NL WEST PREVIEW

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... Los Angeles BLUE bombers ... (80-82 in S10)

PAYROLL: $102.8M
KEY ADDS: Otto Ramsay, Herm Luke, Mario Tallet, Danny Lukasiewicz
KEY LOSSES: Rico Pineda, B.C. Medlen, Gary Keefe, Donn Jerzembeck

The BLUE Bombers made a huge splash in S11 by obtaining Tallet and Lukasiewicz, as they'll be depended on big time to deliver in the LA rotation. They paid a steep price (Medlen), but it could be the difference between a division title and 2nd place.

PREDICTION: NL WEST CHAMPS



... San Diego Padres ... (80-82 in S10)

PAYROLL: $81.6M
KEY ADDS: Curt Humphries, Lucas Mancuso, Larry Gonzales
KEY LOSSES: Grover DuBose, Lenny Thames, Matthew King

Last season, the NL West was a big snoozefest, to say the least. The Padres won the NL West with a record under .500. This season, it's quite obvious that all NL West teams were going to do everything it took to improve. In S11, the Padres bring another high priced talent in (Humphries). They have the offense, but do they have the pitching to take the division crown?

PREDICTION: 2nd PLACE



... Arizona Barkleys ... (69-93 in S10)

PAYROLL: $83.0M
KEY ADDS: J.R. Brown, Victor Grey, Troy Coffman, Dicky Rhodes, Angel Ramirez
KEY LOSSES: Tex Phelps, George Lockwood, Jacque Doyle, Sherry Coppolecchia

The Nicholas Lanier show continues here in Arizona. Barkley management decided to bring back some of Arizona's past (Coffman, Grey) to put around Lanier in the lineup. They've made small improvements here from last season's club, but it appears as though the teams above them did just enough to stand pat.

PREDICTION: 3rd PLACE



... Santa Cruz Sequoias ... (58-104 in S10)

PAYROLL: $58.8M
KEY ADDS: Goose Nixon, Dweezil Flores, Mitch Hermsen, Flash Lowe, Leon Ray
KEY LOSSES: Carlos Jimenez

It's not a secret that the Sequoias are in rebuild mode, considering the shape of the club was in when ghutton took over. They've made some smart acquisitions (Ray, Nixon, Hermsen), and they'll be more competitive in S11. You'll start to see more improvement starting in S12, however.

PREDICTION: 4th PLACE