MLB Preview: National League West Division

Here's part two of my six part series to preview the 2009 MLB season.  Last week was the AL West.  This week is the NL West.  Here is a short preview of each team, in the order I predict they will finish.

1)  The Arizona Diamondbacks.  This team got off to a great start last year, and many considered them to be the best team in the N.L.  Then the wheels fell off the bus, and the D'Backs failed to make the postseason.

Things will be different though for the D'Backs, who are loaded with young talent this year.  There is too much talent on this team to not win the division.

The starting rotation boasts a deadly one two combo with Brandon Webb and Danny Haren at the top of the rotation.  Webb won twenty two games last year, and Haren won sixteen games.  Both starters had ERA's in the low threes.  When these two are on their games, they are tough to hit, and as good a duo as any team has in the N.L.

The D'Backs lineup is loaded with young talent, led by third baseman Mark Reynolds.  The there's also Connor Jackson, Justin Upton, Steven Drew, and so on.  As each of these players improve, the D'Backs will be more deadly

In the bullpen, Chad Qualls will take over as the closer.  Qualls has been one of the better set-up men in baseball over the last few years.  Can he do it as a closer now?  Only time will tell

Incase Qualls falters, the D'Backs have John Rauch, who was closing games for the Washington Nats last year who could move into the closer role. 

The big question mark with this team will be is their enough veteran leadership in the everyday lineup, especially with the departure of second baseman Orlando Hudson.  The x-factor for the D'Backs that I feel will win them the division is Webb and Haren. 

The Padres are the only team who have two starters who can match them, with Jake Peavy, and Chris Young, but after those guys, that team is a mess.

2)  The Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Dodgers also have alot of young talent on this team.  I think the lineup s just not strong enough without Manny Ramirez though. 

If the Dodgers can re-sign Manny, then I actually think they'd win the division, but they don't as of now, so I predict that will knock the Dodgers down a notch into second place.

The lineup does have some solid parts, but it is missing that one big dangerous bat.  They have the table setters at the top of the lineup, between Juan Pierre and Raf Furcal.  The they have the bats to drive them in with young guys Russel Martin, Andre Either, Matt Kemp, and James Loney. 

Without Manny though, they miss that big veteran bat that can take the pressure off these young guys.  It'll be interesting to see how they produce if Manny ends up elsewhere.

The rotation is led by sixteen game winner Chad Billingsley.  Then theres Clayton Kershaw, the big pitching prospect the Dodgers have.  If he develops enough this year into the pitcher he is capable of, the Dodgers could win the division, with or without Manny.

The Dodgers will have a new closer in Jonathan Broxton.  Broxton has been one of the top eight inning guys in baseball, and many scouts have said he has closer "stuff."

Now it's time to put that theory to the test and see if Broxton can continue his career as a successful closer.  Broxton did save fourteen games last year so he should do just fine.

This should be an interesting team to follow.  There are alot of good players to be excited about, and will give the D'Backs a run for the division.  Without Manny though,  I think too many things need to break in their favor so I predict they will finish runner up to the D'Backs.

3) The Colorado Rockies.  I really went back and forth here between them and the San Francisco Giants.  The Giants have better starting pitching, but the Rockies have the better lineup.  I'm going to predict the Rockies finish third.

The Rockies do have two good pitchers at the top of the rotation, between Aaron Cook, and Ubaldo Jimenez, who won sixteen and eleven games each, respectively.  They also both pitched to ERA's under 4.00, which is hard to do at Coors Field, even though its not quite the hitters park it was known to be.

Even with the loss of Matt Holiday, the Rockies should have no trouble scoring runs.  Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins, and Todd Helton make up a solid middle of the order.  These guys should still be able to produce enough runs even with the loss of Matt Holiday for them to finish ahead of the Giants.

The bullpen should have a solid closer, set up man duo between Manny Corpas and Huston Street, who was acquired for Holiday.  Taylor Bucholz and Jason Grilli are also solid relievers, so the bullpen should not be a concern for Rockies fans.

The bullpen and the middle of the order are the main reasons why I predict that the Rockies will finish third.  I don't think the Giants will be able to score enough runs to keep up with the Rockies.

4)  The San Francisco Giants.  As good as Tim Lincecum is, he is only one player on the team.  There just is not enough offense to beat out the Rockies for third in the division.

The rotation is led by Lincecum and Matt Cain.  Lincecum is the top young pitcher in the game, and Cain is a solid young pitcher as well. 

Veterans Randy Johnson and Barry Zito make up the three and four starters.  Johnson should have some left in the tank, as he tries to reach 300 wins, and Zito started to pitch better last year after a horrid start.

There is not much to get excited about offensively on this team. They do have a few good young players, but there isn't any big power bat to put in the middle of the lineup.  When Aaron Rowand could be your cleanup hitter, you know scoring runs will be a problem.

In the bullpen Brian Wilson did save 41 games last year, but had an ERA of nearly 5.00.  They also have a few veteran setup men in Bob Howry and Jeremy Affeldt to provide some stability in the pen.

I know it sounds like I'm beating a dead horse, but I just don't see enough offense on this team for them to be able to beat out the Rockies for third place.

5) The San Diego Padres.  There is not much to be excited about on this roster.  The team cut payroll, and it looks like the Padres are headed for a long season.  I predict a last place finish for them

The rotation does have a potent one two combo in Peavy and Young.  The only problem is Young has had injury problems, and how long will Peavy be on the club.  They tried to trade him in the offseason, and would not be surprised if he goes by the trade deadline.

The offense does not have much to protect Adrian Gonzalez (who should have gotten more attention as the MVP with what he did with no protection).  It'll be tough for Gonzalez to put up those numbers again (36 hr 119 rbi) with no protection.  Teams will be looking to pitch around him so that he does not beat them.

The bullpen lost long time closer and fan favorite Trevor Hoffman.  Now Heath Bell takes over as the closer.  With what seems to be the theme with this division, Bell, who was a solid set up man, must prove he can do it as a closer. 

So there you have it, my predictions for the NL West.  Next weeks preview: The AL Central.