OK, Part 2 of a 7-part series previewing each division and my postseason picks for the 2011 MLB season focuses on the NL West.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
The D-Backs had an off-year last season, going 65-97 and featured a midseason managerial change in which Kirk Gibson is now managing this team. He was retained in 2011 and has a lot of work with this team, who is in the middle of a rebuilding phase. They lost 3B Mark Reynolds to the Orioles in the offseason and signed Geoff Blum to a 2-yr contract as well as Xavier Nady. The lineup is still young w/ Justin Upton, Ryan Roberts, Stephen Drew, Chris Young & Juan Miranda. Pitching rotation remains a question w/ young guys like Daniel Hudson who had a good season w/ ARZ & CHW, who is joined by Joe Saunders, Zach Duke, Ian Kennedy & Armando Galarraga (who almost had a no-hitter in June w/ DET). In the bullpen, look for J.J. Putz to be the closer. Like I said earlier, 2011 will be a rebuilding year for this club.
COLORADO ROCKIES
The Rockies made a late-season surge to be in playoff contention but their bid fell short in the end. However, they still have their key weapons in Carlos Gonzalez & Troy Tulowitzki, who both signed 7-year deals each to remain in Denver. Dexter Fowler, Ryan Spilborghs, Todd Helton and Ian Stewart also return to the lineup, joined by newcomers Ty Wigginton & Jose Lopez and this lineup can be huge. The pitching rotation remains the same w/ Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jorge de la Rosa, but the bullpen can be the question if Huston Street remains healthy in 2011.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The big story is after 3 seasons in LA, Joe Torre decided to retire and hand over managerial duties to Don Mattingly, in his first-ever manager job. Meanwhile, with financial problems regarding the McCourts, several players were non-tendered but some re-signed including Hiroki Kuroda and Rod Barajas. The Dodgers also signed Ted Lilly to a 3-year deal to be the 2nd starter behind Clayton Kershaw, who had an impressive 2nd season. They also signed veteran pitcher Jon Garland who will also compete for a starting job. The other big signing LA made was luring Juan Uribe from the Bay Area and signing him to a 3-year deal to play 2nd base. Meanwhile, Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Matt Kemp & Andre Ethier all return and this lineup can be big to make Mattingly's first season as manager impressive.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
The Padres were a surprise team all last season, had a 6.5 game lead over SF in September but lost that and missed the postseason on the final day of the regular season. To make this team even better, the Padres went out and signed shortstop Jason Bartlett, 1st baseman Brad Hawpe, and outfielder Cameron Maybin, all via trades. The young lineup also features Chris Denorfia, Evereth Cabrera, Chase Headley & Nick Hundley. The rotation consists of Mat Latos, Wade LeBlanc, Aaron Harang and Clayton Richard. Heath Bell also remains with the Padres and will continue to be their closer for manager Bud Black's team.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Coming into last season, I didn't expect to see the Giants win the World Series, and they did. Now going into 2011, they are the favorites to win the West and have most of the pieces for this World Series championship team back. The lineup includes Aubrey Huff, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Miguel Tejada, Cody Ross, Aaron Rowand & Pat Burrell. The pitching rotation anchored by Tim Lincecum also features Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito & Madison Bumgarner. Not a bad squad, managed by Bruce Bochy.
My NL West prediction: Padres. Yes, I'd like to see the Giants win, but with all the weapons San Diego got during the offseason, they want another chance to win, but this time they'll try to get the division and go into the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
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Brad Hawpe < Adrian Gonzalez. Can't see how Hawpe can come close to giving the Padres the production Gonzalez gave them at 1st base. Petco Park is monstrous, Coors Field is a bandbox (although Hawpe's splits are not as bad as I thought they would be, half his homers have come away from Colorado) Also Gonzalez is a +fielder while Hawpe has played less than 10 games at first base. Even with their new additions, no shot they make up the production they lost. San Francisco's staff is still going to be too good to compete with. I expect Bumgarner to get better rather than regress into a sophomore slump, I think that playoff experience/World Series ring will have tremendous effects on his confidence. So while I'm going to go with SF to win the West I won't count out the Dodgers, I like your insight and to me it comes down to Matt Kemp. Who is the real Matt Kemp, .310+, 30+ hr, 30+ sb, 100+ rbi? or .250, 25 hr, 20 sb, 80 rbi? While the latter statline is decent if its the former lookout thats MVP caliber. Hopefully Donnie Baseball can light a spark under him. Looking forward to your next preview.
ReplyDeleteA-Gon leaving SD for the Sox definitely hurts the Padres. Boston has been going after him for 3 plus years and him leaving will hurt the club, but with all the new names they can still be as good as they were in 2010.
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