The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
45°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

NL West

The Spokesman-Review

West Division

In order of 2006 finish

San Diego Padres

2006: 88-74, first place.

Manager: Bud Black (first season).

Projected lineup: 2B Marcus Giles (.262, 11 HRs, 60 RBIs, 10 SBs, .341 OBP with Atlanta), RF Brian Giles (.263, 14, 83, 104 BBs, 87 runs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.304, 24, 82, 113 Ks), C Josh Bard (.333, 9, 40), CF Mike Cameron (.268, 22, 83, 25 SB), SS Khalil Greene (.245, 15, 55), 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff (.214, 3, 11 with Cleveland), LF Terrmel Sledge (.229, 2, 7).

Rotation: RH Jake Peavy, (11-14, 4.09 ERA, 215 Ks), RH Chris Young (11-5, 3.46, 164 Ks), RH Clay Hensley (11-12, 3.71), RH Greg Maddux (15-14, 4.20 with Cubs and Dodgers), LH David Wells (3-5, 4.42 ERA with Boston and San Diego).

Key relievers: RH Trevor Hoffman (0-2, 2.14, 46/51 saves), RH Scott Linebrink (7-4, 3.57 ERA, 2 saves) RH Cla Meredith (5-1, 1.07 ERA), RH Doug Brocail (2-2, 4.76 ERA), RH Heath Bell (0-0, 5.11 with New York Mets), RH Mike Thompson (4-5, 4.99), RH Kevin Cameron (6-4, 2.98, 9 saves with Triple-A Rochester).

Overview: The Padres led the league in ERA last season (3.87) and should have a strong staff again with Peavy, Young, Maddux and Hoffman. But they could have a hard time winning a third straight division title. The lineup looks lousy, though Gonzalez often gets overlooked. Marcus Giles arrives from Atlanta and joins his brother, Brian Giles. Maddux and fellow forty-something Wells are quite a contrast in the clubhouse. Former Angels pitching coach Black replaces Bruce Bochy as manager.

Los Angeles Dodgers

2006: 88-74, second place, wild card.

Manager: Grady Little (second season).

Projected lineup: SS Rafael Furcal (.300, 15 HRs, 63 RBIs, 113 runs, 37 SBs, .369 OBP), CF Juan Pierre (.292, 3, 40, 58 SBs .330 OBP with Cubs), 1B Nomar Garciaparra (.303, 20, 93), 2B Jeff Kent (.292, 14, 68), LF Luis Gonzalez (.271, 15, 73, 52 2Bs with Arizona), C Russell Martin (.282, 10, 65), 3B Wilson Betemit (.263, 18, 53 with Atlanta, Dodgers), RF Andre Ethier (.308, 11, 55).

Rotation: RH Derek Lowe (16-8, 3.63 ERA), LH Randy Wolf (4-0, 5.56 ERA in 12 games with Philadelphia), RH Jason Schmidt (11-9, 3.59 ERA, 180 Ks with San Francisco), RH Brad Penny (16-9, 4.33 ERA, 148 Ks), RH Brett Tomko 8-7, 4.73 ERA in 15 starts and 29 relief appearances).

Key relievers: RH Takashi Saito (6-2, 2.08, 24/26 saves), RH Jonathan Broxton (4-1, 2.68, 3/7 saves), LH Joe Beimel (2-1, 2.96 ERA, 2/2 saves), RH Chad Billingsley (7-4, 3.80 in 16 starts and two relief appearances), RH Rudy Seanez (3-3, 4.92 with Boston and San Diego), LH Mark Hendrickson (4-8, 3.81 ERA in 13 starts for Tampa Bay and 2-7, 4.68 ERA in six starts and 12 relief appearances for Dodgers).

Overview: After winning the wild card last year, the Dodgers look like the team to beat out West in 2007. Pierre was a curious signing at $44 million over five years, but left-hander Wolf made a lot of sense for an imposing rotation that also features Lowe, Penny and Schmidt. The bullpen appears solid. The lineup probably won’t scare many foes, with several aging sluggers in the middle of it. Speedy Furcal injured his ankle late in spring training. The heart and soul of this team might be impressive catcher Martin, a rookie last season.

San Francisco Giants

2006: 76-85, third place.

Manager: Bruce Bochy (first season).

Projected lineup: CF Dave Roberts (.293, 2, 44, 49 SBs, 13 triples), SS Omar Vizquel (.295, 4, 58, 24 SBs, 10 triples, 4 errors, 11th Gold Glove), LF Barry Bonds (.270, 26, 77, 115 BBs, .454 OBP, .545 slugging), 2B Ray Durham (.293, 26, 93, .538 slugging), 3B Pedro Feliz (.244, 22, 98, 33 BBs in 603 ABs), 1B Rich Aurilia (.300, 23, 70, .518 slugging), C Bengie Molina (.284, 19, 57), RF Randy Winn (.262, 11, 56, 34 doubles).

Rotation: LH Barry Zito (16-10, 3.83, 151 Ks, 27 HRs), RH Matt Cain (13-12, 4.15, 179 Ks, 3.26 ERA after All-Star break), RH Matt Morris (10-15, 4.98), LH Noah Lowry (7-10, 4.74), RH Russ Ortiz (0-8, 8.14).

Key relievers: RH Armando Benitez (4-2, 3.52, 17/25), RH Brian Wilson (2-3, 5.40, 1), LH Steve Kline (4-3, 3.66, 1), RH Kevin Correia (2-0, 3.49).

Overview: Besides the two Barrys (Bonds and Zito), the Giants feature Durham and talented young pitcher Cain. They need to get something useful out of Morris during his second season in San Francisco. Another key to success could be closer Benitez, who has struggled through a pair of injury-plagued seasons. Molina is a sound acquisition at catcher, and newcomer Roberts provides speed in the leadoff slot. Still, Bonds lacks protection in this lineup. Bochy takes over for Felipe Alou as manager.

Arizona Diamondbacks

2006: 76-86, tied for fourth place.

Manager: Bob Melvin (third season).

Projected lineup: CF Chris Young (.243, 10 RBIs in 30 games), SS Stephen Drew (.316, 5 HRs, .357 OBP), RF Carlos Quentin (.253, 9 HRs, 32 RBIs in 61 games), 1B Conor Jackson (.291, 15, 79, .368 OBP), 3B Chad Tracy (.281, 20, 80), LF Eric Byrnes (.267, 26, 79, 25 steals), 2B Orlando Hudson (.287, 15, 67, 34 doubles, 9 triples), C Chris Snyder (.277, 6, 32).

Rotation: RH Brandon Webb (16-8, 3.10 ERA, career-high 235 IP and 178 Ks), LH Doug Davis (11-11, 4.91 with Milwaukee), RH Livan Hernandez (13-13, 4.83 with Washington and Arizona), LH Randy Johnson (17-11, 5.00 with New York Yankees), RH Edgar Gonzalez (3-4, 4.22).

Key relievers: RH Jose Valverde (2-3, 5.84, 18/22 saves), RH Tony Pena (3-4, 5.58), RH Brandon Medders (5-3, 3.64), LH Dana Eveland (0-3, 8.13 with Milwaukee), RH Yusmeiro Petit (1-1, 9.57).

Overview: The club is loaded with prized prospects, many of whom have arrived in the big leagues – Drew, Young, Quentin and Jackson. Now, let’s see how fast they can produce – and how well they adjust to the everyday grind in the majors. The rotation looks pretty good, but it might not be that strong behind Cy Young Award winner Webb. Johnson and Hernandez have logged a lot of innings over the years. The bullpen is largely unproven.

Colorado Rockies

2006: 76-86, tied for fourth place.

Manager: Clint Hurdle (sixth season).

Projected lineup: CF Willy Tavarez (.278, 1 HR, 30 RBIs, 33 SBs for Houston), 2B Kaz Matsui (.345, 2 HR, 19 RBIs in September call-up following trade from Mets), 3B Garrett Atkins (.329, 29, 120), 1B Todd Helton (.302, 15, 81), LF Matt Holliday (.326, 34, 114, 45 doubles), RF Brad Hawpe (.293, 22, 84), SS Troy Tulowitzki (.240, 1, 6 in September call-up), C Chris Iannetta (.260, 2, 10 in September call-up).

Rotation: RHP Aaron Cook (9-15, 4.23 ERA, 92 Ks), LHP Jeff Francis (13-11, 4.16, 117 Ks), RHP Rodrigo Lopez (9-19, 5.90, 136 Ks for Baltimore), RHP Jason Hirsh (3-4, 6.04, 29 Ks for Astros, 13-2, 2.10, 118 at Triple-A Round Rock), RHP Josh Fogg (11-9, 5.49, 93 Ks).

Key relievers: LH Brian Fuentes (3-4, 3.44, 30/36 saves), RH LaTroy Hawkins (3-2, 4.48 with Orioles), LH Jeremy Affeldt (8-8, 6.20 with Royals and Rockies), RH Danny Graves (2-1, 5.79 with Indians), LH Tom Martin (2-0, 5.07), RH Brian Lawrence (missed 2006 following right shoulder surgery), RH Manny Corpas (1-2, 3.62).

Overview: Helton is still in Denver after the Rockies considered trading him to Boston. Now, he hopes to bounce back from two seasons hindered by injuries and illness. All-Star Holliday, Atkins and Hawpe are among the young players who have already established themselves in the big leagues. Next in line could be rookie shortstop Tulowitzki and catcher Iannetta. The Rockies can hit – and they play excellent defense. But they probably don’t have enough pitching to put together their first winning season since 2000.

Associated Press