Last year was a great season for the NL West. The Diamondbacks emerged from the division to win the World Series. Barry Bonds had possibly the greatest offensive season in the history of baseball. And even the Padres were a good team despite their small-market limitations.
The Diamondbacks shouldn't expect to have the same type of season this year as they did last year, but they should still compete for the division title or a wild card berth. The strength of the D-Backs is in Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, their pair of aces. It would be surprising if they both played at the level they did last year, I would look for Schilling to fall off the pace slightly, but they will still be the best tandem of starting pitchers in the majors. The biggest problem facing the D-Backs is their age. Last year they won the World Series with a team that was perfect for Arizona, a state that closely resembles a retirement community. This year they haven't gotten any younger and they have already been hurt by the injury bug. Matt Williams broke his leg in a spring training accident and it would be a near miracle if the D-Backs were able to match last year's pattern of no injuries combined with career years by many players. The Diamondbacks will still be a good squad, but I don't expect a return trip to the World Series.
The Giants were the beneficiaries of Bonds' spectacular season last year and, without another magical season for Bonds this year, they stand to fall in the division race. While everyone knows that Bonds broke the home run record last year, it is probably more impressive that he broke the season marks for slugging percentage and walks and also posted an on base percentage over .500. A season like that comes around once in a lifetime and for Bonds it solidified his fourth MVP award, the most ever for a single player. While Bonds excelled last year, Jeff Kent, the 2000 MVP, had a disappointing year. And so far, this year doesn't look any better, as Kent broke his wrist when he slipped off his truck at a car wash. The Giants do have a good future with Bonds locked up for five more years, a new ballpark and a number of top prospects in the minor leagues, but they will need more than Bonds to win the division title.
The team that has the most potential to be spectacular is the Dodgers. Unfortunately, they could just as easily be spectacularly bad. Last year the Dodgers were hampered by injuries and, despite an enormous payroll ,they only finished third in the division. This year they hope the trade of Gary Sheffield, who was an all-star performer but a clubhouse malcontent, combined with the return to health of Kevin Brown will spur a return to the postseason. Brown is one of the most devastating starters in the majors when he is healthy, but he hasn't been able to remain healthy for a full season in two years. The rest of the Dodgers staff is of the same mold-dominant when healthy, but often injured. The Dodgers will feel the loss of Sheffield greatly. Even when he was sulking in the clubhouse he performed well on the field. Sheffield is now paired with Chipper Jones in Atlanta, comprising a combination that will wreak havoc across the NL.
The Padres, who finished fourth in the division last year, should continue their rise this season. Despite playing in one of the smallest markets in the majors, the Padres have been able to compete with a small budget for years due to good management. The Padres have a core of young talent that should flourish this year and they will be bolstered by the inclusion of Sean Burroughs, regarded by many as the top hitter in the minor leagues. Burroughs is such a highly regarded prospect that the Padres moved all-star third baseman Phil Nevin to first and Ryan Klesko to the outfield in order to find a spot for Burroughs in the lineup. The Padres also improved their club when they fleeced the Yankees in a trade, acquiring DeAngelo Jiminez for Jay Witasick and getting minor league prospect Dennis Tankersley from the Red Sox for Ed Sprague. The Padres have been able to build a very respectable team in a difficult division and they can contend for the division title if they get a few breaks.
The Rockies were the most disappointing team in the division last year. Pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle were both busts in their debuts at Coors Field and the team struggled to hit while away from home. Even with Todd Helton and Larry Walker, two of the best left handed hitters in the game, in the middle of the lineup, the Rockies have been unable to overcome their mental block of hitting on the road. As usual, the key to the Rockies season will be their ability to adjust to their home park. They haven't been able to pitch at home or hit on the road and that isn't a good combination for a winning team. One of the most interesting questions in the Rockies camp this year will be the role of Jack Cust on the team. A highly touted hitting prospect, Cust is ready for the major leagues with his bat, but it is unsure if he is even ready for the little league with his glove. Playing in the NL he will have to find a place in the field and it will be interesting to see if he can improve his defense and play in the big leagues.
Is Kobe too hot for the NBA?
In his short career Kobe Bryant has shown fans two different sides. The first is as an unbelievably talented shooting guard. Many analysts consider him to be the best player in the league, praise which might be a little bit inflated, but he is at least near the top. The other side of Kobe is of the petulant young adult. Unfortunately, we have seen this second side too much in recent weeks.
Kobe has just been suspended for the next two games after he instigated a fight with Reggie Miller following a recent Lakers-Pacers game. This game was the focus of much concern for the league, as it was the first meeting of Shaquille O'Neal and Brad Miller after their fight in January, but it was Kobe that ended up throwing the punches. Reggie Miller is one of the most notorious trash talkers in the league, so I would not be surprised if he had instigated the fight, but Kobe was ultimately the one who sought the fight and threw the first punch.
Kobe has the drive and skill to become the next great star in the NBA, but he will be derailed if he continues his childish behavior. Earlier this month he punched a teammate on the team bus, knocking him out for the game and last year it was his selfish play and inability to play second banana to Shaq that almost cost the Lakers in their quest for a second straight title.
As I wrote in a column last year, the only things that can stop the Lakers in their quest for a consecutive third title are injury or infighting. With Kobe reverting to his immature ways over recent weeks, the second possibility has become much more probable.
The Western Conference is good from top to bottom and it appears that the Lakers will not have home court advantage for the course of the playoffs, so the Lakers must pull together over the final months of the season if they wish to repeat. Without Kobe, the Lakers are a very beatable team and he is taking himself out of the team picture with his recent action.