Let’s take a look at the NL West. This division can be counted on year in and year out for a good old fahioned pennant chase.Colorado is in for a long year. Even though Larry Walker is one of the tough hitters in the game, he has completely lost his competitive edge in Denver. Wouldn’t he look better as a DH in the American League. The A’s love doing business with Colorado and if Dave Justice tumbles amd the Rockies crumble, Walker can find himself in Oakland in July, traded for more of the A’s young talent.

Jason Jennings and Shawn Chacon are two promising righthanded starters who might not be intimidated by Coors Field. Forget about Denny Neagle and Mike Hampton. Pitchers that need to throw sliders and breaking stuff fail in the thin air and these two will be exhibits “A” &”B” in 2002. Both Hampton and Neagle will find new homes with the Rockies eating a large amount of their future earnings.

Colorado has the a decent bull pen, but by June the tank will be empty.

Todd Zeile will hit 30 homers, Jose Ortiz 25, Todd Helton 47, and Todd Hollandsworth 23, it won’t be enough to save Buddy Bell’s job by the close of the campaign.

San Diego has a pitching staff that couldn’t break a pane of glass in your grandmother’s home.

Kevin Jarvis will start the opener for the Pads. A decent young man who is one of the success stories of 2001. Can he win 15 games, unlikely, 10 is more like it. If I told you in 2000 that Kevin Jarvis would be an opening day pitcher in 2002, you would have laughed, but on this staff here he is. Good luck.

Brian Tollberg and Brian Lawrence are aptly described as crafty righty’s. Trouble is they haven’t learned the craft yet. One mistake at 85 MPH and it’s good-bye Mr. Baseball. Brett Tomko, one word, “ugh”.

I do like what the Padres have on the field. Ryan Klesko is a damn good hitter and has risen to the occasion in San Diego. Phil Nevin can rake. Sean Burroughs is the best young hitter I’ve seen this year. Every team looking for a right handed hitting left fielder wants Bubba Trammell. The Cardinals are desperate for Trammell, but San Diego wants Bud Smith for Bubba and it’s no dice right now. If Rick Ankiel ever recovered to be a major leaguer again, Smith would go in a heart beat. Not yet with Ankiel out again with a sore arm.

Mark Kotsay, shortstop Ramon Vazquez and second baseman D’Angelo Jimenez can all play.

The Pads will be a pain in the neck to the entire division and certainly a team on the rise. Just wait for a couple of the hard throwing minor leaguers to surface and this team will be the Houston Astros of 2001, great young pitching and plenty of punch.

I’m rooting for them.