The place were all baseball players want to be in the National League west. The weather is nice the grass is green and the surf is up and the fist pitch is on it's way to home plate. Crack sounds of a bat beating the laces off of the baseball as it soars over the right field fence. Aww yes true sounds of the game that I love, But there are lots of questions in the NL West. Who is the true team to take the Division this year? Well we are going to examine the ins and outs of this years NL West contenders and pretenders, or should we say teams that have it or not.
Let's start with the Champions the San Fransisco Giants. Oh they have the Pitching and Defense looks good. I have a problem with their hitting and power. Yes they do have the same team coming back with exceptions of MVP Renteria and Uribe both of which have signed deals with other clubs. Yes they may have one of the best young Catchers in the game with Buster Posey, but the Outfield is very suspect if a batter hits the ball. The out field consists of has beened prospects and average joes like Aaron Rowand, Pat Burrell, Cody Ross, and Andres Torres. They do Have versatile Mark Derosa coming back off of injury. I don't see speed nor consistant power or a just your plain scary big bat power hitter. Yeah these guys do play as one team and that is why they are the Champs. Like I said they have some nasty Pitching in the Freak Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner, and Zito leading the rotation and the wild man with the magical beard Wilson closing the games. This is what baseball is about though with this team and the Bay area needs to be proud of what they got. I do not see tem winning the West again though unless they make a big move for a big bat to bring in the runs. Giants will make a run of it and most likely finish 2nd.
The San Diego Padres well they know how to make a run of things all season in 2010. This season will be a big difference of a story for them. The team has had a lot of changes and most for the better. They added speed and defense like no other. The corner outfield is very suspect, but they gained a very good center fielder in Cameron Maybin. As for Eric Patterson and Chris Denorfia they will likely rotate in and out of the out field corners and allow the youth movement to come in and make some noise to see what they can do. The likes of Venable, Cunnigham, and Baxter. We will see what Ludwick has left in the power tank. Now the infield has been much improved we see Bartlett and Hudson scooping up double plays all day. The corner infield is much inproved with another full season under Headley. We see a few choices at 1B with Cantu, Hawpe, and Hoffpauir lots of power from them and stable defensively. The pitching is yes young but have proven to be winners and very nasty. With Heath Bell on the back end of things they can compete and win a lot of games in the West. I for one am scared to say they may have made the right moves to take the Division this season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks well nothing to note except that they are retooling at the Major League level and will be a contender in a couple of years. I do hope that Kirk Gibson and staff can be around and develop these youthful prospects when fruition comes about.
The Colorado Rockies have made great runs in the past few years and with lots of star powered players on roster can make things very difficult for other West contenders. They have a spectacular fire baller in Jimenez and a good closer in Street. The youth movement has arrived in Gonzalez and Tulowitzki and Stewert. I see a bit of holes in the 25 man roster and the 3, 4, 5 starters, but they do over come adversity.
Now For Sunny Southern California's first team of the west the Los Angeles Dodgers. What we have here is a mess in the front office and with the ownership. With all that out in the open we still have a decent club with lots of youth and a few superstars. Pitching has been upgraded a bit. The Starters are being challenged like never before from them. We have opening day starter Kershaw who can be made into a number one starter for years to come. with the other for or five starters we see Billingsly (who is Platoed in his performance), Then followed by Kuroda, Garner, Ely or Padilla. Sounds pretty good. I think they need help there. The bullpen is upgraded and well they need a solid closer who can find the plate and deal. Cause Broxton needs to establish his dominance as a closer. Hitting and defense are suspect and solid at the same time. Let's just say they have there moments in the sun and other times when it rains it pours. Either way some days they hit and some days defense is a no hit day. They do have the young guns in Either, Kemp, and Loney. Who is playing left field and second base who knows. I can see Kuo closing out many more games than Broxton does. Count on it. I see a few trades made to improve those positions to make a run of things. Like usual the Dodgers are not going away. Them Bums don't know how.
Well there you have it may it be called how the west was won. That is my take on things in the West what is yours?
Go Dodgers!!! Kirk Gibson is the man and can turn things around and get them out of the cellar in the division. They do need pitching. it is a must out in the west. The Dodgers problems are can they score more than one run in more than 81 games. I don't know it is their M.O. one run or less most of the year. I see the need for them to do more running and look on the long ball from a couple of their guys.
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