The next division up in our key player series is the National League West, home of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants. The NL West should be a battle all year, so let’s take a look at some of the players who may decide the division.
Colorado Rockies: Jorge de la Rosa. When I look at the Rockies’ starting rotation, outside of Ubaldo Jimenez, I see a lot of question marks. Perhaps the biggest question mark, or X-factor if you would, is De La Rosa.
The Rockies re-signed De La Rosa to a two-year, $21.5 million contract with a player option for a third year and a club option for a fourth year. If De La Rosa exercises the player option, the deal could be worth $32 million.
Now he has to prove he was worth that contract.
If the Rockies want to make the playoffs in 2011, I believe they are going to need De La Rosa to regain his 2009 form when he started 32 games, averaged 9.4 K/9, and hurled 185 innings.
San Francisco Giants: Pablo Sandoval. 2010 was a complete disaster for the “Kung-Fu Panda.” He came into the season out of shape and by the end of the season he was a complete non-factor in the Giants’ World Series run.
Sandoval came into camp in great shape and is having a decent spring with the stick. Going into Wednesday’s action, Sandoval was hitting .288/.317/.542 with three HRs and even a triple in 59 ABs.
The Giants will have a very good team going into 2011 because of their pitching staff. But if the Giants can get Sandoval going, along with Buster Posey and then later Brandon Belt, then they might become an elite team.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Matt Kemp. Kemp looked like he was headed for super stardom in 2009 when he hit .297/.352/.490 with 26 HRs, 34 SBs and compiled a 5.0 WAR. Then in 2010, supposedly Kemp was partying like a rock star and had a miserable season.
Kemp slumped to a .249 average, his K Percentage increased from 22.9 percent to 28.2, he stole only 19 bases and produced a 0.4 WAR. His 0.4 WAR was second-worst only to Melky Cabrera amongst all major league center fielders.
I like the Dodgers’ pitching staff top to bottom, but their offense is very suspect to me. Outside of Andre Ethier, they don’t have any dynamic players.
Kemp can be that other dynamic player, but he is going to have to return to his 2009 form in order for the Dodgers to compete in the NL West.
San Diego Padres: Cameron Maybin. Doesn’t it seem like Maybin has been around forever? It seems like he is 28 or 29, but he is only 23 years old. I guess when you are on your third team in five seasons, you will get that perception.
Cameron wore out his welcome in Florida because he just never figured out major league pitching. In parts of three seasons with the Marlins, Cameron hit .257/.323/.391 with 12 HRs and 14 SBs in 144 games. He also struck out about 28 percent of the time.
Now Cameron is getting a fresh start in San Diego, and without Adrian Gonzalez in the lineup on a daily basis, it’s all hands on deck for the Padres’ offense. Cameron has the most potential of anyone in the Padres’ lineup heading into 2011.
He still can be an impact player in the major leagues, and if he can realize his potential in San Diego, the Padres’ offense will be that much better in 2011.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton. Well, there is good news and bad news concerning Upton. The good news is that all signs point to Upton being healthy heading into spring training. A lot of Upton’s down season could be attributed to a shoulder injury that nagged him all season.
The other good news is that the Diamondbacks will not use a humidor in 2011. That means the balls should continue to fly out of Chase Field. I fully expect Upton to get back to the 25-30 HR mark in 2011 and have an OPS nearing the .900 mark.
Now the bad news.
The Diamondbacks’ offense will take a step back in 2011. Gone are Mark Reynolds and Adam LaRoche and in are Melvin Mora and Xavier Nady. Even if the Diamondbacks retained Reynolds and LaRoche, they still would be pretty bad in 2011, but it’s important for Upton to bounce back in 2011.
Upton is a super star and will be key in Arizona’s rebuilding process.
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