2008 MLB Preview: NL West

To me, this is the best division in baseball. I can easily see 4 teams from here making the World Series. Sure you can argue that the National League is easier and that a team like the Blue Jays could win this division, but as it stands, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Diamondbacks, the Rockies, or the Dodgers in the World Series this year. On with the preview.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Key Additions: Dan Haren, Chad Qualls

Key Subtractions: Jose Valverde, Livan Hernandez, Carlos Quentin

Player to Watch: Conor Jackson and Justin Upton. The Diamondbacks won a playoff series last year by dominating the cubs with their stellar pitching and young hitting. So what happens? They get better pitching and have even more prospects coming up, ready to prosper. These two are primed to take off this year.

What Could Go Wrong: Last year Valverde lead the NL in saves. The Diamondbacks traded him to Houston and didn't really find an option at the closer position. You could see Pena or Qualls closing for this team, neither one evokes a lot of enthusiasm.

Prediction: This is a very good baseball team. They have 2 pitchers starting their rotation that both could win the Cy Young. If the young hitters all come around, this team could win the NL.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Key Additions: Andruw Jones, Joe Torre

Key Subtractions: Mark Hendrickson, Luis Gonzalez (finally retired)

Player to Watch: Matt Kemp. If you haven't heard of him yet, he will hit homeruns, doubles, and steal bases, while making it all look easy. If the Dodgers are going to make noise in the post season, it will be on his shoulders.

What Could Go Wrong: Hitting. They have a lot of young stars in the making, but they don't quite have the power to really make anything happen yet. Jeff Kent lead the team in homeruns last year. With 20. So yeah, there is some room to improve. Russell Martin lead the team in RBI's with 87.

Prediction: The Dodgers are my sleeper team in the NL. For some reason, I have been liking them for the past year or so. Their pitching isn't steller, but solid through all 5 spots. They may not have the aforementioned power, but everyone on the team has the potential to be a good hitter. If they can stop losing third basement to injury (3 thus far in the preseason), as this team starts to approach their hitting potential, while the pitching stays solid, I think a post season run isn't out of the cards.

Colorado Rockies

Key Additions: Luis Viscaino, Josh Towers

Key Subtractions: Kaz Matsui

Player to Watch: Matt Holliday. So this really isn't an under the radar pick, nor is this something that you probably couldn't have just thought of yourself. But, admit it, before the Rockies went on their run and before Holliday won the MVP, you had no idea who this guy was. Watch him this year. As he goes, so do the Rockies. Surely he can't hit .340 again, can he? With 36 HRs and 137 RBIs? Even if he regresses back a bit, how much?

What Could Go Wrong: Disappointment. They Rockies made it to the World Series last year based on that amazing run at the end of the year where they lost like 1 game in 2 months (minor hyperbole). And they used that momentum to carry them through the playoffs. Now, what happens when they don't have that momentum? Is this a team that is a playoff caliber team? Or a .500 team perpetually on the verge of another long streak?

Prediction: Both Holliday and the Rockies regress a bit. Both are above average, and both should put up superstar numbers, but neither will match the greatness experienced last year.

San Diego Padres

Key Additions: Randy Wolf, Mark Prior, Tad Iguchi

Key Subtractions: Mike Cameron, Geoff Blum, Milton Bradley, One of the Giles brothers

Player to Watch: Chris Young. A bad back curtailed what was a break out year last year. Now healthy, Young will go back to being a future Cy Young candidate (weird phrase, I know).

What Could Go Wrong: The lineup. Not a lot of hitters. Gonzalez made himself known last year. Kahlil Greene will always be a threat. Beyond that, not a lot going on.

Prediction: Anything can happen when you have one of the best 1-2 pitching combos in the majors. I worry about a weak roster, but if they only need to get a run or 2, they could make it happen.

San Francisco Giants

Key Additions: Aaron Rowand

Key Subtractions: Barry Bonds, Barry Bonds's Head, Pedro Feliz

Player to Watch: Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. These are two really good pitchers. Playing for one really bad team. Last year, they had dominant numbers: 9 K/inning and 7 respectively, sub 4 ERAs, and 1.2 WHIPs. These guys should be awesome right? Well, with no offensive support, they got 14 combined wins last year. They should be getting at least 14 each on a better team.

What Can Go Wrong: Really, its already bad. I guess Lincecum and/or Cain has their arms fall off?

Prediction: Read everything I read about the first 4 teams in this division. Then take the opposite of it.