Biggest disappointment: Where do we begin? After going 16-9 last season, Omar Daal is just 2-10 with a 7.36 ERA in 2000. He has allowed at least five runs in seven of his last eight appearances and his ERA over that span is 12.82. The 28-year-old Daal was supposed to be entering the prime of his career. Instead, he's struggling to get people out. That hurts the D-Backs because they were expecting Daal to be a big contributor in a World Series run.

Biggest surprise: He wanted to be a starter, just like fellow countryman Chan Ho Park (Dodgers). But Showalter has used Byung-Hyun Kim as the D-Backs' closer in place of ineffective Matt Mantei. Good move, Buck. Kim has been almost untouchable, striking out 71 in 42 2/3 innings of work. He has converted 14 out of 17 save opportunities. Let's not forget Kim's sparkling 2.11 ERA. Starter? Not if he keeps closing like this.

Second-half goals: Last's year exit to the Mets in four games wasn't exactly the way Arizona planned to end the season. The D-Backs are hoping to get past the first round this year. But the NL is wide open. The Braves aren't as dominate as they have been in the past. The Mets, Cardinals, Giants and Rockies are all very beatable. Plus, Arizona has the Big Unit and that makes any playoff series winnable.