My thoughts:
Both the Rockies and D'Backs have some great young talent and should only improve. Dodgers infusing youngsters with solid vets along with impressive Japanese import. Padres didn't add as much as others, and may falter a step.
Giants will get worked over like a government mule.
I'll take the Dodgers by 1.5 games over the D'Backs, 4 games over the Rocks, and 8 over the Pads. Gints fall back 32 games.
Both the Rockies and D'Backs have some great young talent and should only improve. Dodgers infusing youngsters with solid vets along with impressive Japanese import. Padres didn't add as much as others, and may falter a step.
Giants will get worked over like a government mule.
I'll take the Dodgers by 1.5 games over the D'Backs, 4 games over the Rocks, and 8 over the Pads. Gints fall back 32 games.
Dodgers.
LA was the best team in the division last season, only to be done in by Grady Little's incompetence -- not letting Loney play everyday at 1B until June, only putting Billingsley in the rotation after Schmidt and Wolf went down, not giving Kemp consistent ABs until they were out of the division race, as well as his disastrous handling of the bullpen.
Torre's not without his shortcomings, but the difference between him and Little is night and day.
The Dodgers are the best team in the NL.
LA was the best team in the division last season, only to be done in by Grady Little's incompetence -- not letting Loney play everyday at 1B until June, only putting Billingsley in the rotation after Schmidt and Wolf went down, not giving Kemp consistent ABs until they were out of the division race, as well as his disastrous handling of the bullpen.
Torre's not without his shortcomings, but the difference between him and Little is night and day.
The Dodgers are the best team in the NL.
4-12-08
ARIZONA:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left>Arizona Diamondbacks</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.818</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left>San Diego Padres</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>.545</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left>Los Angeles Dodgers</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>.400</TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
ARIZONA:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left>Arizona Diamondbacks</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.818</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left>San Diego Padres</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>.545</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left>Los Angeles Dodgers</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>.400</TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
