Pennant Race 2001
As I write this on Sunday September the 2nd the Arizona Diamondbacks are in first place, up 3 games on the hated San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles is 4 games back. A final chance for the Giants to get back into it without help awaits this Tuesday as a 2 game series at Pac bell Park commences.
With 26 games left. Of those 26 games only 12 are at home, which may be a blessing. The Diamondbacks to date have played .565 at home and .582 on the road. All but six of those 26 games are against division opponents; the 3 againts San Fran, 4 against San Diego, 3 vs Colorado, and most importantly 7 against the Dodgers. The remaining six out-of-division games are against a sub-par Milwaukee team, while the remaining out-of-division opponents for LA and SF are the Cardinals and Houston Astros respectively, so at least the scheduling is in Arizona's favor. LA also has a good chance of overtaking the Diamondbacks in the last week of the season all they need to do is hang around that 4 game back or better pace.
With the September callups the Diamonbdacks bench is now deeper than anyone else in their division. Regularly available off the bench are Danny Bautista, Greg Colbrunn, Erubiel Durazo, and David Dellucci. And when any of those guys get a start the bench remains just as good.
Hold on for the ride fellow snake fans, there looks to be a tough road ahead. Compare the remaining schedules for yourselves and you will get an idea of how its going to go down, one things for sure It's gonna be close.
Sunday Sept 2, 2001 6:00am
Comparing the schedules
Arizona
Opponent---------------Win %

9/2 @ San Diego-----------.500
9/4-9/6 @ San Fran--------.551
9/7-9/9 vs San Diego------.500
9/11-9/13 vs Colorado-----.440
9/14-9/16 @ Milwaukee----.448
9/17-9/19 @ Colorado-----.440
9/20-9/23 @ Los Angeles--.544
9/25-9/27 vs Milwaukee---.448
9/28-9/30 vs Los Angeles--.544
Combined opponents win%- .491
San Francisco
Opponent--------------Win%
9/2-9/3 vs Colorado---------.440
9/4-9/6 vs Arizona----------.574
9/7-9/9 @ Colorado---------.440
9/11-9/13 @ Houston-------.585
9/14-9/16 vs Los Angeles--.544
9/18-9/20 vs Houston-------.585
9/21-9/23 @ San Diego------.500
9/24-9/26 @ Los Angeles----.544
9/28-9/30 vs San Diego-----.500
Combined Opponents win%-.523
Los Angeles
Opponent--------------------Win%
9/2 vs St. Louis----------------.541
9/4-9/6 @ Colorado-------------.440
9/7-9/9 @ St. Louis ------------.541
9/11-9/13 @ San Diego---------.500
9/14-9/16 @ San Francisco-----.551
9/17-9/19 vs San Diego--------.500
9/20-9/23 vs Arizona-----------.574
9/24-9/26 vs San Francisco----.551
9/28-9/30 @ Arizona------------.574
Combined Opponents win%--.530
Back to the Snake Pit
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1