National League West Roundup-Where Do The Los Angeles Dodgers Fit?
By Jeff Henning
Last season the Los Angeles Dodgers were the class of the NL West. The San Francisco Giants occasionally tested the Dodgers in the standings, but for the most part the Dodgers were the only worthy horse in that race. Their dynamic pitching duo of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke powered this L.A. team to the playoffs in 2015. After another disappointing outcome and some major roster shakeups, we look at where the Dodgers rank in the NL West.
In accordance with current trends, the Colorado Rockies boasted a potent offense but just couldn’t find an effective pitcher in that thin Colorado air. All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was shipped up to Toronto in a somewhat shocking pre-deadline deal. The Rockies finished in the basement of the NL West in 2015 and they’ll most likely find themselves in that position again in 2016. Still working on a great reason as to why Corey Dickerson was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jake McGee. It’s a bullpen game now, I get it, but what worth is a reliever who enters the game already down 7 runs. All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez could fetch a great return, that is if 1st base doesn’t work out for him.
The San Diego Padres won last year’s award for best costume, as their rendition of the 2012 Miami Marlins was spot on. During the 2014 offseason, Padres GM A.J. Prellers was a machine. Acquiring such players as Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Derek Norris, and Will Myers. The Padres even signed big name free agent James Shields to a 5 year deal. The team was young but there was no denying the potential of the talent. Upton has already moved on while every other one of these guys has spent some of last season and the offseason in the rumor mill.
Of all the NL West teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks were the most intriguing. Paul Goldschmidt is an NL MVP worthy first baseman, and one of the 5 best players in baseball today. Outfielder A.J. Pollock burst onto the scene last season as an effective consistent offensive threat. Both players were a big reason why the Diamondbacks were the 2nd best offense in the NL, scoring a total of 720 runs in 2015. Now, after a busy offseason that included stealing away Zack Greinke from the Dodgers and also acquiring Atlanta Brave’s pitcher Shelby Miller in a blockbuster trade. Greinke is a legitimate ace and Miller is a great number 2, whose win loss record is guaranteed to improve. On paper, this team should be considered the favorites to win the West in 2016.
As the Giants have recently proven however, what’s on paper rarely matters in terms of the actual standings. Last season’s 2nd place finisher and architect of the even-year-modern-era dynasty that currently has them slotted to win 2016’s World Series. The Giants finished 8 games behind the champion Dodgers and were no doubt affected by the untimely injuries of important offensive weapons. This year could be different for the Giants though. Recent offseason acquisition Johnny Cueto finally gives the Giants an answer to who they really have beyond Madison Bumgarner. Cueto has been a dominant NL pitcher in the past and if he’s fixed his “jimmie-shoulders,” he should give the Giants a comparable pitching duo to anyone else in the NL West.
Finally, on to the Los Angeles Dodgers. There’s no question that Greinke has left a huge hole in this rotation. There was also a large pool of big name pitchers on the free agent market but the Dodgers were unable to lure any free agent pitchers to Chavez Ravine. Aside from the pitching rotation, there are a many number of questions for new manager Dave Roberts and his staff to figure out. Chief among them Yasiel Puig, Andre Either, and even Joc Pederson. The good news is that the Dodgers will unleash their shortstop of the future in Corey Seager. This will be Seager’s rookie year and he has ROY potential written all over him. Productive second baseman Howie Kendrick recently signed a 2 year extension with the Dodgers and Adrian Gonzalez can provide All-Star caliber offense from one of the corner infield positions.
In terms of the pitching staff, the Dodgers may have lost a big time name but don’t be surprised if their rotation is just fine in 2016. Clayton Kershaw has been the best pitcher in baseball for the past 5 years and will no doubt be at the top of that list again this season. Innings eater Scott Kazmir will most likely enter as the number 2 option for the Dodgers. Kazmir might not blow anyone away but he’s been the MLB’s most reliably consistent pitcher for the past few seasons. Brett Anderson, Kenta Maeda, Alex Wood, and Hyun Jin-Ryu all figure to see some action in the deep Dodger rotation. Maeda, the biggest wild card, comes with a team friendly contract, but also questions as to whether or not he can be successful against MLB competition.