Does anyone think that the Dbacks will win the NL West in 2016?

[StanMarsh51]

I don't get the hype with the Doyers honestly. SF is the much better team.

Their offense is basically Gonzalez who is getting up there in age, unreliable Pig, a rookie, and a sophomore entering his second year after a huge slump to end the season. Couple OK vets in Kendrick and AE, but their offense has a tons of question marks imo. The rotation is deep, but can you trust Ryu? Maeda hasn't proven anything yet either.

I'd say my preseason order goes: SF(35) AZ(30) LA (25) SD (5) COL (5)

I think the Dodgers offense is better than you're giving them credit for..Turner's been one of the best hitting 3B in baseball the past 2 years, and Grandal's a top 10 offensive catcher based on his performance the past 2 years.

They could potentially be above average offensively at every position this year, with LF being the wildcard (depends on if Crawford is a starter or if they put Ethier there).

 

[StanMarsh51]

Arizona has a decent shot to win the division imo. I could see all three teams (LA/SF/AZ) finish within 2-3 games of each other.

 

[powerchord86]

I know it's unlikely, but it would be fucking awesome.

Therefore, I vote yes!

 

[The Q]

SF is looking at some solid regression from both Duffy and Panik.

We'll see what happens with Cueto and Shark. They are going to be key.

I also think Cain is more or less done.

 

[The Q]

Any of those top 3 could win the division though.

The DBacks were like an 82 win team based on pythag.

Getting Greinke should add 5 wins. So they're already up to 87.

Getting anything from 2B/SS and LF (Tomas) will be crucial.

Plus the bullpen is a bit better, and if they can get Bradley back on track and move Rubby to the bullpen I think their staff gets a lot better.

Rubby for the role as 2016 Kelvin Herrera.

 

[calsnowskier]

SF is looking at some solid regression from both Duffy and Panik.

We'll see what happens with Cueto and Shark. They are going to be key.

I also think Cain is more or less done.

Cain will be found money, though. He is currently slated as the #5, and they have another 5 guys ready to step up and compete for a MLB starting job if he does fall.

 

[The Q]

Cain will be found money, though. He is currently slated as the #5, and they have another 5 guys ready to step up and compete for a MLB starting job if he does fall.

True, but in a division this competition that first month or two and the losses he may pile up could prove costly.

 

[calsnowskier]

True, but in a division this competition that first month or two and the losses he may pile up could prove costly.

No team has a stud #5, though. The Giants have the best 1-3 of the 3 teams.

 

[The Q]

No team has a stud #5, though. The Giants have the best 1-3 of the 3 teams.

I think you can debate that. especially after the years Shark and Cueto had.

 

[Omar 382]

I know it's unlikely, but it would be fucking awesome.

Therefore, I vote yes!

I would expect no less of you based on my gauge of your intelligence on these boards

 

[Villain]

I don't get the hype with the Doyers honestly. SF is the much better team.

Their offense is basically Gonzalez who is getting up there in age, unreliable Pig, a rookie, and a sophomore entering his second year after a huge slump to end the season. Couple OK vets in Kendrick and AE, but their offense has a tons of question marks imo. The rotation is deep, but can you trust Ryu? Maeda hasn't proven anything yet either.

I'd say my preseason order goes: SF(35) AZ(30) LA (25) SD (5) COL (5)

LOL. This is the reality of fan blinders, folks.

 

[The Q]

I don't trust ethier to repeat his 2015, which Joc Pederson are we gonna get?

Can Turner do it again?

Everyone has some serious questions.

 

[calsnowskier]

I think you can debate that. especially after the years Shark and Cueto had.

Legit concern for Shark, but there is also serious reason to be optimistic. He was apparently tipping his pitches much if the year, and when that was discovered, he ended the year with some solid outings.

Cueto did not have a bad year. He had a bad 6 weeks. The rest if the year, and the prior 3-4 years were stellar.

 

[The Q]

Legit concern for Shark, but there is also serious reason to be optimistic. He was apparently tipping his pitches much if the year, and when that was discovered, he ended the year with some solid outings.

Cueto did not have a bad year. He had a bad 6 weeks. The rest if the year, and the prior 3-4 years were stellar.

Yes. I agree with you.

But it's still a ?

Plus the giants park and defense will make him look much better than Chicago's launching pad and soccer players out behind him.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

the division gets too much love... they still have the padres and Rockies, who are 2 of the worst teams in baseball... The giants and Dodgers seem to be better built for the playoffs than they are for the regular season... Giants have a very weak offense, but probably the best rotation in the division...

All 3 teams, Giants, Dodgers and Diamondbacks have an equal chance to make the playoffs IMO... I wonder if the giants are getting so much respect because it is an even year...

 

[powerchord86]

I would expect no less of you based on my gauge of your intelligence on these boards

I'm flattered!

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Best 1B in baseball, one of the better OF'ers in Pollock, and added Greinke? Yeah, they have a shot, but may come up just short

 

[StanMarsh51]

Legit concern for Shark, but there is also serious reason to be optimistic. He was apparently tipping his pitches much if the year, and when that was discovered, he ended the year with some solid outings.

Cueto did not have a bad year. He had a bad 6 weeks. The rest if the year, and the prior 3-4 years were stellar.

It wasn't even that long a bad stretch...he had a horrendous 5 game stretch where he had a 9.57 ERA, but other than that he pitched at a high level. The 23 starts before those 5 bad games he had a 2.46 ERA, and the 4 starts after he had a 3.24 ERA.

It's a good example of how a very small sample can make an entire season look much worse than it actually was.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

LOL. This is the reality of fan blinders, folks.

Let's make an avatar bet. Whoever wins the most games this year gets to pick the other persons avatar… and they must keep it for one month after the season. Btw, I wouldn't make this same bet with an SF fan. That's how confident I am LA finishes third or worse.

 

[Villain]

Let's make an avatar bet. Whoever wins the most games this year gets to pick the other persons avatar… and they must keep it for one month after the season. Btw, I wouldn't make this same bet with an SF fan. That's how confident I am LA finishes third or worse.

Done.