May be baseball's most interesting division in 2008 -- I think four of the five teams have a legitimate claim to possibly winning the division (sorry, Giants fans). I went with San Diego. I love their pitching -- based partly on the reports that Prior will be ready to go by June -- even more than 'zona's. Peavy, Maddux, Young and Prior? Teamed with one of the top five closers in the game's history?

Yikes!

Colorado not only made the World Series last year, they also had the best run differential in the league. Deep starting pitching, relatively young (although Arizona was younger), seemingly deep in the rotation, I'll pick the Rockies.

Why so strong on Arizona, everyone (56% so far)? They barely won last year, and were actually outscored on the year.

When researching for my vote in this poll, I relied heavily on W-L records from last September.

[Arizona[ barely won last year, and were actually outscored on the year.

That's how they win. By giving up more runs than the other teams. Doesn't work for anyone else, but they've got a history with it.

Nobody here likes offense? I'm sticking with Colorado. They still boast the scariest lineup in the NL. Arizona won't make it easy, though.

It'll be a 4 way race and 89 wins should do it.  Colorado and Arizona are the best of the four; I'll pick the D'Backs by a nose, thanks to a great half-season from Randy Johnson.

I don't expect another miracle run, which was all that seperated the Rox from their usual level of mediocrity....I think Arizona wil play better but have a less "lucky" result...That leaves the Pad and the Dodgers and I went with LA strictly because they seem deeper and thus better able to handle misfortune.

Hey, whoever voted for the Giants ... seriously, as the question notes, (And tell us why!) ... seriously??

I see the Dodgers with a big bounce-back year - especially with a motivated Andrew Jones.  As long as they keep Pierre on the bench and play Ethier and Kemp...

Mike,

thanks to a great half-season from Randy Johnson.

Do you think Unit has 16 more wins in him? Right now he's sitting on 284-150 career and nobody active is really close to 300 other than him ...Mussina, who's pretty done, is at 250, then Wells, Moyer, Schilling and Rogers, all 60-90 short and on the gray side of 35. Pedro is "just" 35 but has only 209. Pettitte, also 35 and at 201, might have the best shot to get to 300, and he's about 100,000:1, hey?

Can Randy get there or is Glavine the last for at least 10-12 years?

My thoughts exactly, Jevant.

I gotta give it to the DIamondbacks on this one. Their staff promises to be good and they have a lot of young players poised to break out (Stephen Drew and Justin Upton amongst many.) I think the Rockies will be good, but fall just short.

Mick, I don't think that Johnson will make it in 2008, but will finish his career after 2009 with 302 wins. Exactly and approximately, as the party planner in Monsoon Wedding says.

Joe Torre-- A.Jones--All the young talent--A weak Division =  Champion Dodgers

Dodgers, and look for huge years from Kemp and Billingsley. Hope Schmidt bounces back too, he's a beast when he's healthy.

That single SFG vote was me, and it was an accident.  I clicked and scrolled too fast.  My vote is for the LAD.  Deep rotation, solid lineup, decent pen.  They don't have the offense of the Rockies or maybe even the pitching of the snakes, but they're the most well rounded team of the bunch.

I was ready to ask, who gave a pity vote to the Giants?

I too voted Dodgers, but for me the story is the Torre factor. They are deep in talent and I just like the story of Torre finding away to bring them all together to focus on winning. I have no idea whether he truly has the skill to mediate and motivate such a group as the Dodgers have, but it makes for a good script.

By George, the Dodgers have had so much talent the past two decades pass through their organization. They're due.

I'm ready for the other NL divisions: Brewers and Braves #1.

Pitching wins championships and with the park factor, the Pads pitchers are all the more dominating.
You've got Young and Peavy who are practically number 1 guys. Then you've got the savvy Greg Maddux. Randy Wolf is a dominant strikeout guy when he's healthy. They've got guys who can surprise like Justin Germano(groundball machine) and Hensley(who'd love to show that '06 was no fluke). Then you've got Prior who if healthy gives the Pads 3 number 1 pitchers!

The offence may sputter but they've got some thump in Greene, Kouzmannof, Gonzalez and Hairston.

timpinder, I changed your vote for you ... trust you don't mind. NNTR.

I like the D-Backs' talent, but I don't think they can sort through it well enough and I don't trust Melvin to be the guy to sort things out.  Meanwhile, the Dodgers might have even more young front-line talent than Arizona.  I think LA just edges them over the line.

I like the Pad's staff in Petco; but I think this year the health of the respective starting rotations will be the dividing factor in the West. I don't see the Dodgers doing as much as they are expected to do; and I bet the Wild Card comes from the East this year after this division is done beating each other to death.