How the West was Won

Quick Overview: Teams will be judged based on several categories: Ownership, Starting Pitching, Bullpen, Lineup, Depth and intangibles. Therefore, the Wild West will be one team's. Yuma wins the division in a landslide because of organizational depth, talent, and experience.

1. Yuma:

A. Ownership: Yuma's owner, Chris Melkonian, is among the strongest Barb has ever seen and has a clear-cut expectation to win and win now. Exemplified most by the courageous deal of Latos and Hanson for Doc Halladay. Melkonian has built a stellar organization with talent in all phases including that of the organization's depth. Power arms in the bullpen, high ceiling starters (including potentially the top two picks in June's draft), and a dynamic versatile lineup.

B. Starting Pitching: With two clear cut aces in LHPs CC Sabathia and David Price, Yuma looks to have the deepest rotation in the league. To compliment the lefties, RHPs Matt Cain, Clay Bucholz, Mat Latos and Tommy Hanson. Guesses are that Price, Sabathia, Cain, Hanson and Bucholz will enter the season as the starters with Latos getting spot starts and perhaps tough ground ball double plays in later stages of the game. Either way having six starters entering the season is a reasonable issue. What to look for is the second season of Mat Latos and the durability of Clay Bucholz. Both seem to have more than enough talent to overcome the issues other youngster must deal.

C. Bullpen: With Thorton, Kuo, Soriano and Gregerson, Yuma also has one of the deepest bullpens. Certainly the most balanced with two late inning lefties and a power closer. Gregerson is a key for his ability to get crucial game changing ground balls. Kuo's health must be a constant concern, however. And Thorton must prove he can duplicate last year's success and keep the ball in the strike zone. The depth is accentuated with RHP Drew Storen, who may end up as the most effective member of the bullpen within a season or two.

D. Lineup: Loaded. Posey behind the play is the key. Hanigan is a nice backup but if anything happens to Busty then issues for this lineup may arise. The lineup is extremely balanced with power from Votto and Zimmerman, Braun and Markakis. The key to me will be the health of SS Rafy Furcal and Brian Roberts. They are the two most consistent leadoff men on the roster and without a successful 2011 campaign, then the team will have many solo HRs. Still a very dangerous lineup though.

E. Depth/Intangibles: As previously stated, this is probably the deepest organization in Barb with perhaps two exceptions in the East. Injuries to any player can be overcome due to the team's versatility. Posey and Zimmerman's health is vital to the field. In addition to their bat, both have tremendous leadership and defense which will be difficult to replace. Moreover, the team has greatly improved its defense and speed in which many teams will find base hits difficult to come by.