2010 NL West

1). Rockies

2). Giants

3). Dodgers

4). Diamondbacks

5). Padres

1). Rockies - The Rockies may be the only team in the NL that can seriously challenge the Phillies both offensively and defensively. The Colorado rotation, once so maligned in Mile High, has become one of the strengths of the team. Jeff Francis, a key to the 2007 World Series run, returns after missing all of 2009. Ubaldo Jimenez returns after a a 15-win 2009 season, also with a sub-4.00 ERA. Aaron Cook has won 27 games the past two years while missing time in 2009 due to injury. The number 4 starter won 16 games last year. Simply put, these Rockies know how to pitch. Offensively this is a diverse, multitalented team. Fowler and Gonzalez give the Rockies speed and versatility in the OF. Barmes, Stewart, and Hawpe provide serious pop while Helton, Tulowitzki, and Hawpe (again) provide average. The bench is deep and talented, and the bullpen - should Houston Street remain healthy - should be one of the better 'pens in the league. This is a team that is healthy after winning 92 games even while dealing with major injuries in 2009.

2). Giants - The Giants boast one of the best one-two pitching punches in the major leagues. This is a team that won 88 games with an offense that brings to mind the teams of the deadball era. Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are brilliant, and should Zito and Wellemeyer return to form and Sanchez continue to develop they have the potential to have the deepest rotation in the majors. However, this is a team that will carry them as far as the offense will allow. Sandoval is the team's most potent threat, and the Giants need DeRosa, Huff, Rowand, and Molina to play up to their potential in order to pose a serious challenge to the Rockies. The bullpen is solid, particularly with Wilson at the closer's spot, but this is a team that needs to find some power hitting to make a deep run in the NL West.

3). Dodgers - It's tough to pick the Dodgers to finish third in the West, particularly after their 95-win regular season and their NLCS run in 2009. The Dodgers have a young, deep lineup and a very talented pitching staff. Kershaw, Billingsley, and Kuroda give the Dodgers three very good young pitchers, and they haven't reached their potential yet. Broxton is simply filthy; along with Marmol of the Cubs, Broxton has some of the nastiest pure stuff in the major leagues. Ethier, Kemp, Martin, and Loney give the Dodgers a young core that will produce for years to come. However, it remains to be seen how much of a distraction the team's front-office domestic dispute will become. If Manny and Furcal return to form this will be a very dangerous team indeed. If the Dodgers can overcome the front-office turmoil, and if they can get the pieces they need at the trading deadline, than the Dodgers could find themselves atop the logjam in the NL West.

4). Diamondbacks - it's hard to know what to think of the D'backs. This is a team that simply has too much talent to go 70 -92, yet that's exactly what they did in 2009. Even with a questionable Brandon Webb (a perennial Cy Young candidate when healthy), Haren, Jackson, and Kennedy should allow the D'backs to compete all year. Offensively, the D'backs are a good mix of righties and lefties and of power and speed. LaRoche, Montero, Reynolds, Young, and Upton provide adequate power, but this is a team that needs to focus on getting on base. The bullpen is adequate but not spectacular. This is a solid team, but not quite up to the caliber of the Colorado/San Francisco/Los Angeles triumvirate.

5). Padres - The Padres are one of the weaker teams in the National League. Outside Gonzalez (who will, in all probability, be shipped elsewhere during the season) and Kouzmanoff, this is an unspectacular team. Headley and Cabrera are good young talents, yet there simply isn't enough around them to make keeping Gonzalez a worthwhile endeavor. Correia had a solid year, but Garland has already complained of shoulder soreness and it remains to be seen how serious this injury is. The Padres simply don't have enough to compete in a stacked NL West, and will likely end up in a distant fifth-place finish.