My expectations for the 2nd half of the season in
MLB…
Good
Afternoon student if you will please
take your seats this is going to be a long day. Today we are going to cover all
of the NL West Coast Baseball teams and how they performed in the 1st half of the season
which we will be grading and what our expectations can be for the 2nd
half of the season. We will also be doing playoff predictions for the 2012 MLB
Post Season. So lets get settled in for the 1st team….
1)
San
Francisco Giants (46-40/ 2nd in NL West) , Pitching: B+, Batting: A-
, Overall: A – I open with the Giants and not the team leading the NL West
(Dodgers) or the Reigning NL West Champs (D-Backs) Because I am placing them
where I think they will be at the end of the season. That’s right I said it the
Giants will win the NL West this season with the Dodgers coming in a close
second. The Giants did not have a strong start to the season falling as many as
5 games behind the Dodgers in the division. But as of recently they have truly picked
it up the pace and at one point held the lead in the division. Now lets for the
sake of discussion throw out the 3 game sweep to the surging Pirates and the
Giants had a really good `1st half and look to not be going anywhere
as far as competing for the playoffs. Lincecum will bounce back from the
horrible 1st half he had and the Giants batting order is only
gaining depth as injured players return. So expect big things from the Giants
in the 2nd Half and expect them to be playing hard come playoff time…
2)
Los
Angeles Dodgers (47-40/ 1st in NL West), Pitching B-, Batting C+,
Overall B- - The Dodgers were the Cinderella story coming off of last
season. With a returning Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier the Dodgers lineup was looking real
dangerous. And once that product hit the ground it did so running with the
Dodgers taking an early lead in the Division. It looked early like the dodgers
were almost unstoppable but then the injury bug bit and bit them hard. First
Kemp goes down with a hamstring injury then Ethier goes out the Dodgers have
tried their best to hold it together but the Bats just couldn’t hold it
together. The Pitching has been as solid as ever lead again by All Star P
Clayton Kershaw the only weakness has been the bullpen who seems to enjoy
giving up late leads. I don’t see the returning bats having too much of an
effect on the team and they will slide late to the Giants but will most likely
be in the Wild Card picture late…
3)
Arizona
Diamondbacks (42-43/ 3rd in NL West), Pitching B , Batting B-,
Overall B – The Dbacks are the reigning Division Champs and looked good to
repeat as champs to start the season. But as the season moved on the D-Backs
had a small slump that put them in a big hole in the division and even though
they have great young pitching and great young hitters like Jason Kubel and Miguel Montero. Im sure the Diamondbacks will
have a strong 2nd half I just don’t think it will be enough to
overcome both the Dodgers and Giants and get a WC spot or Division Title. So to
D-Backs fans I say till next year my friends…but as for 2012??? NO PLAYOFFS FOR
YOU!!!....
4)
San Diego
Padres (34-53/ 4th in NL West), Pitching C-, Batting C, Overall C – Now
the Padres are just a straight mess! They tried to put it all together for a
small stretch in the middle of the 1st half but couldn’t hold it
long enough to actually make and impact on this season. The padres have a good
young team that will eventually get better. But as for this year? Just like I said
to the D-Backs fans!! NO PLAYOFFS FOR YOU!! At least not this season…
Now Join me tomorrow as we cover the wonderful West Coast
teams in the AL West till then class is dismissed…
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