 and '95, the N.L. West is the only division that has not had a repeat winner. The recent champs: Padres ('96), Giants ('97), Padres ('98) and Diamondbacks ('99).

Keep an eye on

Arizona SS Tony Womack needs knee surgery. But what kind? He was frustrated after visiting a specialist because there was not a clear answer. Womack hopes to be 100 percent by next year but, at this point, he can't be sure he will be.

High and inside

Maybe Dodgers G.M. Kevin Malone should think more and talk a little less. Malone had another controversy to diffuse after it was reported that he had met with buddy Kevin Kennedy about replacing Davey Johnson.

TSN's Wired World

The Rockies are limping to the finish line. OF Jeffrey Hammonds and RHPs Pedro Astacio, Masato Yoshii and Craig House were among the players out with injuries last week. For more on the Rockies, visit:

sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/rockies

PROSPECT WATCH

Second-round pick Xavier Nady finally came to terms with the Padres and was added to the 40-man roster with the possibility of getting a few at-bats. Nady, who played third base while setting HR and RBI records at Cal, is likely to end up at first base, second base or left field on a Padres club that has lacked power in 2000.

Arizona

81-73: 3rd

Womack's knee problems may cut into offseason work

SS Tony Womack went to a doctor looking for answers about the "baker's cyst" behind his left knee but came away with more questions. Womack is playing with the condition for the third time in four years. Womack says he will have to choose from three or four surgical options. He is concerned that the recovery period from some of the operations will cut into his offseason conditioning.... G.M. Joe Garagiola Jr. met last week with struggling RHP Byung-Hyun Kim. The team is concerned about Kim, a 21-year-old Korean, being homesick and having physical and mental fatigue in his first full major-league season. The Diamondbacks also have discussed Kim's preference for starting over relieving. Without making promises, Garagiola assured Kim the team would consider that possibility over the winter.

SCOUTING REPORT: OF Jason Conti has been an All-Star center fielder through the minors since being a 32nd-round pick in 1996. Conti has a strong and accurate throwing arm, which is why he has played mostly right field in his call-ups this year. But he is a bit late on good major-league fastballs. He doesn't have home-run power, and although he was a consistent basestealer in the minors, he has yet to show that skill in Arizona.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: If LHP Brian Anderson had 19 wins, he would be touted as one of baseball's up-and-coming lefthanders. As it is, Anderson is 10-6 despite a decent (in this day and age) 4.05 ERA. Anderson has made 10 starts in which he allowed one or zero runs. He is 0-1 with five no-decisions the last six times he has done that. Three other times, Anderson has left the game with a lead only to see the bullpen give it up. So with better support from hitters and relievers, he could be 19-5.--Ed Price

Fearless Forecast

Arizona will make a run at Manny Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez, but even if those two go elsewhere, the Diamondbacks will add a hitter at shortstop or right field.

DIAMOND BACKS

              AVG      G    AB     R     H   HR   RBI

(*)Barajas    .400     3     5     1     2    1     2
Dellucci( )   .341    30    41     2    14    0     2
(*)Ryan( )    .320    23    25     3     8    0     2
Colbrunn      .317   110   309    44    98   14    55
Gonzalez( )   .308   154   585   100   180   29   104
Counsell( )   .303    59   122    15    37    2     9
Finley( )     .289   146   516    97   149   35    93
Bautista      .279   123   315    45    88   10    54
Miller        .275   100   324    43    89   10    44
Womack( )     .271   145   612    94   166    7    56
Bell          .265   143   544    83   144   16    63
Williams      .264    88   337    36    89    8    33
(*)Cabrera    .264    29    72     9    19    5    14
(*)Klassen    .237    28    76    13    18    2     8
(*)Conti( )   .227    42    88    11    20    1    15
Frias(#)      .221    70   104    17    23    2     6
Stinnett      .211    70   223    21    47    8    33
Mieske        .170    72    88     9    15    1     6
(*)Spivey        -     0     0     0     0    0     0

               OBP     SLG   SB    K   BB    E

(*)Barajas    .400   1.000    0    2    0    0
Dellucci( )   .400    .415    0    6    4    0
(*)Ryan( )    .393    .440    0    6    2    0
Colbrunn      .404    .528    0   42   37    7
Gonzalez( )   .389    .538    2   82   77    3
Counsell( )   .386    .426    2   15   15    3
Finley( )     .369    .562   12   86   62    2
Bautista      .333    .470    6   49   25    3
Miller        .347    .441    2   74   36    7
Womack( )     .308    .386   45   74   30   17
Bell          .348    .425    7   86   69    8
Williams      .307    .395    1   47   19    8
(*)Cabrera    .304    .528    0   19    4    1
(*)Klassen    .318    .355    1   24    8    2
(*)Conti( )   .292    .375    3   29    7    1
Frias(#)      .319    .327    2   16   15    5
Stinnett      .279    .350    0   53   16    5
Mieske        .245    .261    0   18    8    1
(*)Spivey        -       -    0    0    0    0

GRAND SLAMS: Harris, Miller (1)

               ERA        W-L    G      IP     H    R

Johnson( )    2.31(a)    18-6   33   237.2   185   76
Plesac( )     2.65        5-0   59    37.1    30   18
Swindell( )   3.27        2-6   61    71.2    68   27
Schilling     3.80      11-12   28   203.2   196   87
Anderson( )   4.05       10-6   31   197.2   212   94
Kim           4.07        6-6   59    66.1    47   34
Mantei        4.67        1-1   46    44.1    31   24
Stottlemyre   4.91        9-6   18    95.1    98   55
Morgan        4.94        5-4   58    98.1   119   54
Springer      5.22        2-4   48    58.2    58   35
Reynoso       5.40      10-12   30   161.2   172   99
(*)Guzman     6.02        4-4   12   521.0    61   35
Holmes        9.64        0-1   12    14.0    24   15

              ER   HR     K      BB   SV   Avg.

Johnson( )    61   21   334(a)   67    0   .217
Plesac( )     11    3    42      25    0   .219
Swindell( )   26    7    59      19    1   .250
Schilling     86   26   163      43    0   .254
Anderson( )   89   34    99      32    0   .278
Kim           30    7   108      39   14   .194
Mantei        23    4    52      33   16   .196
Stottlemyre   52   18    76      36    0   .268
Morgan        54   10    53      39    5   .311
Springer      34   10    57      34    0   .257
Reynoso       97   21    85      51    0   .276
(*)Guzman     35    7    47      20    0   .298
Holmes        15    3    10       4    1   .400