View The MLB Cappers Leaderboard For 2009 \u00a0– Picks Packages for 2010 On Sale Now! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/p>\n The National League West is suddenly quite crowded among the top four and, despite their poor showing in 2009, the Arizona Diamondbacks could be every bit as competitive as their roommates. <\/p>\n They worked hard to retool in the offseason and they have plenty of budding prospects. Still, they\u2019ll need bounce-back seasons from more than a few players to be relevant in 2010.<\/p>\n On paper, this lineup looks like it can really score. Everyone has heard the Justin Upton\/Ken Griffey Jr. comparisons and it\u2019s hard to argue with them so far. Upton has speed, range in the outfield and rapidly developing power; all signs point to him becoming a superstar. Then there\u2019s Mark Reynolds, who gets a bad rap for his strikeouts but still \u201cquietly\u201d topped 40 homers last year. <\/p>\n Even if he doesn\u2019t do anything else well, his power is real.<\/p>\n The fun shouldn\u2019t end there on offense. Miguel Montero emerged as one of the NL\u2019s top hitting catchers last season and we\u2019ve gotten used to Adam LaRoche \u2013 an offseason signee \u2013 mashing in the second half. Maybe the desert heat will warm him up quicker? Both Conor Jackson and Kelly Johnson have good on-base skills and could be plus players offensively as well. Then there\u2019s Stephen Drew and Chris Young. Both guys were promising prospects a year ago but both flopped last season. <\/p>\n If they can regain their strokes, there\u2019s no telling how many runs this lineup could produce.<\/p>\n Starting pitching is a concern, however. Dan Haren is among the game\u2019s best pitchers, flashing strikeout ability thanks to an amazing splitter and pinpoint control. But he can\u2019t do it on his own. Edwin Jackson made the All-Star team last season but he still doesn\u2019t miss a ton of bats and he moves to a more hitter-friendly environment. <\/p>\n Brandon Webb is a stud when healthy but he isn\u2019t ready to return yet from shoulder surgery; at best, he\u2019ll be back in a month. Ian Kennedy (who hasn\u2019t really succeeded at the major-league level) and stopgaps like Billy Buckner and Rodrigo Lopez round out a shaky, shallow rotation. \u2019Zona\u2019s bullpen looks strong. Chad Qualls isn\u2019t overpowering but he was a fairly steady closer last season. Juan Gutierrez, Aaron Heilman and Bob Howry all bring solid experience in short relief and will ensure that the D-backs have plenty of options should Qualls struggle at all.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t blame any Diamondbacks fan for feeling optimistic about 2010. It\u2019s hard not to see the potential when you look up and down the deep, young, talented lineup. But the hitters are still not guaranteed to recover from their 2009 struggles. <\/p>\n More importantly, in a division where pitching rules, the D-backs\u2019 rotation is a house of cards. I just don\u2019t see the starting staff contributing enough to get this team into the playoffs.<\/p>\n That said, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if the NL West had four teams .500 or better. Even if Arizona falters in the end, it could stay competitive for much of the year.<\/p>\nMLB Team Preview \u2013 Arizona D-Backs<\/h3>\n
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