MLB: Lights. Camera. Action.

By Chrys Kefalas CPKSports Editor-in-Chief

Can you hear the bells? Listen closer, can you hear them? Alex Rodriguez scoring the first run of the season in Puerto Rico. Mel Stottlemyre throwing the first pitch in Yankee Stadium. Two astronauts throwing the "first pitch" at Oriole Park. Darryl Kile throwing a strike call to begin the top of the 1st at Coors Field. Rob Nen striking out three batters in the 9th inning to complete the San Francisco Giants’ first win of the season.

The Major League Baseball season is under way. Yet, there’s one division still to go in this year’s Major League Baseball Preview. It’s of course the National League West.

1. San Francisco Giants (97-65 in 2000)

Giants Manager Dusty Baker gets a great deal of credit for the Giants success under his watch and deservedly so. Last season, his team led the National League in wins despite not having a starting pitcher in the top 10 in ERA. Yet, there comes a point when the players must share the credit. No longer can it be said that this team is made of up of middleweights molded to perform like heavyweights simply by Baker’s managerial expertise. Many of this team’s integral parts might not be well known but it doesn’t mean they lack the talent to succeed.

Look no further than staff ace Livan Hernandez. Known more for his defection from Cuba and his dramatic performance in the Marlin’s World Series appearance, Hernandez quietly moved into excellent company among National League starters. Hernandez compiled 240 innings, 165 strike outs, a 17-11 record, and a 3.75 ERA. At 26-years old his greatest days are still ahead of him.

Russ Ortiz, 26, emerged in 1999 with a 18-9 record and a 3.82 ERA in 207 innings pitched. The amount of innings pitched, in his first full season as a starter, caught up with the young right-hander as he struggled with his command for much of the first half (6.96 ERA). Ortiz, though, turned it around in the second half with a 10-4 record and a 3.40 ERA to complete the season with 14 wins and a 5.31 ERA. Ortiz had an outstanding spring and may be on the verge of rising to another level.

Among the other pitchers who also tend to exhibit a "Who is that?" response include Kirk Rueter and Shawn Estes. Two of the National League’s most talented left-handed starters both provide the Giants with excellent depth and balance to their rotation. Estes was 7-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 12 starts after Giants losses last season, including three complete games. Rueter was just as impressive going 184 innings with a 3.96 ERA and 11 wins.

Last season the starting rotation benefited from a solid bullpen. It included a little known fire-baller named Felix Rodriguez, who compiled a 2.64 ERA in 76 games. He setup for Rob Nen and formed a devastating 8th and 9th inning combination that was reminiscent of Mariano Rivera-John Wetteland and Armando Benitez-Randy Myers. In addition, Jason Johnstone and Alan Embree, who was unscored upon in 20 of his final 23 appearances, all pitched well to help bolster a formidable group.

Offensively, Baker’s lineup certainly has its share of little known/ high in talent players but make no mistake about it, it’s the star power that pushed this lineup to stand among the league leaders in runs scored.

League MVP Jeff Kent clobbered National League pitching with 33 home runs, 125 RBI, and a .334 batting average. Perennial All-star and MVP candidate Barry Bonds added a .306 batting average, 49 home runs, and 106 RBI to the Giant attack. Even assuming Kent drops off a bit because of age, these two provide the Giants with one of the best 3-4 tandems in the game. Kent and Bonds, though, must rely on this team’s leadoff and second batter to set the table if this offense will again perform to its 2000 levels.

Marvin Bernard leads off and plays centerfield. Bernard is a solid leadoff man who stole 22 bases and had a .342 on-base percentage. However, he must improve on his .216 batting average versus left-handers to avoid the continuation of a three-year decline in on base percentage.

Having traded last year’s number two man in the lineup, Bill Mueller, the Giants hand the spot over to Rich Aurilia. In 2000, Rich Aurilia put together a stellar offensive season for a shortstop. He led all National League shortstops with 20 home runs, he hit .271, and drove in 79 runners. In 1999, Aurilia hit .281 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI. Despite two terrific back to back seasons, though, Aurilia isn’t a familiar name. Nevertheless, he has quieted the "flash in the pan" talk and enters 2001 with a chance to exceed his power totals batting second in the lineup.

The loss of Ellis Burks (.344 BA, 24 HR, 96 RBI) means that the hitters behind Bonds and Kent must raise their level of production if the Giants are to see 900+ runs scored again. Firstbasemen J.T. Snow had a good season a year ago with a .284 batting average, 19 home runs, and 96 RBI. There’s no reason he can’t be expected to arrive close to those numbers again. Thus, the burden of Burks’ loss falls on Armando Rios and Russ Davis. Rios, 29, will be given most of the playing time in right field and the Giants think Rios is prepared for a breakout year. In 233 at bats, Rios batted .266, hit 10 home runs, and drove in 50 runners. As for thirdbasmen Russ Davis, no one is expecting a monster year from the former gem of the New York Yankees farm system. The Giants will settle with decent defense, a .260 batting average, and perhaps 15 or so home runs.

Rounding out the lineup, catcher Bobby Estalella will receive most of the playing time. In limited action last season, Estalella batted .234 with 14 homers and 53 RBI. He has an all or nothing swing that could foretell some more homers in his future thanks to the trade of catcher Doug Mirabelli and, thus, more playing time.

Ellis Burks’ void may not be replaced but that doesn’t mean this team suffers. Certainly they may not score as many runs but their pitching should improve on last season’s stats and that means another ride atop the National League West.

Concise, Precise Knowledge On The Rest

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (86-76 in 2000)

The Dodgers are a dysfunctional group. From General Manger Kevin Malone to pitcher Carlos Perez to Gary Sheffield, the team is full of subplots that just make this team perfect for Los Angeles. Hopefully, though, the main story at Chavez Ravine will be what frankly may be the best starting rotation in baseball (assuming Kevin Brown returns healthy). Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park (0 ER in his first start), Darren Dreifort, Andy Ashby, and Eric Gagne give this team more than an ample chance to win each time out and with a lineup that includes Gary Sheffield, Shawn Green, and Eric Karros in the middle that will be all they will need.

3. Colorado Rockies (82-80 in 2000)

Who says Mike Hampton will struggle in Coors Field? In his first start in Coors, Hampton didn’t give up a run in 8 innings of work and struck out 5 for the win. Denny Neagle, however, may be a totally different story. If BOTH pitch well this team might just win the division, if not, well third place may have to suffice.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks (85-77 in 2000)

The old keep getting older and as the Orioles found out Jurassic Park isn’t the way to victory. The season rests on the health of Matt Williams but with him suffering from a recurrence of plantar fasciitis in his left foot this spring the odds are not good that comeback of the year honors will rest with the 35-year old third basemen and, thus, that a National League West title will arrive to Phoenix.

5. San Diego Padres (76-86 in 2000)

A team still in transition, the Padres aren’t expected to compete for much this season. Future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn’s perhaps final season and Rickey Henderson’s assault on the record books might be enough of a reason to watch this team. Henderson is only 86 hits short of 3,000, just two walks short of tying Babe Ruth’s major-league record of 2,062 and he is 67 runs short of tying Ty Cobb’s all-time record of 2,245.

Article courtesy of CPKSports