Arizona Diamondbacks
2009: 70-92 - fifth place
Key Players
RF Justin Upton .300 avg, 26 HR, 86 RBI,20 SB
C Miguel Montero .294 avg., 16 HR, 59 RBI
SS Stephen Drew .261 avg, 12 HR, 65 RBI
P Brandon Webb Injured in 2009
P Dan Haren 3.14 ERA, 14-10, 223 Ks
Key Additions
P Edwin Jackson
P Ian Kennedy
1B Adam LaRouche
2B Kelly Jackson
The Diamondbacks pursued players to help the team immediately. Arizona traded for Jackson and Kennedy, who will step into the starting rotation behind Webb and Haren. Jackson is penciled to start at second and LaRouche will have the full time job with Tony Clark’s departure.
Key Subtractions
OF Eric Byrnes
P Doug Davis
Byrnes and his .226 batting average won’t be missed. Connor Jackson will have to up his average, however, so the D-backs can feel comfortable with their decision to let leave.
Stats breakdown
Pitching 3
Offense 2
Defense 2
Overall 7
Arizona finished in the cellar of the NL West last year, and despite their improvements to the starting rotation, don’t have a lot to look forward to in 2010. Their focus will be developing young talent to make a run in the future.
Colorado Rockies
2009: 92-70 - 2nd place
Key Players
SS Troy Tulowitzki .297 avg., 32 HR, 92 RBI, .377 OBP
1B Todd Helton .325 avg., 15 HR, 86 RBI, .416 OBP
RF Brad Hawpe .285 avg., 23 HR, 86 RBI, 42 2B
SP Ubaldo Jimenez 15-12, 218 IP, 3.47 ERA, 198 Ks
Key Additions
3B Melvin Mora
C Miguel Oliva
Mora can help take the load off Ian Stewart, who backed up Garret Atkins last year.
Key Subtractions
3B Garrett Atkins
P Jose Contreras
P Josh Fogg
P Justin Marquis
P Russ Oritz
The biggest loss for Colorado is pitching. Marquis, who went 15-13, got off to a hot start and made the all-star roster. It is difficult to pitch in Colorado and the Rockies will have to hope others will be able to fill the void left by these departures. Atkins has been a staple for the Rockies for the last few years and the team will have to adjust to life without him.
Stats breakdown
Pitching 2
Offense 3
Defense 3
Overall 8
The Rockies don’t look like a Wild Card team on paper this year. Helton, Tulowitzki, Clint Barmes and Brad Hawpe are consistent at the plate, though. The team will need its pitching to step it up with they hope to make much of the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
2009: 95-67 – first place
Key Players
LF Manny Ramirez .290 avg., .531 slg., 19 HR, 63 RBI
3B Casey Blake .280 avg., 18 HR, 79 RBI
CF Matt Kemp .297 avg., 101 RBI, 26 HR, 34 SB
RF Andre Ethier .272 avg., 31 HR, 106 RBI
RP Jonathan Broxton 7-2, 2.61 ERA, 36 saves, 0.961 WHIP
SP Chad Billingsley 12-11, 4.03 ERA, 179 Ks
Key Additions
OF Brian Giles
OF Reed Johnson
P Russ Ortiz
P Jeff Towers
Even though the Dodgers outfield of Ramirez, Kemp and Ethier is solid, Giles and Johnson are good bench players and hard workers. With only four pitches slotted in the rotation Ortiz could add some competition for the fifth spot.
Key Subtractions
P Jon Garland
2B Orlando Hudson
RP Guillermo Mota
1B Jim Thome
OF Juan Pierre
SP Randy Wolf
Hudson’s departure will hurt L.A. Ronnie Belliard’s best days are behind him and the Dodger may be looking for another second baseman come summer. Garland and Wolf were decent starters. Without a solid fifth starter, their absence will be felt.
Stats breakdown
Pitching 3
Offense 5
Defense 4
Overall 12
The Dodgers will hit the laces off the ball. If their pitching can get the job done, L.A. will be contenders for the NL West crown again. Ramirez is a question mark. His production when he is on his game can’t be matched, but his distractions could strain the clubhouse.
San Diego Padres
2009: 75-87 – fourth place
Key Players
1B Adrian Gonzalez .277 avg., 40 HR, 99 RBI
SP Kevin Correia 12-11, 3.91 ERA, 198 IP, 1 CG
Key Additions
P Jon Garland
Util Jerry Hairston
CF Scott Hairston
Bringing in the Hairston brothers gives the Padres a lot of wiggle-room in the batting order and the defensive line up. Jerry can play five positions and both are quick. Garland will help a weak starting rotation.
Key Subtractions
OF Brian Giles
C Henry Blanco
No big names to speak of leaving town, but the Padres didn’t have many to lose anyway.
Stats breakdown
Pitching 2
Offense 2
Defense 3
Overall 7
Padres fans do not have much to look forward to in 2010. Gonzalez will continue to sock the ball. How much the Hairston’s and Tony Gwynn Jr. can help the team could make a difference, but that is not saying a lot.
San Francisco Giants
2009: 88-74 – third place
Key Players
OF Aaron Rowand .261 avg., 130 hits, 64 RBI
C Benji Molina .265 avg., 20 HR, 80 RBI
3B Pablo Sandoval .330 avg., 25 HR, 90 RBI
P Tim Lincecum 15-7, 2.48 ERA, 4 CG, 261 Ks
P Matt Cain 14-8, 2.89 ERA, 171 Ks, 1 no-hitter
Key Additions
Util Mark DeRosa
1B Aubrey Huff
RP Guillermo Mota
DeRosa, who will play mostly in left, brings a solid bat and strong work ethic to the S.F. Huff will be expected to replace Ryan Garko – and he should have no problem there.
Key Subtractions
SP Randy Johnson (retired)
RP Bob Howry
OF Randy Winn
Johnson obviously could throw hard, but his age and injuries caught up to him. The Giants will be strong enough pitching-wise to get by without him. Same goes for Howry. With DeRosa in the outfield there is no need for Winn.
Stats breakdown
Pitching 4
Offense 3
Defense 3
Overall 10
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