Post by Rockies GM (Alex) on Nov 11, 2011 21:21:28 GMT -5
2012 NL West Preview
San Diego Padres
GM: Charlie
2011: 8-5
The San Diego Padres shot out of the gate last year going 6-1 in their first 7 games. The team put up high scoring totals and even took down the mighty Phillies in Week 6 of the season. However, the buzz surrounding the west coast team slowly died and the team finished a game out of the playoffs at 8-5. The team may have overachieved at the beginning of the season, but it was no surprise the Padres were one of the better teams in the National League. The team has a solid rotation with young pitchers Mat Latos and Max Scherzer on the mound. The team also has a strong youthful offense with hitters Peter Bourjos, Cameron Maybin, and Carlos Santana. The problem with this team is the bullpen and depth. No true closer finishes off games for the Padres, and the team saw the bad effects of that towards the end of last season. Also, the back-end of the rotation is sketchy and they lack quality starters on the left side of the infield. To be able to challenge the Rockies in the NL West next year, the team will need to fix these issues. One thing going well for San Diego is their solid farm. Young pitcher Casey Kelly should be a dominant force in the rotation in a couple of years. The farm also has a great supply of hitting in C. J. Cron, Nick Castellanos, Adeiny Hechavarria, and Jaff Decker that should make an impact on the team’s offense in the future. All in all, the team will be competitive, but the owner’s ability to improve the team’s weak points will be the deciding factor in the 2012 season for the Padres.
Grade: B-
Arizona Diamondbacks
GM: Justin
2011: 4-9
Things were looking bright in Arizona last season. The team had made promising moves and seemed destined for the playoffs. They didn’t. The Dbacks finished a mediocre 4-9 and finished in the bottom half of the division. So what went wrong? Well, to start, star pitcher Jair Jurrjens went down with injury mid-way through the season. Also, outside of slugger Jay Bruce, the rest of the offense was inconsistent and the team struggled because of it. However, things are looking up for Arizona. The team boasts one of the best 1-2-3 punches in their rotation in the league. With three solid aces in Ricky Romero, Ian Kennedy, and Jair Jurrjens, the team should be able to go far in 2012. Stud closer J. J. Putz should continue to put up the big numbers he did last year. What will determine the way the season goes for the Dbacks next year will be the offense. Everyone is aware that Jay Bruce will be in the running to lead the NL in homeruns. Beyond him, can Ricky Weeks and Stephen Drew contribute solid outings? Their ability to do so could take the Dbacks far. Without them, the season could be a disaster. Having a weak farm, it’s all or nothing for the Dbacks in these next few years. Will they bring a championship to Arizona? The fate of the season is on the offense.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Dodgers
GM: Ryan
2011: 2-11
Unlike the other Los Angeles team, the Angels, the Dodgers, once a proud franchise, plunged to rock bottom last season and finished with the second worst record in the league. Injuries piled up, players didn’t produce, and the GM was left wondering what happened. Obviously in a rebuilding stage, the team will benefit from the second overall pick in the upcoming amateur and international/MiLB draft. In an early off-season trade, the GM made a smart decision in trading veteran second baseman Chase Utley for prospects and draft picks. Unfortunately, he still has a long way to go. Although important building blocks in Anthony Rizzo and Justin Masterson should keep the fans happy in the present, the team will need help from the lower levels if they want to reach the top. Young starters Tanner Scheppers and Brody Colvin should be key guys in the rotation in a few years if they live up to potential. Shortstops Matt Lipka and Jose Iglesias could be solid bats in the future. Even though the MLB is very depleted, the team still doesn’t have a top farm system in the league. To solve this, they will have to draft well. The high picks could bring top young talent into the minors. To conclude, the team will struggle in the present, but with players like Masterson and Rizzo, the future could hold great things for LA.
Grade: D-
San Francisco Giants
GM: Cooper
2011: 5-8
The Giants, like their MLB counterparts, failed to live up to expectations and finished with a losing record in 2011. The offense was unproductive, and the pitching couldn’t carry them through a rough season. No matter how bad things got last year, 2012 is a new day in San Francisco and a playoff chase is likely. Strong young hitters Michael Morse, Andres Torres, and Brandon Crawford will look to improve one of the weakest offenses in baseball. The rotation is solid all around with starters Mark Buerhle, Vance Worley, and Matt Cain. The team also has one of the best closers in baseball in Brian Wilson. Perhaps what is the greatest strength of this team is the farm system. The team drafted well picking up pitchers Tyler Anderson, Dylan Davis and Michael Fulmer. However, the future of this team is all in the hands of outfielders Jarrod Parker, Gary Brown, and the one and only Bryce Harper. The team acquired Harper in a move that sent Lincecum to Washington. A very risky one to say the least, but if Harper can the live up to the hype, the Giants will have struck gold with the young slugger. The team could be a playoff contender, or it could be another mediocre season. Regardless, the team should be content to wait on the proclaimed superstar in Harper.
Grade: B-
Colorado Rockies
GM: Alex
2011: 11-2
The team that tied the best record in the league at 11-2 fell one game short of the World Series by losing to the eventual champion Philadelphia Phillies. The team dominated opponents in the regular season, but after beating the Marlins in the first round, they couldn’t stand the test against the mighty Phillies. With a devastating loss behind them, the team should look to reload in the 2012 season. The team has a solid attack on offense with Freddie Freeman, Jimmy Rollins, David Wright, and star Carlos Gonzalez. In the early off-season, the GM dealt prospects and draft picks to acquire slugger Paul Konerko to beef up the lineup. Young speedsters Ben Revere, Dexter Fowler, and Eric Young Jr. also give the team valuable production in the steals department. Along with the offense, closers Craig Kimbrel and Kevin Gregg as well as set up men Rafael Soriano and Rafael Betancourt shut down teams at the end of games. The big question in Colorado is the rotation. The rotation with five young up-and-coming pitchers in Ubaldo Jimenez, Francisco Liriano, Zack Greinke, Jhoulys Chacin, and Jorge De La Rosa failed to live up to potential as Jimenez numbers dropped, Liriano and De La Rosa were hurt, and the team shut down Chacin towards the end of the season. Although the starters could all rebound, to add clarity this mess of a rotation, the team will need to acquire a proven starter. A bright spot on the Rockies is the farm system. The team boasts arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball in Julio Teheren, who could be up by 2012 to help a rotation. Hitters Nolan Arenado, Wilin Rosario, and Jonathan Singleton and young closer Rex Brothers should be difference makers soon. In conclusion, the Rockies will go as far as their pitching takes them, even if the means to a World Series title.
Grade: A-
2012 Projected NL West Standings:
1. Rockies
2. Dbacks
3. Padres
4. Giants
5. Dodgers
That concludes the 2012 Previews! Playoff Predictions will come after Free Agency. Stay tuned!
San Diego Padres
GM: Charlie
2011: 8-5
The San Diego Padres shot out of the gate last year going 6-1 in their first 7 games. The team put up high scoring totals and even took down the mighty Phillies in Week 6 of the season. However, the buzz surrounding the west coast team slowly died and the team finished a game out of the playoffs at 8-5. The team may have overachieved at the beginning of the season, but it was no surprise the Padres were one of the better teams in the National League. The team has a solid rotation with young pitchers Mat Latos and Max Scherzer on the mound. The team also has a strong youthful offense with hitters Peter Bourjos, Cameron Maybin, and Carlos Santana. The problem with this team is the bullpen and depth. No true closer finishes off games for the Padres, and the team saw the bad effects of that towards the end of last season. Also, the back-end of the rotation is sketchy and they lack quality starters on the left side of the infield. To be able to challenge the Rockies in the NL West next year, the team will need to fix these issues. One thing going well for San Diego is their solid farm. Young pitcher Casey Kelly should be a dominant force in the rotation in a couple of years. The farm also has a great supply of hitting in C. J. Cron, Nick Castellanos, Adeiny Hechavarria, and Jaff Decker that should make an impact on the team’s offense in the future. All in all, the team will be competitive, but the owner’s ability to improve the team’s weak points will be the deciding factor in the 2012 season for the Padres.
Grade: B-
Arizona Diamondbacks
GM: Justin
2011: 4-9
Things were looking bright in Arizona last season. The team had made promising moves and seemed destined for the playoffs. They didn’t. The Dbacks finished a mediocre 4-9 and finished in the bottom half of the division. So what went wrong? Well, to start, star pitcher Jair Jurrjens went down with injury mid-way through the season. Also, outside of slugger Jay Bruce, the rest of the offense was inconsistent and the team struggled because of it. However, things are looking up for Arizona. The team boasts one of the best 1-2-3 punches in their rotation in the league. With three solid aces in Ricky Romero, Ian Kennedy, and Jair Jurrjens, the team should be able to go far in 2012. Stud closer J. J. Putz should continue to put up the big numbers he did last year. What will determine the way the season goes for the Dbacks next year will be the offense. Everyone is aware that Jay Bruce will be in the running to lead the NL in homeruns. Beyond him, can Ricky Weeks and Stephen Drew contribute solid outings? Their ability to do so could take the Dbacks far. Without them, the season could be a disaster. Having a weak farm, it’s all or nothing for the Dbacks in these next few years. Will they bring a championship to Arizona? The fate of the season is on the offense.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Dodgers
GM: Ryan
2011: 2-11
Unlike the other Los Angeles team, the Angels, the Dodgers, once a proud franchise, plunged to rock bottom last season and finished with the second worst record in the league. Injuries piled up, players didn’t produce, and the GM was left wondering what happened. Obviously in a rebuilding stage, the team will benefit from the second overall pick in the upcoming amateur and international/MiLB draft. In an early off-season trade, the GM made a smart decision in trading veteran second baseman Chase Utley for prospects and draft picks. Unfortunately, he still has a long way to go. Although important building blocks in Anthony Rizzo and Justin Masterson should keep the fans happy in the present, the team will need help from the lower levels if they want to reach the top. Young starters Tanner Scheppers and Brody Colvin should be key guys in the rotation in a few years if they live up to potential. Shortstops Matt Lipka and Jose Iglesias could be solid bats in the future. Even though the MLB is very depleted, the team still doesn’t have a top farm system in the league. To solve this, they will have to draft well. The high picks could bring top young talent into the minors. To conclude, the team will struggle in the present, but with players like Masterson and Rizzo, the future could hold great things for LA.
Grade: D-
San Francisco Giants
GM: Cooper
2011: 5-8
The Giants, like their MLB counterparts, failed to live up to expectations and finished with a losing record in 2011. The offense was unproductive, and the pitching couldn’t carry them through a rough season. No matter how bad things got last year, 2012 is a new day in San Francisco and a playoff chase is likely. Strong young hitters Michael Morse, Andres Torres, and Brandon Crawford will look to improve one of the weakest offenses in baseball. The rotation is solid all around with starters Mark Buerhle, Vance Worley, and Matt Cain. The team also has one of the best closers in baseball in Brian Wilson. Perhaps what is the greatest strength of this team is the farm system. The team drafted well picking up pitchers Tyler Anderson, Dylan Davis and Michael Fulmer. However, the future of this team is all in the hands of outfielders Jarrod Parker, Gary Brown, and the one and only Bryce Harper. The team acquired Harper in a move that sent Lincecum to Washington. A very risky one to say the least, but if Harper can the live up to the hype, the Giants will have struck gold with the young slugger. The team could be a playoff contender, or it could be another mediocre season. Regardless, the team should be content to wait on the proclaimed superstar in Harper.
Grade: B-
Colorado Rockies
GM: Alex
2011: 11-2
The team that tied the best record in the league at 11-2 fell one game short of the World Series by losing to the eventual champion Philadelphia Phillies. The team dominated opponents in the regular season, but after beating the Marlins in the first round, they couldn’t stand the test against the mighty Phillies. With a devastating loss behind them, the team should look to reload in the 2012 season. The team has a solid attack on offense with Freddie Freeman, Jimmy Rollins, David Wright, and star Carlos Gonzalez. In the early off-season, the GM dealt prospects and draft picks to acquire slugger Paul Konerko to beef up the lineup. Young speedsters Ben Revere, Dexter Fowler, and Eric Young Jr. also give the team valuable production in the steals department. Along with the offense, closers Craig Kimbrel and Kevin Gregg as well as set up men Rafael Soriano and Rafael Betancourt shut down teams at the end of games. The big question in Colorado is the rotation. The rotation with five young up-and-coming pitchers in Ubaldo Jimenez, Francisco Liriano, Zack Greinke, Jhoulys Chacin, and Jorge De La Rosa failed to live up to potential as Jimenez numbers dropped, Liriano and De La Rosa were hurt, and the team shut down Chacin towards the end of the season. Although the starters could all rebound, to add clarity this mess of a rotation, the team will need to acquire a proven starter. A bright spot on the Rockies is the farm system. The team boasts arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball in Julio Teheren, who could be up by 2012 to help a rotation. Hitters Nolan Arenado, Wilin Rosario, and Jonathan Singleton and young closer Rex Brothers should be difference makers soon. In conclusion, the Rockies will go as far as their pitching takes them, even if the means to a World Series title.
Grade: A-
2012 Projected NL West Standings:
1. Rockies
2. Dbacks
3. Padres
4. Giants
5. Dodgers
That concludes the 2012 Previews! Playoff Predictions will come after Free Agency. Stay tuned!