National League West Preview

In 2010,  the NL West was suppose to be one of the weaker divisions in baseball.  By season's end, it may have turned out to be the strongest.  The surprise San Diego Padres were the feel good story of the year.  They lead the division for most of the year, until they ran out of steam in the final week of the regular season, when they were dethroned by the eventual World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants.  What's in store out west in 2011?  Let's see...
*Teams listed in predicted order of finish.

The Colorado Rockies
In the off season, the Rockies wasted little time in signing their best player, Troy Tulowitzki, to a contract extension that will keep the 25 year-old shortstop in purple pinstripes until 2020.  Despite missing 40 games last year to wrist injury, Tulo still had 27 home runs and 148 hits.  Coming off career highs in batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage, Tulo hasn't even reached his prime yet.  Assuming he plays a full season in 2011, there are no limits to how high his numbers will soar.  Rockies fans should feel blessed knowing that they will be able to go to the ballpark and watch this guy play for at least the next 10 years.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for a team to have a closer it can rely on in the 9th inning to finish teams off.  In 2010, the Rockies played most of their season without the services of their closer, 2005 Rookie of the Year, Huston Street.  At 27 years of age, Street should be able to bounce back from shoulder and groin injuries that kept him sidelined for more than 60 games a year ago.  In case Street goes down again, the Rockies signed an insurance policy in the form of Matt Lindstrom, who was a closer with the Houston Astros in 2010. 

The Rockies are young and talented at almost every position.  It's no secret that the Mile High City is conducive to a team that can hit the ball.  With Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez leading the way, the Rockies will hit plenty.

The San Francisco Giants
Unlike the Rockies, the Giants are mediocre at best with the bat.  Struggles on offense don't seem to matter that much when your pitching staff is lights out.  That's exactly what the Giants staff is, and that is what won them the World Series crown in 2010.  The Giants pitchers gave up the least amount of runs in the Major Leagues and were best in batting average against (opposing teams batting average when facing Giant's pitching).

Unquestionably, the leader of that staff is Tim Lincecum, although you may know him as Mitch Kramer from "Dazed and Confused".  At just 26 years-old, he has already won two Cy Young awards and has at least 15 wins and 200 strikeouts in each of his first 3 full seasons as a starter.  Appropriately nick-named, the Freak, Lincecum says he has worked harder this off season than in any other before.  Coming from a guy that was already nearly un-hittable, that's a scary thought for National League hitters.

The San Diego Padres
Even though the Padres were forced to trade away their best player, all-star Adrian Gonzalez, they can still compete in the west, thanks to their young and efficient pitching staff.  The ace of the staff is 23 year-old Mat Latos, who should have an excellent career.  Their closer, Heath Bell is one of the premiere relievers in the game.  If the Friars can get the game to the 9th inning with the lead, then you can confidently put a W in the win column, because Bell will rarely let a game get a away.

The Padres, who began 2010 with the second lowest payroll in baseball are never big spenders in the off season.  Working with a budget, I think the Padres spent their modest allowance well.  They picked up an array of veteran infielders (Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett, and Brad Hawpe) who are capable on both sides of the ball.  They also picked up pitcher Aaron Harang, who struggled in 2010 for the Cincinnati Reds.  Moving to the spacious confines of Petco Park would be helpful for any pitcher.  Petco Park may be just what Harang needs to revitalize his career and winning ways. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers
What has become of this historic franchise?  Divorces used to just ruin lives and bank accounts.  Now they are ruining Major League Baseball teams.  The Dodgers will begin their second season in which they are the child stuck in the middle of the high profile custody battle between Frank and Jamie McCourt.  With the ownership uncertain, it makes it very difficult for the front office to spend money in free agency.  Not to mention the distraction it will cause the entire organization, from the guys in suits, to the men in uniforms.  Hopefully, this mess gets settled sooner rather than later and the Dodgers get back to their championship pedigree.

Another story to watch in Dodger-land this season will be how first time manager Don Mattingly fares.  "Donnie baseball" had been a coach on the legendary Joe Torre squads starting in 2004 while the pair were with the Yankess.  After Torre was fired in New York, Mattingly joined Torre in Los Angeles and will take over the managerial role now that Torre has retired.  As if being a manager for the first time doesn't cause enough anxiety as is, Mattingly will have to lead a team that is surrounded by turmoil.  Good luck to the Dodgers and their new manager, they'll need it.

The Arizona Diamondbacks
Coming off a year in which they lost 97 games, second worst in the National League, the Diamondbacks can't get much worse.  Unfortunately, they didn't get any better either.  They traded away their teams best home run hitter, Mark Reynolds, only months after they signed him to a three year contract extension.  You would figure, upon making a trade involving a power hitter like Reynolds, that the D-Backs would acquire personnel that will have tremendous impact.  Ummm, maybe.  The D-Backs received two young relievers who throw, but are by no means proven assets to a big league ball club.

It's obvious the Diamondbacks are rebuilding.  And it's inevitable that they will finish last in the NL West once again.