You know the story. The Arizona Diamondbacks can't buy a hit over their six-game losing streak. They've gone from the most potent attack in the National League to a roster that even the Seattle Mariners can mock. The question (which we are obviously going to need to wait a few more weeks to really answer) is if the offense is simply slumping or if guys that have exceeded expectations are regressing.
↵What jumps out when you look at the guys that occupy the order is a distinct lack of proven talent outside of 23-year-old Justin Upton and perhaps the streaky Miguel Montero who wouldn't crack the top half of a decent American League batting order. Gerardo Parra has hit well all year which hasn't kept him out of the eight hole for reasons only Kirk Gibson can explain, but going one-for-his-last-11 hasn't helped anyone.
↵Other potential stalwarts, Chris Young and Kelly Johnson, are a combined 20-155 in that last month and hitting .117 and .141 respectively. The guys who've stepped up and provided the "surprise" offense this season are Ryan Robert and Willie Bloomquist. They've combined for five hits in the last seven days.
↵Beyond that you get into "fearsome" names like Cody Ranson, Collin Cowgill and the big slugging but high strikeout prone Paul Goldschmidt. Behind them are Lyle Overbay and Sean Burroughs -- guys who once had decent MLB careers but are now iffy.
↵Maybe guys like Young, Parra and Roberts will start hitting again the D-backs will be fine. But maybe the lack of proven talent is starting to finally catch up with this roster.
↵The Giants haven't hardly done anything to take advantage of the D-backs slump and remain one-game back. But the Rockies (8.5 games back) and even the Dodgers (10.5 games back) aren't dead yet. With a ton of inter-division games left on the roster, either team could make up ground quickly if Arizona can't find its stroke.
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