DW's NL Central Preview

Can anyone compete with the Cards? St Louis brought back Matt Holliday to form one of the best 3-4 punches in the game. If they can get another injury free season out of Carpenter, the Cards will walk with the division. The Cubbies used addition by subtraction in the offseason with Milton Bradley. They need bounce back years from Soriano and Soto to contend - they still have some talent. Milwaukee didn't do too much to improve off last season's 80 wins while the Reds have alot of young developing talent and also lured Aroldis Chapman into Cinci. Ed Wade continues to build with former Phillies with little upside and the Bucos plan to contend sometime in the next decade or so.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

2009 record and finish: 62-99

Manager: John Russell

Departures: RHP Matt Capps

Arrivals: RHP Octavio Dotel, 2B Akinori Iwamura, IF Bobby Crosby, RHP D.J. Carrasco, OF Ryan Church, LHP Neal Cotts

Rotation: LHP Paul Maholm, LHP Zach Duke, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Daniel McCutchen

Closer: RHP Octavio Dotel

Setup guy: RHP Brendan Donnelly

Lineup: CF Andrew McCutchen, 2B Akinori Iwamura, RF Garrett Jones, C Ryan Doumit, LF Lastings Milledge, 1B Jeff Clement, 3B Andy LaRoche, SS Ronny Cedeno


HOUSTON ASTROS:

2009 record and finish: 74-88

Manager: Brad Mills

Departures: RHP Jose Valverde, IF Miguel Tejada, C/IF Chris Coste

Arrivals: RHP Brett Myers, 3B Pedro Feliz, RHP Brandon Lyon

Rotation: RHP Roy Oswalt, LHP Wandy Rodriguez, RHP Brett Myers, RHP Bud Norris, RHP Felipe Paulino

Closer: RHP Matt Lindstrom

Setup guy: RHP Brandon Lyon

Lineup: CF Michael Bourn, 2B Kaz Matsui, 1B Lance Berkman, LF Carlos Lee, RF Hunter Pence, 3B Pedro Feliz, C Jason Castro, SS Tommy Manzella



ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
2009 record and finish: 91-71

Manager: Tony La Russa

Departures: IF Mark DeRosa, RHP Joel Pineiro, IF Troy Glaus, IF Khalil Greene, RHP John Smoltz

Arrivals: RHP Brad Penny, LHP Rich Hill

Rotation: RHP Chris Carpenter, RHP Adam Wainwright, RHP Kyle Lohse, RHP Brad Penny, LHP Rich Hill,

Closer: RHP Ryan Franklin

Setup men: RHP Jason Motte

Lineup: 2B Skip Schumaker, SS Brendan Ryan, 1B Albert Pujols, LF Matt Holliday, RF Ryan Ludwick, CF Colby Rasmus, C Yadier Molina, 3B David Freese


MILWAUKEE BREWERS

2009 record and finish: 80-82

Manager: Ken Macha

Departures: RHP Braden Looper, SS J.J. Hardy, CF Mike Cameron

Arrivals: OF Carlos Gomez, LHP Randy Wolf, RHP LaTroy Hawkins, C Gregg Zaun, LHP Doug Davis

Rotation: RHP Yovani Gallardo, LHP Randy Wolf, LHP Doug Davis, RHP Jeff Suppan, LHP Manny Parra

Closer: RHP Trevor Hoffman

Setup men: RHP LaTroy Hawkins

Lineup: 2B Rickie Weeks, SS Alcides Escobar, 1B Prince Fielder, LF Ryan Braun, RF Corey Hart, 3B Casey McGehee, C Gregg Zaun, CF Carlos Gomez


CHICAGO CUBS
2009 record and finish: 83-78

Manager: Lou Piniella

Departures: OF Milton Bradley, RHP Rich Harden

Arrivals: OF Marlon Byrd, OF Xavier Nady

Rotation: RHP Carlos Zambrano, LHP Ted Lilly, RHP Ryan Dempster, RHP Randy Wells, LHP Tom Gorzelanny

Closer: RHP Carlos Marmol

Setup guy: LHP John Grabow

Regulars: SS Ryan Theriot, RF Kosuke Fukudome, 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Aramis Ramirez, LF Alfonso Soriano, CF Marlon Byrd, C Geovany Soto, 2B Mike Fontenot


CINCINNATI REDS
2009 record and finish: 78-84

Manager: Dusty Baker

Departures: OF Willy Taveras

Arrivals: SS Orlando Cabrera, LHP Aroldis Chapman, IF Aaron Miles

Rotation: RHP Bronson Arroyo, RHP Aaron Harang, RHP Johnny Cueto, RHP Homer Bailey, RHP Micah Owings

Closer: RHP Francisco Cordero

Setup guy: RHP Nick Masset

Lineup: CF Drew Stubbs, SS Orlando Cabrera, 1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips, 3B Scott Rolen, RF Jay Bruce, LF Jonny Gomes, C Ramon Hernandez


DW Pre-Spring Training, Predicted Order of Finish

1. St Louis
2. Chicago
3. Reds
4. Brewers
5. Astros
6. Pirates

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DW's NL West Preview

Today we take a look at the NL West. The Dodgers have taken the last 2 division crowns while the Rockies have also made the playoffs in 2 of the last 3 years. The Giants have a stacked rotation with questionable bats and the D'Backs are coming off a last place finish in a season where they were expected to contend. The Padres are just not very good. DW takes a peak at the teams after the jump..


LOS ANGELES DODGERS

2009 record: 95-67

Manager: Joe Torre

Arrivals: IF Jamey Carroll, OF Reed Johnson

Departures: LHP Randy Wolf, OF Juan Pierre, 2B Orlando Hudson, RHP Guillermo Mota, 1B Jim Thome

Rotation: RHP Chad Billingsley, LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Hiroki Kuroda, RHP Vicente Padilla, RHP James McDonald, LHP Scott Elbert, LHP Eric Stults, RHP Charlie Haeger, RHP Carlos Monasterious

Closer: RHP Jonathan Broxton

Setup: LHP George Sherrill

Lineup: SS Rafael Furcal, CF Matt Kemp, LF Andre Ethier, LF Manny Ramirez, 1B James Loney, 3B Casey Blake, C Russell Martin ,2B Ronnie Belliard,



COLORADO ROCKIES

2009 record: 92-70

Manager: Jim Tracy

Departures: RHP Jason Marquis, 1B/3B Garrett Atkins, C Yorvit Torrealba

Arrivals: IF Melvin Mora, C Miguel Olivo

Rotation: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP Aaron Cook, LHP Jeff Francis, LHP Jorge De La Rosa , RHP Jason Hammel

Closer: RHP Huston Street;

Setup: RHP Rafael Betancourt, LHP Franklin Morales

Lineup: CF Dexter Fowler, LF Carlos Gonzalez, 1B Todd Helton, SS Troy Tulowitzki, RF Brad Hawpe, 3B Ian Stewart, C Chris Iannetta, 2B Clint Barmes

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

2009 record: 88-74

Manager: Bruce Bochy

Departures: LHP Randy Johnson, OF Randy Winn

Arrivals: OF/IF Mark DeRosa, OF/1B Aubrey Huff, RHP Guillermo Mota

Rotation: RHP Tim Lincecum, RHP Matt Cain, LHP Barry Zito, LHP Jonathan Sanchez, LHP Madison Bumgarner

Closer: RHP Brian Wilson

Setup: LHP Jeremy Affeldt

Lineup: CF Aaron Rowand, 2B Juan Uribe, 3B Pablo Sandoval, 1B Aubrey Huff, LF Mark DeRosa, C Bengie Molina, RF Nate Schierholtz, SS Edgar Renteria

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS


2009 record: 70-92

Manager: A.J. Hinch

Departures: LHP Doug Davis, RHP Max Scherzer, LHP Daniel Schlereth, LHP Scott Schoeneweis

Arrivals: RHP Edwin Jackson, 1B Adam LaRoche, RHP Ian Kennedy, 2B Kelly Johnson, RHP Aaron Heilman, RHP Bob Howry

Rotation: RHP Dan Haren RHP Brandon Webb, RHP Edwin Jackson, RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Bill Buckner

Closer: RHP Chad Qualls

Setup: RHP Bob Howry

Lineup: SS Stephen Drew, 2B Kelly Johnson, RF Justin Upton, 1B Adam LaRoche, 3B Mark Reynolds, LF Conor Jackson, CF Chris Young, C Miguel Montero

SAN DIEGO PADRES

2009 record: 75-87

Manager: Bud Black

Departures: 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, OF Brian Giles

Arrivals: RHP Jon Garland, Utility Jerry Hairston Jr. , C Yorvit Torrealba, 1B/OF Matt Stairs

Rotation: RHP Chris Young, RHP Kevin Correia, RHP Jon Garland, LHP Clayton Richard, RHP Mat Latos

Closer: RHP Heath Bell

Setup: RHP Edward Mujica

Lineup: CF Tony Gwynn Jr., 2B David Eckstein, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, 3B Chase Headley, LF Kyle Blanks, RF Wil Venable, C Nick Hundley, SS Everth Cabrera


DW Pre-Spring Training, Predicted Order of Finish

1: Dodgers
2: Rockies
3: Giants
4: D'Backs
5: Padres

The Dodgers did nothing in the offseason and will need to rely on their youngs stars to improve if they intend to keep the division crown. If Jeff Francis can return to his pre-injury form the Rockies may be the class of the division. The Rockies need to avoid the letdown they had following their previous playoff appearance. The Giants added some aging bats but it may not be enough to contend. Arizona is counting on the health of some key players in '10. Webb, Haren and Jackson have the abilty to hang with anybody but they need production out of Drew, Jackson and Young - if they do, they could be the surprise team out west. The biggest question with San Diego is when Adrian Gonzalez will be traded and how much will they receive in return.

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DW'S AL West Preview

DW takes a look at the major leagues on paper, division by division during the final days of February. Today we give you the AL West. This should be a tight division with Seattle being one of baseball's offseason champs, the Angels being the long time kings of the West and the Rangers trying to translate the major's best farm system into the major leagues. a quick look at the teams after the jump..


LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM VIA CALIFORNIA NEAR DISNEYLAND

2009 Record: 97-65
Departures: RHP John Lackey, IF Chone Figgins, DH Vlad Guerrero, OF Sarge Jr, LHP Darren (don't call me Sean) Oliver
Arrivals: DH/LF Hideki Matsui, RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Joel Pineiro,
Rotation: RHP Jered Weaver, LHP Joe Saunders, RHP Ervin Santana, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Joel Pineiro

Closer: LHP Brian Fuentes;
Setup guy: RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Scot Shields
Lineup: SS Erick Aybar, RF Bobby Abreu, CF Torii Hunter, 1B Kendry Morales, DH Hideki Matsui, LF Juan Rivera, 2B Howie Kendrick, C Mike Napoli, 3B Brandon Wood


SEATTLE MARINERS

2009 Record: 85-77
Departures: 3B Adrian Beltre, 1B/DH Russell Branyan, RHP Brandon Morrow, C Kenji Johjima, RHP Miguel Batista, RHP Carlos Silva
Arrivals: LHP Cliff Lee, 3B Chone Figgins, OF Milton Bradley, 1B Casey Kotchman, 1B Ryan Garko, OF Eric Byrnes
Rotation: RHP Felix Hernandez, LHP Cliff Lee, RHP Ian Snell, LHP Erik Bedard (DL), LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith
Closer: RHP David Aardsma;
Setup guy: RHP Brandon League
Lineup: RF Ichiro Suzuki, 3B Chone Figgins, 2B Jose Lopez, LF Milton Bradley, DH Ken Griffey Jr., 1B Casey Kotchman, CF Franklin Gutierrez, C Rob Johnson, SS Jack Wilson


OAKLAND ATHLETICS

2009 Record: 75-87
Departures: 2B Adam Kennedy, IF Bobby Crosby,
Arrivals: RHP Ben Sheets, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, OF Coco Crisp, IF Jake Fox, OF Michael Taylor,
Rotation: RHP Ben Sheets, RHP Justin Duchscherer, LHP Brett Anderson, RHP Dallas Braden, RHP Trevor Cahill
Closer: RHP Andrew Bailey
Set-up guy: RHP Brad Ziegler
Lineup: LF Rajai Davis, CF Coco Crisp, C Kurt Suzuki, DH Jack Cust, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, CF Ryan Sweeney, 2B Mark Ellis, 1B Daric Barton, SS Cliff Pennington


TEXAS RANGERS:

2009 record: 87-75
Departures: RHP Kevin Millwood, OF Marlon Byrd, IF Hank Blalock, OF Andruw Jones, IF Omar Vizquel, C Ivan Rodriguez,
Arrivals: RHP Rich Harden, DH Vlad Guerrero, RHP Colby Lewis, LHP Darren (the black) Oliver
Rotation: RHP Scott Feldman, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Tommy Hunter, LHP Derek Holland, RHP Colby Lewis
Closer: RHP Frank Francisco;
Setup guy: LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Neftali Feliz, LHP Darren Oliver
Lineup: CF Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, LF Josh Hamilton, DH Vlad Guerrero, 2B Ian Kinsler, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Chris Davis, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus




DW Pre-Spring Training, Predicted Order of Finish:

1: Rangers
2: Mariners
3: Angels
4: A's

The Rangers have a shit load of hitting, questionable starting pitching and a potentially strong bullpen. They also have the best minor league system in baseball and may have the ammunition to add arms at the deadline - if/when Harden goes down. If Josh Hamilton can find his '08 form instead of '09, this team will be scary offensively. Starting pitching will be the achillies heel. The M's have maybe the the best 1-2 punch and best defense in the game but will really have to search for runs. DW does not like the Angels off season moves, substituting Lackey, Figgins and Vlad for Matsui, Pineiro and Rodney. The A's need Sheets to put together a good half season so they can swap him for more prospects. They have a lot of talent but are a couple years away. Look for former Phils prospect Michael Taylor - he could be ready to produce right away and is a DW darkhorse for AL rookie of the year.

Next: NL West

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