Why the Arizona Diamondbacks Can Win the World Series

1. Ian Kennedy

• 20-game winner and counting (2nd in all of baseball/tied for 1st in the NL)
• 2.88 ERA
• .833 win-loss percentage, best in baseball
• 1.083 WHIP
• 194 strikeouts in 216 innings pitched
• Legitimate N.L. Cy Young Candidate

2. Justin Upton

• 103 runs scored, 3rd in the N.L.
• 170 hits, 9th in N.L.
• 312 total bases, 3rd in N.L. (7th in MLB)
• N.L. leader in doubles with 39
• 31 home runs, 7th in N.L.
• .292 batting average
• 88 runs batted in
• 21 stolen bases
• Legitimate N.L. MVP Candidate

3. Pitching

• The D-Backs are 6th best in the MLB in terms of walks allowed.
• J.J. Putz has 43 of the Diamondbacks’ Major League leading 56 saves this season. The D-Backs have been in a ton of close games and they obviously feel comfortable closing them out.
• A team ERA of 3.81 is good enough for 13th best in the Majors
• Their 1.29 WHIP is 11th best in the MLB
• The Diamondbacks starting pitchers have 69 total wins, the 4th best in baseball
• Their 9th best in all of baseball in terms of innings pitched per games started with 6.2

4. They Don’t Hurt Themselves

• The Diamondbacks are dead last in the MLB in terms of double plays grounded into with only 79. To put that into perspective, the St. Louis Cardinals lead the Majors in this category with a total of 162.
• Kirk Gibson’s club is tied for 5th best in the Majors in terms of fielding percentage with an astounding .985
• The D-Backs only give up 2.8 walks per 9 innings pitched, 6th best in the MLB

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