MLB First Third Review - NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

MVP: Jason Kubel

One of the most under-the-radar moves this off-season was the Diamondback’s signing of Jason Kubel, While Kubel is not likely to reach his career-high numbers of 2009, he has proven to be the most valuable bat in Arizona’s lineup, out-performing the bigger names like Justin Upton and Miguel Montero.

Best Case Scenario:

The D-Backs have a lineup that should continue to put runs on the board. Between Kubel, Upton, Montero, Chris Young and the resurgent Aaron Hill, there’s enough power, contact and speed to remain in the hunt. It should, then, come down to pitching. Arizona needs Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill, and Daniel Hudson to improve.

Worst Case Scenario:

Upton continues to be nagged by injuries, Hill falls back into his 2010/ 2011 form, and the pitching continues to struggle. LA and San Francisco battle it out for the division.

Bottom Line:

Arizona is good enough to keep pace with the Dodgers and Giants. It really will come down to the D-Back’s rotation.

Colorado Rockies

MVP: Carlos Gonzalez

CarGo has to be one of the most underrated players in baseball. He is also the most obvious team MVP at this point in the year. He is currently pacing his team in batting average (.332), homeruns (17), RBI (51), slugging (.617), and runs scored (51). Oh, and he has 10 stolen bases to boot. This guy is a stud.

Carlos Gonzalez has been an absolute beast this year

Best Case Scenario:

As good as Gonzalez and the lineup has been this year, the rotation has been equally as bad. Among starters on the team, Drew Pomeranz currently has the lowest ERA… at 4.70. Yikes! If the rotation can improve—even to a middle-of-the-pack level—the team should rise in the standings.

Worst Case Scenario:

The pitching continues to be some of the worst in all of baseball. Or, in other words, what has happened so far this season. The offense should put up runs with the bats they currently have—and playing home games at Coor’s Field—but they can’t compete if the pitching is this bad.

Bottom Line:

The Rockies rotation features names like Drew Pomeranz, Juan Nicasio, Christian Friedrich, and Alex White. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the year.

L.A. Dodgers

Chris Capuano gives the Dodgers 2 Top-End Starters

MVP: Chris Capuano

Clayton Kershaw has started this season looking like the ace he was last year. The difference for the Dodgers, though, has been that they now have another starter performing at an elite level. Capuano has been brilliant this year, sporting an 8-2 record with a 2.71 ERA, all while holding opposing batters to a .217 batting average. If Capuano continues to pitch like this, the Dodgers will have a legitimate 1-2 punch atop their rotation.

Best Case Scenario:

Matt Kemp gets healthy. This team has remained one of the best in baseball, despite missing their offensive leader for stretches of the year. With Kemp in the lineup, the Dodgers can do damage against any pitcher. With him out, it’s a different team entirely.

Worst Case Scenario:

Capuano stalls, and Kemp isn’t 100% for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the D-Backs figure it out, and the Giants continue to play well.

Bottom Line:

This team should continue to pace the NL West for the rest of the year. While things could get tight, the Dodgers feel like the class of the division.

San Diego Padres

MVP: Cory Luebke

Yes, he only started 5 games before needing Tommy John surgery. But on a team this bad, he really is the only player who warrants MVP consideration.

Best Case Scenario:

They duel with the Rockies for the bottom of the division.

Worst Case Scenario:

The Rockies’ pitching improves, leaving the Padres all alone as the bottom-dwellers of the NL West.

Bottom Line:

This team really is bad. At least Padres fans have the beautiful southern California weather.

San Francisco Giants

MVP: Matt Cain

Honorable mention here goes to Melky Cabrera, who is absolutely raking. However, with the recent perfect game in mind, the award goes to Matt Cain, who has taken over from Tim Lincecum as the ace of the pitching staff. Currently sitting at 9-2 with a 2.34 ERA, Matt Cain has proven to be worth every dollar of the mega-deal he signed before the season. While Lincecum has been a disappointment, Cain has picked up the slack in a major way.

Best Case Scenario:

The team continues to hit for average, and play small ball, while Lincecum begins to pitch like he did in his Cy Young years. Even if Lincecum can pitch like a decent 5^th starter, the Giants would greatly benefit.

Worst Case Scenario:

The team batting average dips, and the Giants’ lack of power is exposed. Lincecum continues to be barely worthy of a rotation spot, and the Dodgers pull away in the division race.

Bottom Line:

The pitching staff is good enough to stay in the hunt, but this team could struggle to put up runs consistently. If they do see a hiccup offensively, it is entirely possible for the D-Backs to jump them, and assume the role of the Dodgers’ biggest threat.