NL West Talk

[dredinis21]

To contend in the NL West? Yes, it's basically the same rotation minus Greinke and the Dodgers pulled Bolsinger and Anderson out of their ass last year to make up for Ryu and McCarthy getting injured. Enough pitching to be assured of the division title next year? No, but there is still lots of time left, and lots of time to strengthen the pitching staff. I see the NL West being a 3-way dog fight next season.

The only way that happens is with MUCHO bullpen help because outside of Jansen and JP Howell, there is not a ton of dependability in that relief corp. You HAVE to find another solid addition to the rotation in order to be a player in the NL West. Kershaw is the only guy in your rotation without durability issues and even he gets banged up a bit here and there.

 

[LASports96]

The offseason is far from over.

 

[calsnowskier]

The offseason is far from over.

Very true. But Leake is the class of the remaining players, and he is really just a REALLY good 3. The Dogs would need to get Leake, Chen AND Kazmir to be able to compete rotation-wise with the Giants and DBacks. I expect them to sign one of those guys, but not 3.

 

[LASports96]

Very true. But Leake is the class of the remaining players, and he is really just a REALLY good 3. The Dogs would need to get Leake, Chen AND Kazmir to be able to compete rotation-wise with the Giants and DBacks. I expect them to sign one of those guys, but not 3.

First of all, no the "dogs" don't have to sign all 3 of them or any of them to compete. Also, where is Maeda? He's my best free agent pitcher remaining.

Also, these things called trades.

 

[calsnowskier]

Granted. If the dogs were to empty their system and got Fernandez and Carasco, their rotation would be right there (maybe better). But would those trades be smart?

Maeda might be good, but I have seen projections anywhere from a low-1 to a low-3. Personally, I would prefer Leake because he is a known quantity, but I understand the argument to prefer Maeda.

 

[Bolts]

DBacks and Giants have good 1-2-3's in the rotation but question marks for the back end, if the Dodgers can add a Kazmir or Leake and get Ryu and/or Anderson healthy(big IF) then they can compete with those teams. Having the best pitcher in the world, Kershaw, definitely helps their chances.

 

[GeekSportsFan]

DBacks and Giants have good 1-2-3's in the rotation but question marks for the back end, if the Dodgers can add a Kazmir or Leake and get Ryu and/or Anderson healthy(big IF) then they can compete with those teams. Having the best pitcher in the world, Kershaw, definitely helps their chances.

Without a sold bullpen, the Dodgers are doomed.

 

[Bolts]

Without a sold bullpen, the Dodgers are doomed.

Yeah, the bullpen is a different story. Not getting chapman because he went crazy is gonna hurt, idk who else they can get but they need some help there.

 

[GeekSportsFan]

Even if they had resigned Greinke, they would not be much better. Puig is far more of a problem than an asset at this point. Unless something big happens, I actually see the Dodgers taking a step back this upcoming season.

 

[calsnowskier]

Even if they had resigned Greinke, they would not be much better. Puig is far more of a problem than an asset at this point. Unless something big happens, I actually see the Dodgers taking a step back this upcoming season.

Roberts will be big. Will he be able to manage the personalities in that clubhouse or will he be a Mattingly/Williams? I personally think that he will not be able to command that dugout. He does not have enough cache for those guys to bend to.

 

[GeekSportsFan]

Tough assignment for sure for a first year manager.

 

[calsnowskier]

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW...

Giants
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres

I don't see the top 3 changing and I don't see the bottom 2 changing. The order among those groups may change, but I think the dogs are rather solid in the #3 spot.

I think the Giants and DBacks will likely have a WC spot to fall back on.

Cubs SHOULD have the Central. The Mets and Nats will be a dog fight for the East. Cards have been hit hard this off-season. I am not sure that they can contend for a WC again this year. That leaves the Pirates, Nats/Mets and Giants/DBacks the early contenders for 2 spots.

 

[GeekSportsFan]

I think you are spot on. It will eventually come down to the Giants and Dbacks. I think the Dodgers can probably get something significant with Puig if they can find takers (I don't what his contract entails), but so far the front office has been a mess.

 

[Montalban]

Never said the Giants were desperate. Just saying, obviously the Dodgers don't feel they are hurting, contrary to what Giants fans believe.

I think the Dodgers are going back to their old tried and true ways of developing their own players.

 

[da55bums]

Anyone got info on whats going on with Alex Guerrero. Are they thinking of moving him? if not, he still going to be a LF?

 

[Montalban]

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW...

Giants
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres

I don't see the top 3 changing and I don't see the bottom 2 changing. The order among those groups may change, but I think the dogs are rather solid in the #3 spot.

I think the Giants and DBacks will likely have a WC spot to fall back on.

Cubs SHOULD have the Central. The Mets and Nats will be a dog fight for the East. Cards have been hit hard this off-season. I am not sure that they can contend for a WC again this year. That leaves the Pirates, Nats/Mets and Giants/DBacks the early contenders for 2 spots.

A lot of it depends on who stays healthy of course but I like the Giants' chances just as well as the other two contenders.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW...

Giants
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres

I don't see the top 3 changing and I don't see the bottom 2 changing. The order among those groups may change, but I think the dogs are rather solid in the #3 spot.

I think the Giants and DBacks will likely have a WC spot to fall back on.

Cubs SHOULD have the Central. The Mets and Nats will be a dog fight for the East. Cards have been hit hard this off-season. I am not sure that they can contend for a WC again this year. That leaves the Pirates, Nats/Mets and Giants/DBacks the early contenders for 2 spots.

 

[calsnowskier]

View attachment 67390

Old gif, but still hilarious.

 

[LASports96]

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW...

Giants
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres

I don't see the top 3 changing and I don't see the bottom 2 changing. The order among those groups may change, but I think the dogs are rather solid in the #3 spot.

I think the Giants and DBacks will likely have a WC spot to fall back on.

Cubs SHOULD have the Central. The Mets and Nats will be a dog fight for the East. Cards have been hit hard this off-season. I am not sure that they can contend for a WC again this year. That leaves the Pirates, Nats/Mets and Giants/DBacks the early contenders for 2 spots.

Ah, falling for the DBacks hype are we? I certainly don't think they've bridged the gap enough to win the west. Sure they've upgraded the rotation, but people are honestly underestimating how valuable Inciarte was last year I think. Inciarte was worth 3.3 fWAR, Miller was worth 3.4 fWAR, so probably a wash and I trust Miller to fulfill his potential more than Inciarte but not by much. Greinke probably adds bout 5 wins. That *maybe* brings them equal to the Dodgers and that's assuming the Dodgers make no more upgrades. A lot of other factors will go into it but I'm not buying the DBacks better than the Dodgers or Giants hype.

 

[dredinis21]

Ah, falling for the DBacks hype are we? I certainly don't think they've bridged the gap enough to win the west. Sure they've upgraded the rotation, but people are honestly underestimating how valuable Inciarte was last year I think. Inciarte was worth 3.3 fWAR, Miller was worth 3.4 fWAR, so probably a wash and I trust Miller to fulfill his potential more than Inciarte but not by much. Greinke probably adds bout 5 wins. That *maybe* brings them equal to the Dodgers and that's assuming the Dodgers make no more upgrades. A lot of other factors will go into it but I'm not buying the DBacks better than the Dodgers or Giants hype.

Aren't you underestimating the growth of their younger players along with the effectiveness of Greinke? Having an ace changes the culture of your clubhouse. The Dbacks now have a bonafide stopper and as a Giants fan, I am more fearful of what they could become at the moment then I am the Dodgers because they are a more complete team with a better pitching staff and better lineup top to bottom IMO. Will it play out the way most Dback fans hope it will? Who knows...but it just seems as if you are underestimating them quite a bit.