NL West will be a battle royal
Posted: Friday, March 07, 2008 2:39 PM
Only one thing is certain in the NL West: San Francisco is the last place team. Beyond that, any of the four other teams, the Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks or Rockies can win the division. And any of the four could finish fourth. With rapid growth from the front end of the rotation, the Giants could leap a team that crashes, but it’s very possible that the front four could all win between 80 and 90 games.
Balance is the preseason theme for the teams in the division, but youth should be a close second. While San Francisco creaked through last year and the Dodgers watched their clubhouse splinter along age lines, Arizona and Colorado remade their teams and changed the NL West outlook through new players.
It’s official: young is cool. Seasoning prospects for years in the minors -- stewing them in the words of Barack Obama -- is out. Teams tolerate mistakes of inexperience in exchange for the energy provided by Justin Upton, the steely leadership of Troy Tulowitzki, the poise of Russell Martin and the lively arms of Franklin Morales and Ubaldo Jimenez.
The division is split between hitters’ parks (Arizona and Colorado), pitchers’ parks (San Diego and San Francisco), and Dodger Stadium which is proving more neutral to pitchers and hitters these days.
But there is unity in youth. Even the Giants, shorn of Barry Bonds, have seen the light and are finally committing to developing position players. San Diego, several years into Sandy Alderson’s leadership, is reversing years of decline in its farm system.
Some key storylines on each team:
DIAMONDBACKS: They swung the best offseason trade in the division, acquiring Dan Haren from Oakland. Haren and Brandon Webb will be a strong under-30 pitching tandem for years to come. The more innings that come from the rotation, the less the burden on a bullpen looking to replace traded closer Jose Valverde. Can Brandon Lyon handle the heat that comes with that role?
ROCKIES: They look to be following the Minnesota model: develop young players, allow them to grow together, and sign the keepers for the long haul. Yes, their incredible late-season run was an anomaly, but this team should be good for this season. Next big question after signing Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe is Matt Holliday, currently signed through 2009. Biggest position question: replacing second baseman Kaz Matsui, who shockingly rediscovered his game in Denver.
DODGERS: Their offseason decision was to keep the kids. Filled with young players of promise, they resisted entering the derbies for Johan Santana, Erik Bedard or Haren. Instead, they held on to Matt Kemp, James Loney, Andy LaRoche and Andre Ethier. Now can the clubhouse split between some veterans and some younger players be repaired by new manager Joe Torre? And what will be the impact of Jason Schmidt not being ready until at least well into the first half of the season. Also is Chad Billingsley ready for prime time or do the Dodgers trade one of their kids for an arm to add to the rotation?
PADRES: Lost in the commotion around the youth of Arizona and Colorado was the fact that the Padres should have been in the playoffs. This team is wise. They have constantly built to their ballpark, emphasizing pitching and defense. So their most important player could be Jim Edmonds, who must have life in his legs to replace Mike Cameron and patrol center field. Like the Yankees, the Padres rely on an aging closer. Trevor Hoffman vows to rebound from his part in the shocking and disappointing if not devastating end to last season. San Diego general manager Kevin Towers stole Heath Bell from the Mets and he was an invaluable support to Hoffman, something that could be even more important this year.
GIANTS: Two out of every five games could be entertaining with Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum in the rotation. They have the look of the NL’s next Kerry Wood-Mark Prior combination. Cain impressed by blasting through his first spring start and he is the one to watch. He suffered through a nightmare last season of poor run support and awful defense, yet the Giants were so impressed by his mental strength that they entertained trading Lincecum over the winter, but wouldn’t discuss dealing Cain.
FIVE QUICK SWINGS:
PLAYERS STILL DON’T GET IT: Prince Fielder and Cole Hamels complained about their contracts being renewed. The formula is unchanged: teams control salary the first three years a player is in the majors and then the clubs know they get hammered after that. Name the players who have ever given their team a “discount” in free agency. I know of just one, the late Kirby Puckett.
WHY I LOVE JUAN PIERRE: No one works harder. He stays healthy and plays hard every day. Yet he was the scapegoat for the Dodgers’ failures last year. Pierre’s response: “I can take the heat. I signed the big contract.” Pierre’s someone who does not shy away from being held accountable. How refreshing!
DANGER OF LONG CONTRACTS: The Dodgers plan on playing Pierre over Andre Ethier in left field, a move certain to bring heat unless Pierre starts well. And Gary Matthews Jr. is a “utility” outfielder for the Angels after being supplanted by Torii Hunter in center field.
MOISES ALOU TO SURGERY: What a shock. The most hilarious newspaper readings of recent months were the various articles in the New York media outlining Alou’s plan on reaching 500 at-bats, a number he will never see again in one season. Best thing for the Mets: find another outfielder or two and save Alou for the last two months of the regular season -- check out his numbers from last September.
MIKE PIAZZA WITHOUT A TEAM: Piazza is in South Florida and unsigned despite conversations with several teams. He will wait a short while before deciding on his next step.
