After a very exciting end to the 2007 season, the West is looking to bring much of the same this season. Arizona and Colorado are looking to duplicate the results of last season, while San Diego is vying to get a playoff spot in which they were robbed of when Colorado beat them in thirteen innings in a one-game playoff to the NL Wild Card.
The Dodgers are now a contender after signing Andruw Jones and making Joe Torre their new Commander in Chief. One shouldn't have to worry too much about the Giants this year. They will most likely finish at the bottom of the division unless they can pick up some key players before the trade deadline.
The West is going to be very exciting once again. It is going to be battles of attrition and preserverance that is going to win the West. What team has the heart to accomplish this?
Arizona is still a very young team. However, they have a key loss in Jose Valverde. Valverde was arguably one of the best, if not the best, closer in the National League last year. Arizona also lost Tony Clark who played a pivotal role in helping the Diamondbacks into the playoffs and sweep the Cubs in the Division Series. The key for Arizona is going to be pitching. Last season Arizona had an above average rotation and a rock solid bullpen. If Randy Johnson can stay healthy this year, he will add intimidation and a smoking fast ball to the arsenal of the rotation. Once the young talent that Arizona has develops, they will be a threat once again to lead the division and fight Colorado for the division title.
Just like last year, San Diego is going to put up a fight in the division but is going to come up just a bit short of the division. However, don't rule out San Diego for the playoffs. They are going to make a strong campaign for the Wild Card spot under the leadership of ace Jake Peavey. Peavey will win twenty games this. San Diego's bullpen is going to need to rebound from last year. Hoffman blew a huge save against Colorado to keep the Padres from going to the playoffs. Hoffman, who is arguably the best closer of the modern era, will once again lead the west, and possibly the National League, in saves. Don't rule out San Diego. They may be a sleeper team and do what Colorado did last year.
The team to watch in the West is going to be Los Angeles
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8 months ago
touche mr cummings....u are well on your way to becoming the next woodrow paige
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