Team Profile: Arizona Flip-Floppers

Between the Oklahoma City Kingfishers being the defending National League West Champs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers making the most noise in Free Agency, many people overlooked the Arizona Flip-Floppers this preseason. But those in the know have seen a steadily-increasing team since the Double Mendoza League's inception that is ready to take the next step. A quiet, but impressive offseason has Arizona ready to challenge in the NL West, and their 11-5 start means they are well on their way.

Their highest profile offseason move was acquiring SP John Burroughs from the Nashville Sounds in a 3-player trade. Burroughs is a young, developing ace, who has pitched for both the Atanta Crackers and the Sounds in the past. A year ago he went 13-12 with a 3.32 ERA--very solid numbers for a 24-year-old. Since heading west, he's started this season 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA, and has been the workhorse Arizona wanted and needed. They sent some promising young talent to the Sounds, but this move was meant to signal Arizona's desire to contend at the big leauge level, and it has panned out well for them so far.


Of course, you can't talk about the Flip-Floppers without mentioning 1B Joe Thompson, who bagged not only National League Rookie of the Year honors last season, but also National League Most Valuable Player. Sometimes it can be hard on a player once his expectations are lofted to such heights, but not Thompson. He's started April off on fire, hitting .373 with 7 home runs and 13 RBIs in 16 games. His OBPS is a stratospheric 1.237. He'll be anchoring this Arizona lineup for years to come, but his supporting staff is pretty impressive too. Across the diamond, 3B Jose Pujols has 6 long balls of his own, and LF Sherm Ledesma, a long-time Flip-Flopper, is mashing balls out of parks as frequently as ever.

Losing SP Hooks Perisho in Spring Training was quite a disappointment, but this young squad looks prepared to fight for the NL West title without him. It may be early, but seeing their names perched atop the leaderboard has to be pretty good motivation for a team used to lounging in the cellar. The dogfight between Los Angeles and Arizona is going to be tight throughout the campaign, and is one worth keeping an eye on as the season continues.