We could very well be seeing something special in Arizona. On Monday, prized rookie Max Scherzer makes his first start for the Diamondbacks. With that, Arizona may just have the best rotation we have seen in the major leagues in the past ten to fifteen years. Max Scherzer is that good. That is not based on his lone relief appearance that saw him fan seven batters in four innings. That is based on his domination of high school, college, and minor league hitters prior to joining the Diamondback rotation.

Max Scherzer is the most exciting pitcher to hit the major leagues since Dwight Gooden came up as a 19 year old phenom to blow away the NL. Every impressive tag you can put on a young rookie pitcher applies here: Dominating, fireballer, intimidating, exciting, and flame-trowing....all apt. Scherzer is capable of striking out ten easily with each start he makes. Don't be surprised if he strikes out more than ten hitters against the free-swinging Phillies on Monday.

If Scherzer can pitch as well as I (and others) think he is capable of pitching, that would give the Diamondbacks THE best rotation in all of baseball. Brandon Webb continues to dominate the NL, and Dan Haren has already made it look too easy pitching in the NL. Max Scherzer can be just as good as those two. Lofty expectations? Perhaps, but seeing Scherzer pitch once or twice and you'll realize just how special he is. He is still capable of winning 15 games this season. And let's not forget the power-hitting Micah Owings and Randy Johnson as the number four and five starters respectively. They're not exactly slouches. Put all five starters together, and you've got one stud-filled, hard throwing pitching rotation. If the Diamondbacks keep Scherzer in the rotation, this team is a shoe-in to win 100 games. Keep an eye on this team. That rotation may be the best we've seen in a long long time.



Court Adjourned!