2010 Rewind: 92-70, first place NL West, World Champions. The Giants barely won the NL West but then went on an amazing run en route to winning their first World Series in 53 years. While they have a core of solid players, their lineup was a hodge podge of veterans and journeyman. The chemistry worked as they hoisted the trophy.

The Good: Brian “The Beard” Wilson became a superstar in the playoffs for his burly facial hair, but his stats were what propelled the Giants bullpen to the top of the NL. When the Giants had a lead late in the game, it was more than likely a win for them. Andres Torres replaced the very worthless Aaron Rowand in centerfield and went on to be near the top of the NL in doubles and extra base hits.

The Bad: Pablo Sandoval. The portly third baseman regressed in 2010 where his batting average fell from .336 to .268. The third base job is still his, but he’s going to have to bounce back to win over fantasy owners.

Biggest Loss: Juan Uribe. Uribe signed a three-year deal with the rival Dodgers. Shortstop will be filled by Miguel Tejada, who is more than capable of hitting Uribe’s 24 HRs, or he could bust. Between Uribe and Edgar Renteria, the Giants are missing two big clutch hitters.

Best Addition:  Other than the aforementioned Tejada, the Giants stood pat. They did manage to resign Mike Fontenot to a one-year contract and the middle infielder will provide some much needed depth, but has no fantasy value.

Fantasy Slant: The Giants are loaded with fantasy studs. Tim Lincecum is one of the top five pitchers in the NL. Buster Posey is the National League’s version of Joe Mauer and should be treated as such fantasy-wise. Two young players to watch are lefty Madison Bumgarner who has secured a spot in the rotation. Brandon Belt is the Giants first baseman of the future who will likely start the year in the minors.

Final Take: I don’t see any team in the NL West being able to contend with the defending champs. I do see the rest of the NL catching up with them and the Giants being unable to defend their title...2011 Record: 93-69, 1st Place, NL West

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2010 Rewind: 90-72, 2nd Place in NL West. This time a year ago the only news anyone thought the Padres would make in 2010 was going to be where and when they trade their stud first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. But the team got off to a hot start and maintained their lead in division for most of the summer. They held on to Gonzalez and made a run for the playoffs only to come up short on the last day of the season.

The Good: While Gonzalez provided the majority of offense for the Padres, it was pitching that reigned supreme in spacious Petco Park. Clayton Richard, Jon Garland and Mat Latos each won 14 games in 2010. Latos led the starters with a 2.92 ERA and 189 strikeouts. The bullpen was just as good as the starters thanks to the dominance of closer Heath Bell. The two-time All-Star saved 47 games last season while posting a 1.93 ERA. He blew just three saves and his last won was on May 26.

The Bad: Not much can be worse than being in first place for most of the season, struggling in September and missing the playoffs on the last day of the year. But it there is some fuel to be added to the fire it is that they could have gotten a lot more had they traded Gonzalez in July. Their playoff run may have ended much sooner without him, but the organization would have been better prepared for the future.

Biggest Loss: Obviously the Padres can’t replace Gonzalez and they are not trying to do so. But the team also lost a slew of regulars from last year’s squad. The list includes Garland, Kevin Correia, David Eckstein, Jerry Hairston Jr., Yorvit Torrealba and Matt Stairs. While none of those guys are crucial parts to winning a pennant, the chemistry the Padres formed as a team in 2010 will likely be gone.

Best Addition: The Padres look to improve the middle of their defense with the additions of Orlando Hudson at second base, Jason Bartlett at shortstop and Cameron Maybin in centerfield. They hope Brad Hawpe will provide some power while covering first base. On the mound veteran Aaron Harang hopes to revive his career going from a hitter’s park to one the appeals to pitchers.

Fantasy Slant: San Diego provides little offensive help to a fantasy squad. Third baseman Chase Headley and outfielder Will Veneable have some upside but are only worth a late round pick in a fantasy draft. The pitching is a different story thanks to the big ballpark. Heath Bell is clearly one of the top closers in the game and should drafted as such. Richard and Latos may struggle to get 14 wins without run support, but they should otherwise finish with solid numbers.

Final Take: It is going to be very difficult for the Padres to win 90 games again in 2011. They lost their best player along with numerous other contributors and play in a division that has three teams that certainly look better on paper. While anything is possible expectations should not be too high in San Diego…2011 Record: 80-82, fourth place in the NL West.

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2010 Rewind: The bitter and very public divorce between owners Frank and Jamie Court loomed over the Dodgers as they followed up back-to-back division crowns by finishing in fourth place in the NL West as they finished below .500 for the first time since 2005 and only the second time since the turn of the century.  Manager Joe Torre called it quits at season’s end, passing the torch to rookie skipper Don Mattingly.

The Good: Look for Andre Ethier to deliver a breakout season if he can stay healthy. The 28-year old right fielder .292 last year over 139 games with 23 homers and 82 RBI despite being limited by a broken finger. Clayton Kershaw has emerged as the staff ace. The 23-year old lefty was 13-10 with 2.91 ERA in 2010 as he led the team in wins, innings (204.1) and strikeouts (212). Lefthander Hong-Chih Kuo shined out of the bullpen a year ago by saving 12 games and posting a 1.20 ERA. He could emerge as the team’s closer sooner rather later.

The Bad: Even though he hit 28 HR and 89 RBI a year ago, outfielder Matt Kemp set a club record with 170 strikeouts on his way to a .249 average.  Durability has been a major concern for shortstop Rafael Furcal, who has played in less than 100 games in two of the past three seasons. Closer Jonathan Broxton stumbled badly after the All-Star break as he posted a 7.31 ERA and saved just three games before being pulled out of the role down the stretch.

Biggest Loss: The team’s top two producers of hits a year ago, left fielder Scott Podsednik and shortstop Ryan Theriot, have moved on. Their departure will have a minimal effect if Furcal can stay healthy and atop the lineup. Longtime catcher Russell Martin is now with the Yankees leaving the backstop duties to newly acquired veterans Rod Barajas and Dioner Navarro.

Best Addition: The Dodgers were busy this offseason filling some holes in the rotation and in the lineup. They lured free agent Juan Uribe away from San Francisco. His versatility will be a good fit for the Dodgers, but expect him to see most of his time at second base.  Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland were all brought in to add pitching depth and all should favor well pitching at Dodgers’ Stadium.

Fantasy Slant: There is plenty to like. Ethier is the team’s most valuable asset with Kershaw shortly behind.  Despite a bit of setback in his overall numbers starter Chad Billingsley is still useful in nearly any format due to his strikeout production. He has high upside and make for a solid mid-round pick.  Despite hitting a career-low .267 a year ago, James Loney is a nice late add-on as a corner infielder. He hit a career-high 41 doubles last season while finishing second on the team with 89 RBI.

Final Take: The Dodgers are an interesting team. They have all the talent in the world, but it will come down to how good their young talent will continue to grow. Expect a marginal increase in wins and for them to stay in the division race for a longer stretch in the season ahead…2011 Record: 88-74, 2nd place NL West

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2010 Rewind: 83-79, third place NL West. Due mostly to a woeful road record, the Rockies missed the playoffs in a very competitive NL West. With a lot of youth and some dominant players on both offense and pitching, the Rockies have what it takes to contend.

The Good: Two elite, MVP-like players. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are two of the youngest, most talented players in baseball and they lead the Rockies’ potent offensive lineup. And you can’t talk about the good of the Rockies without mentioning their ace Ubaldo Jimenez. Few teams can boast such a legitimate ace. He sported a 19-8 record with a 2.88 ERA and even threw a no hitter a year ago. These three young players form an impressive nucleus for years to come.

The Bad: Bottom of the lineup. Right fielder Seth Smith is going to have to prove that he’s not a first half wonder in order to hold onto his position. He drove in only 14 RBIs after the All-Star break. That is unacceptable and will have to be improved upon or the Rockies will have no choice but to make a move. Catcher Chris Iannetta has the starting catching job, but will need to produce much better offensive numbers in order to stabilize the catching position, an area the Rockies have struggled with throughout the years.

Biggest Loss: The Rockies had an uneventful offseason. No major moves as the Rockies believe they have the foundation to succeed. Some young players from the minors are coming up to add depth.

Best Addition:  Ty Wigginton. You know it was a quiet offseason when this well-traveled utility man is your best addition. Wigginton has 20-HR potential and can help spell the young 3B Ian Stewart, who struggled against left-handed pitching.

Fantasy Slant: Obviously, CarGo and Tulowitzki are the elite fantasy players in the Rockies’ lineup along with Jimenez from the mound, but the Rockies have a lot of young players who warrant close consideration. Dexter Fowler is the Rockies starting centerfielder. He’s a great speed option as a fourth outfielder your fantasy squad. Ian Stewart is still only 26-years-old. He has bouts of inconsistency, but should he ever figure it all out he could be a 30+ HR guy for your fantasy squad. Watch Iannetta’s performance as the Rockies have super prospect Wilin Rosario waiting in the wings. Rosario will start in the minors, but an injury or major slump from Iannetta could lead to a mid-season call up for the power-hitting catcher.

Final Take: The NL West is very balanced (outside of the Diamondbacks) so it’s up for grabs. The Rockies did very little to improve their team, but will their young talent come of age. If so, expect an improvement on last year. As it stands now, I’m not seeing enough to foresee too much of a difference from last season though…2011 Record: 82-78, 3rd place, NL West

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2010 Rewind: After first and second place finishes in the NL West in 2007 and 2008, the Diamondbacks have found themselves in the cellars the past two seasons. The team hit rock bottom last summer and cleaned house in July as they hired Kirk Gibson as their manager on their way to a 65-97 finish.  The team was awful, including having the third worst bullpen (5.74 ERA) in major league history. 

The Good: The D-Backs boast second basemen Kelly Johnson and shortstop Stephen Drew up the middle, giving them one of baseball’s best all-around combos.  They only committed 18 errors combined and both flashed some pretty good leather. Johnson hit .284 with 26 HR and 76 RBI and wound up hitting third in the order by year’s end. Drew, a .272 career hitter, batted .278 last year with 15 HR, 61 RBI, 83 runs and 10 stolen bases.

The Bad: Long gone are the days of Arizona having one of the division’s best rotations. They dealt Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson last season, leaving them with a rotation that figures to have Joe Saunders, Daniel Hudson (7-1, 1.69 ERA after being acquired July 30), Ian Kennedy, Zach Duke, and Armando Galarraga in the mix. Despite positive results in stretches last season the unit likely overachieved.  The bullpen got better and will now turn to J.J. Putz to close out games, but expect it to be taxed and worn out early on.

Biggest Loss:  Though they won’t miss his 211 strikeouts .198 batting average, the team will sorely miss Mark Reynolds’ power. The third basemen left via free agency as did fellow corner man, first basemen Adam LaRoche. The duo combined for 57 homers and 158 RBI a year ago.

Best Addition: Melvin Mora was brought in to replace Reynolds at third base. He will come nowhere near the power numbers, but he will provide a much more professional at bat and a major upgrade defensively. The veteran hit .307 with 31 RBI following the All-Star Break in 2010 after taking over the starting job in Colorado.

Fantasy Slant: The biggest buzz in the desert centers on the Diamondbacks’ young outfielders, Justin Upton and Chris Young. Upton is one of the game’s best five-tool players, but his average 2010 numbers could lower his value heading into this season. He has some injury risk, but could prove to be a great value pick for owners. Young rebounded from a dismal 2009 campaign by hitting 27 HR and 91 RBI while earning All-Star honors. He needs to get the .257 average up and cut down on his strikeouts, but the team is counting on him in the middle of the order.

Final Take: The Diamondbacks still have plenty of question marks, but they appear to be headed in the right direction. The division isn’t as good as it was a year ago, so don’t count on 97 losses again.  Still, it will be hard for them to improve their record by more than 10 games…2011 Record: 73-98

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The National League West is by far the best race in baseball right now with three teams – the Padres, Dodgers and Rockies battling it out for the division crown with two weeks to go.

The three teams are separated by just one game heading into Sunday’s action, but no team is hotter right now than Colorado. The Rockies have posted a 13-4 mark in September in large part to the historic tear of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Tulowitzki hit two more home runs in Saturday’s win over the Dodgers. He now has 14 home runs in September alone, a new Rockies record for home runs in a month. He’s tied Albert Belle and Barry Bonds for most homers ever in a 15-game span. The Rockies still have 14 games to go.

He’s hit three home runs in two days against the Dodgers. And he has four multi-homer games this season, all in the last 10 games.

If the shortstop has anything to say about the Rockies will prevail.

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Let’s wrap-up our predictions with the National League West. The division offers a garden variety of teams with World Series aspirations to those entering heavy rebuilding modes. Without further ado, here’s how I see things unfolding.

ORDER OF FINISH
Dodgers – Joe Torre’s first season in Hollywood took off once he landed his headline star in Manny Ramirez. The two are together again in LA this season and the supporting cast is outstanding. Russell Martin gives the Dodgers one of the best offensive producing backstops in the game. Young outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are ready to deliver on their promise. The team added second baseman Orlando Hudson and re-signed shortstop Rafael Furcal to shore up the middle. The rotation has upside, but lacks a proven No. 1. However, Chad Billingsley is poised to be that guy and it might come as soon as this season. Jonathan Broxton will nail it down in the ninth as good as anybody in the division and the setup depth in unmatched.

Diamondbacks – The front of the rotation makes the D-Backs automatic contenders in this competitive division. Brandon Webb and Danny Haren could easily combine to win 36-40 games and pitch 200 innings. The 3-4-5 spots will contribute as well, especially young phenom Max Scherzer. The line-up has some pop and upside, but also is a bit unproven. The raw power of outfielders Justin Upton and Chris Young is a hidden gem. Conor Jackson is a nice bat in the middle of the order and is a versatile contributor. The bullpen is the reason I pick them to be also rans as Chad Qualls and Tony Pena Jr are expected to battle for the closer’s role.

Giants – The Giants have the best arm in the division in starter Tim Lincecum. Matt Cain is another young arm to be excited about and will be the team’s No. 2 starter. If veterans Randy Johnson and Barry Zito deliver on some of their former promise, the Giants will stay in this race. Brian Wilson is adequate at closer and the bullpen in general is above average. The line-up has a few too many what-ifs for my liking though. Youngster Pablo Sandoval needs to succeed for the offense to click. Veteran Edgar Renteria was the biggest off-season acquisition and his ceiling is limited.

Rockies – The Rockies simply don’t have the horses to run with the top three teams. Two years removed from the World Series, Colorado has too many holes to count. Brad Hawpe is solid in the outfield, but with Matt Holliday departing he’s going to be hard-pressed to take his game up another notch. Garrett Atkins and Todd Helton are on the decline. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has nice potential. Many young player will be counted on to deliver, one expect to live up to the hype is five-tool outfielder Dexter Fowler. The rotation is a huge question mark once again, although I am pretty high on Ubaldo Jimenez and expect him to open many people’s eyes around the league in ‘09.

Padres – The Padres have already trimmed a ton of payroll this off-season and next likely to go is ace Jake Peavy. The team is going to a heavy rebuilding period and ready to take a hit for a year or two if they need to do so. Peavy and Chris Young are solid frontline guys, but the rest of the rotation and much of the bullpen is unproven. Adrian Gonzalez is the most underrated hitter in the division, but he too could be dealt at some point this year. A safe bet for last place this season.

AWARDS
MVP – Manny Ramirez (LA)

Cy Young Candidate – Tim Lincecum (SF)

Biggest Bust – Garrett Atkins (COL)

Biggest Breakout – Andre Ethier (LA)

Comeback Player – Randy Johnson (SF)

Rookie of Year – Dexter Fowler (COL)

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