National League West

The National League West is a pitching dominated division that without the big bat of Manny Ramirez may not have any offense in it at all. Although that is incorrect as the Dodgers have many other young hitters as do the Diamondbacks and the Rockies can slug with the best of them, this division has some dynamite fire arms.

Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers retained the biggest impact player and most likely to win MVP in the NL this season when Manny decided to resign with the team that traded for him at the trade deadline last July. Although Manny is quite a hitter he will impact and groom some of the younger players in the clubhouse to become more discipline at the plate like Matt Kemp and Andre Either. These two players will benefit dramatically from Manny's presence in the line up and become better players for the Joe Torre's team. On the offensive side, they lost former All Star pitcher in Brad Penny in Free Agency to the Boston Red Sox and also lost former closer to the Red Sox in Takashi Saito as well. They have some young arms that may be exceptional, especially closer Jonathan Broxton and starters in Chad Billingsbey and Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers will look to make the post season once again as the NL West Champions in 2009 and hopefully take it to the next step as a World Series contender and possibly Champion.

Arizona Diamondbacks
The D'backs were in the race for the title last season until they ran out of gas and Manny took the Dodgers on his back. Cy Young potential as usually Brandon Webb and Dan Haren lead a very good Arizona pitching staff that should not be the reason for a poor season unless it is because they are not healthy. Jon Garland should provide some nice depth to their starting rotation and their bull pen consist of many veterans including the likes of Tom Gordon and Scott Schoeneweis to set up closer Chad Qualls. At the plate the D'backs have many young talented players that should be more matured this year after experience that was gained from last season. Justin Upton in right field, brother of BJ from Tampa Bay, will be counted on heavily to take charge in the out field and also contribute intensively with his bat. Tony Clark will add some veteran leadership in the clubhouse and compete for the division title.

San Fransisco Giants
The Giants have been a popular pick this preseason by many experts for a break through season. I like the front of their rotation and the addition of Randy Johnson if he stays healthy. Tim Lincecum should draw legitimate Cy Young considerations from the voters with the season he is looking to have. He won it last season and a repeat is not out of the question for this year. Matt Cain is another nice young arm for the Giants as he also continues to grow and mature as a starter. Randy Johnson needs to remain off the Disabled List and avoid missing starts. If he can routinely pitch every 5th day and go 6+ innings to help the bull pen stay fresh it will really help out in the starts by their 5th starter. In the field and at the plate, the Giants are still a few years away from competing in this division and for a title. They do not have any power in their line up and not a lot of big league experience with them either. In time this will be a very dangerous team, but this season will go only as far as Lincecum and Cain can carry them.

Colorado Rockies
Probably the team in this division with the most pop in the bats of any line up. Troy Tulowitski, Chris Iannetta at catcher, Garrett Atkins, and even an aging Todd Helton will provide plenty of offense for the Rockies and will try to out pitch their opponents as they always seem to do. They have a good mix with young and veteran players in the field to help then grow and become better players as well. On the mound they lack a dominant staff and only have one big time potential as a stud pitcher in Ubaldo Jimenez. They also picked up former Oakland Athletics' closer Huston Street to close games for them this season. Aaron Cook will also be looked upon to pick up his performance from last season to help out the offense so they do not have to put up 7+ runs per game to be successful. This team may also be a couple of key position players and a few pitchers away from returning to the World Series team away as they were in 2007.

San Diego Padres
The Padres do not have much to look forward to this season other than waiting to see where their star pitcher will end up being traded too. It seems not a matter of when but where the flame thrower will go. The Padres should however, they should get some high talent in return for the stud ace. The Padres have Peavy and Chris Young as two outstanding young arms to anchor the starting rotation of their staff and have an nice looking closer in Heath Bell to take over for the departed All Time Saves leader, Trevor Hoffman. Adrian Gonzalez at first base is the only major run producer the team can count on having a productive year as the Pads' will struggle to score runs this year as they did last. Offensively challenged would be an under statement and it does not help that they play in the pitcher friendly Petco ball park that runs come at a premium. It looks as it will be a couple of years before the Padres become contenders again in the west and will surely finish in last place in 2009.