NL West Preview

The NL West is the home of the dominant Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Salt Lake City and the rest of the league struggles to keep up with the Sox, and someday someone might catch them in the division.



Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Last year: 90-72
RS 712, RA 586, 19-11 division
Key Losses: Javy Castro (trade - SXF), Michael Stanley (FA - Louis), Pat Nomura (released), Raul Rodriguez (FA - KC), Rube Lewis (traded - Roc)
Key Additions: Angel Gordon (FA - NOR), Edgar Martin (trade - SXF), Everett Ward (promoted), Gio Gutierrez (rule 5 - SLC), Hughie Gibbons (trade - Paw),
Outlook: History says, don't bet against the Sky Sox. They have won the West five of seven years, went on to win the LCS in five of those years, and won two world series titles. Pitching and defense is the key to success and the formula hasn't changed.
Prediction: 94-68, Division Winner



Salt Lake City Bees
Last year: 90-72
RS 812, RA 703, 17-13 division
Key Losses: Desi Cedeno (FA - Indy), Scott Brown (FA - Roc)
Key Additions: none
Outlook: Bleak. It appears at the time of this writing that the owner has abandoned the team. Jose Lima, William Baek, and Matty LaFromboise should spark the team no matter who is running it. They should still score over 800 runs, and allow a little more than last year.
Prediction: 83-79, 3rd division


Las Vegas 51's
Last year: 82-80
RS 708, RA 713, 13-17 division
Key Losses: Jason Jennings (FA - Buf), Trenidad Rivera (FA - Rich)
Key Additions: Alex Carrasco (FA - Fresno), Hack Halter (FA - Indy), Yeico Guzman (FA - Boise)
Outlook: Anytime a team improves their pitching and defense without losing offense they usually improve. Should be enough to compete for a playoff spot if they can score more runs.
Prediction: 84-78, 2nd in division


Vancouver Canadians
Last year: 57-105
RS 690, RA 883, 11-19 division
Key Losses: Hipolito Mota (FA), Jaime Wells (FA), Jeremy Ratliff (FA), Lyle Mays (traded - Port), PT Blair (FA), Pat Putnam (traded NOR)
Key Additions: Jason Cameron (promoted), Leo Fontenot (promoted), Max James (rule 5- SLC), Pedro Martinez (FA - NO)
Outlook: The team with the worst pitching staff in the NL didn't improve. It looks like Vancouver is still waiting on the rookies to trickle up with Cameron and Fontenot coming up this season.
Prediction: 55-107, Last in division