SEASON 27 NL WEST PREVIEW

NL WEST
Colorado surely looked destined to go to the World Series last season.  They had a dominating season going and just got caught up in the Helena phenomenon.    This Colorado team is becoming quite the staple in the NL West.  They have won the division 3 of the last 4 seasons and have not finished in the bottom half of the division for 7 seasons.   ABQ managed to sqeek out 73 wins last season.  A improvement over the previous 3 seasons.  I think they need an attitude adjustment in ABQ as they haven't had a winning season in 11 seasons now.  OKC finished third last season with a losing record.  OKC hasn't had a winning season in the last 12 seasons..  Seattle finishes in last place.  The marked the second year in a row that they didn't make the playoffs.  It also marked only the 3rd time in the last 16 seasons, that they didn't make the playoffs.


Colorado Springs Night Watchmen
Owner: Toe64(27th season)
Last Season-102-60(1st place)
Last 5 seasons-470-340(.580)
Payroll-$104.9m
Draft-21st

Probably the weakest defense in the league.  Not much for speed and baserunning.    One of the best hitting teams in the league, with real good power.  Pitching is below average.  Probably the weakest in the division.

Albuquerque Komodo Dragons
Owner: Csudak(8th season)
Last Season-73-89(2nd Place)
Last 5 seasons-346-464(.427)
Payroll-$75.4m
Draft- 11th

ABQ has cut back a bit on payroll over last season.  Perhaps they just missed in Free Agency.  Defense is average.  One of the fastest teams in the league with good baserunning.   Team really lacks hitting.  They have decent power, but the team will see a lot of strikeouts this season.    Pitching staff is below average.

Oklahoma City Prarie Dogs
Owner: brentcnb((15th season)
Last Season-67-95(3rd season)
Last 5 seasons-361-449(.446)
Payroll-$87m
Draft-7th

One of the best defenses in the league.  I don't think I have ever seen a team of such good defensive arms.    Above average speed and baserunning.  Very bad hitting team with below average power.  Pitching staff is the best in a division of weak pitching.  About average for the league.

Seattle Strikers
Owner: Ghutton9(21st season)
Last Season- 64-98(4th place)
Last 5 seasons-426-384(.526)
Payroll-$67.7m
Draft-5th

This team was obviously embarrassed over last season's performance as they dumped an additional $30 million into team salary this season.    Unfortunately, I'm not sure it was enough to show much of an improvement.  Defense is below average.  Speed and baserunning is below average.  Hitting is really bad and below average power.  Defense is below average.

Predictions
I think Colorado is going to have a down year.and ABQ may have improved enough to make it close.  I think ABQ will need a little bit of luck for that to happen.  I would still say Colorado takes by about 5 games.  I'm not sure Colorado has enough to battle for the NL this season.  Oklahoma City and Seattle should battle for the bottom spot.  Probably with wins in the 60's again.

1. Colorado Springs
2. ABQ
3. Oklahoma City
4. Seattle