Recently I was able to contribute a preview of this year's Dodgers as part of an NL West preview at allsportstalk.net. In this article, I discuss the probable lineup, starting rotation, bullpen, and reserves. With a nearly half a month left before Spring Training comes to an end, whet your appetite for Opening Day.
While you're at it, check out the other previews from some other great bloggers as well. A big thanks goes out to website owner Aaron Garcia for allowing me to contribute. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label NL West preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NL West preview. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sunday, April 4, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Closers
1. Jonathan Broxton – Dodgers
2. Heath Bell – Padres
3. Brian Wilson – Giants
4. Huston Street – Rockies
5. Chad Qualls – Diamondbacks
Broxton really thrust himself into one of the top closers in the game last year. He had 36 saves, pitching 76 innings and blowing away 114 hitters. That’s some scary stuff. His next step will be to finish the year strong, as he’s twice been burned by the Phillies in the playoffs.
Bell quickly and easily made people forget about the mess that was Trevor Hoffman’s departure with a spectacular season. In his first full season as closer, he was 42-for-48 with a 2.71 ERA. So of course, playing in San Diego and being good means he’ll be the subject of trade rumors as the season wears on.
Wilson quieted a lot of critics with a very good season. He had 41 saves in 2008, but gave up seven homers en route to a 4.62 ERA. But, he settled down last year for 38 saves (though seven blown) for a 2.74 ERA. He was rewarded with a nice two-year, $15 million extension.
Street is currently battling shoulder problems, which should keep him out of action in April. But, he’s proven since his rookie year with Oakland in 2005 that he knows how to slam the door in the ninth. He saved 35 games last year, while only blowing two. The Rockies need him at full health in a competitive division.
Qualls comes in last, but really, he’d be higher up on many lists in other divisions. He was given the full-time closer’s role last year, and responded with 24 saves in 29 chances. A dislocated kneecap forced him to miss the last month of the season, but he looks to be fully recovered.
2. Heath Bell – Padres
3. Brian Wilson – Giants
4. Huston Street – Rockies
5. Chad Qualls – Diamondbacks
Broxton really thrust himself into one of the top closers in the game last year. He had 36 saves, pitching 76 innings and blowing away 114 hitters. That’s some scary stuff. His next step will be to finish the year strong, as he’s twice been burned by the Phillies in the playoffs.
Bell quickly and easily made people forget about the mess that was Trevor Hoffman’s departure with a spectacular season. In his first full season as closer, he was 42-for-48 with a 2.71 ERA. So of course, playing in San Diego and being good means he’ll be the subject of trade rumors as the season wears on.
Wilson quieted a lot of critics with a very good season. He had 41 saves in 2008, but gave up seven homers en route to a 4.62 ERA. But, he settled down last year for 38 saves (though seven blown) for a 2.74 ERA. He was rewarded with a nice two-year, $15 million extension.
Street is currently battling shoulder problems, which should keep him out of action in April. But, he’s proven since his rookie year with Oakland in 2005 that he knows how to slam the door in the ninth. He saved 35 games last year, while only blowing two. The Rockies need him at full health in a competitive division.
Qualls comes in last, but really, he’d be higher up on many lists in other divisions. He was given the full-time closer’s role last year, and responded with 24 saves in 29 chances. A dislocated kneecap forced him to miss the last month of the season, but he looks to be fully recovered.
2010 NL West Preview: Starting Pitching
1. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, Todd Wellemeyer – Giants
2. Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, Charlie Haeger – Dodgers
3. Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel – Rockies
4. Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Edwin Jackson, Billy Buckner, Ian Kennedy – Diamondbacks
5. Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Jon Garland, Clayton Richard, Mat Latos – Padres
The strength of Lincecum and Cain are enough to earn the Giants the first slot. As great as they are, the rest of the rotation is pretty solid as well. Zito got better as the season went on last year, possibly showing that he’s finally settled down after being such a disaster when he first arrived. Sanchez threw a no-hitter (remember that?) and has great strikeout potential.
The Dodgers and Rockies are close, but I’ll give the slight edge to the Dodgers. Kershaw has the stuff of not only team ace, but league ace as well. A lot of their success will depend on Billingsley and his ability to bounce back from a horrible second half. Padilla has definitely enjoyed his time with LA, and they’ll need more big innings from him. Kuroda quietly is an effective pitcher.
The Rockies are a team on the upswing, and their pitching is a big reason why. Jimenez is just like Kershaw: young, hard throwing, and just ridiculously talented. Francis won 17 games in 2007, but is again battling injury problems. They need him to be at his strongest. De La Rosa gets a ton of strikeouts and finished the year strong. Cook will give them plenty of starts, but so-so numbers with it.
The Diamondacks could have been higher on the list, but once again Webb’s shoulder is a major problem. He’s looking at months off, and that’s a big blow. You know you’ll get great results from Haren, and Jackson should be a nice addition. But without Webb, there’s really only two starters to fear, and that’s it.
Young will be the key for the Padres. If he can be healthy and start 30 games, he’ll produce good results. Garland will give them innings and steady, but not spectacular, numbers. Correia is on the upswing, as he was one of the lone bright spots for them last year. Latos is looked at as the future, though he doesn’t seem like a major prospect.
2. Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, Charlie Haeger – Dodgers
3. Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel – Rockies
4. Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Edwin Jackson, Billy Buckner, Ian Kennedy – Diamondbacks
5. Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Jon Garland, Clayton Richard, Mat Latos – Padres
The strength of Lincecum and Cain are enough to earn the Giants the first slot. As great as they are, the rest of the rotation is pretty solid as well. Zito got better as the season went on last year, possibly showing that he’s finally settled down after being such a disaster when he first arrived. Sanchez threw a no-hitter (remember that?) and has great strikeout potential.
The Dodgers and Rockies are close, but I’ll give the slight edge to the Dodgers. Kershaw has the stuff of not only team ace, but league ace as well. A lot of their success will depend on Billingsley and his ability to bounce back from a horrible second half. Padilla has definitely enjoyed his time with LA, and they’ll need more big innings from him. Kuroda quietly is an effective pitcher.
The Rockies are a team on the upswing, and their pitching is a big reason why. Jimenez is just like Kershaw: young, hard throwing, and just ridiculously talented. Francis won 17 games in 2007, but is again battling injury problems. They need him to be at his strongest. De La Rosa gets a ton of strikeouts and finished the year strong. Cook will give them plenty of starts, but so-so numbers with it.
The Diamondacks could have been higher on the list, but once again Webb’s shoulder is a major problem. He’s looking at months off, and that’s a big blow. You know you’ll get great results from Haren, and Jackson should be a nice addition. But without Webb, there’s really only two starters to fear, and that’s it.
Young will be the key for the Padres. If he can be healthy and start 30 games, he’ll produce good results. Garland will give them innings and steady, but not spectacular, numbers. Correia is on the upswing, as he was one of the lone bright spots for them last year. Latos is looked at as the future, though he doesn’t seem like a major prospect.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Right Field
1. Justin Upton – Diamondbacks
2. Andre Ethier – Dodgers
3. Brad Hawpe – Rockies
4. Will Venable – Padres
5. Nate Schierholtz – Giants
It was a real tough call between Upton and Ethier, but I’ll go with Upton, with the difference being his 20 stolen bases last season. He really had a breakout year, hitting .300 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs. He had 12 errors in the outfield, but has a great arm. He’ll have to prove he’s a superstar now, because he just signed a six-year, $51.25 million deal.
Ethier was Mr. Clutch last year, as time and time again, he bailed the Dodgers out late in games. 31 homers, 108 RBIs, and 42 doubles helped carry the Dodgers while Manny was sidelined. His road stats weren’t nearly as good, so when he gets those up, he’ll be an even bigger threat in the middle of the order.
Hawpe continues to put up big stats for the Rockies, yet rarely seems to get noticed. Last season marked four straight with 20+ homers. Throw in a .285 average, 42 doubles, and 86 RBIs, and it was another huge year.
Venable gets the edge over Schierholtz because Venable seems to have more pop. Actually, neither one of them are any good, but at least Venable hit 12 homers last season. True, he only hit .256, but he has one career error in right field, so that has to count for something.
Schierholtz hit .267, but with a mere five home runs and 29 RBIs in 116 games. He might be a decent player, but can’t hit. And with the Giants’ weak offense, they can’t afford to have too many guys like him dragging their good pitching down.
2. Andre Ethier – Dodgers
3. Brad Hawpe – Rockies
4. Will Venable – Padres
5. Nate Schierholtz – Giants
It was a real tough call between Upton and Ethier, but I’ll go with Upton, with the difference being his 20 stolen bases last season. He really had a breakout year, hitting .300 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs. He had 12 errors in the outfield, but has a great arm. He’ll have to prove he’s a superstar now, because he just signed a six-year, $51.25 million deal.
Ethier was Mr. Clutch last year, as time and time again, he bailed the Dodgers out late in games. 31 homers, 108 RBIs, and 42 doubles helped carry the Dodgers while Manny was sidelined. His road stats weren’t nearly as good, so when he gets those up, he’ll be an even bigger threat in the middle of the order.
Hawpe continues to put up big stats for the Rockies, yet rarely seems to get noticed. Last season marked four straight with 20+ homers. Throw in a .285 average, 42 doubles, and 86 RBIs, and it was another huge year.
Venable gets the edge over Schierholtz because Venable seems to have more pop. Actually, neither one of them are any good, but at least Venable hit 12 homers last season. True, he only hit .256, but he has one career error in right field, so that has to count for something.
Schierholtz hit .267, but with a mere five home runs and 29 RBIs in 116 games. He might be a decent player, but can’t hit. And with the Giants’ weak offense, they can’t afford to have too many guys like him dragging their good pitching down.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Center Field
1. Matt Kemp – Dodgers
2. Dexter Fowler – Rockies
3. Aaron Rowand – Giants
4. Chris Young – Diamondbacks
5. Tony Gwynn – Padres
Kemp had a breakout season in ’09, and will look to be one of the leaders for the Dodgers this year. He’s always had a great glove, and was rewarded with his first Gold Glove. At the plate, he hit .297 with 27 homers, 101 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases. He still strikes out too much, but has the look of a star in the making.
Fowler can fly, as he stole 27 bases while anchoring the top of the Rockies’ lineup. He’s not at all a power threat, but uses his speed very well with some mashers behind him. Entering only his second full season, he’s another young player that’s worth getting excited about.
Rowand is the old man in this spot, but still produces well. He’ll forever be known for his defense, as he’s had plenty of big plays in his career. He made the All-Star team with the Phillies in 2007, but his offensive numbers haven’t been the same since. The Giants will need him to pick it up more to get their offense more productive.
Young is a hard guy to figure out. His average has always been pathetic, but he still hit 32 homers three years ago. Then he hit 22 two years ago. Then he his 15 last year. See a trend? In addition, his normally bad average was even worse last year at .212. The Diamondbacks have been successful before, but they’ll really need him to get back on track to get there again.
Gwynn is competing with Scott Hairston to start for the Padres. Does it really matter? I think not. Anyway, Gwynn hit .270 last year and stole 11 bases. And that’s about it. Like I’ve said before, it must be hard to be a Padres fan. Zero light at the end of the tunnel. Ouch.
2. Dexter Fowler – Rockies
3. Aaron Rowand – Giants
4. Chris Young – Diamondbacks
5. Tony Gwynn – Padres
Kemp had a breakout season in ’09, and will look to be one of the leaders for the Dodgers this year. He’s always had a great glove, and was rewarded with his first Gold Glove. At the plate, he hit .297 with 27 homers, 101 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases. He still strikes out too much, but has the look of a star in the making.
Fowler can fly, as he stole 27 bases while anchoring the top of the Rockies’ lineup. He’s not at all a power threat, but uses his speed very well with some mashers behind him. Entering only his second full season, he’s another young player that’s worth getting excited about.
Rowand is the old man in this spot, but still produces well. He’ll forever be known for his defense, as he’s had plenty of big plays in his career. He made the All-Star team with the Phillies in 2007, but his offensive numbers haven’t been the same since. The Giants will need him to pick it up more to get their offense more productive.
Young is a hard guy to figure out. His average has always been pathetic, but he still hit 32 homers three years ago. Then he hit 22 two years ago. Then he his 15 last year. See a trend? In addition, his normally bad average was even worse last year at .212. The Diamondbacks have been successful before, but they’ll really need him to get back on track to get there again.
Gwynn is competing with Scott Hairston to start for the Padres. Does it really matter? I think not. Anyway, Gwynn hit .270 last year and stole 11 bases. And that’s about it. Like I’ve said before, it must be hard to be a Padres fan. Zero light at the end of the tunnel. Ouch.
Monday, March 8, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Left Field
1. Manny Ramirez – Dodgers
2. Mark DeRosa – Giants
3. Carlos Gonzalez – Rockies
4. Conor Jackson – Diamondbacks
5. Kyle Blanks – Padres
Even after returning from his 50-game suspension a shell of his former self last year, Manny Ramirez is still the top dog in left field. We all know how great he was to start last year… then how he never got his legs back after. But this year he has something to prove, and for a guy with career totals of a .313 average, 526 home runs, and 1748 RBIs, it’s a safe bet that he can still be a big threat.
DeRosa was a good addition to the Giants for a couple of reasons. One, he’s one of the most versatile defenders in baseball. Two, he has good pop in his bat, something his team desperately needs. His average was only .250 last year, but he still hit 23 homers and 78 RBIs between the Indians and Cardinals.
Gonzalez is a young gun that should become more knows as the season wears on. He came over to the Rockies as part of the Matt Holliday – Huston Street deal. In 89 games, he hit .313 with 13 homers and 16 stolen bases. A full year with plenty of more at-bats will showcase his speed even more.
Jackson had a real down season last year. He played in only 30 games, then was gone the remainder of the season with an odd ailment of valley fever. Before that happened, he hit a lousy .182 with one homer. Hey, if you’re hurt, you’re hurt (or, if you’re sick, you’re sick in this case), so maybe you can just forget about that season and move on. What I do know is that he can get you about 15 home runs and hit around .300 in a good year.
Blanks is like many of his Padre teammates – young and unknown. He was a rookie last season and appeared in 54 games, hitting .250 with 10 homers. He also struck out 55 times. I guess anything’s possible, but it’s hard to imagine getting excited over a guy like this… who starts, no less.
2. Mark DeRosa – Giants
3. Carlos Gonzalez – Rockies
4. Conor Jackson – Diamondbacks
5. Kyle Blanks – Padres
Even after returning from his 50-game suspension a shell of his former self last year, Manny Ramirez is still the top dog in left field. We all know how great he was to start last year… then how he never got his legs back after. But this year he has something to prove, and for a guy with career totals of a .313 average, 526 home runs, and 1748 RBIs, it’s a safe bet that he can still be a big threat.
DeRosa was a good addition to the Giants for a couple of reasons. One, he’s one of the most versatile defenders in baseball. Two, he has good pop in his bat, something his team desperately needs. His average was only .250 last year, but he still hit 23 homers and 78 RBIs between the Indians and Cardinals.
Gonzalez is a young gun that should become more knows as the season wears on. He came over to the Rockies as part of the Matt Holliday – Huston Street deal. In 89 games, he hit .313 with 13 homers and 16 stolen bases. A full year with plenty of more at-bats will showcase his speed even more.
Jackson had a real down season last year. He played in only 30 games, then was gone the remainder of the season with an odd ailment of valley fever. Before that happened, he hit a lousy .182 with one homer. Hey, if you’re hurt, you’re hurt (or, if you’re sick, you’re sick in this case), so maybe you can just forget about that season and move on. What I do know is that he can get you about 15 home runs and hit around .300 in a good year.
Blanks is like many of his Padre teammates – young and unknown. He was a rookie last season and appeared in 54 games, hitting .250 with 10 homers. He also struck out 55 times. I guess anything’s possible, but it’s hard to imagine getting excited over a guy like this… who starts, no less.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Shortstop
1. Troy Tulowitzki – Rockies
2. Rafael Furcal – Dodgers
3. Stephen Drew – Diamondbacks
4. Everth Cabrera – Padres
5. Edgar Renteria – Giants
Tulowitzki battled back from an injury-riddled 2008 campaign to put up big numbers in 2009: .297 average, 101 runs, 32 home runs, 92 RBIs, and 20 steals. It took him a year, but he justified the six-year deal he signed after the 2007 season. He was right in the thick of the Rockies’ run to the postseason last year, thanks in large part to red-hot months of August and September. He’ll be even better when he gets his road numbers up.
Furcal also came back from a season full of injuries in ’08 to play in 150 games. His numbers weren’t big for him, hitting only .269 with 12 stolen bases, but a .324 September helped the Dodgers barely hold off the surging Rockies. He’ll be 33 and in his 11th year this season, so he’s not getting any younger. But, he’s still a sparkplug when he’s feeling right.
Drew is entering his third season, and still has the label of someone that can break out at any moment. His power numbers last year were down from ’08 (44-29 doubles, 21-12 homers), but still managed to have 65 RBIs (67 the previous year). Now in his fourth year, the DBacks would like to see him pick it up at the plate and help them be a contender again.
Cabrera is entering his second year, but has already shown flashes of being a good leadoff hitter. In 103 games, he stole 25 bases last year. He had a great August, hitting .290 with a .384 OBP, but seemed to wear down after that. He needs to work on his glove, as he had 23 errors. Still, the Padres don’t have much, so it’s easy to get excited about him.
Renteria is on his last legs, and will have some pressure on him this season to produce. With Juan Uribe waiting in the wings, he’ll need to show that even at 35, he can get it done. The Giants have the pitching, so they need their offense to step up. If he puts up another season of hitting only .250 with five homers, he’ll get yanked.
2. Rafael Furcal – Dodgers
3. Stephen Drew – Diamondbacks
4. Everth Cabrera – Padres
5. Edgar Renteria – Giants
Tulowitzki battled back from an injury-riddled 2008 campaign to put up big numbers in 2009: .297 average, 101 runs, 32 home runs, 92 RBIs, and 20 steals. It took him a year, but he justified the six-year deal he signed after the 2007 season. He was right in the thick of the Rockies’ run to the postseason last year, thanks in large part to red-hot months of August and September. He’ll be even better when he gets his road numbers up.
Furcal also came back from a season full of injuries in ’08 to play in 150 games. His numbers weren’t big for him, hitting only .269 with 12 stolen bases, but a .324 September helped the Dodgers barely hold off the surging Rockies. He’ll be 33 and in his 11th year this season, so he’s not getting any younger. But, he’s still a sparkplug when he’s feeling right.
Drew is entering his third season, and still has the label of someone that can break out at any moment. His power numbers last year were down from ’08 (44-29 doubles, 21-12 homers), but still managed to have 65 RBIs (67 the previous year). Now in his fourth year, the DBacks would like to see him pick it up at the plate and help them be a contender again.
Cabrera is entering his second year, but has already shown flashes of being a good leadoff hitter. In 103 games, he stole 25 bases last year. He had a great August, hitting .290 with a .384 OBP, but seemed to wear down after that. He needs to work on his glove, as he had 23 errors. Still, the Padres don’t have much, so it’s easy to get excited about him.
Renteria is on his last legs, and will have some pressure on him this season to produce. With Juan Uribe waiting in the wings, he’ll need to show that even at 35, he can get it done. The Giants have the pitching, so they need their offense to step up. If he puts up another season of hitting only .250 with five homers, he’ll get yanked.
Monday, March 1, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Third Base
1. Pablo Sandoval – Giants
2. Mark Reynolds – Diamondbacks
3. Casey Blake – Dodgers
4. Ian Stewart – Rockies
5. Chase Headley – Padres
Sandoval looked like a superstar last year, turning in monster numbers. He hit .330 with 44 doubles, 25 homers, and 90 RBIs. He remained steady all year long, highlighted by June in which he hit .394 with eight homers and 20 RBIs. With a little more help this year, he can help lead the Giants to a possible playoff spot.
Reynolds is feast-or-famine, and he could care less about it. 44 homers, 102 RBIs… and 223 strikeouts! But, throw in 24 stolen bases, and he had a fantastic year. It doesn’t look like the K’s will go away, but when he makes contact, you can rest assured that it will be something big.
Blake is one of the more underrated players in the league, yet remains important to the Dodgers. He hit .280, but takes plenty of walks, which resulted in a .363 OBP. He’ll stroke around 20 homers a year, so he still knows how to make an impact.
Stewart is very similar to teammate Clint Barmes – low average, good power. 25 homers and 70 RBIs made up for a .228 average. A former first round pick in 2003, he is still young enough to get that average up.
Headley is another young player, and had a pretty decent season last year. He appeared in nearly every game and hit .262 with 12 homers and 64 RBIs. It’s too bad he plays in such a difficult park to put up big numbers, but like Stewart, has plenty of time to improve.
2. Mark Reynolds – Diamondbacks
3. Casey Blake – Dodgers
4. Ian Stewart – Rockies
5. Chase Headley – Padres
Sandoval looked like a superstar last year, turning in monster numbers. He hit .330 with 44 doubles, 25 homers, and 90 RBIs. He remained steady all year long, highlighted by June in which he hit .394 with eight homers and 20 RBIs. With a little more help this year, he can help lead the Giants to a possible playoff spot.
Reynolds is feast-or-famine, and he could care less about it. 44 homers, 102 RBIs… and 223 strikeouts! But, throw in 24 stolen bases, and he had a fantastic year. It doesn’t look like the K’s will go away, but when he makes contact, you can rest assured that it will be something big.
Blake is one of the more underrated players in the league, yet remains important to the Dodgers. He hit .280, but takes plenty of walks, which resulted in a .363 OBP. He’ll stroke around 20 homers a year, so he still knows how to make an impact.
Stewart is very similar to teammate Clint Barmes – low average, good power. 25 homers and 70 RBIs made up for a .228 average. A former first round pick in 2003, he is still young enough to get that average up.
Headley is another young player, and had a pretty decent season last year. He appeared in nearly every game and hit .262 with 12 homers and 64 RBIs. It’s too bad he plays in such a difficult park to put up big numbers, but like Stewart, has plenty of time to improve.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Second Base
1. Freddy Sanchez – Giants
2. Ronnie Belliard – Dodgers
3. Clint Barmes – Rockies
4. Kelly Johnson – Diamondbacks
5. David Eckstein – Padres
By far the weakest position in the division, most of these guys can be interchanged. But, I’ll go with Sanchez in first, mostly because of his steady bat. He battled injuries last year, but hit .296 with the Pirates and .284 after being traded to the Giants.
Belliard might not even be the starter, but has to be the early favorite. After being traded to the Dodgers last year at the deadline, he was great. In 21 games, he hit .351 with five homers and 17 RBIs. If given the chance, he can be a pretty good hitter.
Barmes had good power numbers last year with 23 homers and 76 RBIs. But, his .245 average and .294 OBP were terrible. He also struck out 121 times. But, if the Rockies can live with his all-or-nothing approach, he’ll have a spot in the lineup.
Johnson is coming off a down year with the Braves, hitting a measly .224. When healthy, he’s capable of 10-15 home runs and 60-70 RBIs. He doesn’t seem to have the best glove at second, though.
Eckstein is definitely on the downside of his career, as his numbers are pretty much nonexistent anymore. A low OBP and no steals makes him no threat at all.
2. Ronnie Belliard – Dodgers
3. Clint Barmes – Rockies
4. Kelly Johnson – Diamondbacks
5. David Eckstein – Padres
By far the weakest position in the division, most of these guys can be interchanged. But, I’ll go with Sanchez in first, mostly because of his steady bat. He battled injuries last year, but hit .296 with the Pirates and .284 after being traded to the Giants.
Belliard might not even be the starter, but has to be the early favorite. After being traded to the Dodgers last year at the deadline, he was great. In 21 games, he hit .351 with five homers and 17 RBIs. If given the chance, he can be a pretty good hitter.
Barmes had good power numbers last year with 23 homers and 76 RBIs. But, his .245 average and .294 OBP were terrible. He also struck out 121 times. But, if the Rockies can live with his all-or-nothing approach, he’ll have a spot in the lineup.
Johnson is coming off a down year with the Braves, hitting a measly .224. When healthy, he’s capable of 10-15 home runs and 60-70 RBIs. He doesn’t seem to have the best glove at second, though.
Eckstein is definitely on the downside of his career, as his numbers are pretty much nonexistent anymore. A low OBP and no steals makes him no threat at all.
Friday, February 26, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: First Base
1. Adrian Gonzalez – Padres
2. Todd Helton – Rockies
3. Adam LaRoche – Diamondbacks
4. James Loney – Dodgers
5. Aubrey Huff – Giants
While the other four are pretty close, Gonzalez is clearly the top choice. He continues to defy the stadium he plays in, and is pretty much the only reason to pay attention to the Padres these days. Here’s how good he is – he hit 40 home runs last year. Here’s how bad the rest of his team is – he only had 99 RBIs. Still, he continues to mash and prove to be one of the game’s best players.
In a close call, I’ll still go with Helton in second. A rebound last year is a big reason why, as he hit .325 with 15 homers and 86 RBIs. The days of 40+ homers are gone, but steady hitting and excellent defense remain.
LaRoche just edged Loney based on power numbers. LaRoche hit 25 homers between three teams last year, his fifth straight year of 20+. He won’t hit .300, but plays great defense.
Loney can still rise up the list, but is more of a gap hitter than home run hitter at this point. Two straight years of 90 RBIs is really good for a guy who only hits 15 homers. Like the others in his division, his glove at first is really good.
Huff isn’t a bad pickup by the Giants, but sure looks like someone on the decline. He shocked everybody two years ago with a monster season in Baltimore with 32 homers and 108 RBIs, but went down to 15 and 85 last year. He got traded to the Tigers in late August last year and proceeded to do nothing. Still, the Giants need offense, so he’s worth a chance.
2. Todd Helton – Rockies
3. Adam LaRoche – Diamondbacks
4. James Loney – Dodgers
5. Aubrey Huff – Giants
While the other four are pretty close, Gonzalez is clearly the top choice. He continues to defy the stadium he plays in, and is pretty much the only reason to pay attention to the Padres these days. Here’s how good he is – he hit 40 home runs last year. Here’s how bad the rest of his team is – he only had 99 RBIs. Still, he continues to mash and prove to be one of the game’s best players.
In a close call, I’ll still go with Helton in second. A rebound last year is a big reason why, as he hit .325 with 15 homers and 86 RBIs. The days of 40+ homers are gone, but steady hitting and excellent defense remain.
LaRoche just edged Loney based on power numbers. LaRoche hit 25 homers between three teams last year, his fifth straight year of 20+. He won’t hit .300, but plays great defense.
Loney can still rise up the list, but is more of a gap hitter than home run hitter at this point. Two straight years of 90 RBIs is really good for a guy who only hits 15 homers. Like the others in his division, his glove at first is really good.
Huff isn’t a bad pickup by the Giants, but sure looks like someone on the decline. He shocked everybody two years ago with a monster season in Baltimore with 32 homers and 108 RBIs, but went down to 15 and 85 last year. He got traded to the Tigers in late August last year and proceeded to do nothing. Still, the Giants need offense, so he’s worth a chance.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
2010 NL West Preview: Catchers
With the baseball season slowly coming up, today I will start my series of previews for the NL West. Each day I will post a new position preview. The first one up is catchers.
1. Miguel Montero – Diamondbacks
2. Russell Martin – Dodgers
3. Bengie Molina – Giants
4. Chris Iannetta – Rockies
5. Yorvit Torrealba – Padres
Montero has quietly turned himself into a fine catcher. Entering June of ’09 with a .225 average, he saw a steady rise thereafter, reaching .306 at one point and .294 for the season. A .337 July and .326 August were the reasons why, where he also combined for nine homers and 34 RBIs. He’s one worth watching.
Martin was the top dog for a couple years, but really took a hit at the plate last year. Over the last three years, his average has tumbled from a .293 to .280 to .250. His power numbers and steals have done the same. Dodger fans can only hope he’s not another Paul Lo Duca – someone who started red hot and quickly fell.
Molina remains a steady hitter. While his average was down last year, 20 homers and 80 RBIs made up for it. He’ll be 35 entering the season, so one would think he’d slow down at some point. But so far, it hasn’t happened.
Iannetta never got going last year, which was a surprise. The Rockies still gave him a new three-year deal, so they’ll expect much better numbers this year, especially with Torrealba no longer there.
Torrealba is instead with the Padres, and he’s a nice addition. He took advantage of a starting role in September to hit .313 with 15 RBIs. He’s not a power hitter at all, and his .291 average was uncharacteristically high. Still, he was a big part of the Rockies’ success late in the year, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.
1. Miguel Montero – Diamondbacks
2. Russell Martin – Dodgers
3. Bengie Molina – Giants
4. Chris Iannetta – Rockies
5. Yorvit Torrealba – Padres
Montero has quietly turned himself into a fine catcher. Entering June of ’09 with a .225 average, he saw a steady rise thereafter, reaching .306 at one point and .294 for the season. A .337 July and .326 August were the reasons why, where he also combined for nine homers and 34 RBIs. He’s one worth watching.
Martin was the top dog for a couple years, but really took a hit at the plate last year. Over the last three years, his average has tumbled from a .293 to .280 to .250. His power numbers and steals have done the same. Dodger fans can only hope he’s not another Paul Lo Duca – someone who started red hot and quickly fell.
Molina remains a steady hitter. While his average was down last year, 20 homers and 80 RBIs made up for it. He’ll be 35 entering the season, so one would think he’d slow down at some point. But so far, it hasn’t happened.
Iannetta never got going last year, which was a surprise. The Rockies still gave him a new three-year deal, so they’ll expect much better numbers this year, especially with Torrealba no longer there.
Torrealba is instead with the Padres, and he’s a nice addition. He took advantage of a starting role in September to hit .313 with 15 RBIs. He’s not a power hitter at all, and his .291 average was uncharacteristically high. Still, he was a big part of the Rockies’ success late in the year, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
NL West preview: Closers
Here's the last part in my preview series, looking at the closers.
1. Brian Wilson - Giants
2. Jonathan Broxton - Dodgers
3. Chad Qualls - Diamondbacks
4. Huston Street - Rockies
5. Heath Bell - Padres
I get the feeling that I could toss all of these names in a hat, mix them up, then go with whatever order I pick them. All of these players have either done it before with bad numbers (Wilson), are just getting their feet wet (Broxton, Qualls, Bell) or are trying to overcome injures (Street).
Wilson gets the nod because even with a 4.62 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, he still saved 41 of the Giants' 72 wins. That's hard to ignore. Broxton stepped in for the injured Takashi Saito and went 14-17, then gave up only a solo homer in 5.2 IP in the playoffs. His stuff is overpowering. Qualls puts up excellent numbers across the board, so you would think he'll be good in the 9th inning as well. Street needs to prove he's over injuries and can put up good enough numbers in Colorado, or Manny Corpas will be lurking. Bell faded in the 2nd half last year, and on a mediocre team at best, it's hard to see him being that effective.
1. Brian Wilson - Giants
2. Jonathan Broxton - Dodgers
3. Chad Qualls - Diamondbacks
4. Huston Street - Rockies
5. Heath Bell - Padres
I get the feeling that I could toss all of these names in a hat, mix them up, then go with whatever order I pick them. All of these players have either done it before with bad numbers (Wilson), are just getting their feet wet (Broxton, Qualls, Bell) or are trying to overcome injures (Street).
Wilson gets the nod because even with a 4.62 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, he still saved 41 of the Giants' 72 wins. That's hard to ignore. Broxton stepped in for the injured Takashi Saito and went 14-17, then gave up only a solo homer in 5.2 IP in the playoffs. His stuff is overpowering. Qualls puts up excellent numbers across the board, so you would think he'll be good in the 9th inning as well. Street needs to prove he's over injuries and can put up good enough numbers in Colorado, or Manny Corpas will be lurking. Bell faded in the 2nd half last year, and on a mediocre team at best, it's hard to see him being that effective.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
NL West preview: Starting Pitching
Part 3 of my season preview will look at starting pitching.
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb, RH
Dan Haren, RH
Doug Davis, LH
Jon Garland, RH
Max Scherzer, RH
It must be nice to have your 2nd starter as Dan Haren. Even with the departure of Randy Johnson to the Giants, this rotation is still really good. Webb and Haren are as good as you're going to get in the 1-2 spots. Garland and Davis have both done well in the past, but not so much now. Still, if one of them can put up good numbers, they'd take it. Scherzer was the phenom pitcher that came up last year who can be really good if he stays healthy.
2. San Francisco Giants
Tim Lincecum, RH
Matt Cain, RH
Randy Johnson, LH
Barry Zito, LH
Jonathan Sanchez, LH
I was close to slotting these guys in first, but I think the DBacks have a slight edge. Lincecum proved last year how dominant he is, and boy is he fun to watch. Cain seems like a guy who should be doing better, but just hasn't really broken out yet. He's still only 24, so that can change. The addition of Johnson is a good one, because with Zito still stinking up the joint, at least one lefty with a great past can still do some good things. Keep an eye on Sanchez, another young pitcher with great upside.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hiroki Kuroda, RH
Chad Billingsley, RH
Randy Wolf, LH
Clayton Kershaw, LH
James McDonald, RH
A lot could go right with this rotation... and a lot could go wrong. It depends on youth and health. Kuroda showed that he's a very solid pitcher in the postseason, so he's earned the Opening Day job. Billingsley had a breakout season where he showed the stuff of a staff ace. Wolf is back, and he's a high strikeout pitcher, and a high injury risk. Kershaw and McDonald have some nasty stuff, but who knows if that translates into getting hitters out consistently. If anything, they've shown flashes that it can happen.
4. San Diego Padres
Jake Peavy, RH
Chris Young, RH
Cha Seung Baek, RH
Kevin Correia, RH
Shawn Hill, RH
It's a little hard to believe that a staff with Jake Peavy can be ranked so low, but that's because 3-5 are big question marks. Young is a very good pitcher when healthy, which didn't happen at all last year. If he's fine, then that's a good 1-2 combo. However, that's where it ends. Baek, Corriea, and Hill all have some really ugly numbers. Playing in Petco Park helps, but the bottom line is that if you suck, you'll suck anywhere!
5. Colorado Rockies
Aaron Cook, RH
Ubaldo Jimenez, RH
Jorge De La Rosa, LH
Jason Marquis, RH
Franklin Morales, LH
Poor Colorado. It's practically an automatic that anything to do with pitching, they'll be near or at the bottom of the list. But, Cook and Jimenez really aren't that bad. Cook puts up good numbers without being flashy, and Jimenez has all the flash, just not nearly as much consistency. The bottom 3 guys either aren't good anymore, or never were to begin with.
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb, RH
Dan Haren, RH
Doug Davis, LH
Jon Garland, RH
Max Scherzer, RH
It must be nice to have your 2nd starter as Dan Haren. Even with the departure of Randy Johnson to the Giants, this rotation is still really good. Webb and Haren are as good as you're going to get in the 1-2 spots. Garland and Davis have both done well in the past, but not so much now. Still, if one of them can put up good numbers, they'd take it. Scherzer was the phenom pitcher that came up last year who can be really good if he stays healthy.
2. San Francisco Giants
Tim Lincecum, RH
Matt Cain, RH
Randy Johnson, LH
Barry Zito, LH
Jonathan Sanchez, LH
I was close to slotting these guys in first, but I think the DBacks have a slight edge. Lincecum proved last year how dominant he is, and boy is he fun to watch. Cain seems like a guy who should be doing better, but just hasn't really broken out yet. He's still only 24, so that can change. The addition of Johnson is a good one, because with Zito still stinking up the joint, at least one lefty with a great past can still do some good things. Keep an eye on Sanchez, another young pitcher with great upside.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hiroki Kuroda, RH
Chad Billingsley, RH
Randy Wolf, LH
Clayton Kershaw, LH
James McDonald, RH
A lot could go right with this rotation... and a lot could go wrong. It depends on youth and health. Kuroda showed that he's a very solid pitcher in the postseason, so he's earned the Opening Day job. Billingsley had a breakout season where he showed the stuff of a staff ace. Wolf is back, and he's a high strikeout pitcher, and a high injury risk. Kershaw and McDonald have some nasty stuff, but who knows if that translates into getting hitters out consistently. If anything, they've shown flashes that it can happen.
4. San Diego Padres
Jake Peavy, RH
Chris Young, RH
Cha Seung Baek, RH
Kevin Correia, RH
Shawn Hill, RH
It's a little hard to believe that a staff with Jake Peavy can be ranked so low, but that's because 3-5 are big question marks. Young is a very good pitcher when healthy, which didn't happen at all last year. If he's fine, then that's a good 1-2 combo. However, that's where it ends. Baek, Corriea, and Hill all have some really ugly numbers. Playing in Petco Park helps, but the bottom line is that if you suck, you'll suck anywhere!
5. Colorado Rockies
Aaron Cook, RH
Ubaldo Jimenez, RH
Jorge De La Rosa, LH
Jason Marquis, RH
Franklin Morales, LH
Poor Colorado. It's practically an automatic that anything to do with pitching, they'll be near or at the bottom of the list. But, Cook and Jimenez really aren't that bad. Cook puts up good numbers without being flashy, and Jimenez has all the flash, just not nearly as much consistency. The bottom 3 guys either aren't good anymore, or never were to begin with.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
NL West preview: Outfield
Part 2 of my preview for the '09 season...
Left Field
1. Manny Ramirez - Dodgers
2. Connor Jackson - Diamondbacks
3. Chase Headley - Padres
4. Seth Smith - Rockies
5. Fred Lewis - Giants
Manny is far and away the head cheese in this group. That's not to say that the others aren't any good, because there's definite potential. Jackson hit .300 with a .376 OBP last season, but people want to see more than just 12 home runs. He could hit more, but maybe that's just not in his makeup. Headley is on the rise and should get plenty of playing time in that lineup. He'll probably have to get used to hitting with nobody on base (unless it's Adrian Gonzalez). Smith could platoon, but can hit over .300 if given the chance.
Center Field
1. Matt Kemp - Dodgers
2. Chris Young - Diamondbacks
3. Aaron Rowand - Giants
4. Ryan Spilborghs - Rockies
5. Jody Gerut - Padres
Kemp is one of those promising players that fantasy people drool over. With Manny back in the lineup, there's plenty of reasons to think that he could make the next step this season and be a big threat. Young was outstanding in '07, and not so much in '08. He still hit 22 HR and 85 RBI, so if he can get his OBP way above .315, he'll be in good shape. Rowand doesn't get much help in San Francisco, but he's a gamer and always plays hard.
Right Field
1. Brad Hawpe - Rockies
2. Andre Ethier - Dodgers
3. Justin Upton - Diamondbacks
4. Brian Giles - Padres
5. Randy Winn - Giants
The deepest of all outfield spots, all 5 players either have or are capable of putting up great seasons. Hawpe appeared in 138 games because of a hamstring injury, but still hit 25 and 85 with a .381 OBP. Ethier got much better with Manny in the lineup, as he really took off in the 2nd half. Upton only hit .250 last year, but with a .350 OBP. He could potentially put up 30 homers once he figures things out. Giles and Winn have been around the block, but if you look at their numbers, they are still very solid.
Left Field
1. Manny Ramirez - Dodgers
2. Connor Jackson - Diamondbacks
3. Chase Headley - Padres
4. Seth Smith - Rockies
5. Fred Lewis - Giants
Manny is far and away the head cheese in this group. That's not to say that the others aren't any good, because there's definite potential. Jackson hit .300 with a .376 OBP last season, but people want to see more than just 12 home runs. He could hit more, but maybe that's just not in his makeup. Headley is on the rise and should get plenty of playing time in that lineup. He'll probably have to get used to hitting with nobody on base (unless it's Adrian Gonzalez). Smith could platoon, but can hit over .300 if given the chance.
Center Field
1. Matt Kemp - Dodgers
2. Chris Young - Diamondbacks
3. Aaron Rowand - Giants
4. Ryan Spilborghs - Rockies
5. Jody Gerut - Padres
Kemp is one of those promising players that fantasy people drool over. With Manny back in the lineup, there's plenty of reasons to think that he could make the next step this season and be a big threat. Young was outstanding in '07, and not so much in '08. He still hit 22 HR and 85 RBI, so if he can get his OBP way above .315, he'll be in good shape. Rowand doesn't get much help in San Francisco, but he's a gamer and always plays hard.
Right Field
1. Brad Hawpe - Rockies
2. Andre Ethier - Dodgers
3. Justin Upton - Diamondbacks
4. Brian Giles - Padres
5. Randy Winn - Giants
The deepest of all outfield spots, all 5 players either have or are capable of putting up great seasons. Hawpe appeared in 138 games because of a hamstring injury, but still hit 25 and 85 with a .381 OBP. Ethier got much better with Manny in the lineup, as he really took off in the 2nd half. Upton only hit .250 last year, but with a .350 OBP. He could potentially put up 30 homers once he figures things out. Giles and Winn have been around the block, but if you look at their numbers, they are still very solid.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
NL West preview: Infield
Here's my first in a series of previews for the NL West. Today I'll look at catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, shortstop, and 3rd base. I'll rank each player while trying to remain unbiased! (Not always easy...).
Catcher
1. Russell Martin - Dodgers
2. Chris Iannetta - Rockies
3. Bengie Molina - Giants
4. Chris Snyder - Diamondbacks
5. Nick Hundley - Padres
Martin may wear down in the 2nd half of the year, but he still does a lot for the Dodgers. In addition to handling a staff with a good ERA, he has a good OBP and can steal 20 bases. Iannetta is a riser based on his flashes of power he showed in limited AB's last season. For those of you that watched the World Baseball Classic, you saw how good he could be. Molina had 16 HR and 95 RBI pretty quietly last season. He still can get the job done.
1st Base
1. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres
2. James Loney - Dodgers
3. Todd Helton - Rockies
4. Chad Tracy - Diamondbacks
5. Travis Ishikawa - Giants
Gonzalez is far and away the top player here. He continues to put up power numbers (36 and 119 last year) in a pitcher's ballpark. That plus his team around him really sucks. Loney had 90 RBI despite only 13 HR. Don't expect power numbers from him, but he can hit over .300. Helton came off an injury-plagued year because of his back, and who knows if he'll ever be the same. If he is healthy, he can still give the Rockies good AB's.
2nd Base
1. Felipe Lopez - Diamondbacks
2. Orlando Hudson - Dodgers
3. Clint Barmes - Rockies
4. David Eckstein - Padres
5. Kevin Frandsen - Giants
This is easily the weakest position, and barely worth talking about. Lopez and Hudson have each seen better days, but could also rebound this season if things go well. Barmes is still a good play at Coors, but definitely not on the road. Eckstein's best years are well behind him.
Shortstop
1. Troy Tulowitzki - Rockies
2. Rafael Furcal - Dodgers
3. Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks
4. Edgar Renteria - Giants
5. Luis Rodriguez - Padres
A torn quadriceps ruined last season for Tulowitzki, but when healthy in 2007, he posted 24 and 99. Give him the benefit of the doubt that he can return to those numbers with a clean bill of health and that darn ballpark. Furcal has been in and out of the lineup for the last 2 years, but when he's in, it's all good. A great combination of power and speed for an improved Dodgers' lineup. Drew can become a better hitter with more patience and less hacking, but can still hit 25 homers.
3rd Base
1. Garrett Atkins - Rockies
2. Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks
3. Casey Blake - Dodgers
4. Kevin Kouzmanoff - Padres
5. Pablo Sandoval - Giants
Atkins has slowly regressed since his big 2006, and injuries are a concern. He gets the slight edge over Reynolds only because Reynolds strikes out and commits errors like it's his second job. Blake and Kouzmanoff are close to a wash, but Blake is in a better lineup to produce more. Sandoval hit .345 in 145 AB's last year, so he could shoot up the list. Or he could stay put if it was just a fluke.
Catcher
1. Russell Martin - Dodgers
2. Chris Iannetta - Rockies
3. Bengie Molina - Giants
4. Chris Snyder - Diamondbacks
5. Nick Hundley - Padres
Martin may wear down in the 2nd half of the year, but he still does a lot for the Dodgers. In addition to handling a staff with a good ERA, he has a good OBP and can steal 20 bases. Iannetta is a riser based on his flashes of power he showed in limited AB's last season. For those of you that watched the World Baseball Classic, you saw how good he could be. Molina had 16 HR and 95 RBI pretty quietly last season. He still can get the job done.
1st Base
1. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres
2. James Loney - Dodgers
3. Todd Helton - Rockies
4. Chad Tracy - Diamondbacks
5. Travis Ishikawa - Giants
Gonzalez is far and away the top player here. He continues to put up power numbers (36 and 119 last year) in a pitcher's ballpark. That plus his team around him really sucks. Loney had 90 RBI despite only 13 HR. Don't expect power numbers from him, but he can hit over .300. Helton came off an injury-plagued year because of his back, and who knows if he'll ever be the same. If he is healthy, he can still give the Rockies good AB's.
2nd Base
1. Felipe Lopez - Diamondbacks
2. Orlando Hudson - Dodgers
3. Clint Barmes - Rockies
4. David Eckstein - Padres
5. Kevin Frandsen - Giants
This is easily the weakest position, and barely worth talking about. Lopez and Hudson have each seen better days, but could also rebound this season if things go well. Barmes is still a good play at Coors, but definitely not on the road. Eckstein's best years are well behind him.
Shortstop
1. Troy Tulowitzki - Rockies
2. Rafael Furcal - Dodgers
3. Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks
4. Edgar Renteria - Giants
5. Luis Rodriguez - Padres
A torn quadriceps ruined last season for Tulowitzki, but when healthy in 2007, he posted 24 and 99. Give him the benefit of the doubt that he can return to those numbers with a clean bill of health and that darn ballpark. Furcal has been in and out of the lineup for the last 2 years, but when he's in, it's all good. A great combination of power and speed for an improved Dodgers' lineup. Drew can become a better hitter with more patience and less hacking, but can still hit 25 homers.
3rd Base
1. Garrett Atkins - Rockies
2. Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks
3. Casey Blake - Dodgers
4. Kevin Kouzmanoff - Padres
5. Pablo Sandoval - Giants
Atkins has slowly regressed since his big 2006, and injuries are a concern. He gets the slight edge over Reynolds only because Reynolds strikes out and commits errors like it's his second job. Blake and Kouzmanoff are close to a wash, but Blake is in a better lineup to produce more. Sandoval hit .345 in 145 AB's last year, so he could shoot up the list. Or he could stay put if it was just a fluke.
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