Talented, confident Dodgers will win National League West — again
TSCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. » alk about chutzpah. “We are winning the World Series in 2022. Put it on record.”
That’s what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the media early in spring training.
World Series or bust might be a little cheeky, but winning the National League West is almost a foregone conclusion. After all, Los Angeles has won the division in eight of the past nine years and appears every bit as strong this season.
The exception was last season. The Dodgers won 106 games, but the surprising Giants won 107 to take the title on the final day of the regular season, only to see the Dodgers beat them in five games in the NLDS.
Here’s a capsule look at each team, in predicted order of finish:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The addition of first baseman Freddie Freeman makes the best lineup in the division even more potent. Joining Freeman are Trea Turner, the reigning NL batting champion, a healthy Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy.
Pitching has long been L. A.’ s strength, and it should be again, although there are some question marks. Right- hander Walker Buehler is a legitimate CY Young candidate and lefty Julio Urias went 20- 3 with a 2.96 ERA last season. Lefty Clayton Kershaw, the future Hall of Famer, is supposedly healthy, but he’s not the Kershaw of old. It will be interesting to see how good left- hander Andrew Heaney and right- hander Tony Gonsolin are.
Prediction: 103- 59
2. San Francisco Giants
They won’t win 100- plus games again, but there is enough talent and experience in San Francisco for the Giants to make the playoffs. Gone is star catcher Buster Posey, replaced by prize prospect Joey Bart.
Gone, too, is outfielder/ third baseman Kris Bryant, now with the Rockies. Right- hander Kevin Gausman is gone too, now pitching for Toronto.
Right- handers Logan Webb, Alex Cobb and Anthony Desclafani, and lefties Carlos Rodon and Alex Wood give the Giants a solid starting rotation.
Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford and salty first baseman Brandon Belt provide offense and experience.
Prediction: 90- 72
3. San Diego Padres
Last season, after making a huge hot stove splash, the Padres, as they are prone to do, flopped.
Things started out horribly this spring when star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. showed up at camp with a broken left wrist,
the result of a motorcycle accident. He’ll be out three months.
The Padres’ lineup is not that dynamic, so Tatis’ absence hurts. Third baseman Manny Machado, second baseman Jake Cronenworth and first baseman Eric Hosmer will have to come through until Tatis returns.
Right- hander Yu Darvish and left- hander Blake Snell must rebound from their disappointing 2021 seasons for San Diego to contend.
The good news is that San Diego hired Bob Melvin, who’s been voted manager of the year three times.
Prediction: 84- 78
4. Colorado Rockies
By signing Bryant to a sevenyear, $ 182 million contract, owner Dick Monfort and firstyear general manager Bill
Schmidt signaled their belief that their team can be competitive.
Colorado’s tepid offense got a boost with the addition of Bryant and center fielder Randal Grichuk, but it will need players such as third baseman Ryan Mcmahon, second baseman Brendan Rodgers and catcher Elias Diaz to provide more consistent power.
The rotation, anchored by first- time all- star German Marquez, has a chance to be solid, but it lacks depth. Colorado signed veteran right- hander Alex Colome to be its closer, but the bullpen has several question marks.
Prediction: 78- 84
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
The D- backs lost 110 games last year. And didn’t do much to improve.
Sure, it added right- handers Mark Melancon ( the closer), Zach Davies, Ian Kennedy ( setup man), and Dan Straily, as well as outfielder Jordan Luplow, but it won’t be enough to stay out of the basement. Second baseman/ outfielder Ketel Marte is a nice player who hit .310 last season, but the lineup is by far the weakest in the NL West.
The big name in the rotation is left- hander Madison Bumgarner, but his best days are far in the rearview mirror. Another 100- loss season looks likely.
Prediction: 60- 102