2011 MLB Predictions: NL West Standings

Readers may consider the following to be somewhat biased since I am a Rockies fan. However, these are not far from the truth to what I really think will happen this season in the NL West.

Here are my 2011 fantasy baseball articles:

Top 50 Hitters

Top 35 Pitchers

Top 25 First Basemen

Top 25 Second Basemen

Top 20 Shortstops

Top 20 Third Basemen

Top 15 Catchers w/ Analysis

Top 20 NL Outfielders

Top 20 AL Outfielders

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

PHOENIX - SEPTEMBER 21: Chris Young #24 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammate Adam LaRoche #25 after defeating the Colorado Rockies during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on September 21, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by

Their pitching staff has disintegrated over the past few years. Former aces Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are now gone and the offense isn't too intimidating, either.

They do have some power in their lineup, but they strikeout way too much as a team. Their main home run and RBI guy, third baseman Mark Reynolds, left for Baltimore during the offseason. They have a lot of work to do.

4. San Diego Padres

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 01: Adrian Gonzalez #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three run home run during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants October 1, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jus

The Padres lost what was, by far, their biggest offensive weapon in first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox during the offseason. No one expected them to do as well as they did last season.

They still have a pretty good pitching staff headed by up-and-comer Mat Latos. The departure of Gonzalez hurts, though, and they'll struggle a lot more this season.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 09: (L-R) Rafael Furcal #15, James Loney #7, Casey Blake #23, Matt Kemp #27 and Jamey Carroll #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their teams victory and three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on June 9,

Los Angeles was definitely a big disappointment last season finishing fourth in the NL West with a 80-82 record.

Closer Jonathan Broxton did not look the same as previous seasons, but performed better later on in the season. If outfielder Andre Ethier can stay healthy, the offense will be good to go, but the pitching staff is average.

2. Colorado Rockies

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 25: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with Huston Street (L) and their teammates after he hit the game RBI double to score Carlos Gonzalez #5 against the San Francisco Giants in the 10th inning at Coors Field on Sep

The long-term deals to shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez were huge. The Rockies arguably have two of the 15 best hitters in baseball for the next several years now.

Pitching ace Ubaldo Jimenez is coming off the best season of his career, and if closer Huston Street can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for Colorado.

1. San Francisco Giants

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 01: Catcher Buster Posey #28, Aubrey Huff #17, Freddy Sanchez #21 and Matt Cain #18 (top L) of the San Francisco Giants celebrate on the field with their teammates after the Giants won 3-1 against the Texas Rangers in Game Five o

They're the defending World Series champions, enough said.

They have what is probably the second best pitching staff in the National League (behind Philadelphia) and their offense really stepped up in the latter part of last season, as well as in the postseason.

The Giants have all the tools to make another run to the postseason.