The Dodgers Ain't the Boys of Summer

As I continue with the Spring Training blog posts today I will be looking at the National League West, I feel that there is a pretty large gap between the top four teams and the San Diego Padres. This is the order I pick the teams to finish…

San Francisco Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers

Colorado Rockies

San Diego Padres

Tim Lincecum

Giants- Last season the Giants had a down season after winning the World Series in 2009 and they will bounce back, don’t expect a repeat of 09 but they will win the division. They will be sending out a starting rotation that will rival the Phillies, with Cy Young winning pitcher and Tim Lincecum leading the way and Barry Zito penciled into the number five spot. The Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong will be the middle three. Buster Posey will be back behind the plate after missing most of last season with an ankle injury, the Giants brass have asked Posey not to block the plate next season in fear of another season ending injury. The projected infield looks like Aubrey Huff at first, Freddy Sanchez at 2B, Brandon Crawford or Ryan Theriot at short and Pablo Sandoval at third, this infield will not have that much pop but will hit for average. It is easier to score with base runners then no one on at all. The outfield will have Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan and Nate Schierholtz. Three out of their top four prospects will probably be called up during the season, Francisco Peguero, Heath Hembree and Eric Surkamp.

Diamondbacks- They did win the division last year but with the Giants slight improvement and the D-backs step back it will be enough for them to just miss winning the National League West. The Diamondbacks are one of those teams on paper are nothing special but yet when August roles around they are in the playoff. Arizona will have some veteran leadership up the middle of the infield in Stephen Drew and Aaron Hill at short and second with Ryan Roberts and Paul Goldschmidt at the corners. There will be talent patrolling in the outfield with Justin Upton is right, who is expected to have a breakout season. Chris Young has been solid in center in the past, and Arizona picked up Jason Kubel from the Twins to play in left. The pitching staff like the rest of the roster isn’t that great but will get the job done, aside from Ian Kennedy there isn’t that much. Luckily they have three pitching prospects that should be ready to come up this season in Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs and Patrick Corbin.

Clayton Kreshaw

Dodgers- The Dodgers will be putting out a surprisingly good starting pitching staff in Cy Young winner Clayton Kreshaw, Ted Lilly, Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang. This stellar pitching staff will struggle to get the proper run support at times with Matt Kemp and Andre Either being the only two guys that can put up big hitting numbers. Joining Either and Kemp in the outfield will be Juan Rivera. The infield looks to be James Loney, Mark Ellis, Dee Gordon and Juan Uribe with A.J. Ellis behind the plate. The minor league system isn’t showing really anything in the near future, Nathan Eovaldi is the only prospect that is MLB ready.

Rockies- Colorado for sure has the bats to finish higher up in the division maybe even win it however they are lacking the pitching. Not a single one of them is worth mentioning; however they will have the ageless wonder 49 year old Jamie Moyer in camp trying to find a roster spot. Keep in mind the Rockies are playing in one of the most hitter friendly parks in all of baseball. It seems every year Todd Helton is leading the league in hitting, the short stop Troy Tulowitzki is pretty good and Casey Blake at third is not to shabby him self either, rounding out the infield is Marco Scutaro at second base. The outfield will be Michael Cuddyer, Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez. Drew Pomeranz a 6’5” lefty is their top prospect

Padres- I’m sorry but the Padres do not have too much going for them. Yes there are a handful of bright spots; they have an excellent closer in Houston Street, Orlando Hudson at second is an exciting player at times and they have a solid leftfielder in Carlos Quentin. The beauty of the start of the baseball season is that everyone starts 0-0 on an even playing field. San Diego will have Nick Hundley catching, Jesus Guzman, Jason Bartlett, and Chase Headley joining Hudson in the infield. Cameron Maybin and Will Venable in center and right respectively with Quentin. If Guzman doesn’t work at first then you could see Yonder Alonso being called up.

Blast From the Past

For this weeks blast from the past I have decided to go with a person that used to play in this division, as you look at the picture I am sure that he looks very familiar. It is pre-steroid era  Barry Bonds