All Day Sports Talk

Can anybody in the NL West overtake the Dodgers?

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.

Final Spring Training Thoughts

Derek Jeter will perform just fine as the leadoff hitter. Some have pointed out that Damon has hit leadoff for most of his career, but that doesn't mean he's ill-suited for the second spot in the lineup. Jeter has a career OBP of .387, while Damon has a mark of .355. Jeter being on base more benefits not only the Yankees in general, but Damon in particular. Damon is a lefty, and I'm sure he'll love coming up to the plate with more space open on the right-side of the infield, thanks to Jeter being on first.

Tim Lincecum will continue to dominate. Many point to his mechanics, which appear to be violent. However, much work has been done on recent years to dispell the orthodox on pitching mechanics. The posterchild for flawless mechanics and bodytype, Mark Prior, can't stay healthy for an entire season. Meanwhile Lincecum, who understands the importance of his legs and hips, will continue to churn out the Ks and dominate the league, while defenders of the old guard continue to predict when he'll have arm surgery.

Huston Street! Really? A 5.23ERA vs. a 1.00ERA by Manny Corpas. Hmmm. Is this just the Rockies trying to show they got something tangible in return for Matt Holliday? It's not like Corpas doesn't have experience closing out games, and he has thoroughly outperformed Street this spring. He should be closing games for the Rockies going into April. However, next winter, most people around the league won't remember the shaky, nail-biting 9th innings. They'll just see 30+ saves and agree that at least the Rockies got some immediate return for Holliday.

Orioles fans should be pissed! Matt Wieters is being held down in the minors to save a few bucks. Meanwhile, fans get to pay full price to watch Gregg Zaun catch. What a joke! If a player is one of the best hitters on the roster, he should crack the opening lineup. This isn't a kid that needs anymore conditioning in the minors. Everything I've read on him says he could realistically be the best hitting catcher in the league this year. I understand wanting to save a few bucks if management is unsure if the guy can contribute right away, but Wieters could be hitting 3rd in the Orioles lineup before this season is over.

The Marlins could win the NL East. We all hate them. Win a championship, reward your fans by blowing up the roster, rebuild with youth. Two World Series victories later, who can argue with the system. The Marlins don't resemble the team that won a World Series back in '03, but they'll certainly be in the mix this year. Hanley Ramirez is argueably the best player in baseball, the young pitching staff is coming together, and Cameron Maybin will give them a dynamic presense at the top of the order.

NL West Preview

The Diamondbacks looked good for a lot of last season, before they choked down the stretch. Now they have to deal with a Manny Ramirez led Dodgers team for a full 162.

1) Los Angeles Dodgers - Everybody talks about Manny, but Clayton Kershaw might be the most important piece in the Dodgers season. The Dodgers pitching staff took a big hit this offseason, with Derek Lowe and Brad Penny leaving the rotation. For the staff to replicate the success they had last season, the 21 year old will have to put it all together and become the top of the rotation starter he was drafted to be.

The bullpen needs Jonathan Broxton to perform in the closer role. His high K/IP ratio leads one to believe he can handle to role, but he struggled a bit in the second half of last season. Still, Hong-Chih Kuo could man the closer role if Broxton falters.

The team will be able to hit. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are stars in the making, while Manny provides a stabilizing force in the middle of the lineup. The corners are serviceable with Loney and Blake, while Russell Martin is one of the better catchers in the game. The middle infield is also solid. Furcal and Hudson will make a great double play combination, while providing above average offense at their positions.

2) Arizona Diamondbacks - The team can pitch. Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Jon Garland, Doug Davis, and flamethrowing youngster Max Scherzer give the D-backs one of the best rotations in baseball. Unfortunately, the bullpen isn't as good. Qualls, Pena, and Rauch will need to put it together and emerge as a good backend to the pen, or late-inning leads will be shaky in the desert.

On offense, there's tons of potential here. Chris Young, Justin Upton, and Stephen Drew all have the ability to be all-star players. Conor Jackson is a solid bat at first, who could take the jump to 20+ homers this year. On the other side of the diamond, the team would love Mark Reynolds to stop striking out so much. Eric Byrnes being healthy and returning to 20+ homerun form would also be a major jolt to the lineup.

3) San Francisco Giants - Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, Randy Johnson, Matt Cain, Noah Lowry, and Jonathan Sanchez give this team more than enough starting pitching to choose from. Brian Wilson and Jeremy Affeldt give SF a decent 8th/9th inning combo too.

The problem on this team will be hitting. There just isn't enough to it to compete with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. Pablo Sandoval will hopefully rake, Bengie Molina is a decent hitter for his position, Travis Ishikawa might be good (but below average for a first basemen), while Renteria and Winn will be steady, but not amazing performers.

The Giants could hang around in the NL West for awhile, but will be to go after a power hitting bat near the trade deadline if it wants to compete.

4) Colorado Rockies - It's the Rockies, so even without Matt Holliday, we know they'll be able to hit. Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart, Chris Ianetta, Brad Hawpe, and Ryan Spilborghs should give the Rockies plenty of offense. If Carlos Gonzalez lives up to his potential, the Holliday trade might not look so bad either.

The problem here, as always, if the pitching. Jeff Francis won't be ready to start the season, so the rotation lacks an ace. Meanwhile, Hutson Street can't be relied upon to close out games. Manny Corpas probably takes the job, while Street keeps fans on the edge of their seats in the 8th.

5) San Diego Padres - The only thing interesting about San Diego is the Jake Peavy trade rumours. He's the best player on this team, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and will likely be the most talked about player heading into the July 31st deadline. Chris Young is also a good starter, and Heath Bell should be a good closer, but after that the pitching on this team is horrible.

On offense, it doesn't get much better. Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmonoff will give the team some pop, in a power draining stadium. After them, not much is here. Hopefully Hundley and Headley develop, but after that, there's nothing to get excited about here.

Get ready for a long summer, San Diego.

NL Central Preview

The Cubs finally hope to shake the curse of the Billy Goat, while the Brewers will once again become a baseball afterthought.

1) Chicago Cubs - Clearly the class of the division. The Cubs should have this division wrapped up by early September. The pitching is superior. Zambrano, Dempster, Harden (if healthy), and Lilly give them a dominant pitching staff. Gregg, Marmol, and the flamethrowing Golden Domer Jeff Samardzija give the Cubs very good late relief.

The offense is very good too. Aramis Ramirez, Derek Lee, and Alfonso Soriano are all consistent performers. Soto proved last year that he can be an elite catcher, and Milton Bradley should chip in with 15-20 homers too. The big hole in the lineup is centerfield. Kosuke Fukudome needs to start playing to his hefty contract. His spring last year was pretty good too, so hopefully for Cubs fans he can carrry that play through the entire season.

2) St. Louis Cardinals - I was tempted to put the Reds in this spot, but they're a young team that could have some setbacks. The Cardinals, have question marks too, but have Pujols carrying the load on offense. Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel provide additional pop in the lineup. A key will be Skip Schumaker being able to transition to second base. His .359 OBP will need to be in the lineup every, since no other leadoff options are on the team. Him being able to play second will let Duncan play everyday in left, giving the lineup a bit more pop.

The pitching is ok. Dave Duncan does wonders with the Todd Wellenmeyer's of the world. However, making medicore talents average won't get into the playoffs. The team will need a healthy Chris Carpenter to join Adam Wainwright at the top of the rotation. If those two can combine for 375 innings this year, the Cards will be in the race come September.

3) Cincinnati Reds -  They have great young talent. No clear cut cleanup hitter, but plenty of guys who can potentially produce (Votto, Bruce, Encarnacion, Phillips). Homeruns shouldn't be a problem, even if there isn't a guy they can lean on. The big concern, in my opinion, comes at the top of the order. Willy Taveras needs to duplicate his .367 OBP of 2007 to be an effective leadoff hitter. 68 steals is great, but not when you only get on base 31% of the time and strikeout a lot.

The pitching could be incredible. Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, and Johnny Cueto give them a very good rotation, which could get better if Homer Bailey finally pans out. If the young pitchers produce, this could be the best rotation in the NL. Plus, Francisco Cordero gives them a serviceable closer.

4) Milwaukee Brewers - Yovani Gallardo has ace potential, but him and Manny Parra will not make Brewers fans forget about Sabathia and Sheets. The rotation after them is less than inspiring too. Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, and Braden Looper are all candidates to get shelled when they take the mound. The relief situation doesn't look any better. As of this writing, it looks like Trevor Hoffman will start the year on the DL.

The offense needs Prince Fielder to return to his 50 homerun self. J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, and Corey Hart give this team some serious pop. Don't wait on Rickie Weeks to join the offensive assault. It might be premature, but at this point, I'm willing to call him a bust. He strikes out way too much, and doesn't walk or hit for enough power to make up for that.

5) Houston Astros - Berkman, Lee, and Pence will rake. After that, I don't know where the offense will come from. Tejada is on his last legs, Pudge can't bring it anymore, and Bourn looked lost last year. Oswalt is still a stud, and the bullpen looks solid. I just don't see much depth here, and it will be a rough season in Houston.

6) Pittsburgh Pirates - Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit give them two solid bats to build around. Now the team just needs to find parts of the other positions. The middle infielders are serviceable, but are both older guys that might be traded in July. LaRoche has potential, but has failed horribly in his big league stints. The pitching looked good a few years ago, but Snell, Gorzelanny, Duke, and Maholm failed to give this team the rotation it needs. Snell, Duke, and Maholm are still serviceable starters, but hardly gamechangers. It will be a rough year in Pittsburgh.

NL East Preview

The Mets hope K-Rod and J.J. Putz solidify their bullpen, while the Phillies look to repeat as champs.

1) New York Mets - They'll be able to rake, that's for sure. Reyes, Delgado, Beltran, and Wright give the Mets enough offense to win games. The starting pitching behind Santana, with Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez is formidible. Sounds good so far. Yet this team still managed to choke their playoff hopes away last fall.

This season brings new hope, with a new, revamped bullpen to save the Mets World Series aspirations. Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz will make up one of the better 8th-9th inning combinations in the league. If they can close the door on offenses late, the Mets should be able to eek out the NL West.

2) Philadelphia Phillies - Losing a right-handed power hitter in Pat Burrell hurts, but Raul Ibanez still brings 20+ homerun pop to the middle of that lineup. This offense is probably the best in the division. Rollins and Victorino bring lots of speed, while Howard, Utley, and Ibanez can all hit the longball.

The big question with this team is the starting rotation. I'm sure many of the Philly faithful are keeping a close eye on Cole Hamels bum elbow. If he goes down, the Phillies' season goes down with it. Joe Blanton is a middle of the rotation pitcher, Brett Myers has never lived up to his potential, and Jamie Moyer could very easily regress to the 2007 version of Jamie Moyer. The bullpen does remain quite strong, but they need the starters to hand them a lead to protect.

3) Atlanta Braves - Jair Jurrjens will lead another strong Braves' rotation into the 2009 campaign. With Kenshin Kawakami, Derek Lowe, and Javier Vazquez behind him, the Braves should have the starters to be in every game this year. In the bullpen, Soriano looks good and will probably usurp Gonzalez of his closer role at some point this season. The rest of the pen is fairly good, and Atlanta fans shouldn't have too many late inning fits this year.

It's the offense that might be frustrating. Team elder Chipper Jones still provides most of the offensive firepower. The freeswinging Jeff Francoeur needs to regain his rookie homerun stroke to give the team some additional power.

4) Florida Marlins - This team could easily finish as high as second if all the cards fall right. Hanley Ramirez might be the best player in baseball. Uggla and Cantu can both hit 25+ homeruns, and Maybin is one of the brightest young prospects in the game.

The key is the starting rotation. Chris Volstad looked good last year, Josh Johnson is primed for a big comeback year, Ricky Nolasco was great last season, and Andrew Miller has huge upside. With Anibal Sanchez filling in as the 5th starter, the Marlins on paper have a pretty solid rotation. If these young guns pitch to their ability, Florida will compete for a wildcard, and maybe even the division this year.

5) Washington Nationals - Just a bad baseball team. The two Zimmerman's should give Nats fans something to cheer about this summer, but another 100+ loss season seems likely.

AL West Preview

Will anyone be able to rise up and challenge the Angels? Probably not.

1) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - They lost K-Rod, but jumped on Fuentes in free agency. Even if Fuentes isn't the answer at closer, one of Arredondo or Shields could emerge as the stopper. The strong backend of the bullpen might be the strength of the team.

The starting rotation could be just as dangerous if Ervin Santana can stay healthy and build on his 2008 success. John Lackey, Joe Saunders, and Jered Weaver join him in what should be a strong starting rotation. Kelvim Escobar will join the team early in the season, and will give the rotation an additonally shot in the arm too.

The offense could have used Teixeira, but Vladdy, Abreu, Hunter, Kendrick, and Figgins will give the Angels enough offense to win the AL West.

2) Oakland Athletics - The young A's should still be better than the other two teams in the West. Holliday, Giambi, and Cabrera give the team a nice boost. If Chavez can stay healthy, the offense might be pretty good.

The pitching staff doens't have a stud, but there's plenty of capable arms. Ziegler and Devine could form a lethal duo at the end of games. The starting pitching still remains a question mark, but Billy Beane has young talent that will make a name for themselves before the season is done. Expect summer arrivals from Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill.

3) Texas Rangers - Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler give the Rangers two of the better hitters in the AL. Michael Young and Hank Blalock might have seen their best days, but are also capable bats. The key for the Rangers offense is the continued development of their youth. Nelson Cruz, David Murphy, Chris Davis, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia could help propel the Rangers to the highest scoring offense in the league.

The problem in Texas, as always, is the lack of pitching. Frank Francisco gives them a potentially good closer. Everybody else in the bullpen is meltdown waiting the happen. The starting pitching isn't much better. Millwood and Padilla have seen their best days, while the youth has yet to develop into quality major league talent.

4) Seattle Mariners - This team just isn't that good. Ichiro will continue to slap away in the leadoff spot, but there isn't much run production after him. Hopefully Jeff Clement develops the power they think he has, but he's already the answer the offense needs. The team probably wouldn't mind dumping Adrian Beltre too, so there goes 20+ homeruns.

The pitching could keep this team competitive. Felix Hernandez is an ace in the making, Erik Bedard is hopefully healthy, and Brandon Morrow could develop into a very good starter. The problem is, this bullpen looks terrible. Lots of leads will probably be blown, as a cast of medicore candidates will frustrate fans and save-hungry fantasy owners all summer.

AL Central Preview

Arguably the most wide open division in the league. No headline free agent signings means that all these teams are banking their playoff hopes on internal improvement.

1) Minnesota Twins - Nobody thought they would compete last year, and the Twins went all the way to the 163st game of the season. This season, the Twins should take the next step forward and win this wide open division. Francisco Liriano and the other young pitchers on this roster should improve with another year experience under their belt. The back of the bullpen is also not a concern with Joe Nathan still amongst the best closers in the game.

On offense, Morneau gives them a solid middle of the order bat, but Joe Mauer needs to stay healthy. Also, young players like Denard Span, Delmon Young, and Carlos Gomez need to take the next step. If they can, this offense will be able to keep the team ahead of their AL Central competitors. A deadline deal to add some middle relief and another starter might be necessary, but overall, the Twins look solid.

2) Detroit Tigers - This team was easily the bust of the '08 season. The should be back with a force in '09. Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, and Magglio Ordonez give the offense a good core. Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield (if healthy), and Carlos Guillen could give the Tigers the best offense in the division, if they perform to their capabilities.

The pitching staff shouldn't be as bad as last season. Justin Verlander, Nate Robinson, and Dontrelle Willis aren't as bad as they were last season. Willis is grossly overpaid for bad peripheral numbers, but he's still a good middle rotation starter when one his game. Edwin Jackson and Armando Galarraga give the Tigers a nice bottom to their rotation. The bullpen remains unsettled. Brandon Lyon may have held the job in Arizona last year, but he was incredibly shaky as the closer. They better hope Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya return to their pre-2008 forms.

3) Cleveland Indians - They were hot down the stretch, even without Sabathia headlining the rotation. Cliff Lee won't be as good as he was last year, but he's still a solid pitcher. Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook, and Carl Pavano are the real question marks in the rotation. Having all 3 in the rotation for an extended stretch of time would greatly boost the Tribes' playoff hopes.

The question marks don't end in the starting rotation. The team needs Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner to get healthy and play like they were capable of. I have my doubts on Hafner ever being as good as he was a few years ago, but Martinez is young enough to still refind his stroke. Grady Sizemore remains one of the best players in the league, Mark DeRosa is coming off a great season, Kelly Shoppach hit 21 homers from the catchers spot last year, and Jhonny Peralta gives above average production from the shortstop position. If Martinez and Hafner return to form, the Indians could easily win this division.

4) Chicago White Sox - The Sox will need Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye, and A.J. Pierzynski to fight off father time for another season. If so, they'll team with young studs, Carlos Quentin and Alexi Ramirez, to form a potent offense.

The pitching is good at the top of the rotation. Gavin Floyd, Mark Buerhle, and John Danks give the team a solid trio of starters who are capable of winning 15+ games this season. Having the bottom of the rotation settled upon will go a long way in helping their cause for another AL Central title. The bullpen looks settled, and it should be the best unit in the division.

5) Kansas City Royals - They'll return to the cellar, but the Royals aren't the pushovers they once were. Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, Mike Jacobs, Mike Aviles, Billy Butler, and Alex Gordon give the team a respectable offense. If Aviles, Butler, and Gordon take big steps forward, this offense could be really good.

Greinke gives the team a legit number one, while Soria provides them with an elite closer. It's the spots inbetween that need to be settled on. Bannister, Hochevar, Davies, and Ramirez will fill in the rotation behind Greinke and Meche. Not a rotation that strikes fear into anyone, but its a start. They're hoping Farnsworth can finally harness his stuff, while Juan Cruz gives them a great option in the 8th inning.

AL East Preview

Will the Rays be able to repeat their 2008 success? Not likely, with the Yankees reloaded and gunning for another World Series.

1) New York Yankees - The Yanks spent their offseason acquiring plenty of free agent talent to fix a dismal 2008 campaign. Mark Teixeira has been brought in to add another strong bat to the middle of the order, while C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett will headline the pitching staff. Teixeira and Sabathia will bring it each week, and if healthy, Burnett is more than capable of being a number two.

Free agency alone will not be enough to get the Yankees back to the top. Posada and Matsui need to stay healthy and productive. Wang will have to come back with a strong season and Chamberlain will have to continue his development to solidify the starting rotation. Having Cano rebound from a bad season will help add more depth to the lineup as well. Additionally, the bullpen has holes that need to be addressed.

Still, the Yankees will have the offense, and enough starting pitching, to win the AL East this year.

2) Boston Red Sox - The pitching in Beantown is just great. If Beckett bounces back from a rough year, him, Dice-K, and Lester could form the best trio of pitchers in the league. Not to mention the great quality they have coming out of the bullpen in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.

The key for the Red Sox will be Ortiz and Lowell. Both guys are getting up their in age, and have had some injury problems in the past year. If the age of these two start to show this year, then the offense just won't be enough to compete with the Yankees. Also, as much as I like Jason Bay, he won't provide the same protection for Big Papi that Manny Ramirez did.

With Boston's pitching, they should still be in the race all season. Their offense may not be as good as New York's, but it's still one of the best in baseball, and they'll end up taking the wild card in the AL.

3) Tampa Bay Rays - Putting the Rays here does not mean I think they're a one year wonder. Upton, Longoria, Pena, Crawford, and Burrell give this team plenty of offense. Kazmir (if healthy), Shields, and Garza give them an impressive trio at the top of the rotation. The bullpen is deep. Plus, David Price is going to make the jump to the pros at some point in the summer, and his addition will be like trading for a starter midseason.

This team will be in the race all season. Putting them third is hardly a criticize of how good I think this team is, and how good I think they could continue to be in the future. However, I think the Yankees will be a lot stronger this year, and Tampa will take a hit in the standings because of it.

4) Toronto Blue Jays - The pitching just won't be here this year. The bullpen will remain a top unit, but the starting pitching falls off after Halladay. No Burnett, no Marcum, and no McGowan to start the season. McGowan will be back at some point, but the rest of the rotation will be filled with inexperience (Litsch, Cecil, Purcey) or medicorcity (Richmond).

I actually think the offense will be improved under Cito Gaston. Gibbons had players like Wells and Rios trying to work the count and hit balls the other way. Neither is that type of hitter. Both are at their best when they can be aggressive and hack away, which will happen more frequently this year. Snider should also add some power to the lineup. However, this unit isn't nearly good enough to outslug NY, Boston, or Tampa, and will lose a lot of games this season, unless the young pitchers surprise.

5) Baltimore Orioles - The offense on this team could be fun to watch this year. Emerging young players like Markakis, Jones, and super prospect Matt Wieters should give fans at Camden Yards a lot of make noise about in the bottom half of innings. Unfortunately, the top half of the inning will feature the worst pitching staff in the division, and one of the worst staffs in the league. Jeremy Guthrie is the only legit starter on this team. The bullpen has two closer candidates in Sherrill and Ray, but one will likely be dealt as the deadline approaches.

If the Orioles can address their pitching staff, this might be a decent team in the future. As it stands right now, they'll be the AL East doormat for another year.