MLB Preview of the National League West

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

LINEUP

1. Stephen Drew | SS | .291 | 21 HR | 67 RBI

2. Felipe Lopez | 2B | .283 | 6 HR | 46 RBI

3. Mark Reynolds | 3B | .239 | 28 HR | 97 RBI

4. Conor Jackson | LF | .300 | 12 HR | 75 RBI

5. Chad Tracy | 1B | .267 | 8 HR | 39 RBI

6.  Chris Young | CF | .248 | 22 HR | 85 RBI

7. Justin Upton | RF | .250 | 15 HR | 42 RBI

8. Chris Snyder | C | .237 | 16 HR | 64 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Brandon Webb | 22-7 | 3.30 ERA | 183 K | 1.20 WHIP

2. Dan Haren | 16-8 | 3.33 ERA | 206 K | 1.13 WHIP

3. Doug Davis | 6-8 | 4.32 ERA | 112 K | 1.53 WHIP

4. Jon Garland | 14-8 | 4.90 ERA | 90 K | 1.51 WHIP

5. Max Scherzer | 0-4 | 3.05 ERA | 66 K | 1.23 WHIP

CL Chad Qualls | 22 H | 2.81 ERA | 71 K | 1.07 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Eric Byrnes | .206 | 6 HR | 23 RBI

Miguel Montero | .255 | 5 HR | 18 RBI

The DBacks have the best pitching rotation in the NL West by far. It helps that Brandon Webb and Dan Haren head that rotation. If you remember, last season the DBacks got off to a really good start and then faltered down the stretch.

With the disappointing seasons from Chris Young and Justin Upton, the Arizona Diamondbacks fell out of first place in the West and could not reclaim it from the Dodgers. I still like this team, especially if Young and Upton play to their capabilities.

OVERALL GRADE: B-

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

LINEUP

1. Rafael Furcal | SS | .357 | 5 HR | 16 RBI

2. Orlando Hudson | 2B | .305 | 8 HR | 41 RBI

3. Manny Ramirez | LF | .332 | 37 HR | 121 RBI

4. Andre Ethier | RF | .305 | 20 HR | 77 RBI

5. Russell Martin | C | .280 | 13 HR | 69 RBI

6. James Loney | 1B | .289 | 13 HR | 90 RBI

7. Matt Kemp | CF | .290 | 18 HR | 76 RBI

8. Casey Blake | 3B | .274 | 21 HR | 81 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Hiroki Kuroda | 9-10 | 3.73 ERA | 116 K | 1.22 WHIP

2. Chad Billingsley | 16-10 | 3.14 ERA | 201 K | 1.34 WHIP

3. Clayton Kershaw | 5-5 | 4.26 ERA | 100 K | 1.50 WHIP

4. Randy Wolf | 12-12 | 4.30 ERA | 162 K | 1.38 WHIP

5. James McDonald |

CL Jonathan Broxton | 14 SV | 3.13 ERA | 88 K | 1.17 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Juan Pierre | .283 | 1 HR | 28 RBI

Blake DeWitt | .264 | 9 HR | 52 RBI

The Los Angeles Dodgers of 2009 look as good as the 2008 team entering the playoffs last season. However, they are one injury away of being that 2008 team before the All-Star Break.

They do not have depth at pitching and the young arms they do have in the rotation right now are inexperienced. They have two vets in Wolf and Kuroda, although Kuroda has only been in the American Majors for one season.

This could be the fall of the Dodgers. If Manny is able to make the hitters behind him better, i.e. Ethier, Martin, Loney, Kemp, the Dodgers should win this mediocre NL West division.

OVERALL GRADE: B

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

LINEUP

1. Fred Lewis | LF | .282 | 9 HR | 40 RBI

2. Edgar Renteria | SS | .270 | 10 HR | 55 RBI

3. Randy Winn | RF | .306 | 10 HR | 64 RBI

4. Bengie Molina | C | .292 | 16 HR | 95 RBI

5. Pablo Sandoval | 3B | .345 | 3 HR | 24 RBI

6. Aaron Rowand | CF | .271 | 13 HR | 70 RBI

7. Travis Ishikawa | 1B | .274 | 3 HR | 15 RBI

8. Emmanuel Burriss | 2B | .283 | 1 HR | 18 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Tim Lincecum | 18-5 | 2.62 ERA | 265 K | 1.17 WHIP

2. Randy Johnson | 11-10 | 3.91 ERA | 173 K | 1.24 WHIP

3. Matt Cain | 8-14 | 3.76 ERA | 186 K | 1.36 WHIP

4. Barry Zito | 10-17 | 5.15 ERA | 120 K | 1.60 WHIP

5. Jonathan Sanchez | 9-12 | 5.01 ERA | 157 K | 1.45 WHIP

CL Brian Wilson | 41 SV | 4.62 ERA | 67 K | 1.44 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Juan Uribe | .247 | 7 HR | 40 RBI

Rich Aurilia | .283 | 10 HR | 52 RBI

The 2009 San Francisco Giants are an intriguing team that is being praised by many experts. They have some key parts for the future and also some veterans that might just keep them in the race for the West if the Dodgers and DBacks wane at some point in the season. They have a pretty decent pitching staff along with a mediocre offense.

However, if Pablo Sandoval turns out to be the power hitter the Giants desperately need, that offense turns into a pretty good one. I would look for Sandoval to get the three or four spot if he starts hot.

OVERALL GRADE: C+

SAN DIEGO PADRES

LINEUP

1. Jody Gerut | CF | .296 | 14 HR | 43 RBI

2. David Eckstein | 2B | .265 | 2 HR | 27 RBI

3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | .279 | 36 HR | 119 RBI

4. Kevin Kouzmanoff | 3B | .260 | 23 HR | 84 RBI

5. Brian Giles | RF | .306 | 12 HR | 63 RBI

6. Chase Headley | LF | .269 | 9 HR | 38 RBI

7. Luis Rodriguez | SS | .287 | 0 HR | 12 RBI

8. Henry Blanco | C | .292 | 3 HR | 12 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Jake Peavy | 10-11 | 2.85 ERA | 166 K | 1.18 WHIP

2. Chris Young | 7-6 | 3.96 ERA | 93 K | 1.29 WHIP

3. Cha Seung Baek | 6-10 | 4.79 ERA | 92 K | 1.34 WHIP

4. Kevin Correia | 3-8 | 6.05 ERA | 66 K | 1.71 WHIP

5. Walter Silva |

CL Heath Bell | 23 H | 3.58 ERA | 71 K | 1.21 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Cliff Floyd | .268 | 11 HR | 39 RBI

Scott Hairston | .248 | 17 HR | 31 RBI

It is hard to see this team being any good at any point during the season. The only time they will appear like an actual professional baseball team is when Peavy and Young are on the mound.

Frankly, I feel sorry for Adrian Gonzalez because he is the only one worth watching on this team. Kouzmanoff can produce at times and Giles is on the downslide of his career. Peter Gammons still believes Peavy will join the Cubs at some point in the season, so if he is correct then it will only get worse.

This season will be about developing the young talent, like Headley and Rodriguez.

OVERALL GRADE: C-

COLORADO ROCKIES

LINEUP

1. Clint Barmes | 2B | .290 | 11 HR | 44 RBI

2. Troy Tulowitzki | SS | .263 | 8 HR | 46 RBI

3. Garrett Atkins | 3B | .286 | 21 HR | 99 RBI

4. Todd Helton | 1B | .264 | 7 HR | 29 RBI

5. Chris Iannetta | C | .264 | 18 HR | 65 RBI

6. Brad Hawpe | RF | .283 | 25 HR | 85 RBI

7. Ryan Spilborghs | CF | .313 | 6 HR | 36 RBI

8. Seth Smith | LF | .259 | 4 HR | 15 RBI

9. PITCHER

PITCHING STAFF

1. Aaron Cook | 16-9 | 3.96 ERA | 96 K | 1.34 WHIP

2. Ubaldo Jimenez | 12-12 | 3.99 ERA | 172 K | 1.43 WHIP

3. Jorge De La Rosa | 10-8 | 4.92 ERA | 128 K | 1.46 WHIP

4. Jason Marquis | 11-9 | 4.53 ERA | 91 K | 1.45 WHIP

5. Franklin Morales | 1-2 | 6.39 ERA | 9 K | 1.78 WHIP

CL Huston Street | 18 SV | 3.73 ERA | 69 K | 1.21 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Ian Stewart | .259 | 10 HR | 41 RBI

Yorvit Torrealba | .246 | 6 HR | 31 RBI

Jeff Baker | .268 | 12 HR | 48 RBI

The Colorado Rockies will try to get back to their 2007 form when they rolled their way through to the World Series. There’s a lot I like about this team. For example, they have a lot of players that can fill in for their normal starters.

Manager Clint Hurdle will have a tough time figuring out ways to get his bench players involved throughout the season. However, if he can, I can see the Rockies being in the hunt for the top spot in the NL West along with the Dodgers and DBacks.

OVERALL GRADE: B-

Although I would love to say the Dodgers don’t pull it off, I cannot say that. At least, in the preseason, I can’t say it.

I do think it will be a dog fight down the stretch and I look forward to watch the scoreboards in September. I do think the D-Backs and Rockies have a legitimate case for first place in the West, but for now I like the Dodgers.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (87-75)

2. Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78)

3. Colorado Rockies (81-81)

4. San Francisco Giants (78-84)

5. San Diego Padres (68-94)