NL West Preview
By Kevin Rogers
The National League West has been owned by the Dodgers over the last two seasons, but Los Angeles has failed to make the World Series each time. Colorado made another impressive push towards the postseason for the second time in three years, while San Francisco hung around the playoff race until late September. Arizona and San Diego both struggled, but each look to get back to the success achieved in 2007.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Review: Joe Torre's second season in Southern California proved to be another winner as the Dodgers claimed a second straight NL West title. The Dodgers advanced to the NLCS for the second consecutive season, but eventually lost to the Phillies again. Los Angeles improved by 11 victories from 2008 (84) to 2009 (95), despite missing Manny Ramirez for 50 games, as the slugger was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance. The slack was picked up offensively by Andre Ethier (31 HR) and Matt Kemp (26 HR), while Ramirez contributed 19 homers.
The Dodgers led the National League in most pitching categories, including ERA, batting average, and WHIP. Amazingly, only one returning starting pitcher had ten victories last season with Randy Wolf now in Milwaukee. Chad Billingsley delivered 22 quality starts with a 12-11 mark and 4.03 ERA. Lefty fireballer Clayton Kershaw won just eight games, but racked up a team-high 185 strikeouts.
Season Outlook: Los Angeles is favored to win the division once again, as Ramirez picked up the option on the final year of a two-year deal. Billingsley and Kershaw will anchor the rotation, while Vicente Padilla won five of six decisions after being picked up from the Rangers. The Dodgers' offense doesn't have the biggest names past Ramirez, but the lineup is well-rounded with hitters that know their roles and will once again be the team to beat in this division.
Projected Rotation: Clayton Kershaw (8-8, 2.79), Chad Billingsley (12-11, 4.03), Hiroki Kuroda (8-7, 3.76), Vicente Padilla (12-6, 4.46), James McDonald (5-5, 4.00)
Projected Closer: Jonathan Broxton (7-2, 2.61, 36 saves)
Key Acquisitions: OF Garret Anderson (Braves), OF Reed Johnson (Cubs), IF Jamey Carroll (Indians), OF Alfredo Amezaga (Marlins)
Key Losses: 2B Orlando Hudson (Twins), DH Jim Thome (Twins), P Randy Wolf (Brewers), OF Juan Pierre (White Sox), P Guillermo Mota (Giants)
Trends to Watch: The Dodgers finished 67-47 against right-handed pitchers, but did the most damage when facing southpaws in consecutive starts. Los Angeles compiled an 8-2 mark if it saw left-handed starting pitchers in back-to-back games.
Future Odds: 8/1 odds to win NL Pennant, according to Sportsbook.com.
Colorado Rockies
Review: Sometimes in sports, just one move can jump-start a team and propel them to the next level. The removal of manager Clint Hurdle and insertion of Jim Tracy on May 29 proved to be the difference, as the Rockies finished 74-42 under Tracy. The 92 victories were a franchise-best, while Colorado advanced to the postseason for the second time since 2007. The offense placed 2nd in the National League in runs scored (804), OBP, and slugging. Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki were healthy last season, combining for 178 runs batted in, while CF Dexter Fowler made an impression atop the lineup with ten triples and 73 runs.
The pitching staff was led by three hurlers who won 15 games or more, including Jason Marquis, who is now in Washington. Jorge De La Rosa paced the rotation with 16 victories, while Ubaldo Jimenez won a career-best 15 games. The trade of Matt Holliday to Oakland prior to last season did help the bullpen with the acquisition of Huston Street. The former A's closer saved 35 games, while the team closed the door 45 times, which was tops in the NL.
Season Outlook: It seems like in odd years the Rockies play well while struggling in even years. Colorado has finished under .500 in 2008, 2006, 2004, and 2002. With that being said, the Rockies should perform better to start this season after the awful beginning to last season. Colorado's offense couldn't keep up with Philadelphia in the NLDS, but the Rockies have solidified their pitching staff, and will get veteran Jeff Francis back after missing last year with a shoulder injury.
Projected Rotation: Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47), Aaron Cook (11-6, 4.16), Jeff Francis (4-10, 5.01 in '08), Jorge De La Rosa (16-9, 4.38), Jason Hammel (10-8, 4.33)
Projected Closer: Huston Street (4-1, 3.06, 35 saves)
Key Acquistions: C Miguel Olivo (Royals), 3B Melvin Mora (Orioles)
Key Losses: P Jason Marquis (Nationals), 3B Garrett Atkins (Orioles), P Jose Contreras (Phillies), C Yorvit Torrealba (Padres)
Trends to Watch: The Rockies performed better against right-handed pitchers, but had conflicting numbers against lefties. Colorado went 18-10 at Coors Field versus southpaw starters, but finished just 8-16 on the road against left-handers.
Future Odds: 9/1 odds to win NL Pennant, according to Sportsbook.com.
San Francisco Giants
Review: The Giants had a 16-win improvement last season thanks to fantastic pitching from Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. San Francisco dropped seven of ten down the stretch, eliminating Bruce Bochy's team from playoff contention. AT&T Park was a great home-field advantage for the Giants as they owned the top home mark in the NL at 52-29.
The offense was definitely the weak aspect of this club, ranking near the bottom in most offensive categories in the NL. 3B Pablo Sandoval led the offense with a .330 average, 25 HR and 90 RBI, but the rest of the lineup had its share of struggles. Lincecum and Cain combined for a 29-15 mark, while southpaws Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez were solid contributors at the back end of the rotation.
Season Outlook: No matter how reliable the two aces are for the Giants, the offense has to provide some spark. Veteran Randy Winn signed with the Yankees, but the team did acquire Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa to help boost the infield power numbers. San Francisco will lay some inflated numbers at home thanks to last season's success, but the lack of offense will catch up with them in the long run.
Projected Rotation: Tim Lincecum (15-7, 2.48), Matt Cain (14-8, 2.89), Barry Zito (10-13, 4.03), Jonathan Sanchez (8-12, 4.24), Madison Bumgarner (0-0, 1.80)
Projected Closer: Brian Wilson (5-6, 2.74, 38 saves)
Key Acquisitions: 3B Mark DeRosa (Cardinals), 1B Aubrey Huff (Tigers), P Guillermo Mota (Dodgers)
Key Losses: P Randy Johnson (retirement), 1B Ryan Garko (Mariners), P Brad Penny (Cardinals), OF Randy Winn (Yankees), P Bob Howry (Diamondbacks)
Trends to Watch: San Francisco saw the majority of its success at home, but thrived most at night against lefties, going 9-2 at AT&T Park. The Giants did play plenty of low-scoring games following a one-run contest, compiling a 24-11-5 mark to the 'under' after a one-run game.
Future Odds: 13/1 odds to win NL Pennant, according to Sportsbook.com.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Review: Things fell apart fast for the D-Backs when ace Brandon Webb injured his shoulder on Opening Day. The team never recovered with its worst finish since 2004, winning only 70 games. Amazingly, Arizona scored more runs (720) last season than it did when it won the division title back in 2007 (712). The offense ranked in the middle of the NL pack in runs scored, but was 13th in batting average. 3B Mark Reynolds cranked out 44 homers and 102 RBI, but struck out a league-worst 223 times.
Past Webb's injury, Dan Haren did his best to carry the staff with a 14-10 mark and 3.14 ERA. Haren was the only Arizona starter to record double-digit victories as Doug Davis and Max Scherzer each finished with nine wins. The defense was absolutely putrid, committing the second-most errors in baseball with 124.
Season Outlook: It's A.J. Hinch's first full season as skipper after a 58-75 run over the final five months of last season. Hinch replaced the fired Bob Melvin after only 29 games, but Arizona lost 20 of its final 30 games to end the season 70-92. Webb is set to return at the end of April, as the staff is dealing with the departures of Davis and Scherzer. Former Tiger Edwin Jackson will bring his 3.62 ERA into the Arizona rotation, while Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson look to improve the lineup from the left side.
Projected Rotation: Dan Haren (14-10, 3.14), Brandon Webb (0-0, 13.50), Edwin Jackson (13-9, 3.62), Billy Buckner (4-6, 6.40), Ian Kennedy (0-0, 0.00)
Projected Closer: Chad Qualls (2-2, 3.63, 24 saves)
Key Acquistions: P Edwin Jackson (Tigers), 2B Kelly Johnson (Braves), 1B Adam LaRoche (Braves), P Ian Kennedy (Yankees), P Bob Howry (Giants), P Aaron Heilman (Cubs)
Key Losses: P Doug Davis (Brewers), 1B Chad Tracy (Cubs), P Max Scherzer (Tigers)
Trends to Watch: The D-Backs didn't capitalize after strong offensive efforts, going 9-20 following a win in which they scored at least seven runs. Arizona stumbled to a 10-27 mark when facing left-handed starters after a right-hander, including a 5-11 ledger as a home favorite.
Future Odds: 13/1 odds to win NL Pennant, according to Sportsbook.com.
San Diego Padres
Review: Somehow the Padres managed 75 victories despite ranking last in baseball in batting average (.242) and 29th in runs scored (638). San Diego won 19 of its final 30 games to finish fourth in the division, a far cry from a 4-19 stretch from mid-April through May. The Padres parted ways with former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy in a deal with the White Sox, while the offense was paced by the bat of 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The Gold Glove winner knocked out a career-best 40 homers, while driving in 99 runs and missing just two games.
The Padres dealt with a makeshift rotation following the injuries to Peavy and Chris Young, as Kevin Correia led the staff with 12 victories and 22 quality starts. Closer Heath Bell proved to be effective in his first season replacing Trevor Hoffman, saving 42 victories. San Diego's bullpen was one of the few bright spots, ranking 1st in strikeouts (528) 7th in ERA (3.72).
Season Outlook: It will be another long season deep in Southern California with no true ace and one star in Gonzalez. The Padres scored 100 less runs in 2009 than they did in their near playoff appearance in 2007, while allowing 100 more runs. Obviously the key to curing the problem is better pitching and more offense, but the Padres didn't do enough in the offseason to fix those issues. Look for San Diego to battle it out with Arizona at the bottom of the NL West again.
Projected Rotation: Chris Young (4-6, 5.21), Kevin Correia (12-11, 3.91), Jon Garland (11-13, 4.01), Clayton Richard (9-5, 4.41), Sean Gallagher (3-2, 5.95)
Projected Closer: Heath Bell (6-4, 2.71, 42 saves)
Key Acquisitions: P Jon Garland (Dodgers), C Yorvit Torrealba (Rockies), OF Scott Hairston (Padres)
Key Losses: OF Brian Giles (retirement), 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff (Athletics)
Trends to Watch: The total numbers had a stark contrast against right-handers depending on the park. In spacious Petco Park, the Padres went 33-19-2 to the 'under' versus righties, while going 34-19 to the 'over' on the road against right-handed starters.
Future Odds: 50/1 odds to win NL Pennant, according to Sportsbook.com.
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