2012 NL West baseball preview

by Steve

Assuming we don't count last weeks Japan series between Seattle and Oakland, the 2012 baseball season starts Wednesday. 'Bout god damn time I starting filling your dome with knowledge so here is a breakdown of each division.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Is there a specific reason why the Dodgers can't bounce back sans McCourt and win the NL West? They have a stud #1 and #2 in Kershaw and Billingsley. The 3-5 are respectable if Capuano and Harang have anything left. (Ouch that is a big IF, but no one is missing Kuroda). Any team with out Franky McC as the owner has to be better off though.

The bullpen is weak but the position players are in place to seriously contend for a division title. Don't sleep on Dee Gordon at SS fwiw. Oh and yes Loney, Ethier and Kemp are still on the squad. #ilikethat.
91-71


San Francisco Giants
Holy smokes did Matt Cain get paid. One of the highest paid righties of all time? He has been combined 3 games above .500 that last four years. Don't bother giving me his ERA, W's are all that matters when you're throwing around that much jack. Bumgarner and Zito need to be a factor for this team to find success in 2012.

Anyone have faith in "Milkey", Angel Pagan and Schierholtz in the outfield? Didn't think so. Buster P. needs to prove he is healthy and has moved past that gruesome injury before I believe it. Oh and did anyone else hear Brian Wilson on Jim Rome Tuesday? Dude is outtttt there, woww.
89-73

Arizona Diamonbacks
Damn I did not see 2011 coming from the desert. Hats off to Kirky Kirk Gibson. Unfortunately the element of surprise is gone. Fortunately this roster is still stacked with crazy talent (Upton, Young, Montero, Goldschmitd)

Can Joe Saunders contribute? No way Ian Kennedy replicates 2011 but it wasn't necessarily a fluke season either. The acquisition of Cahill from Oakland is solid and the rest of the rotation leans on young guns. The fact that no one out in Arizona pays attention can only be a blessing in disguise.
88-74


Colorado Rockies
This team will flat out rake as per usual but can they get anyone out? Jeremy Guthrie is solid (anyone remember he was a Buffalo Bison) but he is not an ace, period. Wait wait, do they really have 49 year-old Jamie Moyer listed as their #2 They just went from 83 wins to 79, ouch.

Carlos Gonzalez has to prove he wasn't just a fluke, but lucky for him he plays in Denver. Oh and what the hell does Todd Helton eat every day? I need to get on his level. Cuddyer will fit in nicely in the National League bet on that.
79-83


San Diego Padres
#timetodie. Hundley, Headley and Maybin might be worth watching and that's about it. Pitchers are going to pitch like Volquez and Moseley but this team is in dire straits. Gonna be a tough season in paradise down in SoCal. The only reason I can imagine vets like Barlett and Hudson signing are either ca$he money or the weather. Not good.

69-73