The NL West will be one of the most competitive divisions in baseball this season. Let's look at the important questions each team must face:
Arizona Diamondbacks
Question: Can the Diamondbacks rely on their pitching?
With Patrick Corbin undergoing season-ending surgery, the Diamondbacks will have to find a way to win games with their young pitching. NL MVP Finalist Paul Goldschmidt will have to improve or replicate his numbers from 2013 to be the cornerstone for the Diamondbacks.
Colorado Rockies
Question: How far will the Rockies' offense take them in 2014?
The Rockies will have an explosive offense in 2014 behind the bats of Carlos Gonzalez, Michael Cuddyer and Troy Tulowitzki. The Rockies have also added the offensive services of Justin Morneau and Drew Stubbs this season. Offense should not be a problem in Colorado. The Rockies' pitching, however, is a different story, as the rotation and bullpen are mediocre at best. The Rockies will have to depend on their bats to have a successful 2014.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Question: Will the Dodgers lineup live up to the hype?
The Dodgers can make a case for being the most explosive lineup heading into 2014. After beating the Diamondbacks in both games of their season-opening series in Sydney, the Dodgers certainly have to feel good about themselves headed into the long season ahead. With that said, there have already been some doubts about the health of Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp heading into the season. Hanley Ramirez didn't have the best showing against Arizona and is also another offensive concern. The Dodgers can't be too worried though, as the team did start the season with two straight victories.
San Diego Padres
Question: Can the Padres be a dark horse in the West?
Sure, a lot of people laugh at the thought of a successful Padres team, but the club's management sure doesn't. The team has a tough front end to their rotation, with Ian Kennedy, Josh Johnson and Andrew Cashman, who was a great surprise at the end of last season. These three should be able to combine for some quality starts to help the Padres produce wins. Everth Cabrera is another guy who can turn heads in 2014 by being an absolute nightmare on the base paths. If the division doesn't take this team seriously, the Padres could be a underrated candidate to steal the show in the NL West. Will this actually happen? Probably not, but I'm sure it's nice for Padres fans to imagine.
San Francisco Giants
Question: Will the Giants' rotation be considered "elite" at the end of the season?
The addition of Tim Hudson from the Atlanta Braves could prove to be one of the best signings of 2014. The Giants have not been lacking in the pitching department the past few years, even winning the World Series in 2012. This pitching staff looks amazing on paper. By the end of the year, will it be considered one of the best? If the answer is "yes," Giants fans might be looking at another banner year. For this to happen, the Giants will have to pass the rival Dodgers, who remind me of the NL version of the New York Yankees.
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