2012 NL West Preview

It's that time of year again. The weather is getting warm and spring is just around the corner, which means the start of the 2012 MLB season. Spring training games are in full force and we are 1 month away from the start of the regular season. Every 5 days or so, I will preview a division, then my season predictions. Today, I'll focus on the NL West.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
The Diamondbacks were one of the surprise teams in 2011, winning the NL West divison last year by 8 games over San Francisco, losing in the NLDS against Milwaukee. The D-Backs, managed by Kirk Gibson, is a young team that has a lot of talent. In the offseason, the D-Backs acquired Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow from the A's, as well as picking up free-agent Jason Kubel to fit the lineup as an outfielder. Cahill joins a young pitching staff which includes 21-game winner Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson which can be a threat, and if J.J. Putz stays healthy, he could be a good closer as well. The young lineup features Justin Upton, Chris Young, Aaron Hill and Lyle Overbay. This team will be fun to watch in 2012.

COLORADO ROCKIES
Jim Tracy returns to the Rockies in his 2nd year as manager of this ballclub who finished 21 games behind Arizona and struggled. The team has good hitting which includes Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, Casey Blake and Tyler Colvin. The Rockies big signing was that of Michael Cuddyer (OF/IF) for 3 years worth $31.5M and he will be a big impact on this Rockies team, can hit 35+ home runs this year, especially in a hitters ballpark. Ramon Hernandez has also been signed to a 2-year deal and is expected to be the primary catcher. The pitching rotation includes Jeremy Guthrie (traded for Jason Hammel & Matt Lindstrom), Jhoulys Chacin and Jorge de la Rosa. This team will improve from a struggling 2011 campaign.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The Dodgers struggled all of 2011 with the team, but also behind the scenes inside the organization as well. Due to his divorce, Frank McCourt put the team up for sale in the offseason, in a bidding process with the bankruptcy court as well as MLB. Still, without an owner, the Dodgers retained the entire coaching staff, including Don Mattingly. Lot of moves were made in the offseason as the Dodgers traded Dana Eveland to Baltimore, released Casey Blake, and declining a contract to RP Hong-Chih Kuo. On the flip side, the Dodgers re-signed OF Juan Rivera to a 1-year contract and signed 2B Mark Ellis (2-yrs), IF Adam Kennedy (1-yr), SP Chris Capuano (2-yrs), SP Aaron Harang (2-yrs) and utilityman Jerry Hairston, Jr. (2-yrs). Capuano & Harang join Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and Ted Lilly in the rotation. The lineup also includes Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney. With new ownership expected shortly, the team needs to impress in 2012, otherwise the team will expect many changes.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
The Padres big offseason move was trading Mat Latos to Cincinnati for SP Edinson Volquez and 3 big prospects, including 1B Yonder Alonso, C Yasmani Grandal and RP Brad Boxberger. Volquez hasn't returned to form before Tommy John Surgery and will join a rotation that features Dustin Moseley, Tim Stauffer and Clayton Richard. Huston Street is the closer for the Padres. Alonso joins a lineup which contains Nick Hundley, Orlando Hudson and Cameron Maybin. This is a young team with a lot to learn and they may struggle but could be a team to in 2012.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
The Giants were a playoff favorite team last season, but with the season-ending injury to catcher Buster Posey, the Giants struggled in the 2nd of the season. However, Posey will return to action this season and is back in a lineup featuring OF Melky Cabrera (acquired via trade with KC- P Jonathan Sanchez), Freddy Sanchez, Pablo Sandoval and Angel Pagan (acquired by Mets). Tim Lincecum returns to the staff on a 2-year deal, looking to get an extension, and is joined by Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Cain. If this team returns to 2010 form, watch out because they can compete with Arizona for the NL West title.

Like I said, the title can be a horse-race between Arizona and San Francisco all year, but I'm going to take the D-backs to repeat in 2012.