How about KC in the same division as the Detroit Fielders? Then there’s the “when we say we’re rebuilding, we really mean rebuilding” A’s. And, how ’bout those Mets?

The NL West is different. Every team has holes or unresolved issues and each team has a recent track record of making wild swings from year to year. The Dodgers will be wondering about their new owner, the Giants are still saddling their pitching staff with a lineup of over the hill veterans, the new Rockies pitching staff has yet to discover pitching in Coors, and the D’backs based their surge on their closer having a career year and other teams rolling over in the stretch.

The Padres under-achieved their pythagorean record by eight wins last year, 79-83 vs actual 71-91, and it was all poor hitting with Ludwick, Hawpe and Cantu not getting the job done. All three are gone, and younger, better hitters have replaced them. The pitching and defense are still there, and Kotsay and Quentin will double-team any negativity from Hudson, who should be quiet and productive in a contract year.

I’m betting Josh is working off the 79-83 pythag with just one productive hitter, and having acquired two, thinks he’s improved to about 85 wins. From there, all it takes is a few breaks to get into the playoffs. The nattering nabobs of negativity will natter; don’t listen, WATCH.