2008 Arizona Diamondbacks season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Arizona Diamondbacks
season = 2008
misc =

current league = National League
y1 = 1998
division = Western Division
y2 = 1998
Uniform
ballpark = Chase Field
y4 = 1998
city = Phoenix, Arizona
y5 = 1998
owners = Ken Kendrick
Jeff Moorad
managers = Bob Melvin
television = FSN Arizona
radio = KTAR (620 AM)
KSUN (Spanish)
espntn = ari
brtn = ARI|

The Arizona Diamondbacks' 2008 season is the eleventh season of the franchise. The D-Backs attempt to defend their NL West title after winning the division the previous year.

Regular season

The 2008 season saw the best start in Diamondbacks history, going 20-8 in March/April and end up being way ahead in first place in the NL West. During the great start, Brandon Webb had his best career start by winning his first 9 decisions. The only low point was starting pitcher Doug Davis being diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer, before he could get his first start. Characteristically, Davis made his first two scheduled starts before undergoing surgery on April 8^th. Fortunately, his surgery was a success and was able to get back on the mound just 6 weeks later.

One of the more shining moments of April was when rookie pitcher Max Scherzer made his major league debut by pitching 4.1 perfect innings of relief, where he struck out 7 Astros. While doing this, Max passed Pete Richert of the 1962 Dodgers for the record for the number of consecutive batters retired (13) for a pitcher making his MLB debut as a reliever. Consequently, Scherzer was immediately promoted to the starting rotation, in the absence of Davis; he was relatively effective; in his four major-league outings (the aforementioned relief role against the Astros as well as three starts in Doug Davis' spot in the rotation), Scherzer had a 2.33 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings.

(Upon Davis' return, Scherzer was returned to the bullpen and optioned back to AAA Tucson in early June, and he eventually spent about a month on the Sidewinders' DL with shoulder inflammation. Davis, for his part, has had a less-than-stellar 2008 season, he is 4-7 with a 4.75 ERA as of late August.) May was a much different month for the D-backs. The team saw a sharp decline in hitting and run production compared to April, and was their first losing month (11-17) since September of 2006. The biggest disappointment had to have been the month-long slump right fielder Eric Byrnes fell into, where he hit .195 and had only 8 RBIs. Much speculation about his strained hamstring causing him to not perform well eventually led to him being put on the 15-day DL on May 27^th. He came back to action only to tear the left hamstring in late June, and was placed on the 60-day DL at that time.

The Diamondbacks continued to lead the NL west despite only being 47-48 at the All-Star break.

On July 17, 2008, Tony Clark was traded back to the D-backs from the San Diego Padres for a minor league pitcher, Evan Scribner.

On August 5, Dan Haren signed a four-year, $44.75 million deal with the Diamondbacks worth a guaranteed $41.25 million through 2012 and includes a $15.5 million club option for 2013 with a $3.5 million buyout. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2008/08/05/20080805dbharen-CR.html] ]

Orlando Hudson, one of the more consistent offensive D-backs players in 2008, underwent season-ending surgery on his left wrist August 9 in the wake of a collision with catcher Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves. Hudson is due to become a free agent at the end of the season and speculation is that he will not be re-signed with the Diamondbacks.

LF Eric Byrnes has been on the 60-day disabled list since late June, with a torn left hamstring, and was not expected to return to the lineup this season.

On August 11, 2008, Dallas Buck, RHP Micah Owings (pending clearing of waivers), and one other prospect were traded to the Reds (in last place in the NL Central at the time) in exchange for OF Adam Dunn. Dunn, who was tied for the major league lead with 32 home runs, was expected to provide a significant boost to an offense that has struggled to score runs for most of the season. Dunn seemed quite positive about being traded to a ballclub in first place in its division in August. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2008/08/11/20080811dbacksdunn-CR.html azcentral.com] ] The move was seen by some fans as a belated attempt by the D-backs to counter the trade by their division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for Boston Red Sox power-hitting OF Manny Ramirez on July 31; and also to compensate for the injuries to Hudson and Byrnes, generally considered two of the more "power-hitting" Diamondbacks on a team which has relied heavily on pitching and defense in recent years.

Owings, once considered an excellent pitching prospect for the Diamondbacks, has struggled in the 2008 campaign with a 7.09 ERA since April 21. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2008/08/12/20080812spt-owings.html azcentral.com] ] Owings must clear waivers before being able to join the Reds, otherwise he will remain a member of the Diamondbacks through the remainder of the season.

On August 31, the Diamondbacks acquired former World Series MVP David Eckstein to fill the hole at secondbase which was opened after Orlando Hudson was placed on the disabled list. Eckstein was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays for Minor League pitcher Chad Beck. [ [http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080831&content_id=3398057&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari]

As of September 25, the D-Backs fell out of playoff contention with a 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

eason standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log