At a glance: National League West

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Prediction: 1st

Outlook. What's going on with this storied franchise is heartbreaking. Owner Frank McCourt is engaged in a bitter divorce battle with former Dodgers CEO Jamie McCourt. The fallout for Dodgers fans is that, while the team did give raises to many arbitration-eligible players, it largely sat out the free-agent market, going for cheap options like RHP Vicente Padilla and 2B Ronnie Belliard. They didn't even offer arbitration to free agent LHP Randy Wolf, a terrible sign.

Spotlight on. LF Manny Ramirez. How will he behave in his walk year? Final word. They can win the West, but lack of pitching prevents a trip to the World Series.

2009: 95-67, First place.

Manager: Joe Torre, third season, 179-145; 28th overall, 2,246-1,915, six pennants, four World Series titles.

GM: Ned Colletti.

Last playoff appearance: Last season, lost to Phillies in NLCS, 4-1.

Projected lineup

SS Rafael Furcal
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
LF Manny Ramirez
3B Casey Blake
1B James Loney
C Russell Martin
2B Blake DeWitt

Projected rotation

LH Clayton Kershaw
RH Chad Billingsley
RH Hiroki Kuroda
RH Vicente Padilla
RH Charlie Haeger

COLORADO ROCKIES

Prediction: 2nd

Outlook. Have the Rockies ever entered a season with higher hopes? True, they made the 2007 World Series, but that seemed freaky - sparked by a transcendent run - even by the time 2008 arrived. This club, however, comes off a very impressive campaign, in which the young nucleus blossomed and GM Dan O'Dowd displayed a knack for smart, in-season changes. There's every reason to think the Rockies can make a title run.

Spotlight on. Closer Huston Street is on the disabled list (right shoulder injury), but hopes to return shortly.

Final word. The Rockies should recapture the NL wild-card slot.

2009: 92-70, Second place, wild card.

Manager: Jim Tracy, second season; eighth overall, 636- 614, .509.

GM: Dan O'Dowd.

Last playoff appearance: Last season, lost to Phillies in NLDS, 3-1.

Projected lineup

LF Carlos Gonzalez
CF Dexter Fowler
1B Todd Helton
SS Troy Tulowitzki
RF Brad Hawpe
C Chris Iannetta
3B Ian Stewart
2B Clint Barmes

Projected rotation

RH Ubaldo Jimenez
LH Jorge De La Rosa
RH Aaron Cook
LH Jeff Francis
RH Jason Hammel

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Prediction: 3rd

Outlook. Not long ago, the D-backs appeared primed to be big-time players in the entire NL, what with a young, talented lineup and a starting rotation headed by Brandon Webb and Danny Haren. But Webb pitched in just one game in 2009, and he starts 2010 on the disabled list. Meanwhile, that lineup has never quite completely jelled. This group can make things interesting - particularly with new- comers Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson - but can't be granted favorite status, or anything close.

Spotlight on. Webb, in a free-agent year, is trying to stay relevant.

Final word. The Diamondbacks are about a .500 team at this point, which puts them in the middle of the NL West.

2009: 70-92, Last place.

Manager: AJ Hinch, second season, 58-75, .436.

GM: Josh Byrnes.

Last playoff appearance: 2007.

Projected lineup

SS Stephen Drew
LF Conor Jackson
RF Justin Upton
1B Adam LaRoche
3B Mark Reynolds
C Miguel Montero
CF Chris Young
2B Kelly Johnson

Projected lineup

RH Brandon Webb
RH Dan Haren
RH Edwin Jackson
RH Ian Kennedy
RH Billy Buckner

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Prediction: 4th

Outlook. The Giants tied the Dodgers for least runs allowed (611) last year, and they scored the third fewest (657). There's little to think that formula will change. Newcomers Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff aren't going to bring the postseason back to the Bay Area. There's a chance of another 88-win season, but there's also a chance of a lot of 2-1 losses.

Spotlight on. RHP Tim Lincecum. He's the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, by golly. Why wouldn't you want to keep an eye on him?

Final word. Angry Giants fans will fume over the waste of talented pitchers like Lincecum and RHP Matt Cain.

2009: 88-74, Third place.

Manager: Bruce Bochy, fourth season, 231-255, .475; 15 seasons overall, 1,182- 1,230, .490, one pennant.

GM: Brian Sabean.

Last playoff appearance: 2004.

Projected lineup

CF Aaron Rowand
SS Edgar Renteria
3B Pablo Sandoval
1B Aubry Huff
LF Mark DeRosa
C Bengie Molina
2B Juan Uribe
RF Nate Schierholtz

Projected rotation

RH Tim Lincecum
RH Matt Cain
LH Barry Zito
LH Jonathan Sanchez
RH Todd Wellemeye

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Prediction: 5th

Outlook. It's easy to forget that the Padres finished 33-25 to close out 2009, displaying hope for the future. With a new GM (Jed Hoyer), however, this team has a rebuilding vibe going on. There are no young players regarded as future studs here, and the Padres figure to be movers and shakers at the trade deadline with 1B Adrian Gonzalez and RHP Heath Bell potentially available.

Spotlight on. Gonzalez. What makes the Padres' trade decision so interesting is that Gonzalez is ridiculously affordable ($4.75 million salary this year and a $5.5 million option next year).

Final word. The Padres will move back before they move forward.

2009: 75-87, Fourth place.

Manager: Bud Black, fourth season, 227-260, .466.

GM: Jed Hoyer.

Last playoff appearance: 2006.

Projected lineup

CF Tony Gwynn Jr.
2B David Eckstein
1B Adrian Gonzalez
3B Chase Headley
LF Kyle Blanks
RF Will Venable
C Nick Hundley
SS Everth Cabrera

Projected rotation

RH Chris Young
RH Kevin Correia
RH Jon Garland
LH Clayton Richard
RH Mat Latos