NL West Preview
Continuing my Major League Baseball season preview by division, here are the NL West teams listed in order of predicted finish.
Arizona Diamondbacks. As usual, the NL West looks to be a very tight race, with any of four teams being able to win the division. You would expect that a team which significantly outperformed their Pythagorean record last year to have a fall back the following year, but the Diamondbacks went out and improved. Dan Haren gives this team two Cy Young contenders, along with Brandon Webb. Chris Young and Stephen Drew are a year older and now should be able to provide some much needed spark in a lineup that was lacking in runs last year.
San Diego Padres. Jake Peavy and the second Chris Young in the NL West (the one from Princeton) lead a team with a mix of veterans and young players. They look to have just the right mix to make a run in the West.
Colorado Rockies. While the Rockies have a very solid lineup, I can’t imagine pitchers Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Manny Corpas all having the kind of year they had last year.
Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers have some talented young players on their rosters, I can’t foresee any of them making an impact as long as Joe Torre has plenty of mediocre aging veterans to turn to in his lineup. But this team could make a run if pitchers Brad Penny, Jason Schimdt, Derek Lowe, and Japanese import Hiroki Kuroda all have decent years. I just don’t see that happening.
San Francisco Giants. The Giants young pitchers have been hyped, but Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Noah Lowry haven’t lived up to the hype so far. Even if one of them has a breakout year, it won’t be nearly enough to turn this team around.
