NL West preview

NL WEST:

Team Feldman

What’s To Like: This is going to be the best Feldman team in a long time. Feldman reunites three key members of the 2010 champs, Pat Brock, Justin Brock, and Dave Polzer. Sean Feldman is one of the best OFers and is going to prove to be a bargain as a “6”. Rosenthal and Glazier provide good pop and guarantees that it’s not just the big trio at top that can do some damage.

Team Questions: Like most teams, the bottom of the lineup might prove to be very vulnerable. Most of the late picks are young enough to turn the corner and become solid players, but if the trend continues then it will be a concern.

Best Draft Pick: I know everybody was concerned with getting a shortstop in the first two rounds, but how did Polzer last into the third round? Another prediction of mine: This will never happen again.

Prediction: 12-10

Team Goldfarb:

What’s To Like: A defense with the left side consisting of Gluck, Alex Goldfarb, and Ari Mesmer will likely play into hitter’s head. As long as Marty keeps pitching righties inside, their defense will be in good shape. Ari as a late 2 is a bargain. He’ll have to have a great season to keep this offense respectable. Marty has a reputation for being a great arc pitcher, so the rule change could make an already good pitcher even better.

Team Questions: I won’t mention names, but I feel a couple of picks were taken perhaps a round too early. There are a few bright spots further down the lineup, specifically Dave Mallow, but scoring runs consistently might be an issue.

Best Draft Pick: I think Justin Conklin has a chance to win Most Improved Player this year from what I’ve seen.

Prediction: 11-11

Team Randell:

What’s To Like: First of all, any team that has JZ becomes a championship contender. Kudos to Randell for being the 10th team to pick in the first round and still being able to nab the best overall player in the league. Ok, enough buttering up to the league’s MVP: Randell’s next couple of picks could not have gone any better. This lineup may not be as deep as other teams, but they make up for it with a ridiculously good top of the lineup. They also have one of the best pitchers in the league in Mike Seidel.

Team Questions: Randell is taking a big risk by moving himself to shortstop. He’s a great second baseman, but being a shortstop is a whole different ballgame. I think the team could have used another bat or two in the second half of the draft. The innings where the big guns aren’t up could be trouble.

Best Draft Pick: Trading for JZ was a brilliant move. Rothschild should have won Most Improved Player two years in a row! He’ll continue improving and play like a borderline “1” this year.

Prediction: 12-10

Team Younger:

What’s To Like: Team Younger has a great infield defense and a couple of Yockels who should bounce back and have nice offensive years.

Team Questions: Is it just me or are there a lot of natural shortstops on this team? Peragine is a great player but is missing up to 5 games(and 1 playoff game) which creates a big hole. I am not convinced that the offense is going to score enough runs to compete with some other potent lineups in their division. Now that I said that, I think I guaranteed that Team Younger is going to end up leading the league in runs!

Best Draft Pick: Last year’s stats won’t show it, but Eric Lurie was HUGE in the playoffs for us last year, batting .500 over the course of the 11 games. He might be the perfect case of somebody who just needed time to figure the pitching out.

Prediction: 8-14