MLB PREVIEW WAY OUT WEST
National League:
Brooklyn or LA--Stay Outta the Way
The Dodgers are so far above everyone else that the only hope anyone has is that an earthquake wipes out their roster. They should waltz to the NL crown. There are simply no glaring weaknesses.
No one knows that the Diamondbacks management is up to. The lineup is okay, but not inspiring. There’s not much to say about the pitching, because there isn’t any. They are counting on Bumgarner to be an ace, but (sadly) he probably will never be what he was before the injury bug bit him like a hungry teenager attacking a Dagwood sandwich.
The Giants have a lineup filled with guys over 30, and several of them have spent a lot of time on the DL. Crawford, Belt, Posey, and even Yaztremski could be trade bait if the Giants decide to rebuild. If they can dump Cueto for three fungos and a traveling bag, they should. The only pitcher on the staff worth keeping is Wood.
The Padres are the dark horse of those who like to gamble on long odds. There are four teams in MLB who always look good on paper and never are; the Padres are one of them. Is 2021 the year they break the streak? I don’t think so. If Myers ever becomes the player he’s supposed to–he won’t–and if Pham is more than a nice spare part, that will help. They stole Snell from the Rays, but the pitching is more than suspect. Even if Darvish’s 2020 wasn’t a fluke, they still need Musgrove, Lamet, and Paddack to have career years. Doubtful. Pomeranz and Pagan as dual closers? Meh!
Speaking of not knowing what management is up to, I offer the Rockies. Still, if the Padres implode (quite possible), they have a shot at 2nd place in the NL West. Blackmon and Story are fine players (if not traded), Freeland and (Jon) Gray are decent starters, and if Bard is truly resurrected as a closer, things might shift their way.
American League West
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| Logo used when the A's were in Philly and KC |
This will not be a good division. Period.
Lots of people want the Angels to win, just so MLB’s best player, Mike Trout, sees a postseason. A lot needs to go right for that to happen. Ohtani needs to stay off the DL. Ditto Fowler. Upton needs to be the player he was projected to be but never has been. At age 34, that’s unlikely. First, second, and catcher are manned by Abbot and Costello’s who? But it starts and ends with pitching and when you try to build a staff with Orioles’ castoffs, you are counting on a miracle. Basically, it’s a bunch of guys who perpetually disappoint: Bundy, Cobb, Heaney, Quintana. This is the second team I refuse to get excited about until proven wrong.
The Astros–the team everyone outside of Texas despises–lost several good players over the offseason, but they still might win the division. It probably won’t be easy if they do. Maldonado has to emerge as a decent hitter and catcher, Straw has to prove he’s an everyday player, and Pressly is an unproven closer. Verlander won’t be back until midseason and even then, he might not be an ace again. That means they need major production from hurlers such as Javier, Urquidy, and Valdez. You probably don’t know those names and therein lies a big challenge.
The Athletics always manage to stick around with rosters that make them the Rays of the West. Their starting lineup is gloriously old-fashioned; they are tortoises that manage to finish above the hares. The pitching is questionable, though, especially if Manaea isn’t entirely healthy. Diekman a closer? There’s no indication thus far that he can be.
The Mariners should move to Nebraska, as they are MLB’s number one “show me” team. Some say they can win the AL West and I say it could rain rubies from the sky, but it probably won’t. Their everyday lineup is middle of the road at best and depends too much on (Kyle) Seager for production. Paxton returns to the pitching staff, but his mojo basically happens every third or fourth start. Is Sheffield ready? He’s only 24, so it could go either way. Even if the aforementioned duo shines, there’s nothing but question marks behind them.
The Rangers rightly decided they needed a rebuild. There are a few proven talents on the roster (Gallo, Odor, Foltynewicz, Gibson) but it’s going to take some time. The closer job is up for grabs, but it might not matter that much.
NL West Predictions:
1. Dodgers: Has anyone ever clinched by the All-Star break?
2. Rockies: Call it a hunch because…
3. Padres: Sorry, but I just don’t believe in them
4. Giants: You could flip flop 4 & 5, but on paper San Fran is better than…
5. Diamondbacks: A defanged snake.
AL West Predictions:
1. Athletics: Roster built from top to bottom generally win.
2. Astros: Solid lineup and if the pitching holds up, it’s…
3. Angels: Better than one built around stars hiding poseurs.
4. Mariners: Someday they’ll put it together. Like the next century.
5. Rangers: Patience is a virtue.
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