2009 NL West Predictions
1st Place – Arizona Diamondbacks +160 to Win NL West
After winning the West in 2007, finishing second and with eight fewer regular season wins was a big disappointment. Expect the Snakes to get right back on top in 2009. No one else in the division can touch the dominant one-two starting pitching punch of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. Webb has finished one or two in each of the last three Cy Young votings and Haren is coming off a season in which he reached career highs in wins and strikeouts. Arizona got off to a fast start in 2008 spending 153 days in first or tied for first place in the division. I don’t expect this team to endure the same collapse as it learns from its mistakes.
2nd Place – Los Angeles Dodgers +140 to Win NL West
Manny Ramirez came over from the Red Sox and helped LA exceed expectations in 2008, taking Tinsel Town to the brink of an NL Pennant. But now Manny’s current contract disputes are beginning to be a problem as the team must first worry about their negotiations instead of how it is going to win baseball games. With Derek Lowe and Brad Penny no longer in town, the Dodgers are going to take a step back. The best news for the Dodgers is that they are in the weak NL West where it almost seems like anything is possible. With speedsters Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre at the top of the order, running and playing small ball could be a good option if Manny isn’t wearing blue and white.
3rd Place – San Francisco Giants +400 to Win NL West
The post-Barry Bonds era has not started well for the Giants, but one positive that has emerged is ace Tim Lincecum. Lincecum went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA on a team with only 72 wins. Those numbers easily earned him the Cy Young. The Giants offensive lineup is soft and in major need of a 30 homerun, 100 RBI guy. The Giants only hit 94 homeruns in 2008, which was the fewest in a non-shortened season since 1993. Until the Giants bring in some more bats, the wins won’t pile up.
4th Place – Colorado Rockies +600 to Win NL West
What a disappointing season it was for the Rockies in 2008, winning just 74 games after advancing all the way to the World Series in 2007. While any team not named the Padres seemingly has a chance to contend in the wild West, losing power hitter Matt Holliday is going to hurt. This means that Todd Helton’s health is vital. Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis are no Webb and Haren, but they are a solid one-two punch at the top of the rotation.
5th Place – San Diego Padres +1800 to Win NL West
2005 and 2006 saw the Padres win back-to-back NL West titles. Just three seasons later, winning a title is out of the question for the Pads. San Diego won just 63 games in 2008, and like so many of these other NL West teams, it lacks power in the lineup. Ace Jake Peavy will give the Pads a chance to win every fifth day. The Padres will gladly unload him to any team willing to take on his big contract at any time to free up some more money. It’s crazy to think how quickly the Padres have fallen from grace, going from a contender to resembling the Pirates.
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