NL West Prediction
With the acquisition of Manny Ramirez the LA Dodgers are looking poised to make a run at the NL West pennant. And I predict they will overcome the Diamondbacks to win the NL West.
With Ramirez in the lineup this weekend, the Dodgers whipped the Arizona Diamondbacks twice in three games to move back to within one game of first place in the National League West. Manny smashed two dingers and now has eight hits in 13 at-bats since joining the Dodgers on Friday. He's receiving standing ovations as he jogs out to left! His arrival should make the Dodgers the favorite to win the NL West pennant, especially since star pitcher Brad Penny is slated to resume his position in the starting rotation later this week against San Francisco. Shortstop Rafael Furcal will also rejoin the team at the start of September, another move that should help the boys in blue make the playoffs this season.
Face it, the Diamondbacks have no offense. They just can't score runs. Granted they have great 1-2 pitchers in their rotation and that's mostly it. Their only chance is if Upton and Co. heat up BIG TIME like they did in April. I'm not really a huge fan of Manny Ramirez but I do truly feel like he makes the Dodgers favorites to win the division. He's the dynamic power bat that club needed. Even though they are 1.5 games back right now I predict that the LA Dodgers will win the NL West this season.
2 comments:
I couldnt agree more with your insight on the NL West. A Giants fan myself, I hate the Dodgers but agree that they have the best chance of winning the division. However, I wouldnt count the Rockies out yet, keeping in mind their season-ending streak last year. I also agree that the Diamondbacks will most likely not win the division, unless, as you said, their offense heats up like never before during the season.
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Stefan
I love how everyone (including myself to a degree) is handing the division to the Dodgers. Who has the 2 best pitchers in the NL? Arizona (Haren & Webb) and they have Randy Johnson who has quietly gotten stronger and stronger in '08, and is on pace for another 200K season. I don't think the issue is that they can't hit, but they needed a veteran bat.
The Dodgers have a glut of OF's, and Ramirez (my fav player) will make Matty Kemp into a star (on pace for 20 HRs and 40 SBs while hitting .300) But they are on their 2nd closer, their pitching still isn't that good. So who's to say they'll take it away from Arizona?
If I had to bet, I'd go with LA, but its going to the wire. Promise that.
-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com
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