The NL West is an absolutely fascinating division that could wind up looking any one of a number of ways when it’s all said and done. The Dodgers, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Giants all have their fair share of strengths and weaknesses going in, and who emerges as top dog by year’s end largely depends on who is best able to maximize those strengths and minimize those weaknesses.

Last season the Dodgers finished third in the NL West with an 82-79 mark, but the hope is that less ownership distractions and some experience for the team’s young guns will change their fortunes in 2012. In terms of pitching, Clayton Kershaw is Clayton Kershaw, but that’s not the interesting storyline to watch with this team. Rather the interesting storyline to watch is how Javy Guerra will fare. In theory Guerra should fill the closer role quite nicely after proving himself with a solid 21 saves last year in place of Jonathan Broxton. At the same time, Kenley Jansen is an absolute stud will make a strong case for playing time as well. At the moment Don Mattingly maintains that Guerra will close and that Jansen will be the set-up man, but how permanent that’ll be obviously depends on performance. Continue reading →