Dec 26 2008
All NL West Team…
2008 CY Young Award WinnerTim Lincecum is the featured ace in the NL West.
Well, we all know who the best players in the National League, as well as in the American League, as presented in each All-Star game. But I want to put together an All-Star team based out of the NL West Division, just for kicks. So here is what the 25-Man ALL NL West team would look like.
Rotation:
SP1 Tim Lincecum RHP/Giants-He is the undisputed ace of the NL West and of the whole league. This 2008 NL CY Young Award winner was 18-5 with a 2.62 E.R.A and led the majors in strikeouts (265) all for the lowly, fourth-place Giants.
SP2- Jake Peavy RHP/ Padres- The 2007 NL CY Young Award winner is the #2, well let’s just face it he didn’t have a great year for the last place Padres, not really his fault as his 10-11 record with a 2.85 E.R.A dictates.
SP3- Brandon Webb RHP/ D-Backs- The 2006 NL CY Young Award Winner and 2008 NL CY Young Runner-up is the three starter. He had a tremendous year in 2008 with a record of 22-7, but had a 3.30 E.R.A, which gives Lincecum and Peavy the edge over him.
SP4- Dan Haren RHP/ D-Backs- The starter for the AL in the 2007 All-Star Game also had a solid year and is the 4 starter.
SP5- Chad Billingsley RHP/ Dodgers- This was a tough choice to choose between Matt Cain, Aaron Cook, and Billingsley. But Billingsley had the better season of the three and took his team to the playoffs. He anchors this rotation. He had a 16-10 record with a 3.14 E.R.A and had 201 strikeouts in 200 plus innings pitched.
Bullpen:
LRP6- Aaron Cook RHP/ Rockies- This sinkerballer would be the long-relief man for the squad. He had 16 wins in 2008 for the Colorado Rockies.
LRP7- Clayton Kershaw LHP/ Dodgers- This rookie phenom is a southpaw who throws hard and can pitch. He is also only 20 years old and got a taste of the playoffs in 2008.
MRP8- Matt Cain RHP/ Giants- This young power pitcher has the potential to be a CY Young someday and would be the power arm for middle-relief of this bullpen, and he could spot start if Billingsley or Haren falters at all.
MRP9- Corey Wade RHP/ Dodgers- Wade had a solid rookie season in the bullpen for the Dodgers in 2008. He had a 2-1 record with a 2.23 E.R.A 71 1/3 IP.
SU10- Heath Bell RHP/ Padres- The new closer for the San Diego Padres has been a setup man the last two seasons for the Padres and has done a good job, nonetheless for them.
SU11- Jonathan Broxton RHP/ Dodgers- The inherited closer for the Dodgers had a solid season and can throw in the upper 90’s and with his big frame, is a workhorse for your bullpen. He can setup or close.
CL12- Brian Wilson RHP/ Giants- With Trevor Hoffman out of the NL West for the 1st time in how many years, but the closer nod has to go to Brian Wilson, the 2008 NL All-Star who can hit the 100MPH on the radar and had 41 saves for the lowly Giants in 2008.
Now the fun part, the projected lineup and bench for this ALL NL West team.
Lineup:
1 Rafael Furcal 2B/Dodgers- This one-time Rookie of the Year had an injury-prone season in 2008 but hit .357 in 143 AB’s and had 8 stolen bases.
2 Troy Tulowitzki SS/Rockies - The 2007 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up didn’t have a great sophomore campaign, mainly due to injuries. But he had a strong second half and finished the year batting .263 with 8HR and 46RBI in 377 AB’s.
3 Matt Kemp CF/ Dodgers- .290 Avg. 18HR 76RBI with 35 SB.
4 Adrian Gonzalez 1B/ Padres- .280 Avg. 36HR 119RBI
5 Garrett Atkins 3B/ Rockies- .286 Avg. 21HR 99RBI with 1 SB.
6 Conor Jackson LF/ D-Backs- .300 Avg. 12HR 75RBI with 10 SB.
7 Brad Hawpe RF/ Rockies- .283 Avg. 25HR 85RBI with 2 SB.
8 Pablo Sandoval DH/ Giants- .345 Avg. 3HR 24RBI in 145 AB as a rookie.
9 Russell Martin C/ Dodgers- .280 Avg. 13HR 69RBI with 18 SB.
Bench:
Bengie Molina C/ Giants- .292Avg. 16HR 95RBI
Stephen Drew Util./ D-Backs- .291Avg. 21HR 67RBI with 3 SB.
Andre Ethier OF/ Dodgers- .305 Avg. 20HR 77RBI with 6 SB.
James Loney 1B/ Dodgers- .289Avg. 13HR 90RBI with 7 SB.
Randy Winn OF/ Giants- .306Avg. 10HR 64RBI with 25 SB.
