NL West Preview

02/28/2010 12:48 PM - 

I wanted to share thoughts on some of the fantasy relevant questions for most teams and this year decided to blog it here by division.  Feel free to follow up with questions on the message board. Let’s start with the NL West.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

• Certainly the most important question here is whether ace starting pitcher Brandon Webb has fully recovered from his arm problems and can join Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson as one of the top NL rotations
• Did Chris Young really fix his approach with his trip to the minor leagues last season? He looked much better after being called back up and is clearly their best option in center field if his on base average is good enough.
• Is Conor Jackson fully recovered and ready to play everyday in left field? The Diamondbacks do have Gerardo Parra ready to step in, but Jackson can be a valuable hitter in this lineup
• Will Ian Kennedy be able to build on his success in the Arizona Fall League and emerge as a consistent starting pitcher?

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

• Who will emerge as the badly needed fifth starter for Joe Torre’s club?
• Can Russell Martin rebound at the plate this year?
• Will Chad Billingsley regain his form of 2008?
• Can Clayton Kershaw gain more command and take the next step up as a top of the rotation starter?
• Will James Loney ever start to hit for more power?

COLORADO ROCKIES

• Will the Jim Tracy and the Rockies settle on regular starters behind the plate and at third base? Chris Iannetta would seem to be the starting catcher, but newcomer Miguel Olivo could claim the job with a great spring if Iannetta falters.
• Is Ian Stewart the everyday third baseman? Would a slow start have the Rockies give more AB to new utility infielder Melvin Mora at 3B and thus possibly have Stewart cut into full time AB for Clint Barmes at second base?
• Can catcher Chris Iannetta get off to a good start and avoid newcomer Miguel Olivo taking away more at bats?
• Is Jeff Francis recovered from shoulder surgery and ready to be a member of the rotation on Opening Day?

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

• The question for Giant fans is can the offense score enough runs to help the very good pitching staff and actually contend in a soft division? From a fantasy point, there aren’t a lot of productive players here and all the pitchers except Lincecum take a hit with the team scoring so few runs.
• Can second baseman Freddy Sanchez stay healthy? Is so he is a good value middle to late in fantasy drafts.
• Will Matt Cain pitch as well?….or at least get results as good as last season when his peripheral stats didn’t support the ERA or Wins.
• Does starter Jonathan Sanchez take the next step up and become a starting pitcher fantasy players can depend on? Right now he is a risk for numbers while you are hoping for the strikeouts.
• How many AB will Buster Posey see this year? Does he make the club out of spring training? (he is taking balls at first base to increase playing opportunities). Resigning Bengie Molina might reassure the pitchers and sell home tickets as well as adding a few HR, but won’t make Posey owners happy.

 SAN DIEGO PADRES

• Obviously the primary question for fantasy owners if not all Padre fans is “What will happen with Adrian Gonzalez?” While I sense that the rebuilding, penurious Padres would hope to sign him long term for cheap, at some point their not knowing if that is possible may force them to trade while they can get something valuable for the All Star first baseman
• The second most important long term question is can manager Bud Black manage the expectations of his young pitching staff while they have a AAA offense and defense behind them in the big leagues? Latos, Correia, Richard, Stauffer, and LeBlanc all have some talent but pitcher’s egos are fragile and this will be a tough year for any of them to get wins.
• Fantasy wise, can Scott Hairston hit enough to stay out of a platoon situation in the outfield? If so he is a viable OF5
• Will the return to third base help Chase Headley relax and allow him to progress as a very good young hitter?