With Manny Ramirez serving a 50 game suspension, the Dodgers may not be quite the division lock they were two days ago. While their lead is big, the NL West isn't that good, and the roster is still talented, opportunity does exist now for a division rival to rise up and overtake them.
San Francisco Giants - The pitching on this team is legit. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are studs in the making. Meanwhile, Barry Zito hasn't embarrassed himself to date. If Randy Johnson can get going, then this starting rotation could carry this team to the playoffs, in what is an incredibly weak division.
The concern with this team is the offense. Right now, Bengie Molina has been carrying the load. However, Molina probably won't maintain his current pace. His career high in homeruns is 19, so far this year he has 7. His pace will inevitably slow down, and somebody else on this Giants roster will need to step up and replace that production, or else the lowest scoring team in the majors will just get even worse. If Pablo Sandoval starts hitting for more power, while Edgar Renteria and Randy Winn play to their career averages, the Giants could hang around.
San Diego Padres - Them being 3rd is a testiment to how bad this divsion is, and not reflective of how bad the Padres are. Over the long haul, this is potentially a last place team. Jake Peavy, Heath Bell, and Adrian Gonzalez are top-end talents. Unfortunately, the rest of the team just isn't very good. After Gonzalez, most of the regulars on this team can't hit for average, can't get onbase, and can't hit for power. The pitching will probably get worse too, since Jake Peavy is still likely to get dangled at the trade deadline.
Arizona Diamondbacks - This is the wildcard of the division. They're argueably just as talented as the Dodgers. Great pitching, great offense, but the youth on this team has plateaued, and even regressed, over the past year.
Justin Upton still looks like a star in the making. However, Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew (injured), and Chris Young have entered the realms of irrelevancy. Collectively, this unit has been a huge disappointment this year. Drew and Young were suppose to be stars in the making, and any run at the division will require these two players realizing their potential.
The pitching remains solid, despite not having their ace. However, 105 runs scored over the first month a bit of the season keeps this team from winning games.
Colorado Rockies - Not a chance.
While losing Manny will hurt the Dodgers, it doesn't look like anybody in the NL West will be able to step up and dethrown them. The Diamondbacks may have the raw talent to contend, but until that potential turns into production, they're just another also-ran like the rest of the flawed teams in this division that can only dream of catching LA.

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