Expert Predictions: The NL WestApril 3, 2005Predictions: NL West
Ray Flowers’ Picks 1. Giants- Still the favorite even with Bonds injured, all they have to do is hang close until he returns. With all the new additions the Giants once again have life. A lot hinges on the starting rotation after Schmidt…they could be anywhere from really good to sub par (Rueter, Tomko, Lowry and Williams). 2. Padres- Trying to capitalize on a wave of fan support, one of the best young arms in the game (Peavy) and a very solid everyday lineup. If Giles and Klesko return to their previous levels, watch out. 3. Dodgers- Totally blew-up their roster, hard to even recognize the division champs. Lots will have to go right for them to win the crown again. Poor IF defense and the loss of their best player (Beltre) spell doom this year in Tinseltown. 4. Diamondbacks- Another revamped lineup, how does a team lose the leagues best pitcher but actually improve its staff? By adding Win machine Ortiz and Vazquez that’s how. If Glaus and Gonzalez return from injuries, they could make things interesting. But that’s a big if. 5. Rockies- Poor Helton, toiling in obscurity. Youngest everyday lineup in the majors, the Rocks will be lucky to even sniff .500 this year. Laura Nist’s Picks 1. Giants - They were close to winning the NL West last year and although they haven’t gotten a lot better the addition of Moises Alou to protect Barry in the lineup will make a difference. The pitching should be better too and Matheny is known for his work with the pitchers. Benitez, a proven closer will make an immense difference. 2. Padres – This is a competitive team with good offense and pitching and they will give the Giants a run for their money. In the end the veterans will come out ahead of the rookies. 3. Diamondbacks – Even with the loss of Randy Johnson this team is not as bad as some experts think. Vazquez, Ortiz and Webb are all better than average and with an improved offense ala Glaus and Green the pitchers should get a few more wins this year. 4. Dodgers- Who are these guys? They made a lot of changes but I don’t see a lot of improvement anywhere. 5. Rockies - Not a lot to say here. It’s a rebuilding year. Jonathan Leshanski’s Picks 1. Padres - All the pieces are in place and the best of the competition have all taken steps backwards. This is the year the Padres rise to the top. 2. Dodgers - If J.D. Drew can stay healthy and play as well as he did or better in Atlanta then GM Paul DePodesta is a genius and this team could be as good as they were last season. That still won’t be good enough. 3. Giants- Barry will be back, I can’t see him quitting short of the records, or forfeiting any salary if he’s healthy enough to play. But it won’t be the same Barry, and it won’t be enough to keep the Giants afloat. 4. D’Backs - On the rise but even with Troy Glaus and a healthy Luis Gonzalez they are not yet ready to make a charge. .500 should be a realistic goal. 5. Rockies - Lots of rookies, lots of hits, lots of runs scored at Coors Field, not much pitching, a lot more opponent runs scored both at Coors and away. Daniel Paulling’s Picks 1. Padres - This is the year the Padres bust out and do their thang. Their rotation is headlined by ERA champ Adam Eaton; Brian Lawrence will return to the form he held three seasons ago, not last year's; and look for Woody Williams to pitch like he did for St. Louis, except not injured. The Pads also have Dave Roberts/Freddy Guzman to leadoff, Mark Loretta second, and boppers Brian Giles and Phil Nevin. Ryan Klesko, Ramon Hernandez, Sean Burroughs, and Khalil Greene just add depth. Look for the powerful bullpen to be even stronger next season. 2. Dodgers - The Dodgers made some moves, but I am not sold that they were all that great. The only reason they are in second is because of a fall of a certain team (more on that later). The Dodgers have a talented rotation with Jeff Weaver and Odalis Perez. I like Edwin Jackson, but the biggest question mark is Derek Lowe and Jeff Kent, most those two together. The Dodgers made a huge mistake letting Alex Cora go, and DePodesta will be slapping his forehead quite a few times this year. 3. Diamondbacks - The DBax have apparently found a money tree because they spent like heck this winter. They brought in Javier Vazquez, who should headline the rotation with Montreal Exposian talent, not New York Yankessian. Russ Ortiz should aptly fill the number two hole, with Brandon Webb and Shawn Estes giving the rotation depth. The bullpen will be a HUGE question mark, but the lineup should help ease the problems. 4. Giants - One month without Bonds will probably sink this team into fourth. I don't care how many experts say that these Giants can still finish in first, they don't have Bonds. No Bonds = no division titles. The team will show its age and be the 2004 Seattle Mariners. I don't expect a huge number of loses, but they are old. Very old. Oh, and Armando Benitez is probably going to choke down the stretch. 5. Rockies - This team is very good. I'm talking about their AAA Colorado Springs team from last year, but the Rockies should be reaping the benefits of their farm system soon. Jeff Francis and Jason Jennings headline the rotation and the bullpen now has Chin-Hui Tsao and Byung-Hyun Kim (yes, those names are butchered). The lineup features Todd Helton, but also Ian Stewart, Clint Barmes, Aaron Miles, JD Closser, and Brad Hawpe. These guys will be good very, very soon. Just not 2005. Matthew Souders’ Picks 1. Padres (94-68) - The rotation looks primed to be one of the best in the business with Jake Peavy, Brian Lawrence and Adam Eaton anchoring the staff. Their pen is also above reproach. The team defense and hitting aren’t quite there yet, but the Pads will be a force by 2006. Although I expect the Padres to get clobbered in the post-season this year, their relatively weak division should help their winning percentage. 2. Dodgers (85-77) - The Dodgers still have…most…of a competitive rotation, though after Weaver it’s a little touch and go. The pen is solid and the team can still pick it on defense despite the loss of Beltre. There are serious questions about whether the Dodgers can really compete offensively without another career year from Adrian Beltre. Kent and JD Drew go part of the way toward fixing the offense…but I don’t think it will be enough. 3. Giants (82-80) - News has arrived that Barry Bonds is seriously hurt and considering not only missing the minimum of 3 months required to heal it, but the entire year. He may even retire, going out in a blaze of rage and self pity. With that in mind, my original prediction that the Giants would win the west on the strength of a veteran core of great hitters and a solid rotation now must change. Mr. Bonds has been responsible for 15-20 wins all by himself and the Giants have no replacement for that kind of production. 4. Diamondbacks (69-93) - The Diamondbacks did a lot to improve the look of their ball club this year. They signed an overpriced oft injured third baseman (Troy Glaus), an overpriced often wild starter (Russ Ortiz), and several underachieving minor league flyers…and they traded some solid prospects for an overpriced underachieving outfielder (Shawn Green). They will indeed improve this year, but they still have no bullpen, terrible team defense, a weak rotation after Webb, and no lead-off hitter. Expect continued struggles in Arizona. 5. Rockies (58-104) - Who exactly is in the Rockies’ rotation this year? Who’s starting on their infield? Who’s that setting up an untested rookie closer? The Rockies are a bunch of no-name mediocre prospects (other than closer Chin-Hui Tsao) and even if there were veterans anchoring the team…Colorado will never win as long as their stadium sits a mile above sea level. The park is destroying pitchers and hitters alike (the effects on hitters can be seen by what they do on the road as time progresses) and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Brandon Wilson’s Picks 1. Padres - Could end up with a fantastic top of the rotation. You know Jake Peavy and this year could be Adam Eaton's turn to break out. The return of Woody Williams will be welcomed and Brian Lawrence will be Brian Lawrence. Khalil Greene will be entering his sophomore season, but shows no sign of slowing down. If Giles, Nevin and Klesko can produce, this team will win the West. 2. Dodgers - This team is undergoing a massive facelift by GM Paul DePodesta. I am not sure I like the direction, but they are deep in minor league talent, so this team could look very different as the playoff drive heats up. Weaver, Perez and Lowe will all need good starts to the season with the depleted rotation. The return of Brad Penny could mean wonders to the playoff drive. 3. Diamondbacks - Call me crazy, but I think this team will be much improved. I believe Glaus is healthy, Green will pound the ball and Luis Gonzalez will have one more decent year. A return to 2003 form by Webb and Vazquez will be all that the D-backs need to finish third. 4. Giants - The age on this team points to disaster. We may already be seeing the unraveling with Bonds starting the year on the disabled list. This offense is impotent without him. I have high hopes for Lowry, but think this will be an adjustment year for him and Schmidt can not hold up the whole team by himself. 5. Rockies - Terrible! They will challenge the Royals and Devil Rays for the worst team in baseball. There are too many rookies on this team that are just not ready and the pitching staff will once again be a question mark, especially the bullpen. Share your thoughts or comments in our forums |
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