NL West

by DiamondbacksWIn on Apr 7, 2007 8:07 AM EDT

Does anyone else see the NL west as a tight race from top to bottom. I don't think there is a truly weak team in the division this year. Perhaps San Francisco will turn out to be in the cellar this year if the old guys wear down. I think all 5 teams could end up within 10 games of each other. I also think they are some of the better teams in the NL this year. If Colorado gets pitching they will be in the thick of things. As long as our starters can go deep into games I believe we will take the division. I think our line-up can hit and we have a good bench. If our starters go deep and we don't expose or wear down our bullpen we will win the West. It will be a battle the whole way. I think everyone needs to buy Rolaids.

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Yep, not gonna be easy...

You could make a case for any of the teams, if the breaks fall their way. And conversely, any of the teams could end up in the cellar. If I was to predict an end of season order right now, it'd probably be:

Padres
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies
Giants

The top three probably within a handful of games, and it's basically too close to call. Anyone else care to venture a prediction?

by Jim McLennan on Apr 7, 2007 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

hmm

Padres
D-Backs** wild card
Dodgers
Giants
Rockies

"very cunning Mr. *VIII*" -- Jim

by Mr. Philosophical on Apr 7, 2007 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

If I had to take a guess

Diamondbacks
Padres (Wild Card)
Dodgers
Rockies
Giants

Top 4 teams within 10 games of each other. Top 3 within 5 games.

by DiamondbacksWIn on Apr 7, 2007 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah.

We're going to put our 3B coach Tim Flannery in a burlap bag , weight him down with Pedro Feliz , and throw them in the Bay.
Then we're going to come after you.

Zito! Awwwwwright! Now we're back to....oh no.

by victor frankenstein on Apr 7, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

my crack at it

Every team has a unique strength and a glaring weakness. After each team is the [strength][weakness]

Dodgers [amazing pitching staff][no power]
D-Backs [great 1-2 pitchers][poor closer]
Padres [great 1-2 pitchers][lousy lineup]
Giants [most dangerous hitter in NL West][ancient team]
Rockies [strong middle of the lineup][poor rotation]

by johngordonma on Apr 7, 2007 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

Rockies rotation

I've been impressed from what I've seen to this point. Francis and Cook are pretty good. Fogg isn't horrible (though gets roughed up in Coors starts). I'm not 100% sure about the longevity of Rodrigo Lopez, but Jason Hirsh is going to surprise some people.

Their bullpen is definitely on the way up and their lineup isn't terrible. I wouldn't be surprised if they get into and stay in the hunt until one team decides it's going to dominate (my vote is on the Dodgers at this point).

by nihil67 on Apr 9, 2007 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Nothing "official" until...

...end of April, after I get to see all the division play one another, but for now:

Padres [strong 1-3 rotation, great pen, underrated lineup, well managed, built for home park]
Dodgers [solid rotation, solid pen, league ave offense]
Rockies [underrated rotation, underrated pen, league ave offense]
Ohio State [decent but overrated rotation, ave pen, below ave offense, unprepared for success]
Giants [Aurelia signing reduced average player age by three years]