League Preview-Part 11-Wrapping up the National League West

It's almost over folks. Only three more team to go and we're ready.

St. Louis Cardinals
Postseason Appearances: 1926, 1928, 1930-31, 1934, 1942-44, 1946, 1964, 1967-68, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1996, 2000-02, 2004-06, 2009 (total-22)
World Series Titles: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1968, 1982, 2006 (total-10)
Best Season: 1942 (106-48)
WOrst Season: 1908 (49-105)

It's amazing, but the Cardinals have almost never had a bad season. Since 1918, they've finished in last place only ONCE (1990). Twenty-two postseason appearances and 10 world championships (second only to the Yankees 27) is a tribute to the team's stability.

Pitching-In order to stay competitive, you need great pitching-and the Cards have it in droves. The rotation consists of Bob Gibson 1968 (22-9, 1.12-the lowest ERA in MLB since the deadball era ended in 1920), Dizzy Dean 1934 (30--7, 2.66-the last time an NL pitcher has reached 30 W's in a season), John Tudor 1985 (21-8, 1.93), Dizzy's brother Paul "Daffy" Dean 1934 (19-11, 3.43), and Harry Brecheen 1948 (20-7, 2.24). The deep pen consists of Bruce Sutter 1984 (45 saves, 1.54 ERA), Lindy McDaniel 1960 (12-4-26, 2.09), Jason "Izzy" Isringhausen 2004 (47 saves), Al "Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky 1975 (13-3-22, 1.67), and Steve Kline 2001 (1.80 ERA). In reserve are HOFer Jesse Haines 1927 (24-10, 2.72), as well as Todd Worrell 1987 (33 saves) and Joaquin Andujar 1984 (20-14).

Catching-Not really the Redbirds strong point over the years, Ted Simmons 1975 (18, 100, .332) does give them some solid play nonetheless. Yadier Molina 2008 (.304) provides much needed late inning D. Bill DeLancey 1934 (.316, 13 HR in only 253 AB) and Gus Mancuso 1930 (.366) add bats behind the plate.

Infield-With Stan "The Man" Musial in the outfield, that opens up first base for Albert "El Hombre" Pujols 2003 (43, 124, .359). The rest of the infield is steady with Rogers Hornsby 1924 (25, 94, .424-the highest BA by a player since 1900), Ozzie Smith 1987 (.303, 75 RBI, 43 SB) at short and Ken Boyer 1961 (24, 95, .329) at third. Frankie Frisch 1927 (.337, 48 SB) would start for just about any other team-just not here. Aaron Miles 2008 (.317) adds more depth and Roger Freed 1977 (.398) is a monster PHer. The infield is so deep, THREE HOFers are in reserve (Jim Bottonley 1927 (.303, 124 RBI), Johnny Mize (34, 113, .327), and Red Schoendienst 1954 (.315)).

Outfield-The all time Card leader in most offensive categories, Stan Musial 1948 (39, 131, .376), is in left. One more HR and No. 6 would have led the NL in EVERY significant statistical category, which no player has ever done-in EITHER league. Willie McGee 1985 (.353, 56 SB) is in center, and Enos Slaughter 1948 (.321) is in right. Lou Brock 1964 (14, 58, .315, 43 SB) serves as the team's PR specialist (with Vince Coleman 1987 (109 SB) also in reserve), and J.D. Drew 2001 (27, 73, .323 in only 375 AB)/Ray Blades 1930 (4, 25, .396 in 101 AB) provide a lethal left/right pinch hitting option. Two more HOFers (Chick Hafey 1930 (26, 107, .336) and Joe Medwick (20, 122, .339)) are among a deep reserve crew.

Outlook-A tough combo of speed, power, defense and pitching could lift the Redbirds to the top. They will certainly be in the hunt.

San Diego Padres
Postseason Appearances: 1984, 1996, 1998, 2005-06 (total-5)
World Series Titles: 0
Best Season: 1998 (98-64)
Worst Season: 1969 (52-110)

It took the Pods 15 seasons to get to the postseason, and have only been to the "dance" just 5 times in their first 41 seasons. While they have had some outstanding players during their existence, generally San Diego has served as a "gimme" for teams making West Coast trips.

Pitching-Weak compared to most teams. The rotation consists of Randy Jones 1975 (20-12, 2.24), Jake Peavy 2005 (13-7, 2.88), Andy Benes 1991 (15-11, 3.03), Ed Whitson 1990 (14-9, 2.60) and Dave Roberts 1971 (14-17 bus a club record 2.10 ERA). San Diego will go with a six man bullpen, with Trevor Hoffman 1998 (4-2-53, 1.48) in the lead car. Assisting Hoffman will be Craig Lefferts 1984 (10 saves, 2.13), Luis DeLeon 1982 (9-5-15, 2.03), Mark Davis 1988 (28 saves, 2.01), Heath Bell 2007 (2.02) and Scott Sanders 1996 (9-5, 3.38) as the long man. Mike Adams 1989 (0.73 ERA in 37 innings) is the team's Joba Chamberlain in reserve; Clay Kirby 1971 (15-13, 2.83) and Andy Ashby 1998 (17-9, 3.34) add starting depth.

Catching-Benito Santiago 1987 (18, 79, .300, 21 SB) starts behind the plate, with Carlos Hernandez 1998 (9, 52, .262) backing him up. Chris Cannizzaro 1970 (.279) and Phil Nevin 1999 (24, 85, .269 in 383 AB) add depth and in Nevin's case, defensive flexibility.

Infield-A recent arrival to the team, Adrian Gonzalez 2009 (40, 99, .277, 119 walks) starts at first. Mark Loretta 2004 (.335) is at second, Khalil Greene 2004 (15, 65, .273) is at short, and Ken Caminiti 1996 (40, 130, .326) is at third. Adding some infield depth are pinch hitting specialists Broderick Perkins 1980 (.370) and Eddie Williams 1994 (15, 58, .331), and utility specialist Craig Shipley 1994 (.333). Hard hitting Nate Colbert 1970 (38 HR) and the Bipster, Bip Roberts 1990 (.309), add to the reserve crew, among others.

Outfield-The team's strength. Greg Vaughn 1998 (50, 119, .272) is in left, "Cito"
Gaston 1970 (29, 93, .318) is in center and the team's sole HOFer (so far), Tony Gwynn 1987 (.370, 56 SB) is in right. Gene Richards 1978 (.308, 37 SB) and Eric Owens 2000 (.293, 29 SB) add speed to the outfield backup positions, with Met-killer Jody Gerut 2008 (14, 43, .296 in only 328 AB) heading up the reserve crew.

Outlook-Could finish as high as fifth or as low as the cellar. The strong bullpen should keep the Pods from slipping too far.

Last, but not least..

San Francisco Giants
(also known as N.Y. Giants until 1957)
Postseason Appearances: 1905, 1911-13, 1917, 1921-24, 1933, 1936-37, 1951, 1954, 1962, 1971, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2000, 2002-03 (total-22)
World Series Titles: 1905, 1921-22, 1933, 1954 (total-5, none since the move to Frisco)
Best Season: 1940 (106-47)
Worst Season: 1985 (62-100)

Few teams have had a rich a history as the Giants. While their success has been limited to their New York stay in terms of World Series titles won, the list of Giant icons continues to grow to this day.

Pitching-A mix of the very old, old and new, the Jints rotation consists of Christy Mathewson 1911 (26-13, 1.99), Carl Hubbell 1934 (21-12, 2.30, 5 straight HOFers K'ed in that years ASG), Sal Maglie 1951 (23-6, 2.93), Juan Marichal 1966 (25-6, 2.23) and the reigning Cy Young winner in the NL, Tim Lincecum 2009 (15-7, 2.48). Bobby Bolin 1968 (10-5, 1.98) is the long man of the pen, with Marv Grissom 1954 (10-7-19, 2.36) Scott Eyre 2005 (2.63), Felix Ro0driguez 2001 (9-1, 1.68) and Robb Nen 2000 (41 saves, 1,50 ERA) rounding out the pen nicely. In reserve are three HOF starters-Joe McGinnity (24-11, 2.41), Rueb Marquard 1911 (24-7, 2.50) and Gaylord Perry 1970 (23-13, 3.20).

Catching-With all the catchers the Giants have had over the years, the winner of the starting job is Dick Dietz 1970 (22, 107, .300, 109 walks). Backing up Dietz are HOFer Roger Bresnahan (.295, C 1 (-3) defensively) and Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval 2009 (25, 90, .330), who also backs up the infield corners.

Infield-The quandary at first is-which HOFer do you pick? Willie McCovey 1969 (45, 126, .320) gets the call over Bill Terry 1930 (.401; last NL player to crack the .400 barrier). At second is Jeff Kent 2000 (33, 125, .334), at short is Rich Aurilia 2001 (37, 97, .324), and Freddy Lindstrom 1930 (22, 106, .379) is at third. Besides the Panda, George Kelly 1924 (21, 136, .324) and Ramon Martinez 2000 (.302) help out on the infield. Besides Terry, in reserve are HOFers Travis Jackson 1930 (.339) and Orlando Cepeda 1961 (46, 142, .311).

Outfield-One of the strongest OF's in the league, and it could have been even stronger. But, when you have the "poster child" for PED abuse in left, something had to be done. So, we picked out a season for Barry Bonds which was much more representative of the early years of his career-1993 (46, 123, .336, 29 SB). His godfather, the legendary Willie Mays 1954 (41, 110, .345), is in center, and another HOFer, Mel Ott 1934 (35, 135, .326) is in right. Backing this stellar trio up is pinch hitter deluxe Dusty Rhodes 1954 (15, 50, .341 in just 164 AB). Kelly and Breshahan can also help out in the outfield.

Outlook-if the Dodgers don't win, the Giants should-the only problem is the infield defense up the middle. There's enough power and pitching that could overcome that handicap.

Predicted order of finish-1. Dodgers 2. Giants 3. Cardinals 4. Cubs 5. Astros 6. Padres 7. D-Backs 8. Rockies

Next time-we are now ready to go! A preview of the opening day matchups..and then PLAY BALL!!