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PHOENIX — Nursing a just-been-eliminated heartbreak, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin offered an economical summary of his feelings.

"It stinks," he said Friday, a day after the St. Louis Cardinals spanked his club 12-3, allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to clinch the NL West with three games left.

It stinks because the D-backs, winners of the West in 2007, took such a dramatic tumble. They were one of the hottest teams in baseball, rattling off a 20-8 record through April.

But the Manny Ramirez-led Los Angeles Dodgers took over first place on Sept. 6. Arizona went 13-12 during the month, finishing 82-80 and two games back.

The D-backs will carry the disappointment and lessons into the off-season. Questions about who will play where will continue through the downtime and spring training.

"We could have kept up what we did in the first month," right fielder Justin Upton said. "We got complacent with where we were. That's something as a team we all will look back on."

Here is a closer look at why the D-backs fell short of a second consecutive division title.

1. Timeliness: Teams will slump, but the D-backs' collapse was particularly ill-fated. Melvin pointed to his club's 0-6 road trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco Sept. 5-10, and the Dodgers. Arizona regrouped to win seven of eight from Sept.15 to Sept.22, moving to two behind the Dodgers with six games left, but the D-backs dropped three straight to the Cardinals to be eliminated.

"You've got to stop the bleeding quicker than we did at certain points in the season, and you've got to take advantage of your chances when they're given to you," catcher Chris Snyder said.

2. Bullpen: Although the starting rotation was invaluable — particularly Cy Young contender Brandon Webb — Diamondbacks relievers blew 23 saves, and Brandon Lyon lost his job as closer Sept. 12. Chad Qualls became the closer and went 6 for 6 in save opportunities, providing some promise.

3. Hitting: Last season, the Diamondbacks were outscored and struggled at the plate but went 32-20 in one-run games. This year, they were not so fortunate. Arizona hit .251, tied for 13th in the NL, and were 22-23 in one-run games. The D-backs also finished second in the league with 1,287 strikeouts. (Mark Reynolds set a major-league record with 204 strikeouts.) Melvin believes the young players will rebound from their sophomore slumps.

"Now they know what to expect, what their strengths and weaknesses are," the manager said. "Next year, these guys are better suited to handle things thrown at them."

4. Defense: The D-backs finished with 113 errors, fourth-most in the NL and second-most in franchise history. Reynolds led the majors, committing his 35th on a throw that led to an unearned run Sunday.

5. Injuries: Clubhouse leaders Orlando Hudson and Eric Byrnes missed significant time. Second baseman Hudson injured his left wrist Aug. 9 in possibly his final game with Arizona; he is set to be a free agent. Hamstring injuries limited the left fielder Byrnes to 52 games.