MLB PICKS 2008 NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST PREVIEW

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
MANAGER: BOB MELVIN
2007 RECORD: 90-72

KEY ADDITIONS:
BILLY BUCKNER RHP
DAN HAREN RHP
CHAD QUALLS RHP
JUAN GUTIERREZ RHP
CHRIS BURKE OF
 
KEY LOSSES:
ALBERTO CASTILLO UTL
CARLOS GONZALEZ OF
JOSE VALVERDE RHP
CARLOS QUENTIN OF
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JUAN GUTIERREZ RHP
 
OUTLOOK:
The Diamondbacks look ready to improve upon a 90-win season from last year. The addition of Haren along with whatever Randy Johnson can give them, add to the pitching depth. They have a lot of young players that have vast potential and if one or two rise into stardom, the World Series is not out of the question.


 
COLORADO ROCKIES
MANAGER:  CLINT HURDLE
2007 RECORD: 90-73
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
MARCUS GILES UTL
LUIS VIZCAINO RHP
JOSE CAPELLAN RHP
JASON HIRSH RHP (inj ‘07)
SEAN BARKER OF (inj. ‘07)
 
KEY LOSSES:
DENNY BAUTISTA RHP
LATROY HAWKINS RHP
KAZ MATSUI 2B
JAMEY CARROLL 2B
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
GREG REYNOLDS RHP
 
OUTLOOK:
The Rockies caught lightning in a bottle and closed ‘07 going all the way to the World Series. The Rockies have a lethal lineup, and pitching that is average or just a tic above. Vizcaino should help in the pen complimenting Fuentes and Corpas. They may be a pitcher short, but the lineup is good enough to carry this team for another run at the World Series.
 
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
MANAGER: JOE TORRE
2007 RECORD: 82-80
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
GARY BENNETT C
HIROKI KURODA RHP
ANDREW JONES OF
 
KEY LOSSES:
RANDY WOLF RHP
MIKE LIEBERTHAL C
RAMON MARTINEZ UTL
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JONATHAN MELOAN RHP
 
OUTLOOK:
The talent is there, but the question is can Joe Torre create the harmony in the clubhouse that has been missing from this team? The Dodgers have enough pitching to compete, and the back of the pen is rock solid, but Torre has a tendency to overwork, and we will see how that pans out here. Andrew Jones needs a big year for the Dodgers to compete in a very tough division.
 
SAN DIEGO PADRES
MANAGER: BUD BLACK
2007 RECORD: 89-74
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
TADAHITO IGUCHI UTL
JIM EDMONDS OF
RANDY WOLF LHP
MARK PRIOR RHP
GLENDON RUSCH LHP
 
KEY LOSSES:
MILTON BRADLEY OF
ROB MACKOWIAK OF
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
CHASE HEDLEY 3B
 
OUTLOOK:
They have one huge strength and that’s their pitching, which will keep them in the hunt. Bell and Hoffman give them control of the eighth and ninth innings as well. The problem is the offense. Last year the Padres struggled to score runs and hit 15 points below the league average. There is nothing scary in the lineup and one key pitching injury and this team is going to be hard pressed in a very tough division.
 
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
MANAGER: BRUCE BOCHY
2007 RECORD: 71-91
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
AARON ROWAND OF

KEY LOSSES:
BARRY BONDS OF
RYAN KLESCO 1B
RUSS ORTIZ RHP
 
HELP IS ON THE WAY:
EUGENIO VELEZ INF
 
OUTLOOK:
This team did nothing to help themselves and they will probably be worse than the below-average offense they showed a year ago. The one thing they do have is some young quality pitchers at the top of the staff. Lincecum and Cain could keep them in a lot of games, and if Barry Zito reclaims his AL magic the Giants will be improving, but still not enough in a loaded division to contend.
 
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. ARIZONA
2. LA DODGERS
3. SAN DIEGO
4. COLORADO
5. SAN FRANCISCO