The Padres have the reigning National League Cy Young Award Winner in Jake Peavy. He's pitched over 200+ innings the past three years.
Greg Maddux was two innings shy of 200 innings in '07, ending a streak of four years with at least 200 innings. Maddux, a Hall of Famer to be, will produce another fine year, but the big question, or should I say gamble, is that of the opposite of Maddux, Mark Prior.
Prior, in his best year in the majors, reached 166 innings back in 2005. There are durability and health issues there.
There are also durability issues with the new center fielder.
In his prime, Jim Edmunds was the definition of Web Gem, but there's a lot of green in Petco Park and I'm not quite sure Edmonds, who turns 38 in June, will be able to cover all the ground for a full 162.
Take away Mike Cameron and Milton Bradley, and I see the Padres finishing tied for third with the Rockies.
Arizona Diamondbacks
That brings me to my choice to win the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The D'Backs approach of steady hitting and lights out pitching only got better with the addition of Dan Haren this offseason. Haren has pitched over 200 innings the past three years.
Throw in the 2006 Cy Young Award Winner in Brandon Webb, along with Randy Johnson and Doug Davis, and you could quite possibly have four pitchers going over 200 innings—unspeakable!
The D'Backs didn't do much to alter their lineup. They lost the savvy veteran Tony Clark, but picked up Trot Nixon. Nixon won a World Series with the Red Sox back in '04, so he knows what it takes to win.
Let's not forget the all-out play of Eric Byrnes.
Finally, Brandon Webb takes over the closers role, with Jose Valverde taking his NL league leading 47 saves to Houston.
With all that said, I see a tight race in the NL West, with the winner being decided in the last week of play.
The D'backs will finish with 96 wins this year.
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