Winning a World Series in the near future is a mission that doesn't appear impossible for the San Diego Padres.
General manager A.J. Preller kept himself and account executives busy this offseason in landing impact players from around the league in hopes of the Padres finally competing for a playoff spot.
While it seems unlikely San Diego will unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers or defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants as the class of the NL West at the moment, the 2015 version of the Friars has many optimistic.
Los Angeles is trying to build a dynasty, San Francisco has won three of the last five Fall Classics, and both Arizona and Colorado are also-rans. So why can't this be the year of the Padres? A championship is far-fetched, but San Diego has the roster to, at the very least, compete for a wild card spot.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (2014 Finish - 64-98, Fifth in NL West)
There's nowhere to look but up when you finish with the worst record in baseball the previous season. That's the case for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
A 64-98 record was enough for a front office overhaul and a new era begins for the 2015 Diamondbacks. Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell were relived of their duties as manager, a position that has been filled by Chip Hale. Hale most recently served as the bench coach with the Oakland Athletics for three years and also spent 10 seasons as a coach and minor league manager in the D-backs' system.
Hale is inexperienced much like some of his players, but new general manager Dave Stewart has been around the block a few times. The former MLB ace and three-time World Series champion replaces Kevin Towers and it comes as no surprise the club is hoping to build a strong rotation. Team president and Hall of Famer Tony La Russa, who managed Stewart during his career, hopes to spread some of his knowledge among the players.
The D-backs were plagued by injuries and poor pitching in 2014. Paul Goldschmidt, Mark Trumbo and A.J. Pollock are back healthy. David Peralta is hoping to be among the top hitters in the lineup with more playing time and will most likely start in left field. Arizona opened the wallet for Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas, who will bring some pop to the plate. Tomas, though, could start the season in the minor leagues.
Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin will miss the start of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, leaving Josh Collmenter as the No. 1 starter ahead of newcomer Jeremy Hellickson, Chase Anderson, Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster. Collmenter led the D-backs in wins (11) and ERA (3.46) last season. Wade Miley is gone, while Trevor Cahill, Vidal Nuno, Robbie Ray and Bronson Arroyo hope to win a spot somewhere.
Scoring runs and getting on base will be imperative to support this rotation, and the D-backs should produce with a crop of healthy and young talent. Tomas, Brandon Drury and Jake Lamb are promising prospects trying to make an impression right away for the D-backs, who have missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.
X-FACTOR: TUFFY GOSEWISCH
Miguel Montero knew how to handle Arizona's pitching staff last season and now he is with the Chicago Cubs. Tuffy Gosewisch appears to be the frontrunner for the backstop position and did an admirable job behind the plate in 41 games last season. The coaching staff is impressed with his style of play and won't expect power numbers from the Arizona State product. Gosewisch's backup will most likely be Oscar Hernandez.
PROGNOSIS: There's no reason why the Diamondbacks shouldn't win at least 10 more games from the previous season with Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo back healthy, and the possibility of Tomas breaking out. The 2015 campaign will have more emphasis on what some of the younger players can do and how they grow under Hale's tutelage. It's beneficial to see what lies ahead for the future because right now Arizona is competing against Colorado for last in the NL West with San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego battling at the top.
COLORADO ROCKIES (2014 Finish - 66-96, Fourth in NL West)
It's been a rough and disappointing few years for the Colorado Rockies and the biggest change they made this offseason was in the front office. Longtime general manager Dan O'Dowd resigned after 15 seasons and Jeff Bridich was named as his replacement.
O'Dowd was the second GM in team history and oversaw a franchise that failed to reach 80 wins in each of the past four seasons. The Rockies haven't made it to the playoffs since 2009 and will enter another grueling season under manager Walt Weiss (140-174).
The Rockies are relying on the health of star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and talented outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. Tulo and CarGo haven't lived up to expectations as far staying on the field is concerned, and Colorado is taking a huge risk that the tandem will play at least 200 to 250 games combined. Tulowitzki opened the last season on a tear before a hip injury ended it all.
Justin Morneau turned back the clock in 2014 and many wonder if his best days are gone. Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu, Corey Dickerson, Nolan Arenado and newcomer Nick Hundley will be looked upon to lead the club if the two stars are felled by injuries. The Rockies did lead the NL in runs scored in 2014.
When right-hander Kyle Kendrick is a club's biggest acquisition chances are expectations are quite low. Kendrick joins a putrid rotation spearheaded by Jorge De La Rosa. Jordan Lyles has potential, but this rotation has awful days ahead trying to compete in the NL West. Prospect Tyler Anderson may crack the rotation at some point this season.
X-FACTOR: TULOWITZKI AND GONZALEZ
The Rockies are investing a lot in the injury-prone Tulowitzki and Gonzalez, but they have no other choice. Tulo is arguably the best shortstop in the game and fans know something bad is bound to happen to the prized infielder after years of disappointment. Gonzalez is the same. It wouldn't be a surprise if these two are wearing different uniforms down the road. Colorado needs more talent around the unpredictable duo.
PROGNOSIS: There's no chance the Rockies will make an impact on the NL West, or even the wild card race, this season. The rotation has one reliable arm in De La Rosa and, as stated earlier, there's too much risk in relying on both Tulowitzki and Gonzalez to carry the team. It's a shame the Rockies have such a thin farm system. The situation in Colorado, however, is good for some of the younger players trying to make an impact. It's a two-horse race for last in the NL West between Colorado and Arizona.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (2014 record: 94-68, First in NL West)
It has to sting for the Los Angeles Dodgers to watch rival San Francisco hoist the Commissioner's Trophy three times in the last five years. The Dodgers know they are just as good, if not better, than the Giants and have extremely high expectations for the 2015 season.
The Dodgers lost in the NLCS in 2013, then won their second straight NL West title last season and made it to the NLDS, losing in four games to St. Louis. Ace Clayton Kershaw came up empty in the postseason after a marvelous regular season in which he took home his second straight and third overall NL Cy Young Award. Kershaw, who was also named NL MVP, won the Cy Young in 2011 and 2013, but finished second in the voting to R.A. Dickey in 2012.
Kershaw went 21-3 with a 1.77 earned run average and a 0.86 WHIP in only 27 starts this past season after missing April with a back problem. He set new career bests in strikeout rate (10.8 K/9), walk rate (1.4 BB/9) and ground ball rate (51.8 percent). Kershaw and Zack Greinke will be the cornerstones to the Dodgers' rotation once again.
New general manager Andrew Friedman was pried away from the Tampa Bay Rays in hopes of getting the Dodgers over the playoff hump. The Dodgers have reached the postseason six times since 2004 with zero World Series appearances to show for it. That's why Friedman was brought in and former GM Ned Colletti will remain with the organization as a senior advisor.
Friedman was busy right away in shipping fan favorite and slugging outfielder Matt Kemp to the rival San Diego Padres. Kemp was productive in 2014, but injury concerns and a huge contract were too much to invest in, especially with Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig manning the outfield. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez also departed Hollywood for Boston.
Friedman made some moves to bolster the lineup, acquiring infielders Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins, catcher Yasmani Grandal and starting pitcher Brett Anderson. The Anderson deal made sense with Hyun-Jin Ryu expected to start the 2015 season on the disabled list with shoulder soreness. LA's bullpen needs help and closer Kenley Jansen is out because of a left foot issue that required surgery. LA's Achilles' heel in 2014 was the bullpen and the club brought in relievers Juan Nicasio, Chris Hatcher, Joel Peralta and Dustin McGowan.
X-FACTOR: JOC PEDERSON
Will Don Mattingly find a consistent outfield rotation? Kemp is gone, so that opens things up for the trio of Puig, Crawford and prospect Joc Pederson. Who knows the mental state of Andre Ethier and the Dodgers should turn toward the future of youngster Pederson, who had 33 homers in Triple-A last season. Scott Van Slyke will platoon in the outfield and is one of the top bench players in the Senior Circuit.
PROGNOSIS: It's World Series or bust for just a few teams in the majors and the Dodgers are one of them. The offense will rest upon the broad shoulders of Puig and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, and a lot is expected from Crawford. Will Crawford revert back to his productive years as a Tampa Bay Ray?. Rollins will try to get comfortable in his new digs after playing his entire career in Philadelphia. Los Angeles hasn't reached the Fall Classic since 1988 and has plenty of dollars invested in the roster. If the Dodgers can somehow avoid the Cardinals in the postseason, start planning the parade route.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (2014 Finish - 77-85, Third in NL West)
The Padres haven't been to the postseason since 2006 and have finished no better than third place in the NL West in each of the past four years. Something had to be done in San Diego, so Preller and the Padres' brass crunched numbers and swung deals.
Here are some key additions for the Padres: OF Matt Kemp, OF Wil Myers. OF Justin Upton, 3B Will Middlebrooks, C Derek Norris and RHP James Shields.
Kemp jumped ship from the rival Dodgers and his health is a huge concern. Kemp did play in 150 games in 2014 and batted .287 with 26 homers and 89 RBI, his most runs batted in since 126 back in 2011. Kemp has a gigantic salary and his addition is not only a risk, but it should bolster San Diego's offense.
Myers is expected to start in center field and came over from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of an 11-player trade that also involved the Washington Nationals. The 2013 American League Rookie of the Year joins Kemp and Upton in an improved outfield. Seth Smith, who is in Seattle, led the Padres in batting average (.266), homers (12) and RBI (48) last season.
Shields makes the Padres' rotation better and he had a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA in 34 starts for the American League champion Kansas City Royals last season. He struggled in the playoffs, however, losing both of his starts against the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. The workhorse right- hander joins Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy and Brandon Morrow in the rotation. All five are right-handers.
X-FACTOR: JUSTIN UPTON
There are many to choose from for San Diego's X-Factor and Upton is it. Yes, Kemp, Myers, Shields, Ross and maybe even Jedd Gyorko were deserving of the nod. Upton drove in a career-best 102 runs while belting 29 homers and hitting .270 last season with the Atlanta Braves. Turner Field is a big yard just like Petco Park, so Upton's numbers shouldn't waver. He collected 56 homers and 172 RBI in two seasons with the Braves.
PROGNOSIS: Will the new pieces fit for a Padres club desperate to put a winner on the diamond? Is the rotation good enough to compete with the likes of LA's Clayton Kershaw or San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner? The staff couldn't get any worse and neither can the offense. San Diego is definitely more talented than last season and that's why a postseason appearance could happen. Bud Black's job as manager survives another season.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - (2014 record: 88-74, Second in NL West)
The San Francisco Giants have won the last three World Series on even number years and look to make an exception in 2015. If there's a team that clicks in the last few months of a season in recent years, it's the Giants. The Giants seem to have it all with great pitching, defense and hitting, which is why manager Bruce Bochy's job is secure the next few years. Three parades in five years will make any organization content.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval went for greener pastures and more green in his pockets when he signed with the Boston Red Sox. So the Giants will miss his bat, especially in the postseason. Casey McGehee was brought over from Miami to fill Sandoval's shoes on the hot corner in exchange for minor league pitchers. San Francisco's farm system is a bit bare, but the big league club is still built to win.
Catcher Buster Posey is back to lead the offense and emotional outfielder Hunter Pence broke his arm in early March. He is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after being hit on the wrist by a pitch in spring training.
Bumgarner is arguably the best pitcher in the National League, a topic Kershaw and St. Louis' Adam Wainwright would enjoy discussing. Mad Bum earned two wins over Kansas City in the World Series and also finished off the seven-game triumph with a five-inning save on two days' rest in the finale. The 25-year- old lefty has 67 regular-season wins and has been a part of three World Series championships. In 36 career World Series innings, Bumgarner is 4-0 and holds all-time records for lowest ERA (0.25), fewest hits per nine innings (3.5) and fewest walks plus hits per inning (0.528).
San Francisco didn't do much to tinker with the roster this offseason. It brought back right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy to join Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Hudson and Tim Lincecum.
X-FACTOR: MATT CAIN
The Giants' staff is another year older and that means more to Peavy, Lincecum and Hudson. Cain is no spring chicken either and hopes to be back at full strength following elbow and ankle surgeries. The big right-hander had made 30 or more starts in eight straight years until 2014, when he lasted only 15 and went 2-7 with a 4.18 ERA. Cain, who pitched at least 200 innings from 2007-2012, will be relied on heavily to take pressure off of Bumgarner.
PROGNOSIS: The Giants have failed to reach the postseason the year after winning it all and return virtually the same team from last year. There's not much depth in the starting staff and lineup, and young players such as Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford will have to step up. Posey is the hands-down offensive leader of the Giants, who have to deal with an improved division. The bullpen has three strong arms in Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo and Yusmeiro Petit. It should again boil down to a race between San Francisco and Los Angeles for NL West bragging rights, with the loser still reaching the playoffs.
PROJECTED FINISH
1. LOS ANGELES
2, SAN FRANCISCO
3. SAN DIEGO
4. ARIZONA
5. COLORADO
[SportsNetwork.com]
