Jake's 2014 Arbitary Spring Training Preview - NL West
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:58 pm
Gotta keep plugging through. Westward ho!
Diamondbacks
Strengths
Very interesting lineup. Not sure what to make of Teixeira's projection (in my mind a leading contender for largest gap between projection and real life performance for a guy who's going to start for a contender when he's healthy), but the sim is based on projections, so it's all good. Very interesting rotation. Mat Latos is probably my least favorite human being in baseball, but the rotation is still solid top to bottom, if you ignore that the fifth starter is going to miss half the year because he tripped over a dog.
Weaknesses
This giant weakness got created when Aroldis Chapman took that line drive to the face. Hope he's OK and back throwing soon, Mark Melancon just doesn't quite have the same ring to him.
Bottom Line
The early favorite for the division.
Dodgers
Strengths
The league doesn't run without Shawn. That should be acknowledged here. Also, if they're healthy, playing, and unjuiced this team has some thunder in the lineup with Bautista and Braun. The bullpen is a real strength, Greg Holland is a stud, and Luke Hochevar is good, so is Crow. Really, the real life Royals are awesome at bullpens. Who knew?
Weaknesses
Depth. The next best hitter after Joey Bats and the Hebrew Steroid is probably Kyle Seager. After him you get Russell Martin. After him you get who? post PED Peralta I guess? Also, bummer, this rotation looked a lot more interesting before Jarrod Parker and Brandon Beachy had to visit Dr. Andrews. Sucks.
Bottom Line
Looks like another year hovering around .500 for the team, but expecting another year of almost 100% uptime for the league.
Gigantes
Strengths
Nils is always trying, I think I get more unsolicited trade proposals from than any other GM in the league, which can only be a good thing (send me Trevor Bauer already!). There is quite a bit of talent here, especially arms, and quite a bit of it is out with injury (Harvey, Medlen, Anderson eventually).
Weaknesses
Is there a team in the league with more washout top prospects? Obviously I think Bauer has a future but he's slipped, and this team also has Jake Arrieta, Mike Olt, Danny Duffy, Manny Banuelos, Dustin Ackley, Jemile Weeks. Yikes!
Bottom Line
This team is very well positioned for 2015 when Harvey and Medlen come back and you start to have a really serious rotation. This year is not time.
Padres
Strengths
Lots of prospects that you've all heard of, and eventually Manny Machado is gonna play here too. Not sure what Reddick is doing here though...
Weaknesses
Bren generally...
Bottom Line
Check it out Z... This is your future!
Rockies
Strengths
Desire for Giancarlo Stanton. That's a good start. Also 2 of the top 3 major league hitters named Adam (Jones and Lind) should send humidor'd balls out of Coors all year, with Javier Baez perhaps joining them sooner than we all thought. The rotation is fun, if old and fat in front with Colon and Dickey, and we're all hoping Lincecum is OK after that line drive to the knee yesterday
Weaknesses
There's a pretty random collection of players here, Rafael Furcal? Really?
Bottom Line
I'm not sure if this team is trying to rebuild or contend, but I bet it's a fun locker room.
Projected Standings
1. Diamondbacks - WS Contender
--
2. Rockies - just outside of contention
3. Dodgers - Top 15 pick
4. Braves - Top 15 Pick
5. Padres - Top 5 Pick
Sorry AL West, going to have to wait til tomorrow for the preview (but one guess who's going to be my pick to win the thing!)
Diamondbacks
Strengths
Very interesting lineup. Not sure what to make of Teixeira's projection (in my mind a leading contender for largest gap between projection and real life performance for a guy who's going to start for a contender when he's healthy), but the sim is based on projections, so it's all good. Very interesting rotation. Mat Latos is probably my least favorite human being in baseball, but the rotation is still solid top to bottom, if you ignore that the fifth starter is going to miss half the year because he tripped over a dog.
Weaknesses
This giant weakness got created when Aroldis Chapman took that line drive to the face. Hope he's OK and back throwing soon, Mark Melancon just doesn't quite have the same ring to him.
Bottom Line
The early favorite for the division.
Dodgers
Strengths
The league doesn't run without Shawn. That should be acknowledged here. Also, if they're healthy, playing, and unjuiced this team has some thunder in the lineup with Bautista and Braun. The bullpen is a real strength, Greg Holland is a stud, and Luke Hochevar is good, so is Crow. Really, the real life Royals are awesome at bullpens. Who knew?
Weaknesses
Depth. The next best hitter after Joey Bats and the Hebrew Steroid is probably Kyle Seager. After him you get Russell Martin. After him you get who? post PED Peralta I guess? Also, bummer, this rotation looked a lot more interesting before Jarrod Parker and Brandon Beachy had to visit Dr. Andrews. Sucks.
Bottom Line
Looks like another year hovering around .500 for the team, but expecting another year of almost 100% uptime for the league.
Gigantes
Strengths
Nils is always trying, I think I get more unsolicited trade proposals from than any other GM in the league, which can only be a good thing (send me Trevor Bauer already!). There is quite a bit of talent here, especially arms, and quite a bit of it is out with injury (Harvey, Medlen, Anderson eventually).
Weaknesses
Is there a team in the league with more washout top prospects? Obviously I think Bauer has a future but he's slipped, and this team also has Jake Arrieta, Mike Olt, Danny Duffy, Manny Banuelos, Dustin Ackley, Jemile Weeks. Yikes!
Bottom Line
This team is very well positioned for 2015 when Harvey and Medlen come back and you start to have a really serious rotation. This year is not time.
Padres
Strengths
Lots of prospects that you've all heard of, and eventually Manny Machado is gonna play here too. Not sure what Reddick is doing here though...
Weaknesses
Bren generally...
Bottom Line
Check it out Z... This is your future!
Rockies
Strengths
Desire for Giancarlo Stanton. That's a good start. Also 2 of the top 3 major league hitters named Adam (Jones and Lind) should send humidor'd balls out of Coors all year, with Javier Baez perhaps joining them sooner than we all thought. The rotation is fun, if old and fat in front with Colon and Dickey, and we're all hoping Lincecum is OK after that line drive to the knee yesterday
Weaknesses
There's a pretty random collection of players here, Rafael Furcal? Really?
Bottom Line
I'm not sure if this team is trying to rebuild or contend, but I bet it's a fun locker room.
Projected Standings
1. Diamondbacks - WS Contender
--
2. Rockies - just outside of contention
3. Dodgers - Top 15 pick
4. Braves - Top 15 Pick
5. Padres - Top 5 Pick
Sorry AL West, going to have to wait til tomorrow for the preview (but one guess who's going to be my pick to win the thing!)