1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers had a solid season last year and should be able to improve upon that this season after the addition of front line starter Jason Schmidt. Their youthful position players could potentially be better this season, although the addition of Luis Gonzalez made no sense. I think the Dodgers are the logical choice for NL West champions.
Key Player: Rafael Furcal, The Dodgers need to do a better job this season at putting runs on the board and Furcal is the table setter. With him and Pierre in the lineup they need to get on base, steal some bases and get some cheap runs so their solid pitching staff doesn't need to be flawless.
Player to Eye: Jonathon Broxton, Broxton throws flames and if given the opportunity to close could be lights out. The Dodgers should start with Saito as the closer but shouldn't be afraid to have a quick trigger.
Record Prediction: 90 - 72
2. San Diego Padres
The Padres definitely could contend for a Wildcard or the NL West crown with a very good rotation consisting of Peavy, Young, Maddux, Boomer, and Clay Hensley. But the combination of Boomer, Maddux, and Hoffman are closer to the Early Bird Special portion of their lives than their minor league days and could breakdown. In addition their hitting is flat inconsistant.
Key Player: Brian Giles, He's still going to hit in the middle of their order and frankly he needs to do a much better job this season then last when his power numbers were putrid and he hit around .260. You can't have a guy hitting in the 3 or 4 hole playing that poorly. Bud Black should not be afraid to pull the trigger and throw Adrian Gonzalez into a more prominent role in the lineup if Giles struggles.
Player to Eye: Kevin Kouzmanoff, Traded for Josh Barfield in the offseason this kid is tearing the cover off the ball in spring and his minor league numbers are terrific. He could easily contend for NL Rookie of the year.
Record Prediction: 86-76
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have finally parted ways with some of their older veterans and will go youth movement this year. Jackson, Young, Quentin, Drew should all be key contributors to their lineup. The question marks lie with how will these touted prospects produce in full seasons in the bigs and how will Valverde perform as the closer.
Key Player: Randy Johnson, He sucked last year and I think he is dirtbag scum and I am very happy he's off the Yankees. However he's back in the NL closer to his home and though he's old and has a shitty back he could throw up a 4.20 ERA with a good amount of wins. If he falls apart the D-Backs have no shot.
Player to Eye: Conor Jackson, A stud prospect for years, the 24 year old Jackson should receive all the pt at first base for the Diamondbacks. His numbers last year were modest, .291 15 79 75, but throw on a year of experience those numbers could easily increase to .300 25 100 100, so the Diamondbacks hope.
Record Prediction: 84-78
4. San Francisco Giants
The Giants went out and broke the bank to pick up Zito but the problem with their roster from last year remains the same this season, they are practically a convalescent home considering how old their roster is.
Key Player: Barry Bonds, He's still the most important person in this lineup despite oozing HGH and other juices. If he goes down due to any injury their lineup immediately is diminished to one of the worst in the bigs.
Player to Eye: Noah Lowry, 2 Years ago he came and had a terrific season for the Giants, last year his ERA went up a full run. So which Noah Lowry will the Giants get. He's been struggling in the spring but that doesn't necessarily mean he will struggle. The Giants will need him to back Matt Cain and Zito if they want to win this division.
Record Prediction: 80-84
5. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have some stud young bats with Atkins and Holliday and could potentially lead the West in runs scored. The issue who are they going to pitch. Is Jeff Francis really an ace? They have a reliable closer in Fuentes but there just isn't enough depth in their starting rotation to legitimately expect contending.
Key Player: Todd Helton, He's going to hit in between Atkins and Holliday and he needs to bring his power numbers back to the old days. If Helton can return to his .320 30 form the Rockies might not need any pitching to win 80+ games. Which is a good thing cause they don't have any.
Player to Eye: Brad Hawpe, Hawpe had a terrific first half last season and for awhile had his numbers running in parallel with Matt Holliday's, and then the second half of the season started and his average plummeted to .268 and his homers dropped from 15 prior to the break to 7 after the break. The Rockies want to see the guy from the first half.
Record Prediction: 77-89
The Dodgers had a solid season last year and should be able to improve upon that this season after the addition of front line starter Jason Schmidt. Their youthful position players could potentially be better this season, although the addition of Luis Gonzalez made no sense. I think the Dodgers are the logical choice for NL West champions.Key Player: Rafael Furcal, The Dodgers need to do a better job this season at putting runs on the board and Furcal is the table setter. With him and Pierre in the lineup they need to get on base, steal some bases and get some cheap runs so their solid pitching staff doesn't need to be flawless.
Player to Eye: Jonathon Broxton, Broxton throws flames and if given the opportunity to close could be lights out. The Dodgers should start with Saito as the closer but shouldn't be afraid to have a quick trigger.
Record Prediction: 90 - 72
2. San Diego Padres
The Padres definitely could contend for a Wildcard or the NL West crown with a very good rotation consisting of Peavy, Young, Maddux, Boomer, and Clay Hensley. But the combination of Boomer, Maddux, and Hoffman are closer to the Early Bird Special portion of their lives than their minor league days and could breakdown. In addition their hitting is flat inconsistant.Key Player: Brian Giles, He's still going to hit in the middle of their order and frankly he needs to do a much better job this season then last when his power numbers were putrid and he hit around .260. You can't have a guy hitting in the 3 or 4 hole playing that poorly. Bud Black should not be afraid to pull the trigger and throw Adrian Gonzalez into a more prominent role in the lineup if Giles struggles.
Player to Eye: Kevin Kouzmanoff, Traded for Josh Barfield in the offseason this kid is tearing the cover off the ball in spring and his minor league numbers are terrific. He could easily contend for NL Rookie of the year.
Record Prediction: 86-76
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have finally parted ways with some of their older veterans and will go youth movement this year. Jackson, Young, Quentin, Drew should all be key contributors to their lineup. The question marks lie with how will these touted prospects produce in full seasons in the bigs and how will Valverde perform as the closer.Key Player: Randy Johnson, He sucked last year and I think he is dirtbag scum and I am very happy he's off the Yankees. However he's back in the NL closer to his home and though he's old and has a shitty back he could throw up a 4.20 ERA with a good amount of wins. If he falls apart the D-Backs have no shot.
Player to Eye: Conor Jackson, A stud prospect for years, the 24 year old Jackson should receive all the pt at first base for the Diamondbacks. His numbers last year were modest, .291 15 79 75, but throw on a year of experience those numbers could easily increase to .300 25 100 100, so the Diamondbacks hope.
Record Prediction: 84-78
4. San Francisco Giants
The Giants went out and broke the bank to pick up Zito but the problem with their roster from last year remains the same this season, they are practically a convalescent home considering how old their roster is.Key Player: Barry Bonds, He's still the most important person in this lineup despite oozing HGH and other juices. If he goes down due to any injury their lineup immediately is diminished to one of the worst in the bigs.
Player to Eye: Noah Lowry, 2 Years ago he came and had a terrific season for the Giants, last year his ERA went up a full run. So which Noah Lowry will the Giants get. He's been struggling in the spring but that doesn't necessarily mean he will struggle. The Giants will need him to back Matt Cain and Zito if they want to win this division.
Record Prediction: 80-84
5. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have some stud young bats with Atkins and Holliday and could potentially lead the West in runs scored. The issue who are they going to pitch. Is Jeff Francis really an ace? They have a reliable closer in Fuentes but there just isn't enough depth in their starting rotation to legitimately expect contending.Key Player: Todd Helton, He's going to hit in between Atkins and Holliday and he needs to bring his power numbers back to the old days. If Helton can return to his .320 30 form the Rockies might not need any pitching to win 80+ games. Which is a good thing cause they don't have any.
Player to Eye: Brad Hawpe, Hawpe had a terrific first half last season and for awhile had his numbers running in parallel with Matt Holliday's, and then the second half of the season started and his average plummeted to .268 and his homers dropped from 15 prior to the break to 7 after the break. The Rockies want to see the guy from the first half.
Record Prediction: 77-89
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