The National League West had been thought of as the weakest division in the game. However in 2009, the West garnered the division champion (LA Dodgers) and the wild card winner (Colorado Rockies). All of the teams in the division rely on young talent to win. The Dodgers have a young core of outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, catcher Russell Martin, and first baseman James Loney. They also rely on hurlers Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley and closer Jonathon Broxton. The SF Giants have two-time CY Young award winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathon Sanchez in the rotation and MVP-candidate Pablo Sandoval in the middle of the lineup. The Rockies core is all young with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, catcher Chris Iannetta, outfielders Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, and Brad Hawpe, and pitchers Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Franklin Morales. The Arizona Diamondbacks have a young lineup with Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton, Miguel Montero, and Chris Young. The San Diego Padres, who are rebuilding, have young pitching with guys like Mat Latos, Chris Young, and Chris Richard. What young star will breakout in 2010 and help his team win? Here’s a few:

Blake DeWitt

Blake DeWitt, LA Dodgers (2B): For the second straight year, the Dodgers signed a veteran second baseman. Last year it was Orlando Hudson and this year is Jamey Carroll (though he is more of a utility man). So the 24 year old DeWitt has not earned a spot on the team, even though it looked like he inherited a starting job.

“I’m going to work hard, improve as much as possible and get to Spring Training ready to win a job and help this team win…I realize some things you can control and some things you can’t,” DeWitt said. He continued on to say, “There’s always somebody ready to fight for a job. He’s [Carroll] a good player and I look forward to playing with him and learning a lot from him…Nothing is given to you in this game. You’ve got to go out and earn it.” That is a good attitude to have as a young player.

Last year DeWitt was shuttled back and forth between Triple-A Albuquerque and LA after hitting .264 in his rookie year. GM Ned Colletti believes DeWitt needs to play everyday which is one of the reasons why DeWitt has become a utility player (he can play third, second, and shortstop).

2010 is a big year for DeWitt to see if he can win the second base job. If he can, he could provide another impact bat in the young Dodgers’ order.

Ian Stewart

Ian Stewart, Colorado Rockies (3B): Stewart hit 25 homeruns and drove in 70 in 2009. However in 147 games, he hit just .228. With the Rockies not re-signing Garrett Atkins, the soon-to-be 25 year old will need to make improvements offensively for the Rockies to be successful.

When the Rockies selected Stewart in the first round of the 2003 draft out of high school in California, they envisioned the power that Stewart has showed. However his career Major League average is just .238. The glaring issue for him is the strikeouts, as he struck out 138 times in 2009. He also must regain his stroke against left-handed pitching. In 2008 he hit .370 in 54 at-bats against lefties but it dropped to .178 in 101 at-bats in 2009.

No one talked about Stewart’s defense coming up through the minors, but he has been steady at third base. His .969 fielding percentage (seven errors) in 2009 was the third highest in Rockies history. His defense has become a source of pride for him.

If Stewart hits for a higher average, he will be a complete player. He is an important cog in the Rockies lineup and they need a breakout year from him.

Tags:

Blake DeWitt, Colorado Rockies, Ian Stewart, LA Dodgers, NL West

There are quite a few pitchers who have signed minor league contracts with invitations to spring training that could make an impact on their teams’ 2010 season. Pitcher Shawn Estes has not been seen from in the big leagues since 2008 when he was pitching for the San Diego Padres. However with his new training program (Xtreme Training) that consists of weights, jogging, aerobics, boxing, pushups and situps conducted in 100-degree heat, Estes is in the best shape of his life and could surprise a lot of people. He just needs to get innings in spring training and make the most of it. Estes will make $600,000 with a possible $400,000 more in performance incentives if he makes the Washington Nationals 40-man roster. He pitched with the LA Dodgers in Triple-A Albuquerque in 2009 (3-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 13 starts) but semi-retired in June because he was not ready to play mentally. Estes’ best year came in 1997, his All-Star season, when he went 19-5 with a 3.18 ERA with the SF Giants.

Jeff Weaver returns to the Dodgers

Jeff Weaver re-signed with the Dodgers on an $800,000 minor league contract. Last year he was a pleasant surprise as a swingman for the Dodgers. Weaver went 6-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 28 appearances (7 starts). He struck out 64 in 79 innings, though he did walk 33 batters. In 2009, coming off of right should surgery that kept him from pitching in 2008, Weaver signed the same type of deal but did not make the team out of spring training. However, the Dodgers fifth starter’s spot is up for grabs along with the long man in the bullpen, so Weaver will have every opportunity to win a spot in LA.

Veteran left-handed reliever Ron Villone just re-signed with the Washington Nationals. In 2009, he appeared in 63 games going 5-6 with a 4.25 ERA. Villone has a shot because the Nationals bullpen is filled with unproven arms. Villone had a 2.63 ERA against left-handed hitters in 24 innings while allowing just 2 homeruns. As one of manager Jim Riggleman’s favorite players, it really was no surprise that Villone was brought back. Villone leads by example, wants the ball everyday despite his age (39), and he watched the game from the dugout after his outings instead of heading to the clubhouse like most pitchers.

The Florida Marlins just signed the top free agent relief pitcher left on the market Thursday. Mike MacDougal signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. He will make $650,000 if he makes the teams and can ask for his release if he does not make the Marlins big league roster. For the Marlins to compete in the National League East, they need depth in the bullpen and an option if Leo Nunez struggles as the closer. MacDougal is that option.

Eric Gagne returns to the Dodgers

Reliever Eric Gagne is returning to the team in which he had the most success, the LA Dodgers. He won the NL CY Young in 2003 and converted 84 straight saves (an all-time record). He often single-handedly kept Dodgers fans in their seats because Dodgers fans are known to arrive late for games and leave early before they are over. However they stayed to watch “Game Over” Gagne, who entered the field to the Guns N’ Roses song “Welcome to the Jungle.” Elbow surgery in 2005 spiraled his career downward but his inclusion in the same Xtreme Training that Estes has participated in has him in great shape. Gagne will make $500,000 if he makes the club and another $500,000 in performance incentives, though he was an out clause if he does not make the team. Though the Dodgers bullpen is stocked with back-of-the-bullpen arms like Jonathon Broxton, George Sherrill, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Ronald Belisario, Gagne made it known that he wanted to return to LA.

Tags:

Eric Gagne, Florida Marlins, Jeff Weaver, LA Dodgers, Mike MacDougal, Ron Villone, Shawn Estes, Washington Nationals

Bengie Molina

First the Carlos Beltran drama. Now the two free agents the NY Mets coveted signed with other teams. First was catcher Bengie Molina. The Mets were rumored to have offered Molina a multi-year contract. However he signed for just one year for a lot less money with the SF Giants, the team he spent the past three years with. The move is great for the Giants as he can continue to guide the young, dominant pitching staff and groom rookie catcher Buster Posey (instead of throwing him into the fire by having him as the starting catcher when he is not ready). Molina hit .265 in 132 games with 20 homeruns and 80 RBIs in 2009. Now the Mets will have to go with the combination of Omir Santos and veteran Henry Blanco until prospect Josh Thole (who performed well in his 2009 September call-up) is ready.

Joel Pineiro

Second was right-handed starter Joel Pineiro. Pineiro thrived under the tutelage of St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. He was looking for a long-term deal similar to the one Randy Wolf received from the Milwaukee Brewers (three years and close to $30 million).  Unfortunately for the Mets, Pineiro received a two-year, $16 million contract offer from the LA Angels that he could not turn down. If Pineiro can continue to pitch like he did in St. Louis, the Angels will have one of the best rotations in the game with Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders, Scott Kazmir, Ervin Santana, and Pineiro. The Mets still have major holes in their rotation due to injuries to ace Johan Santana, John Maine, Fernando Nieve, and Jonathon Niese, and inconsistency in Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez.

With Pineiro’s signing brought another free agent pitcher to sign a deal. This was Vicente Padilla, who decided to re-sign with the LA Dodgers for one year. Despite shooting himself in the leg in November, he is expected to be healthy at the start of spring training. Padilla, after being released in 2009 by the Texas Rangers, pitched very well for the Dodgers and their push through the playoffs (4-0 with a 3.20 ERA in the regular season plus 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 3 postseason starts).

Free agent left-handed starter Doug Davis decided to return to the Milwaukee Brewers, signing a one year deal with an option for 2011. This deal is great for the Brewers as they are getting a pitcher who provides durability. Davis has made at least 33 starts and pitched in 190 innings in five of the past six seasons (the only season being 2008 when he battled thyroid cancer). Adding Davis leaves the Brewers with seven starting pitchers heading into spring training, with one probably moving to the bullpen. Those with spots include ace Yovani Gallardo, Wolf, and Davis, with Manny Parra, Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan, and Chris Narveson battling for the final two spots.

Free agent right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel signed a one year deal with an option for 2011 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who continue to stabilize their bullpen this offseason. Pirates GM Neal Huntington announced that there now is no competition for the closer’s job as it is not Dotel’s to lose. Dotel noted that the opportunity to step back into a closer’s role was the main determinant in his decision to join the Pirates as Pittsburgh was the only team able to guarantee him that opportunity.

Tags:

Bengie Molina, Doug Davis, Joel Pineiro, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, NY Mets, Octavio Dotel, Pittsburgh Pirates, Vicente Padilla

Matt Kemp

The LA Dodgers faced adversity early in the season with Manny Ramirez’ 50-game performance-enhancing drug suspension. Despite missing their star player, the Dodgers surged into the National League West lead with the help of veteran outfielder Juan Pierre, his young outfield counterparts, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, and young first baseman James Loney.

The other obstacle the Dodgers faced in 2009 was the surging Colorado Rockies and SF Giants in the second half. Though they held them off, they almost blew a huge lead. The Dodgers were carried in the first half by All-Star Chad Billingsley (9-4 with a 3.38 ERA) though he struggled in the second half (3-7 with a 5.20 ERA). Young ace Clayton Kershaw (1-3 with a 2.27 ERA) and veteran Randy Wolf (7-4 with a 2.98 ERA) took off in the second half and management added Vicente Padilla to bolster the rotation (4-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 7 starts). The Dodgers pitching staff had the NL’s best ERA (3.41).

The offense was led by the most clutch hitter in the game in Ethier, who had 4 homeruns and 20 RBIs in the late innings of games that were close (and .472 in the late innings of close games at home). Centerfielder Kemp added his first Gold Glove to his first Silver Slugger, providing great defense and offense. Pierre played great when Manny was out and continued his solid play off the bench (.308 overall). A healthy Rafael Furcal started the offense (.269) and second baseman Orlando Hudson followed suit (.283 with 35 doubles). The acquisition of offense-minded Ronnie Belliard (.351 with the Dodgers) forced the O-Dog to the bench and now both are free agents. The offense pushed runs across as they led the NL in batting average, even with a down season from catcher Russell Martin (.250).

Jonathan Broxton

The bullpen, led by closer Jonathan Broxton, was bolstered with the acquisition of lefty George Sherrill (1-0 with a 0.65 ERA in 30 games with the Dodgers). The bullpen only converted 44 of 70 save opportunities. The bullpen was the most solid with lefty Hong Chih Kuo (2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 35 games and 32 Ks), Ramon Troncoso (5-4 with a 2.72 ERA in 73 games), and Ronald Belisario (4-3 with a 2.04 ERA in 69 games and 64 Ks).

However the young Dodgers could again not get past the Philadelphia Phillies. Maybe manager Joe Torre can think back to his early years with the NY Yankees to conjure up a way to get his Dodgers to the World Series. Management is staying quiet this offseason due to the many young Dodgers who are set for arbitration. Torre will have close to the same team as in 2009, minus veteran starters Wolf, Padilla, and Jon Garland; and the O-Dog. Once thought to be the worst division in baseball, the NL West has suddenly become highly competitive. The Arizona Diamondbacks have great young talent mixed with three top tiered pitchers (Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, and Edwin Jackson). The San Diego Padres played great late last year. The Rockies and Giants should again push the Dodgers at the top of the West. For the Dodgers to compete for a playoff spot, they have holes to fill. Here’s their wish list:

1. A second baseman: The combination of Orlando Hudson and Ronnie Belliard played well in 2009. However both are free agents. Many thought in-house candidate Blake DeWitt would be given a shot at the job. He will now have to beat out free agent signee Jamey Carroll, who became a hot commodity this offseason after his 2009 season with Cleveland (.276 in 93 games with a .355 OBP).
2. Pitching: The starting rotation consists of lefty Clayton Kershaw, righties Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda. Right now, the final two spots will be filled by James McDonald, Eric Stults, Charlie Haeger, or Rule V pick Carlos Monasterios. Monasterios, who has not pitched more than one game above Single-A, is pitching well in Venezuelan winter ball (7-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 12 starts), thus catapulting himself into contention for a rotation spot. The Dodgers could use another starting pitcher. The Dodgers bullpen is a mix of unknown pitchers. Management has been trying to trade lefty George Sherrill (because he is arbitration eligible), but as of right now, he is still a Dodger. Closer Jonathan Broxton has been good (he just cannot get past the Phillies), though he did blow six saves in 2009. The unsung heroes of the bullpen in 2009 were Hong Chih Kuo, Ramon Troncoso, and Ronald Belisario and they will need to be just as heroic in 2010 with the uncertainties in the rotation.
3. 

   Juan Pierre

   Trade Juan Pierre: As good as he was in 2009, management wanted to shed salary and to place Pierre in a good situation. Well, they did, but the goal was to get starting pitching in return. The Chicago White Sox got the speedy outfielder to fill their leadoff spot, while the Dodgers received two minor leaguers. The deal did not fill a hole for the Dodgers.

Tags:

Andre Ethier, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, George Sherrill, Hong Chih Kuo, James Loney, Jonathan Broxton, Juan Pierre, LA Dodgers, Matt Kemp, Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal, Ramon Troncoso, Randy Wolf, Ronald Belisario, Ronnie Belliard, Vicente Padilla

Every postseason, there are disappointing players and teams and thus those teams usually end up losing. Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays were the talk of the baseball world. They hit 16 homeruns against the Red Sox in the ALCS. However in the World Series, the power was zapped from the players and many struggled to just hit the ball. Thus the Rays lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies. For 14 seasons, the Atlanta Braves won their division, yet only once did the team come away with a World Championship.

This season, like every other postseason, there have been disappointments. First have been the first two opponents of the NY Yankees: the Minnesota Twins and the LA Angels. Both teams were lacking the fundamentals and is the main reason they are home and the Yankees are in the World Series. Both teams were victimized by fielding errors, baserunning blunders, and too many walks by the pitching staffs. The Twins made 2 errors in the Yankees three-game sweep. Poor baserunning plagued the Twins in the three games, like Nick Punto’s base running gaffe of trailing too far away from third base (and getting thrown out). The Twins combined to walk 9 batters in the ALDS. The Angels made 5 errors combined in Games 1 and 2, costing them both games in NY. They also had 2 errors in the 8^th inning of Game 6. In the two games the Angels won, they committed zero errors. The Angels also had a few baserunning blunders, including Vladimir Guerrero getting picked off of first on a shallow pop fly to right field and Bobby Abreu rounding second base too far. The Angels pitchers also walked too many, including the nine in the deciding Game 6. The Angels pitchers combined to walk 38 batters in the ALCS. The St. Louis Cardinals also had their problems: Matt Holliday’s error (dropping a fly ball to left) in Game 2 of the NLDS, which led to the Dodgers comeback win; 11 walks by Cardinals pitchers in 3 games; and the Cardinals inability to come up with a clutch hit.

Second, the Angels offense in the ALCS against the Yankees was meager. Except for Guerrero, Jeff Mathis (who didn’t play in every game), Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick (who also didn’t play in every game), and Torii Hunter, the offense was nonexistent. The top of the order (Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu) combined to hit around .146 with just 3 RBI and 4 runs scored. They also struck out 11 times. If the top of the order is not getting on base, the middle of the order (Guerrero and Hunter) will not have anyone to drive in. When the Angels did get men on base, like in Game 2 of the ALCS, they could not drive them in, stranding 16 runners in Game 2 alone.

Third, most of the closers throughout the postseason have been disappointing. Despite the Holliday miscue in left, Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin still had 2 outs with just one runner on base in Game 2 of the NLDS. He could not get the job done, resulting in a blown save and loss. Joe Nathan of the Twins came in the bottom of the 9^th in Game 2 of the ALDS and imploded, giving up a game-tying 2-run homerun to Alex Rodriguez. The game went into extra innings and the Twins lost a game they seemed to have in the bag going into the 9^th inning. In both Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS, Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street could not finish the game. In Game 3 of a tie game, Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 lead. In Game 4 and handed a 4-2 lead in the 9^th, Street gave up a Howard 2-run double to tie the game and a bloop single to Jayson Werth to give the Phillies a 5-4 lead, sending the Phillies to the NLCS. In Game 3 of the ALCS, Red Sox closer Jonathon Papelbon was handed a 6-4 lead in LA. However, he could not get the third out without giving up the lead, sending the Angels to the ALCS. After the Angels had taken the lead in 11^th inning of Game 2 of the ALCS, Angels closer Brian Fuentes quickly gave up the lead as A-Rod homered off of him to tie the game at 3-3 and sending the game to further extra innings…a game later won by the Yankees.

This leads to the fourth disappointment, the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen versus the Phillies. Yes closer Jonathon Broxton blew another game (Game 4) to the Phillies in the NLCS but he was hardly the only one. Broxton yet again had to face pinch-hitter Matt Stairs but this time walked him, leading to Jimmy Rollins’ walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9^th. Dodgers setup man George Sherrill couldn’t repeatedly get hitters out. In his two innings pitched, Sherrill walked 3 and gave up 2 hits and 3 runs. Ronald Belisario pitched 3.1 innings, giving up 5 hits and four runs. Ramon Troncoso was the only solid member that came out of the bullpen, pitching 3 shutout innings, though he walked 3. Chad Billingsley pitched out of the bullpen and gave Joe Torre a solid 3+ innings, though he gave up 2 runs. Even starter Clayton Kershaw, who pitched poorly in Game 1 of the NLCS, was victimized out of the bullpen in Game 5 (2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP).

The final disappointment so far has been the offense from the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher. Yes the two have been playing great defense at first base and right field, respectively. Teixeira has saved many errors with his stretching for throws at first base and Swisher has made some diving catches, even doubling off the Angels Guerrero at first base. The offense from the two, especially in the ALCS, has been virtually nonexistent. Teixeira was 6-for-27 with 4 RBI, 3 of which came in Game 5 on a 3-run double. Teixeira also struck out 8 times. Swisher had just 3 hits in 20 at-bats and 0 RBI, along with 7 strikeouts. Swisher had been so clutch for the Yankees all season but has not been able to come up with a big hit in the postseason. These two guys will be needed if the Yankees are to win another World Series title.

Tags:

Bobby Abreu, Brian Fuentes, Chad Billingsley, Chone Figgins, Clayton Kershaw, George Sherrill, Huston Street, Joe Nathan, Jonathon Broxton, Jonathon Papelbon, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Mark Teixeira, Matt Holliday, Minnesota Twins, Nick Swisher, NY Yankees, Ramon Toncoso, Ronald Belisario, Ryan Frankline, St. Louis Cardinals