NL West Standings Projections

Posted by Anthony Romano.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (96-66) 

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (91-71) 

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (85-76) 

COLORADO ROCKIES (75-86) 

SAN DIEGO PADRES (70-92)

The Arizona Diamondbacks sported the 3rd best record in the National League last year finishing 94-68 and winning the National League West. The acquisition of Trevor Cahill from the Oakland Athletics gives the Diamondbacks the ability to improve upon that record from last year. With Cahill joining young stars Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson, pitching does not seem to be an issue going forward. On the offensive side, the Diamondbacks are hit or miss. Though they ranked in the bottom half of the league in total team average, hitting at a .250 clip, they were in the top ten in homers totaling 172. If the Diamondbacks can improve upon their batting average, there is no question they will make some noise in the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were clearly a distracted team last year as then-owner Frank McCourt filed for bankruptcy. With McCourt out of the picture and the Dodgers looking for a new owner, players can now focus solely on baseball. Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw will look to lead a starting rotation that had the 5th best E.R.A last year and 4th most strikeouts. But if the Dodgers want to challenge for the National League West, they will need more offense outside of Matt Kemp. Kemp is coming off arguably his best season as a major leaguer, coming up just one home run shy of being part of the 40/40 club; 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases, while still batting .324. James Loney and Andre Ethier must produce more to give the Dodgers hope in 2012.

The San Francisco Giants definitely hurt by the loss of young catcher Buster Posey in a collision at home plate back in May. Posey is the core of the Giants, being their best hitter on offense while managing the pitching staff day in and day out. With a healthy Posey in 2012, the Giants have a chance to be able to improve upon their 2nd best 3.20 E.R.A. The problem for the Giants is that they finished in the bottom 10 in average, hits, home runs, and runs. One player, as good as Posey is and can be, will not be enough to get this team out of the bottom 10. They will ride the arms of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain throughout the entire season.

The Colorado Rockies have arguably the best shortstop in the game in Troy Tulowitzki. They also have a young blooming star in outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. These two carry an offense that is in the top half in most major categories. Playing in the thin air in Colorado doesn’t hurt either. But ever since Ubaldo Jimenez was traded to the Cleveland Indians back on July 31, the Rockies have been searching for an ace. Until they find that ace, they will continue to be in the bottom half of the MLB in pitching; which doesn’t help when half of their games are at home and the balls tend to fly just a little bit further in the thin air of Denver.

The San Diego Padres had the worst overall offense in 2011. Ranking in the bottom five in hits, runs, home runs, average, and runs batted in, they are looking for all the offensive help from wherever they can get it. The spacious confines of Petco Park do not help much either. The pitching is 3rd best when it comes to E.R.A, but there is just no run support. When Adrian Gonzalez was lost to the Red Sox, it was evident that the Padres were looking to rebuild. They acquired slugger Carlos Quentin when he was a free agent after playing with the Chicago White Sox for the previous four seasons, but will need much more than that to even make a whisper in the National League West.