Pressure on Arizona's Promising Youth

The time has come for the Baby Backs to grow up, at least a little bit. Earlier this week, the Diamondbacks handed out a contract extension to co-ace Dan Haren which will keep him in Arizona until at least 2012. Former NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb is going to be his teammate until 2010, though he has had on-again, off-again extension talks with the club himself.

Throw the resurgent Randy Johnson -- who is pitching well enough that he might return next year -- in there and Arizona has a formidable front three in its rotation. Webb, Haren and Johnson have combined for 37 wins and the team ranks third in the NL in ERA despite a bullpen that has been shaky at times.

In short, the Diamondbacks have the pitching to win a championship.

And yet, here they sit hovering just above the .500 mark and clinging to their lead in the NL West, with the improved Dodgers bearing down on them and less than 50 games left in the regular season. Arizona is capable of much better, especially with the pitching on hand, and yet it continues to play a frustrating waiting game with its young hitters.

Third baseman Mark Reynolds continues to display jaw-dropping power, but his on-base percentage is dragged down by a low .245 average. Shortstop Stephen Drew has none of the plate discipline his brother has, with almost three times as many strikeouts as walks. Center fielder Chris Young is still having major contact issues and has mysteriously stopped stealing bases. Phenom Justin Upton has held his own -- nothing more -- and has been on the disabled list since early July.

All of them were highly regarded prospects coming through the minor leagues. Is it fair to expect more from them?

Perhaps not. Drew, 25, is the oldest of the group, so there is time for improvement -- time for the holes in their respective games to be patched up.

On the other hand, the Diamondbacks' superior pitching gives them a chance to win a championship right now. The window will still be open next year and probably in 2010 too, but it won't be open forever. Arizona knows exactly what will keep it from winning in the next few years -- an offense that, as of right now, ranks in the bottom half of the National League.

And yet the club has a peculiar predicament. There is no help on the way, because the help is already on the major league roster -- and underperforming. At some point, the onus has to shift to the talent on hand. Whether it's this year or next, Young, Upton, Drew and company need to start hitting like Webb and Haren are pitching, or the Diamondbacks should look elsewhere for players who can.