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.