The Sports Don's 2009 NL West Preview posted by Christian Mielcarek
The National League West is not a division too many people are getting overly excited about entering the 2009 season. The return of Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles has made the Dodgers the division’s lone true contender for the World Series. Arizona will go as far as its pitching takes it, which could be far, but other than that, there’s not a whole lot to pontificate upon. Yet, somehow, I still managed to write 1,383 words.
To read The Sports Don’s AL East preview, click here, for his AL Central preview, click here, and for his AL West preview, click here.
1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (84-78, first place and lost in NLCS in 2008)
The star of the self-titled epic “Mannywood” has returned making the Dodgers one of the most feared lineups in the NL even if Ramirez doesn’t put up the redonkulous numbers he did while in Los Angeles. Should Manny produce at the pace he did after being acquired at the deadline, his year-end totals for ’09 will look something like this: 52 homeruns, 162 RBI, 42 doubles, 107 walks, a .396 batting average and a .489 on-base percentage. That, ladies and gentlemen, would be the greatest season for any hitter all-time.
The Dodger lineup is frightfully deep starting with Rafael Furcal (.357 AVG with five HR, 16 RBI and eight stolen bases in only 36 games last season) at the top of the order all the way down to either Andre Ethier (20, 77, .305) or Casey Blake (21 and 81 between Cleveland and LA). If Matt Kemp and James Loney continue to develop, there isn’t an easy out to be found until the pitcher's spot. The Dodger staff doesn’t offer a true ace, but every scout is in love with Chad Billingsley. Hiroki Kuroda pitched well in his first year in the majors, particularly in the second half when he had a 3.48 ERA, and will pitch in the second spot in the rotation ahead of Clayton Kershaw, who is probably another year or two away from reaching his full potential. The bullpen could present problems, especially if Jonathan Broxton is inconsistent stepping in for the departed Takashi Saito. He signed with Boston, he’s not dead. Reliever Cory Wade was superb from September on allowing four runs on 11 hits and two walks in 21 1/3 innings.
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