…albeit short, late, and not even half-assed. Maybe quarter-assed, more out of obligation than inspiration. NL West God bless the San Francisco Giants. They were, by all accounts, the 10th or 12th best team in baseball last year, but they were fortunate enough to have enough good pitching that got hot at the right time, […]
…albeit short, late, and not even half-assed. Maybe quarter-assed, more out of obligation than inspiration.
NL West
God bless the San Francisco Giants. They were, by all accounts, the 10th or 12th best team in baseball last year, but they were fortunate enough to have enough good pitching that got hot at the right time, and to play in the NL West. Granted, they would have finished fifth – ahead only of the lowly Orioles – if they had to play in the AL East (more on that later), but despite my saltiness over the Red Sox being the fourth best team in the majors and missing the playoffs, it’s actually a good thing. If the best team won every year, it would be a relentless string of gold-plated pinstriped toads goosestepping through October every year. Besides, it was a fun team to support half-heartedly, with a likable bunch of characters (and the added comedy of both Brian Wilson and Barry Zito’s horrific contract). It was fun attending a victory parade, and it felt wonderful to see some close Giant fan friends get the monkey off their backs.
That said, this team isn’t very good. Fortunately for the Giants, no one is in the NL West. We’ll get to Adrian Gonzalez later, but the Padres traded away the one guy you’d pay money to watch, Garland is gone, and Latos is fraying at the seams. The Diamondbacks are horrible. The Dodgers seem almost as dysfunctional as the Mets, leaving only the Rockies. Everyone likes them. I see no reason why they can’t win 92 games in largely worthless division.
PICK: ROCKIES, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks
NL Central
Finally, a year I can credibly pick someone other than St. Louis.
Pirates: 72 wins. Astros: 75 wins. Cubs: still paying Soriano. Yikes. Cardinals: not enough depth.
Reds: very excited to watch Drew Stubbs, but I don’t see them repeating.
Pick: BREWERS, Reds, Cardinals, Cubs, Astros, Pirates
NL East
The only two good teams in the NL are Philly and Atlanta. Even with Utley injured, I think the Phils are too talented in the rotation for the Braves to steal the division.
Elsewhere in the division, the UN is sending in peacekeeping troops to support the failed state that is the New York Mets, and Jayson Werth is threatening to give the Zito contract a run for its “worst contract ever” money. Oh, fine – that’s hyperbole, because that contract is the worst there is, worst there ever was, worst there ever will be, the Crappo de Tutti Crapo – but you get my drift.
I think the Marlins may also play in this division, but I can’t be sure.
Pick: PHILLIES, BRAVES (Wild Card), Marlins, Mets, Natstown
NLDS: Rockies stun Phillies in 5 games, Braves beat Brewers in four.
NLCS: Braves sweep an overmatched Rockies team.
AL tomorrow. Maybe. Is this thing on?