Commentary: Schilling Makes D-Backs the Favorite

Arizona is now the team to beat in the National League. The Phillies may end up getting good production out of the four players they received for Curt Schilling, but for now, the Diamondbacks have the best 1-2 punch in baseball. For my money, the top four pitchers in the National League are Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Greg Maddux and Schilling, and now Arizona has two of them. The Braves aren’t far behind with Maddux and Glavine. If the Mets make the post-season, they can come at you with Al Leiter and Mike Hampton. Where does that leave the Cardinals? Darryl Kile is one of the top ten starters in the league right now, but who follows him in the playoffs? Andy Benes maybe, but I think for the Cardinals to make a run in the post-season, Rick Ankiel is going to have to develop into an ace during the second half. It could happen, Ankiel has the stuff. If he doesn’t, the Cardinals will need a great bullpen performance to win in the playoffs. Which is why they need to pick up some relief help before Monday’s deadline. John Wetteland would look awfully good in a Cardinal uniform.