With most prognosticators picking the Phillies and the Cardinals as the favorites in their respective divisions, the race to watch should be in the National League West.
With the return of pitcher Brandon Webb and the addition of Edwin Jackson joining one the league’s best in Dan Haren (I traded him for a worthless draft pick?); it’s hard not to like the Arizona Diamondbacks’ chances in 2010.
Then again, the San Francisco Giants, who were in the wild-card hunt with the Colorado Rockies late in 2009, have a comparable pitching staff with two-time Cy Young-winner Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain,
Looking around the diamond, they return other young stars like James Loney, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Blake DeWitt, Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton.
They may not have what it takes to overtake the Phillies or the Cardinals this season, but they certainly have enough to make doing nothing in the offseason a nice move toward another NL West pennant.
With the return of pitcher Brandon Webb and the addition of Edwin Jackson joining one the league’s best in Dan Haren (I traded him for a worthless draft pick?); it’s hard not to like the Arizona Diamondbacks’ chances in 2010.Then again, the San Francisco Giants, who were in the wild-card hunt with the Colorado Rockies late in 2009, have a comparable pitching staff with two-time Cy Young-winner Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain,
along with stout closer Brian Wilson.
And then there are the aforementioned Rockies, whose offense always seems to be one the best in the NL.
Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Dodgers have to be the favorite, despite receiving plenty of offseason scrutiny. With their ownership trouble, it’s been well publicized that the Dodgers failed sign a No. 1 pitcher.
Their lack of moves has placed them right behind the New York Mets for “worst offseason.”
But I have to disagree with this offseason chatter. Sometimes, doing nothing is the right thing. With young starting pitchers like Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw — who is 21 and talented, just like Washington’s “savior” Stephen Strasburg, but with two years of MLB experience — the Dodgers could have a No. 1 emerge without a major signing.
And then there are the aforementioned Rockies, whose offense always seems to be one the best in the NL.
Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Dodgers have to be the favorite, despite receiving plenty of offseason scrutiny. With their ownership trouble, it’s been well publicized that the Dodgers failed sign a No. 1 pitcher.
Their lack of moves has placed them right behind the New York Mets for “worst offseason.”But I have to disagree with this offseason chatter. Sometimes, doing nothing is the right thing. With young starting pitchers like Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw — who is 21 and talented, just like Washington’s “savior” Stephen Strasburg, but with two years of MLB experience — the Dodgers could have a No. 1 emerge without a major signing.
Looking around the diamond, they return other young stars like James Loney, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Blake DeWitt, Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton.
They may not have what it takes to overtake the Phillies or the Cardinals this season, but they certainly have enough to make doing nothing in the offseason a nice move toward another NL West pennant.
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