Is the NL West the easiest division in baseball?

Answer 1

Yes, it is. It consists of five teams that barely ever finish over .500. The title will probably go to the Padres or the Dodgers. Anybody can really win this division. I mean really the D-Rays probably could win the division.

Answer 2

No division is easy, but look to my answer in your NL Central question if you want to see what I think of not only the NL West but also what the weakest division in the major leagues is.

For the benefit of those who want a semi-detailed analysis of the NL West teams, here goes.

Diamondbacks - With Webb and Tracy, they should be able to compete with the rest of the division. Ultimately, they'll fall short.
Rockies - They have great hitting and adequate pitching, but I don't see '07 being the year the playoffs return to Coor's Field.
Dodgers - Losing Maddux will hurt, but filling the roster spot with Schmidt will actually make this team better than it was last season. The division is theirs for the taking, but they won't have an easy time taking it.
Padres - Pitching will be a strength as long as their Senior Circuit arms (Maddux and Wells) stay off the DL. I personally hope Wells retires by the end of April because of arm troubles, but the fortunes in San Diego rest on whether or not the lineup can score runs. My crystal ball says they'll finish in second place because the Dodgers will outscore them.
Giants - Their starting pitching is younger than most of the division's, and with how talented arms like Zito, Cain, and Lowry are, they can't be underestimated. However, I see the same problem here that I did in San Diego, and the root of that will be a pop-gun lineup that will have trouble keeping the team ahead of Colorado and Arizona. As far as winning the division goes, I give the Giants about as much chance as I give a snowball in Jamaica.

Answer 3

I think the AL West is easier then the NL West. The Angels have no hitting, The A's have a young team that can swing either way, Texas has no pitching and Seattle just sucks. I think the Dodgers have a good team, The Padres have a good young team with Maddux/Wells giving the pitching staff experiance. The Giants should have a good pitching staff with the young guys they have and the signing of Barry Zito. I think this division will be alot better then the AL West.

Answer 4

With the unbalanced schedules in place it can be tough to use records to judge how easy/tough a division is. For example if you have a team that everyone can beat up on then it slightly inflates the rest of the leagues win totals. However, if you a fairly balanced league everyone could end up within 10-15 games of each other. I don't think the NL West has any teams truly capable of dominance like the some of the other conferences. But they also do not have easy teams. Most people are saying that everyone is capable of competing except for Colorado, and if you look at that team they could have a very impressive lineup with no weak spots if Helton returns to form and the rookies at SS and C don't embarrass themselves. So record wise they might have the lowest win total for their champion but I think it will be one of the hardest fought conferences

Answer 5

the NL West is the weakest because they're all bad, the AL West is the easiest with only one really decent team and the rest just there to fill space

Answer 6

The AL West has only one team that is even decent. I think it is the easiest in baseball.

Answer 7

Yes it is.You will have he Padres and Dodgers fighting for it and if they were in any other division they'd be lucky to get out of last place.The Padres won it a few years ago and they were 82-80.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

none are easy, the west is the weakest though

Answer 10

if it isn't the easiest, it is one of the easiest