In My Opinion: Best in the NL West
Note This is 100% opinion based on who I see as the best players in the NL West and who I can see having a legit shot at the HOF.
The kind of explain how I get these categories for Honorable Mentions I feel like they aren't the most exciting player, but one who should be paid attention to at this point in their career where they are now and where I think they are going
Most Exciting players are the guys you have to watch that are just electric and going to be around for a while and making noise.
HOF candidates are guys who I can see when their careers are over are likely to be considered for the HOF
Honorable Mentions Hitters
Gavin Lux- 2B Dodgers- At age 22, he is one of the long term building blocks for Dodgers. Lux didn't do a ton last season, but the Dodgers like him, and I see a long future for his kid. After many MiLB awards for him. Get to know his name now Dodgers.
Charlie Blackmon- OF Rockies- One of the most consistent players since 2011, in my opinion. In his career, he is a 304BA guy. 4x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger. He has been a mainstay in the Rox OF for years and has produced for them. I personally really like Blackmon and think he has been an excellent player that gets overlooked. So really I wanted to give him some love.
Most Exciting Hitters
Ketel Marte- 2B/OF D-BABacks-At age 26, we are finally seeing the Ketel that we have been waiting for since the Seattle days. The glove has always been there, and his ability to play 2B/SS/CF smoothly and to league average if not slightly above. Marte has me excited because we saw some power be added to that bat this last season. He hit for a 329BA., needless to say, 2019 was a career year for Marte. The versatility and the newfound power at 26 has me excited for where this guy is going.
Cody Bellinger- 1B/OF Dodgers- Belli is fantastic and has shown to be brilliant to this point in his young career. He can play 1B, CF, and RF. He is going into his 4th Pro season already at age 24. Belli has a 111HR and a 278BA. Already one MVP, 1 ROY, and 2x All-Star. 1 Gold Glove, 1 Silver Slugger, and NLCS MVP. The guy is working towards something great in a Dodgers uniform.
Mookie Betts- OF Dodgers- The awesome Mookie Betts has had an excellent career to date for himself. 1 MVP, 1WS Championship, 4x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, 4x All-Star, and a 301BA to go along with it all. Mookie is excellent at only 27, going into his prime already accomplished so much, and there is just so much more to come. I can hiss this gut getting a big contract next offseason. Somewhere.
Corey Seager- SS Dodgers- Every time I look up Seager, I am always surprised by how freaking young he is. Only 25 and having 1 ROY, 2x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger, To go along with that plant of MiLB stats as well. Seager is one of my favorite SS in Baseball. Seager has YEARS of success ahead of him and has a 294BA thus far in his career. The NL West is top-notch with SS talent. But Seager is my personal favorite.
Fernando Tatis Jr.- SS Padres- I love the competitor that is Tatis Jr. He was lining up next to Machado on the field and in the lineup.The combo gives the Padres one heck of a 1-2 punch in the lineup and on the field. At 21, he excites me as much as Soto on the Nationals as the next two players for the next 15 years who will run the MLB and be the face of the Leauge. The guy burst unto the scene in 2019, showing that he could be a lock for 20HR/20SB and maybe even 30/30. The future is bright for him, and the Padres should secure him early.
Trevor Story- SS Rockies
HOF Worthy Hitters
Buster Posey- C Giants- 1 MVP, 1 ROY, 3x WS Champ, 6x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, 1x Gold Glove. Career 302BA. At age 33, he was going into the back half of his career. Posey has been so good for years. I fully expect Posey to go down as one of the best to do it behind the plate.
Manny Machado- 3B Padres- at age 27 and having to tough out a career in Baltimore for many years and landing a mega-contract with the Padres. Machado is a 4x All-Star, 1 Platinum Glove, 2x Gold Glove, So far in his career, be a 279BA, 207HR, and be a steady, consistent player 2015 playing in at least 156 games. Machado is on his way with his consistency and talent to be one of the best to play.
Nolan Arenado- 3B Rockies-5x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, 7x Gold Glove, 3x Platinum Glove, 3x Defensive Player of the year, 227HR, 295BA in his career to go along with all those accolades, Arenado has been awesome since 2013 and continue to do so going into his prime at 28. His glove and his consistency. I think to earn him a spot in HOF.
Honorable Mentions Pitchers
Kenley Jansen- P Dodgers- I have always liked Kenley Jansen, and at age 32, he holds very impressive career stats. 30-21Record, 2.35ERA, 611.2IP, 903SO, and 301/329 Saves. To go along with 3x All-Star, 2x Trevor Hoffman Reliever on the year awards. Jansen has been excellent, and his excellence should come back to form in 2020 without a doubt. The track record has been too good to say otherwise.
Johnny Cueto- P Giants- Cueto has had such a good career. After an injury in 2019. We have a career of 126-87, 3.35ERA, 1856IP, 1556SO, 1WS championship, 2x All-Star. Cueto has been good when he went to KC in 2015 he played a role to help win the WS that sprung him into a huge contract with the Giants. I can fully see Cueto making a case for HOF when he hangs it up.
Most Exciting Pitchers
Robbie Ray- P D-Backs- Going into his age 28 seasons, Ray has been in my eyes average. But his age and that by the time he is 30 will hopefully be close to a 1000IP. But so far, he has 790.2IO, 974SO a 4.11ERAand a 47-46 record. So to me honestly average at best. A couple of years of injuries slowed him down. But overall I think Ray has a substantial role behind Mad-Bum as a number 2.
Walker Bueler- P Dodgers= Walker Bueler has been on my radar for a long time. Last year we saw the protest I had been waiting for since he was drafted in 2015 in the 1st round. Bueler was an All-Star last season and was just all-around impressive. Bueler is ready to be the next Ace of the Dodgers.
German Marquez- P Rockies- Is looking to becoming the ACE of the ROX, and at 25, he has plenty of time to establish himself. It is hard to be outstanding pitching in COL at the Mile-High. But Marquez showed last year he can win games with a 12-5 record and career so far with a 4.32ERA, 552.2IP, 567SO, He did win the 2018 Silver Slugger. I am excited to see what the future holds for Marquez as I think its only good things.
HOF Worthy Pitchers
Madison Bumgarner- P D-Backs- Bumgarner is only 30 and already has had a great career to date. 1846IP, 3.13ERA, 119-92 Record, 1794SO. 1 WS MVP, 3 WS Championships, 4x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger. Mad-Bum is an excellent pitcher, still has a few years left in his prime and as we have seen the great track record for Mad-Bum it will continue.
Clayton Kershaw- P Dodgers- Maybe the greatest we have ever seen take the mound. To date, his career has been legendary. 169-74 record, 2.44ERA, 2274.2IP, 2464SO, 1MVP, 3x CY Young, 8x All-Star, 1 Gold Glove, an actual model of consistency and dominance. Only at 32, Kershaw has years more to come of what we have already seen.
David Price- P Dodgers- Price has also been excellent in his career. 150-80record, 3.31ERA, 2029.2IP, 1981SO, 1CY Young, 1 WS Championship, 5x All-Star, Minuus 2017, and last season which we saw injuries slow down Price. Price has still been excellent since 2009, and the last few years of his stable career will just help him get closer to the HOF.
The kind of explain how I get these categories for Honorable Mentions I feel like they aren't the most exciting player, but one who should be paid attention to at this point in their career where they are now and where I think they are going
Most Exciting players are the guys you have to watch that are just electric and going to be around for a while and making noise.
HOF candidates are guys who I can see when their careers are over are likely to be considered for the HOF
Honorable Mentions Hitters
Gavin Lux- 2B Dodgers- At age 22, he is one of the long term building blocks for Dodgers. Lux didn't do a ton last season, but the Dodgers like him, and I see a long future for his kid. After many MiLB awards for him. Get to know his name now Dodgers.
Charlie Blackmon- OF Rockies- One of the most consistent players since 2011, in my opinion. In his career, he is a 304BA guy. 4x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger. He has been a mainstay in the Rox OF for years and has produced for them. I personally really like Blackmon and think he has been an excellent player that gets overlooked. So really I wanted to give him some love.
Most Exciting Hitters
Ketel Marte- 2B/OF D-BABacks-At age 26, we are finally seeing the Ketel that we have been waiting for since the Seattle days. The glove has always been there, and his ability to play 2B/SS/CF smoothly and to league average if not slightly above. Marte has me excited because we saw some power be added to that bat this last season. He hit for a 329BA., needless to say, 2019 was a career year for Marte. The versatility and the newfound power at 26 has me excited for where this guy is going.
Cody Bellinger- 1B/OF Dodgers- Belli is fantastic and has shown to be brilliant to this point in his young career. He can play 1B, CF, and RF. He is going into his 4th Pro season already at age 24. Belli has a 111HR and a 278BA. Already one MVP, 1 ROY, and 2x All-Star. 1 Gold Glove, 1 Silver Slugger, and NLCS MVP. The guy is working towards something great in a Dodgers uniform.
Mookie Betts- OF Dodgers- The awesome Mookie Betts has had an excellent career to date for himself. 1 MVP, 1WS Championship, 4x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, 4x All-Star, and a 301BA to go along with it all. Mookie is excellent at only 27, going into his prime already accomplished so much, and there is just so much more to come. I can hiss this gut getting a big contract next offseason. Somewhere.
Corey Seager- SS Dodgers- Every time I look up Seager, I am always surprised by how freaking young he is. Only 25 and having 1 ROY, 2x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger, To go along with that plant of MiLB stats as well. Seager is one of my favorite SS in Baseball. Seager has YEARS of success ahead of him and has a 294BA thus far in his career. The NL West is top-notch with SS talent. But Seager is my personal favorite.
Fernando Tatis Jr.- SS Padres- I love the competitor that is Tatis Jr. He was lining up next to Machado on the field and in the lineup.The combo gives the Padres one heck of a 1-2 punch in the lineup and on the field. At 21, he excites me as much as Soto on the Nationals as the next two players for the next 15 years who will run the MLB and be the face of the Leauge. The guy burst unto the scene in 2019, showing that he could be a lock for 20HR/20SB and maybe even 30/30. The future is bright for him, and the Padres should secure him early.
Trevor Story- SS Rockies
HOF Worthy Hitters
Buster Posey- C Giants- 1 MVP, 1 ROY, 3x WS Champ, 6x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, 1x Gold Glove. Career 302BA. At age 33, he was going into the back half of his career. Posey has been so good for years. I fully expect Posey to go down as one of the best to do it behind the plate.
Manny Machado- 3B Padres- at age 27 and having to tough out a career in Baltimore for many years and landing a mega-contract with the Padres. Machado is a 4x All-Star, 1 Platinum Glove, 2x Gold Glove, So far in his career, be a 279BA, 207HR, and be a steady, consistent player 2015 playing in at least 156 games. Machado is on his way with his consistency and talent to be one of the best to play.
Nolan Arenado- 3B Rockies-5x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, 7x Gold Glove, 3x Platinum Glove, 3x Defensive Player of the year, 227HR, 295BA in his career to go along with all those accolades, Arenado has been awesome since 2013 and continue to do so going into his prime at 28. His glove and his consistency. I think to earn him a spot in HOF.
Honorable Mentions Pitchers
Kenley Jansen- P Dodgers- I have always liked Kenley Jansen, and at age 32, he holds very impressive career stats. 30-21Record, 2.35ERA, 611.2IP, 903SO, and 301/329 Saves. To go along with 3x All-Star, 2x Trevor Hoffman Reliever on the year awards. Jansen has been excellent, and his excellence should come back to form in 2020 without a doubt. The track record has been too good to say otherwise.
Johnny Cueto- P Giants- Cueto has had such a good career. After an injury in 2019. We have a career of 126-87, 3.35ERA, 1856IP, 1556SO, 1WS championship, 2x All-Star. Cueto has been good when he went to KC in 2015 he played a role to help win the WS that sprung him into a huge contract with the Giants. I can fully see Cueto making a case for HOF when he hangs it up.
Most Exciting Pitchers
Robbie Ray- P D-Backs- Going into his age 28 seasons, Ray has been in my eyes average. But his age and that by the time he is 30 will hopefully be close to a 1000IP. But so far, he has 790.2IO, 974SO a 4.11ERAand a 47-46 record. So to me honestly average at best. A couple of years of injuries slowed him down. But overall I think Ray has a substantial role behind Mad-Bum as a number 2.
Walker Bueler- P Dodgers= Walker Bueler has been on my radar for a long time. Last year we saw the protest I had been waiting for since he was drafted in 2015 in the 1st round. Bueler was an All-Star last season and was just all-around impressive. Bueler is ready to be the next Ace of the Dodgers.
German Marquez- P Rockies- Is looking to becoming the ACE of the ROX, and at 25, he has plenty of time to establish himself. It is hard to be outstanding pitching in COL at the Mile-High. But Marquez showed last year he can win games with a 12-5 record and career so far with a 4.32ERA, 552.2IP, 567SO, He did win the 2018 Silver Slugger. I am excited to see what the future holds for Marquez as I think its only good things.
HOF Worthy Pitchers
Madison Bumgarner- P D-Backs- Bumgarner is only 30 and already has had a great career to date. 1846IP, 3.13ERA, 119-92 Record, 1794SO. 1 WS MVP, 3 WS Championships, 4x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger. Mad-Bum is an excellent pitcher, still has a few years left in his prime and as we have seen the great track record for Mad-Bum it will continue.
Clayton Kershaw- P Dodgers- Maybe the greatest we have ever seen take the mound. To date, his career has been legendary. 169-74 record, 2.44ERA, 2274.2IP, 2464SO, 1MVP, 3x CY Young, 8x All-Star, 1 Gold Glove, an actual model of consistency and dominance. Only at 32, Kershaw has years more to come of what we have already seen.
David Price- P Dodgers- Price has also been excellent in his career. 150-80record, 3.31ERA, 2029.2IP, 1981SO, 1CY Young, 1 WS Championship, 5x All-Star, Minuus 2017, and last season which we saw injuries slow down Price. Price has still been excellent since 2009, and the last few years of his stable career will just help him get closer to the HOF.
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