The NL West is crowded with decent to slightly above average teams, but should certainly make for an interesting September.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are loaded with talent and present a team that has much more upside than its NL West counterparts. Of course with upside comes risk, which the Rockies have in spades, but I feel confident that their young guys, especially Gonzalez, Tulowitzki, and Jimenez, will shine in 2010.

Best Player: SS Troy Tulowitzki

Tulowitski is probably the best all-around player on this team and after dealing with injuries in 2008 and the beginning of 2009, Tulo turned back into the player everyone saw in his rookie year. I expect Tulo to put in a .300/30/100/100/20 line which is something you only see from the best of the best. The injuries hurt his range at short, but as he gets farther away from that injury I expect him to return to being a + SS, which sounds like the makings of a +6 win player.

Potential Bust: OF Dexter Fowler

Dexter Fowler had a much less inspiring rookie season in 2009 than his outfield counterpart Carlos Gonzalez. He was never able to be close to consistent with his bat and for being such a speed demon he has some terrible range in center. The Rockies have tons of outfield talent as Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs will be riding the pine this season, so Fowler’s leash won’t be very long.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have an above average offense, a below average defense, pitching that is set up to be good to great, and a bullpen with talent. But Joe Torre’s faults with handling a bullpen and lineup contruction have been revealed in his time in LA and he will find a way to fuck this up. The less he gets in his own way, the better the Dodgers’ odds go up.

Best Player: OF Matt Kemp

The 25 year old posted his strongest numbers in his young career in 2009 with 26 HRs, 34 SBs, and a .842 OPS. Anytime you can find that kind of power and speed in a decent fielding CF, you hold on to him for dear life. Over the next few years, look for Kemp to gain power, lose speed, and move to a corner outfield spot, but for 2010 expect a 30/30 threat and one of the best seasons in the league.

Potential Bust: OF Andre Ethier

   I am not down on any of the good players on this team, but I guess the biggest potential for a bust is Ethier. The ESPN viewer sees Ethier’s power and clutchness and see him as one of the rising stars in the game. What they don’t notice is one of the worst fielders in baseball, especially in comparison to what you would expect from someone in the physical shape Ethier is in. 2/3’s of the value created by Ethier’s bat is negated by his glove. If his bat leaves him, he shouldn’t be starting.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants possess one of the worst offenses in the league, while also throwing out easily some of the best pitching. I feel like the pitching slightly outweighs the offense, but the defense is a negative. If the Giants somehow wise up and give Posey the job, move Sanchez to short, DeRosa to second, put Lewis in the OF, and get a little lucky health-wise, I think they could be close to last year’s win total.

Best Player: P Tim Lincecum

   There isn’t much I have to say for Lincecum. He is the best pitcher in MLB. However, a 1.7 MPH decrease in fastball velocity last year may signal future arm problems, and any significant decrease this year will have the sirens blaring. Then again, 2009 was somehow even better than 2008 for the 2-time defending Cy Young award winner, so it may just be he just found a better way to pitch.

Potential Bust: P Matt Cain

   Again, being a bust means people expect you to be great, and the Giants don’t have that many “great” players, but Matt Cain is a pitcher that is underrated by the majority of people in MLB, but overrated by those who love him. His 2009 was aided by a lucky .269 BABIP and an unsustainable 81.6% strand rate. He is still only 25, so the best may be yet to come. I am interested to see if he regresses or progresses this season.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks have a pretty good offense, and a starting rotation most teams would envy, but their defense and their bullpen negate most of what the offense and rotation contribute. If a few players play above their expected levels, and they stay healthy in the rotation, the DBacks could compete with the Rockies and Dodgers.

Best Player: P Justin Upton

Upton is still only 22 years old and that means he is almost certainly just at the cusp of his ability. I would expect a .300/30/100 season is a certainty as long as he is healthy.

Potential Bust: 3B Mark Reynolds

    Reynolds shot himself into the national spotlight with a huge 40+ HR/ 100 RBI/ 20+ SB season in 2009, and at age 26 he seems to be in his prime right now. However, his ridiculous K% (38.6%!!), an unrepeatable HR/FB% (26%), and a high BABIP (.338), indicate 2009 was a little bit more about luck than skill. If he could take his K% below 30% (he’s never been below 35%), he could really be one of the best players in the league.

San Diego Padres

The Padres aren’t going to pretty or fun to watch this year, but because of the lower quality of teams in the NL West, they should just squeak past 70 games…unless they trade Gonzalez mid-season. Then sub 70.

Best Player: P Adrian Gonzalez

   Gonzalez is simply one of the best hitters in baseball, whose numbers are dampened (and go unreported) because of playing half his games at PETCO Park. I’m assuming he’s in Boston or somewhere else by year’s end. He’s also a good 1st Baseman, to boot.

Potential Bust: No one.

   They don’t have any great players other than Gonzo and Heath Bell, and both should be elite this year.