Can the National League West, which produced surprises the past two seasons, do it again?
No one expected the Giants to win the World Series in 2010. They did. No one expected the Diamondbacks to win the division in 2011. They did. Who’s next? Well, who knows, the Dodgers -- and their new ownership group -- could be in line, but that’s still a ways off.
In the interim, let’s examine all five teams and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy of pinnaclesports.com):
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Last year's record: 94-68
This year's season win total: 86.5
Odds to win the NL West: +151
WHO'S IN: Jason Kubel, Trevor Cahill, Takashi Saito, Jonathan Albaladejo
WHO'S OUT: Xavier Nady, Zach Duke, Colin Cowgill, Sean Burroughs
TEAM STRENGTH: Middle infield. Now that shortstop Stephen Drew is healthy, and second baseman Aaron Hill is in the fold for an entire season, the Diamondbacks are stronger up the middle than most. In 2010, his last full season, Drew hit 33 doubles, 12 triples and 15 home runs, and that was without the supporting cast he has now. Hill hit .315 with 12 RBIs in 33 games last season after Toronto traded him to Arizona. For his career, he has 98 homers and 425 RBIs.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. The numbers are there, clearly, as Ian Kennedy (21-4 last season) and Daniel Hudson (16-12) return to help the D-Backs defend their crown. But the expectations and pressure that go along with being West champs are tough to handle -- ask the 2011 Giants. And when you have questions after the top two starters -- Josh Collmenter, Trevor Cahill, Joe Saunders round out the rotation -- you might be fighting an uphill battle.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Last year's record: 86-76
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL West: +158
WHO'S IN: Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Ryan Theriot, Clay Hensley
WHO'S OUT: Carlos Beltran, Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez, Cody Ross, Pat Burrell
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. The Giants faded down the stretch last season and could not keep up their magic from the year before, but the staff is still in place to give it another run. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Barry Zito, and Clay Hensley against a light-hitting division is a recipe for success. As long as the bullpen -- Brian Wilson had 36 saves last season, 12 fewer than in 2010 -- can hold up its end of the bargain, the pitching will be just fine in San Francisco.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Outfield. The Giants have been known to do more with less, and even in the World Series season, their lineup didn’t scare opponents. But this outfield has serious work to do. Cabrera had a bounceback year in Kansas City last season, hitting 18 homers with 87 RBIs, but how he’ll do on a team where games actually matter is another issue. Pagan is just a career .279 hitter, and has never had more than 11 home runs in a season. Nate Schierholtz has yet to play 140 games in a season.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Last year's record: 82-79This year's season win total: 81
Odds to win the NL West: +735
WHO'S IN: Mark Ellis, Juan Rivera, Adam Kennedy, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Mike MacDougal, Matt Treanor
WHO'S OUT: Hiroki Kuroda, Jonathan Broxton, Vicente Padilla, Casey Blake, Jamey Carroll, Rod Barajas
TEAM STRENGTH: Outfield. There was already plenty of upside here and now Rivera, who had 20 doubles and 15 homers in his last full season (2010), joins the mix for an entire year. He'll play alongside Matt Kemp (39 homers, 126 RBIs, and a .324 average last season) and Andre Ethier (11, 62, .292), who combined for one of the more impressive campaigns from an outfield duo in recent Dodgers' history.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. Javy Guerra, who had 21 saves and a 2.31 ERA last season, is in a similar situation that many new closers face. Can he sustain success, and continue to thrive in a pressure-packed role? Time will tell, but there's not a ton behind him. The pen includes Kenley Jansen, Mike MacDougal, Todd Coffey, Matt Guerrier and Scott Elbert. So if Guerra falters, so too will the Dodgers.
COLORADO ROCKIES
Last year's record: 73-89
This year's season win total: 81.5
Odds to win the NL West: +646
WHO'S IN: Jeremy Guthrie, Michael Cuddyer, Marco Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez, Casey Blake, Jamie Moyer
WHO'S OUT: Huston Street, Jason Hammel, Seth Smith, Chris Iannetta, Ian Stewart
TEAM STRENGTH: Infield. Chris Nelson at third base has some growing to do, but the rest of the crew is good to go. A declining Todd Helton returns at first, backed up by Jason Giambi. They aren't the producers they once were, but they combined for 27 homers last season. Scutaro, a second baseman often overlooked in Boston, gets on base. He scored 92 runs in his last full season (2010). And shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (.302 average, 30 homers, 105 RBIs last season) is one of the best, all-around players in the game.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. Guthrie was stuck on bad teams in Baltimore. He never won more than 11 games in his five seasons there. A new start might be what he needs, but a change of league could throw that off a bit. With Juan Nicasio and Jhoulys Chacin behind him, the rotation is perilously thin.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 74
Odds to win the NL West: +2018
WHO'S IN: Carlos Quentin, Huston Street, Edinson Volquez, Micah Owings, John Baker
WHO'S OUT: Heath Bell, Mat Latos, Anthony Rizzo
TEAM STRENGTH: Bullpen. Luke Gregerson, with 56 holds the last two seasons, is among the many anonymous pieces to the Padres' bullpen that gets lost in the mix. With Street in the fold now, the Padres should be able to close games better. How many leads they'll get is another story, but Street, with 178 career saves, should be able to shut the door. And the fact that he came from the Rockies helps, too, as he clearly knows the division and league.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Take your pick. Let's go outfield, and take a look at Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin and Will Venable. When you analyze productive outfields -- even in the National League -- you're looking for trios that combine to drive in about 250 runs. You'd love to have one hitter over 100 RBIs, and the others close to the 80s. Well, these three combined for 161 RBIs last season, and that was with Quentin (77) hitting for the White Sox. It could be another long year in San Diego.
No one expected the Giants to win the World Series in 2010. They did. No one expected the Diamondbacks to win the division in 2011. They did. Who’s next? Well, who knows, the Dodgers -- and their new ownership group -- could be in line, but that’s still a ways off.
In the interim, let’s examine all five teams and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy of pinnaclesports.com):
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Last year's record: 94-68
This year's season win total: 86.5
Odds to win the NL West: +151
WHO'S IN: Jason Kubel, Trevor Cahill, Takashi Saito, Jonathan Albaladejo
WHO'S OUT: Xavier Nady, Zach Duke, Colin Cowgill, Sean Burroughs
TEAM STRENGTH: Middle infield. Now that shortstop Stephen Drew is healthy, and second baseman Aaron Hill is in the fold for an entire season, the Diamondbacks are stronger up the middle than most. In 2010, his last full season, Drew hit 33 doubles, 12 triples and 15 home runs, and that was without the supporting cast he has now. Hill hit .315 with 12 RBIs in 33 games last season after Toronto traded him to Arizona. For his career, he has 98 homers and 425 RBIs.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. The numbers are there, clearly, as Ian Kennedy (21-4 last season) and Daniel Hudson (16-12) return to help the D-Backs defend their crown. But the expectations and pressure that go along with being West champs are tough to handle -- ask the 2011 Giants. And when you have questions after the top two starters -- Josh Collmenter, Trevor Cahill, Joe Saunders round out the rotation -- you might be fighting an uphill battle.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Last year's record: 86-76
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL West: +158
WHO'S IN: Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Ryan Theriot, Clay Hensley
WHO'S OUT: Carlos Beltran, Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez, Cody Ross, Pat Burrell
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. The Giants faded down the stretch last season and could not keep up their magic from the year before, but the staff is still in place to give it another run. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Barry Zito, and Clay Hensley against a light-hitting division is a recipe for success. As long as the bullpen -- Brian Wilson had 36 saves last season, 12 fewer than in 2010 -- can hold up its end of the bargain, the pitching will be just fine in San Francisco.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Outfield. The Giants have been known to do more with less, and even in the World Series season, their lineup didn’t scare opponents. But this outfield has serious work to do. Cabrera had a bounceback year in Kansas City last season, hitting 18 homers with 87 RBIs, but how he’ll do on a team where games actually matter is another issue. Pagan is just a career .279 hitter, and has never had more than 11 home runs in a season. Nate Schierholtz has yet to play 140 games in a season.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Last year's record: 82-79This year's season win total: 81
Odds to win the NL West: +735
WHO'S IN: Mark Ellis, Juan Rivera, Adam Kennedy, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Mike MacDougal, Matt Treanor
WHO'S OUT: Hiroki Kuroda, Jonathan Broxton, Vicente Padilla, Casey Blake, Jamey Carroll, Rod Barajas
TEAM STRENGTH: Outfield. There was already plenty of upside here and now Rivera, who had 20 doubles and 15 homers in his last full season (2010), joins the mix for an entire year. He'll play alongside Matt Kemp (39 homers, 126 RBIs, and a .324 average last season) and Andre Ethier (11, 62, .292), who combined for one of the more impressive campaigns from an outfield duo in recent Dodgers' history.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Bullpen. Javy Guerra, who had 21 saves and a 2.31 ERA last season, is in a similar situation that many new closers face. Can he sustain success, and continue to thrive in a pressure-packed role? Time will tell, but there's not a ton behind him. The pen includes Kenley Jansen, Mike MacDougal, Todd Coffey, Matt Guerrier and Scott Elbert. So if Guerra falters, so too will the Dodgers.
COLORADO ROCKIES
Last year's record: 73-89
This year's season win total: 81.5
Odds to win the NL West: +646
WHO'S IN: Jeremy Guthrie, Michael Cuddyer, Marco Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez, Casey Blake, Jamie Moyer
WHO'S OUT: Huston Street, Jason Hammel, Seth Smith, Chris Iannetta, Ian Stewart
TEAM STRENGTH: Infield. Chris Nelson at third base has some growing to do, but the rest of the crew is good to go. A declining Todd Helton returns at first, backed up by Jason Giambi. They aren't the producers they once were, but they combined for 27 homers last season. Scutaro, a second baseman often overlooked in Boston, gets on base. He scored 92 runs in his last full season (2010). And shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (.302 average, 30 homers, 105 RBIs last season) is one of the best, all-around players in the game.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Starting pitching. Guthrie was stuck on bad teams in Baltimore. He never won more than 11 games in his five seasons there. A new start might be what he needs, but a change of league could throw that off a bit. With Juan Nicasio and Jhoulys Chacin behind him, the rotation is perilously thin.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Last year's record: 71-91
This year's season win total: 74
Odds to win the NL West: +2018
WHO'S IN: Carlos Quentin, Huston Street, Edinson Volquez, Micah Owings, John Baker
WHO'S OUT: Heath Bell, Mat Latos, Anthony Rizzo
TEAM STRENGTH: Bullpen. Luke Gregerson, with 56 holds the last two seasons, is among the many anonymous pieces to the Padres' bullpen that gets lost in the mix. With Street in the fold now, the Padres should be able to close games better. How many leads they'll get is another story, but Street, with 178 career saves, should be able to shut the door. And the fact that he came from the Rockies helps, too, as he clearly knows the division and league.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Take your pick. Let's go outfield, and take a look at Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin and Will Venable. When you analyze productive outfields -- even in the National League -- you're looking for trios that combine to drive in about 250 runs. You'd love to have one hitter over 100 RBIs, and the others close to the 80s. Well, these three combined for 161 RBIs last season, and that was with Quentin (77) hitting for the White Sox. It could be another long year in San Diego.
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