2017 National League West Preview
Los Angeles Dodgers
2016: 91-71 (NL West champs, lost in NLCS to Chicago Cubs)
Key additions: RHP Sergio Romo, 2B Logan Forsythe
Key subtractions: RHP Joe Blanton, LHP J.P. Howell, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Jose De Leon, OF Josh Reddick, INF/OF Howie Kendrick
Path to the playoffs: Repeat 2016. The Dodgers proved they had enough depth a year ago to win the division despite losing Clayton Kershaw for a big chunk in the middle of the season. They might be a little thinner in the bullpen and the bullpen played a big role in covering innings for them a year ago, but there's enough starting pitching depth for them to makeup for it going the other way this year.
X-factor: 1B Adrian Gonzalez struggled through an up and down year in 2016 and might be hitting a decline. Prospect Cody Bellinger is coming fast. If Gonzalez goes down and Bellinger is inserted, could we see a Wall Pip (not that Bellinger is going to be Lou Gerhig but Gonzalez could lose his spot).
San Francisco Giants
2016: 87-75 (1st Wild Card, lost in NLDS to Chicago Cubs)
Key additions: C Nick Hundley, RHP Mark Melancon
Key subtractions: RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Chris Heston, OF Angel Pagan
Path to the playoffs: Enjoy a full season of Matt Moore in a pitchers park to back up what was a good rotation a year ago, and it should be for what they paid for Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. Melancon should be able to solve that pesky blow saves issues the Giants had last year and they'll push the Dodgers for the division a bit and at least find a way to win a Wild Card berth in an odd numbered year!
X-factor: Matt Cain, who is making $20 million this year, is competing for the fifth starter job. The rest of the rotation is fine but it's going to be insane to watch a $20 million fifth starter
Colorado Rockies
2016: 75-87 (3rd in NL West)
Key additions: 1B Ian Desmond, RHP Greg Holland, LHP Mike Dunn
Key subtractions: OF Ryan Raburn, C Nick Hundley, LHP Boone Logan
Path to the playoffs: Jon Gray looks poised to take that next step or as much as you can as a starting pitcher in Colorado. Tyler Anderson looked good last year and even though they'll be without big offseason signee Desmond for a month, there's always enough offense. If Holland recovers from Tommy John, the bullpen can be solid. There's a world where the Rockies are a legit Wild Card contender all season.
X-factor: The Rockies pitching hopes in 2017 ride with Gray's right arm.
Arizona Diamondbacks
2016: 69-93 (4th in NL West)
Key additions: C Chris Iannetta, C Jeff Mathis, RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Taijaun Walker, SS Ketel Marte
Key subtractions: RHP Daniel Hudson, C Welington Castillo, SS Jean Segura,
Path to the playoffs: Pitching,pitching, pitching, pitching. Zack Greinke has had a velocity issue in the spring but Walker once again has had another tremendous spring. He's had some mirages in the desert before but some mechanical changes are helping him this time. Robbie Ray was a strikeout machine last year and needs some some small tweaks to ascend to a front of the rotation starter and Shelby Miller and Patrick Corbin have as much talent as any fourth and fifth starters in baseball. If the majority gets it together in 2017, a Wild Card berth isn't crazy.
X-factor: AJ Pollock is going to be counted on to prove that 2015 was no fluke even after his 2016 elbow injury. He makes their lineup deep and gives them some hope to go along with a high risk/reward pitching staff.
San Diego Padres
2016: 68-94 (5th in NL West)
Key additions: RHP Jered Weaver, RHP Trevor Cahill,
Key subtractions: RHP Tyson Ross, OF Jon Jay
Path to the playoffs: Trea Turner, Joe Ross, Austin Hedges, Max Fried, Matt Wisler is a pretty strong core to star....oh, they all got traded? Hmmm. Well, are Manuel Margot, Javy Guerra, Luis Perdomo, Anderson Espinoza, and Cal Quantrill ready this year? No? Ok, see ya in 2018.
In more serious terms, Margot should be fun to watch in CF, Hunter Renfroe can hit baseball's a long way very often, Hedges is an up and comer, Wil Myers is solid and Yangervis Solarte is a battler. 75 wins would be an accomplishment.
X-factor: Can Myers prove 2016 wasn't a fluke?.
POSTED 04/01/2017 00:19
Lake County Sentinel
