2002 Team Previews: National League West


by Jonathan Adelman (Shrikes)




The NL West featured a close race in 2001, but a frenzied offseason has left many wondering if any can stop the defending division winners. The Devil Dogs may be the preseason favorites, but there are two other teams with legitimate playoff hopes, and a final two teams that are in the middle of what look to be successful rebuilding programs. The race for king may not be breathtaking in this division, but the side stories make our first divisional preview worth looking at.







Team: Portland Shrikes
Owner: Jonathan Adelman
2001: 43-119 (5th)

Overview: The Shrikes were awful last year. Not just last place awful, either; the team scored only 564 runs - a record in futility that may never be broken. This year's group looks much better, although they have the tough luck of playing in a much stronger division this time around. The Shrikes made more moves this offseason than just about any other team outside of Death Valley, and the new look is more offense, less pitching.

Starting Lineup (B): J.D. Drew leads off, and scouts are predicting 30+ home runs this year - that's a pretty good indication of the direction this team is going. Miguel Tejada, Eric Chavez, recent acquisition Andruw Jones, Jose Ortiz - lots of players with power who handle traditionally non-power positions. There's even speed in this lineup; only Ruben Sierra, J.T. Snow, and the ancient Tom Prince are turtles on the bases. All in all, it's a good group; the major question is whether Sierra and the injury-prone Drew can stay healthy enough to contribute in a meaningful way.

Bench (B): Adam Dunn has impressed enough to earn a spot on the bench, and he has lights out power. Randy Velarde could start for some teams, and will be a very solid backup at most positions, occasionally getting a start in left field or second base, or platooning with J.T. Snow at first if Snow continues to slide. Marcus Giles may be better than Ortiz right now, but he's left on the bench to start the season. All in all, plenty of power to make things interesting late in the game.

Starting Pitching (C-): Matt Morris seems fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, and slides into the top of the rotation for Portland, giving the Shrikes their best tandem in Morris/Kevin Millwood since 2001 ROY Rick Ankiel was traded last midseason. The rest of the rotation is sketchy, though; Chad Durbin was rocked last season, but gets another chance, while import Dave Burba tries to ressurect his crumbling career. Omar Olivares and Bronson Arroyo get to swap roles as longman/5th starter, and neither looks like a viable option. Even if Morris excels, there are enough question marks here to make the starting rotation average at best.

Relief Pitching (F): The Shrikes used a patchwork pen last year with mixed results, but ended up trading much of it in the offseason. What's left is one of the ugliest bullpens to grace the SSL, and it turns an average pitching staff into a weak one. Calvin Maduro exits spring training as Morris's replacement at closer, but that may not last long. Unfortunately, there's no one better suited to take over.

Defense (A-): Very, very good. Prince has an above average arm behind the plate; the infield is rock solid with Chavez-Tejada-Ortiz-Snow; the outfield is even more impressive with Drew in right and Jones in center. Ruben Sierra is all that keeps the defense from earning top marks, and Jones should cover a lot of his mistakes in the field. Teams will have trouble taking the extra base against Jones, and a lot of ground balls won't get out of the infield.

Youth (A): One of the youngest teams in the SSL got a bit older this year with new arrivals such as Snow, Sierra, Velarde, and Prince. The core remains young, though. A future outfield of Dunn-Jones-Drew looms, and the the three kids on the left/center side of the infield eventually have a chance to out-homer many entire foursomes from other teams. The pitching isn't as springy, although Morris and Millwood are both on the right side of 20. No other youngsters on the mound project as impact players, but there's enough overall youth here to guarantee a solid future.

Outlook: They'll win 82 or more games if the outfield stays healthy. If not, it could be a long year for the Shrikes. Playing the Devil Dogs, Bubbles, and Funkadelic more often in the new unbalanced schedule won't help the final record. This team is one year from joining that threesome, but the playoffs are probably out of the question for 2002.






Team: Champaign Bubbles
Owner: Michael Wingo
2001: 85-77 (2nd)

Overview: The Bubbles joined the league last year with less than a month to prepare for the season; they quietly played their way to a 2nd place finish, and belonged in any discussion of potential NL wildcard teams for the first half of the season. Even so, the Champaign front office was disappointed in the team's second half fade, as well as concerned over the Devil Dog Trading Frenzy this year, leading to a few trades in late winter that turned this team from a solid also-ran into a serious threat. For much of the offseason, the newly arrived Funkadelic looked like a wildcard shoe-in; no longer.

Starting Lineup (B+): If you took this lineup out of the Popping Cork and set them loose, the results would still be impressive. Bret Boone has had an amazing spring, and the Giles/Posada combo that worked so well last year should provide their usual offensive clout. Fred McGriff is solid at first, and Ricky Gutierrez can hold his own at shortstop. The rest of the outfield is pieced together from parts of Paul O'Neill, Armando Rios, and Michael Tucker - not bad, but not great. Jeff Cirillo needs to improve the team's third base production. All in all, three average-to-mediocre bats in the bottom of the lineup would be tough for most teams to handle; the Bubbles have a very good top half, though, and will score plenty of runs - both at home and on the road.

Bench (C): It's nothing special. Rios is the main man off the bench, and Tomas Perez provides some help when an infielder needs to be rested. The rest is replaceable; Jeff Frye, Bernard Gilkey, and Mike DiFelice do nothing to help Champaign's offense. Expect Rios to be used whenever possible - we could be looking at, effectively, a two man bench.

Starting Pitching (B+): Al Leiter and Glendon Rusch have rude awakenings in store when they step on the mound at the Popping Cork, but they represent solid improvements nonetheless. John Lieber, Rick Reed, and David Wells round out a very impressive front five, with youngster Jose Acevedo expected to help also (especially if Wells' back doesn't hold up). All of these guys are potential innings-eaters who can pitch deep into ballgames, and the Bubbles need that badly.

Relief Pitching (B+): Only the lack of a top closer keeps this grade from being higher. Jim Mecir, Rich Garces, and Scott Sullivan are the three candidates for closer, and all could do a solid if unspectacular job. Vic Darensbourg, John Bale, Scott MacRae, and Jerrod Riggan round out the pen, and they all could be primary setup men for a contending team. The sheer depth of what Champaign can throw at opposing teams here will serve them well, especially during long stretches of home games.

Defense (C): Not great, not bad. Boone has not only added muscle this offseason, but seems a step quicker at second. Cirillo will hopefully be his usual above-average self. The rest of the bunch won't hurt the team much, but there aren't any standouts either. Some pundits talk about the need for good defenders at the Popping Cork, but Wingo seems to favor not putting the ball in play at all, as he's focused more on strikeout pitchers than athletic position players.

Youth (F): Jorge Posada is 29, and Glendon Rusch is 26; no other major player is on the right side of 30. Champaign's window remains open, but it's anyone's guess as to how long it remains so. All of the veterans who are now in their early 30's could maintain their production levels, but it seems more likely that at least one or two will experience dropoffs. The Bubbles aren't ready to scrap the team and rebuild, which makes this clubhouse one of the few in which you'll find more crossword puzzles than CDs.

Outlook: A serious playoff contender. Until Leiter came on board, they looked like the eventual third place team, but most owners are now predicting a second place finish for the Bubbles. The chances of catching Death Valley are slim, but this team is hungry after missing out on postseason action last year, and their chances look good.






Team: Death Valley Devil Dogs
Owner: Al Gwizdala
2001: 105-57 (1st)

Overview: The Devil Dogs ran away with the division title last year, only to lose to the Kalamazoo Golden Spikes in the first round of the playoffs. Kalamazoo went on to lose in the World Series while Bonds and Bagwell sat at home, prompting "Trader Al" Gwizdala to embark upon a "restructuring program" the likes of which have never been seen before. The lineup is different, and improved. The rotation, which featured a bunch of promising youngsters, has been replaced by veteran stars. The bullpen is stacked, as is the bench. Be very, very afraid.

Starting Lineup (A): Playing at the Inferno will suppress offensive numbers, but this team still looks capable of scoring over 1000 runs. Barry Bonds is projected to have one of the great season of all time, and his supporting cast is made up of bona fide stars in Phil Nevin and Shawn Green. Mark McLemore will be used in the leadoff spot, although he hasn't shown an ability to do much there at any point in his career. Jeff Conine would be above average at third, but as a first baseman he's nothing more than adequate. Brad Ausmus and Omar Vizquel are offensive sinkholes whose defense keep them around. Steve Finley beat out the now-departed Brady Anderson and will start in center field, although many of the reserves will push him for playing time before long. The remaining players don't have full-time roles, but are instead platooned, or brought up from the bench to start some of the time. Don't let the no-names fool you; no team in the SSL has a better group of platoon splits to work with.

Bench (A+): Simply amazing. Desi Relaford has some pop and can take a walk; the rest of the bunch is all power. Mark McGwire's injury problems keep him from starting, but he's a game-ender in a pinch. Ray Lankford would start on almost any other team, and both Craig Paquette and Shawon Dunston can make like McGwire and hit a late-inning home run. No team in the league is as well-equipped to handle extra-inning games or short series contests, which makes this group especially suited for a playoff series.

Starting Pitching (A+): Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Andy Pettitte - no better starting three in the league. Brown's injury concerns are a factor, although the team has repeatedly stated that they'll underwork him if needed to keep him fresh for the playoffs, should the Devil Dogs get that far. Ismael Valdes is a very good fourth starter, and the young Chris Reitsma will get enough offensive support to post more wins than his current skillset might dictate. You just can't get better than this, especially when the Dogs go to a 4-man rotation.

Relief Pitching (A-): Mariano Rivera sparkled last year, but many thought the bullpen would take a turn for the worse in 2002. The Devil Dogs responded by grabbing Kyle Farnsworth from the Demons in the Redistribution Draft, and trading for uber-setup man Jeff Nelson, giving them the top trio in the league. Paul Shuey is back as well despite rumblings that his playoff problems would get him the ax, and he's a great setup man if the team gives him a chance to be one. The others are more specialists, and won't be generally effective unless used properly: Giovanni Carrera and Dan Miceli kill righties, Pedro Borbon and Jeff Wallace kill lefties, and Manager Tommy Lasorda will be doing plenty of juggling. When used effectively, this bullpen is very dangerous, and serves as a good counterpart to the bench.

Defense (C+): Jeff Conine does well at first, but for the most part this is an average group. The lone exception is Brad Ausmus, whose offensive ineptitude is matched only by his laser-arm and pinpoint accuracy behind the plate. Few teams would be so willing to have an offensive black hole play regularly, but Ausmus does enough for this team to make his bat worth choking down.

Youth (F): Shawn Green is 28, but the other top players are all in their 30's, with Bonds a robust 36. When the Devil Dogs fall, they'll fall fast, but until that happens we're looking at a truly special team. If there's any group out there more ancient than the Bubbles, this one is it.

Outlook: The playoffs beckon once again, and this time the Devil Dogs are prepared. The starting pitching from last year's squad was composed largely of ex-Shrikes with great scouting reports, blazing fastballs, and ages in the early 20's; the team won't make that mistake again, and now have three aces to throw out an opponent during a short series. The only weaknesses here are those the team forces upon itself in terms of roster management and lineup selection. It should be an amazing ride.






Team: Ogden Dunes Ox
Owner: Jason Lindquist
2001: 68-94 (3rd)

Overview: The Ox were a dark horse wildcard contender in 2001, but Lindquist had seen enough by midseason, and knew that he'd have to restructure the team before dancing with the big boys. The Ox probably won't win as many games this year, but the future looks much brighter, and there will be plenty of excitement from the influx of young talent. Gone are the days of Edgar Martinez and Chan Ho Park leading the way, and the fans in Ogden Dunes seem happy with the idea of instead embracing youngsters such as Bud Smith, Ben Sheets, Daryle Ward, and Toby Hall.

Starting Lineup (F): Well, it's bad. Very bad. Mark Quinn is the third best bat of the bunch, and he may not end up with an OBP of .300; Scott Brosius is the second best bat, and he provides only average output from third base. Mark Grace leads the group, which is a sad, sad thing. A guy like Edgar Martinez sure could come in handy on those long scoring droughts...but the Ox are committed to a bright future, which means they'll be forced to challenge the 2001 Shrikes Batting Records of Futility this year.

Bench (B): The future can be found here - Toby Hall behind the plate, Daryle Ward backing up the corners. Russ Davis and Shane Spencer are both quality bats as well, and may be better suited to starting roles than the scrubs being slotted there currently. Rusty Greer's injury keeps him here, but he belongs in the starting lineup too. With an average lineup, the bench would be more of a factor, but as it is these players won't get a chance to help as much as they could on another team.

Starting Pitching (C-): You can sniff greatness here, but the kids need time to develop. Ben Sheets and Bud Smith are both possibe future stars, and Jon Garland remains an intriguing young prospect. For now, though, Todd Ritchie, Jose Lima, and Woody Williams will get many of the starts, and that isn't necessarily a good thing. Ritchie is solid, as is Williams, but neither are aces. Lima is a detriment, plain and simple. If two of the three kids develop as the front office expects them to, Lima Time will take its act on the road in 2003.

Relief Pitching (D): Danny Graves is an adequate closer, but the rest of the bunch is either terrible or green. Mike Venafro, Scott Sauerbeck, and John Riedling all provide occasional help, but in the end this group will be responsible for quite a few blown games. It's not as though the Ox can afford to let many slip away.

Defense (C+): Better, now that Edgar isn't manning first. Grace and Brosius used to be wizards, but age has finally caught up with them, leading to average-at-best play. Rey Ordonez likes to think he's the reincarnaction of The Wizard of Oz, but he probably won't make more than the average number of plays once again this year. Only youngster Adam Kennedy shows flashes of true ability here, and his play at second base will be reason enough to enjoy watching the Ox on defense. There may be none better in the National League.

Youth (A-): There's plenty of it. Sheets, Smith, Garland, and Adam Johnson are the best of the team's young guns, and Ward, Hall, and Kennedy head the bats. It's a good start, but more is needed, especially on offense. That's not an issue for 2002; Year One of the Ox Rebuilding Plan will lead to plenty of losses, but check back in 2004 if you want to see a dangerous, exciting team that could be ready to win a division or two.

Outlook: Last place seems to be an inevitability unless the Shrikes collapse. The offense and bullpen are both wretched, so there could be a lot of fans leaving their seats in the middle innings as games start to get out of hand. Then again, that's about the time when the youngsters should start entering the game; perhaps the fans will have something fun to watch after all. Patience is needed here in healthy doses.






Team: Nashville Funkadelic
Owner: Steve Osborne
2001: 52-110 (4th, as the Alcatraz Breakers)

Overview: When Osborne bought the team from Chip Nataro, he was looking at a roster smack-dab in the middle of a successful rebuilding program. He scrapped that plan in short order, traded ace Javier Vazquez and star bat Phil Nevin, and finished the offseason with a team ready to win immediately. No other franchise has improved itself so markedly in a single season, and the Devil Dogs and Bubbles had best start looking over their shoulders.

Starting Lineup (A-): Only the strong-armed Brandon Inge is a true offensive liability here. Jim Edmonds isn't in Winnipeg anymore, but his playoff chances are just as good. Fellow outfielders Jose Cruz and Magglio Ordonez both have power/speed potential, and Ordonez seems to have arrived after his breakout season last year. One of the coups of the offseason may have been stealing Devil Dogs first-sacker Jeff Bagwell; the move shocked fans of both teams, but the Funk Mob has been quick to accept Bags as a potential savior. Roberto Alomar may be the best overall second baseman in baseball, and his bat is yet another potent addition to the lineup. Vinny Castilla is average at third, and Julio Lugo is a typical good-field, no-hit shortstop, although both of them have enough power to be somewhat useful. Five stars at the top of the lineup make the bottom third tolerable.

Bench (D-): The best thing you can say here is that Augie Ojeda's name is pretty cool. Backup catcher Greg Myers is the lone batter who is worth his salt in a bench role. It looks as though the starters will have to play as often as possible - and all of them are capable of doing so. On most teams, the lack of a single quality non-catcher to come off the bench would be a major negative, but Nashville has perhaps the most durable lineup in the leauge. Of more concern is the fact that these pitchers will have to hit for themselves more often than appropriate.

Starting Pitching (B+): Darryl Kile replaces Vazquez as the ace, and he's fine for the job - such is the price for getting Jim Edmonds into the lineup. Brad Penny is a stellar #2, and Omar Daal looks very good coming out of spring training. Paul Byrd may have surprisingly claimed the fourth starter's job, and Japanese import out of Australia (or is it the other way 'round?) Masato Yoshii will do a capable if unspectacular job rounding out the rotation. All in all, decidedly above average.

Relief Pitching (B+): Keith Foulke is a new man in town, but he's been handed the closer's job and looks like a great fit. Newcomers Victor Zambrano and Randy Choate will be solid, and the young duo of B.J. Ryan and Braden Looper will take on more meaningful assignments this year. There's enough depth here to avoid concern, and enough talent to keep the Funk tough even in the late innings, even without a bench worth speaking of. The pitching staff as a whole isn't quite as overpowering as that of Death Valley, but seems comparable to the very impressive group found in Champaign.

Defense (C+): Average. Inge has an above-average arm, but there's nothing else to speak of. The names (Edmonds, Alomar) are big, but the results aren't. As with the Bubbles, there are plenty of strikeout pitchers around, so the impact of an unspectacular defense is somewhat minimized.

Youth (C): If the Goldeyes found the Fountain of Youth this offseason, the Funk surely found the reciprocal. When they were the Breakers, you could find kids poking out of every nook and cranny, but now they aren't as plentiful. Brad Penny will replace Kile as the de facto ace either this season or next. Ordonez and Cruz are both 27, and primed for possible improvement. The bullpen is pretty young. Overall, there's enough spring in this team's step to keep the fans from worrying about an overnight collapse, but the cost of instant contention was steep - the Funk's time is now.

Outlook: If everything breaks right, they'll push the Devil Dogs. More likey is a wildcard race with the Bubbles and any non-NL West teams capable of hanging tough. The unbalanced schedule doesn't help any of the teams in this division, which is a strike against the Funk. Most teams capable of improving so markedly would be happy with whatever results they end up with - not so for Osborne's ownership group. They never had to deal with the hardship of an awful season in Alcatraz, and expectations are very high. This team could well deliver.





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