2012 MLB Preview: Part II

(Later this week, there will be at least one post on mental illness and what I do about it, and at least three posts on terrible television, which I assume will end up as this blog's focus. For now, more baseball after the jump. 'Cause baseball.)




Tonight's post takes us to the NL West, a place where journeyman infielders are en vogue and World Series aspirations are at a new low.

FIFTH PLACE: San Diego Padres. Well, maybe they'll be good in 2014. There won't be a lot of reasons to watch this team outside of the rookies, and if all of them produce immediately the team might be mediocre. Journeyman infielders include Orlando Hudson and Jason Bartlett.

FOURTH PLACE: Colorado Rockies. I actually don't hate their offseason- with Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki to build around, there's nothing wrong with adding a few complimentary pieces. What I don't get is the cast of thousands of bummer pitchers who are eventually going to get a chance to start. Whether they go young (Drew Pomeranz, Alex White), incredibly old (Jamie Moyer), or just plain bad (Esmil Rogers), this team will give up runs with the worst of 'em. Jim Tracy is just the man to lead this motley crew. Notable chemistry/ grit/ intangible-ists Casey Blake and Marco Scutaro will be on hand to make sure that everything that can't be measured will be off the charts.

THIRD PLACE: San Francisco Giants. A team with Lincecum and Cain, playing in a weak division, should be an easy playoff pick. They aren't, because they're still rewarding Aubrey Huff for what he did two years ago and letting just about anyone play the infield. Since they still boast one of the best starting rotations in baseball, I can't push them any lower than this. But I wish I could. Former Cubs Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot will set the standard for dudes who are in the major leagues just because.

SECOND PLACE: Arizona Diamondbacks. Likely victims of regression to the mean. Grantland's Jonah Keri explains it all right here, but The Shorter is as follows:

We think that a team that goes from 80 to 90 wins is a team on the upswing. We also think that a team that slips from 95 wins to 88 is a team in decline. But really no, 'cause math.

Somehow, I buy this. Teams that win 94 games and have that as their true talent level are today's version of the dynasty. Your Phillies, Yankees, Rangers. The teams you can pencil into the playoffs on March 1st. The Diamondbacks are not that. They're a good bet to decline, maybe significantly. If you need a better reason, how about Aaron Hill and Willie Bloomquist (!) as your starting middle infield.

FIRST PLACE: Los Angeles Dodgers. I like Dee Gordon to have a good first full season, and I like Chad Billingsley to bounce back and form a strong 1-2 with Clayton Kershaw. Their journeyman veterans fill out the rotation-- Ted Lilly, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang-- but they might not suck too bad. Throw in the should-be defending MVP Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier in a contract year, and there's just more upside here than anywhere else in the division.