2010 MLB Postseason Predictions: NL West

Once the All-Star Break is over, everyone turns their attention to October. With several teams doing stellar this year, it is rather difficult to predict who will make it to the big show at the end of the year. Here is a look at who I think will make it past regular season play. With the National League up in the air and the American League basically set, we will take a look at the more unpredictable National League. Of all of these races, the Central and West divisions are the most intense races at the moment. Here is a look at the National League West Division and what it will take to win this playoff berth.

The National League West has been full of surprises this year. From the Ubaldo Jimenez no hitter to the Padres leading the division all year long, there has been no end to the mystery that has come from this division. All the way into June, if you had said that the Padres and Giants would be fighting for the title, most people would call you crazy and you might even be committed from those comments. Amazingly, that is where the division stands. As of August 25^th, the Padres are an impressive 5.5 games up on the Giants, with no one else really in sight of the division. Rockies and Dodgers have to be content with a long shot bid for the Wild Card. The two teams that were heavily favored going into this season are now nearly eliminated from making an appearance at all. So the big question that everyone is asking is who will take the West. Can the Giants end their playoff drought? Will the Padres make a comeback with their youngsters? Only time will tell, but here is what I think.

One thing is guaranteed: both of these teams will play in October. Just as Adrian Gonzalez pointed out to all the doubters, "What a dope. I promise you we are playing at least three games in October." Since the final three games of the season are Padres vs. Giants on October 1, 2, and 3^rd, both teams are guaranteed to make October, but who plays after the 4^th is the real question. The way that everything is playing out, the Padres will top the Giants for the Division, but not without a fight. Any mistakes on either teams part may prove to be fatal to their season. The Padres made some deadline moves to bring even more chemistry and leadership into their clubhouse as well as a little more pop and clutch hitting. The combo of Tejada and Ludwick are proving to be two of the best deadline moves in all of baseball this season. These two breathed a little life in a team that was starting to get winded. The Friars may be starting to wind down once again, but with the rosters expanding in a week, there will plenty of quality relief for everyone. The return of Cunningham and the debut of Luebke can really help to carry this team down the stretch. The Padres have been thriving on their young core of players and there have been more than one surprising kid to emerge. With an influx of these young players in September, the Friars look to be in perfect position to gain a couple games on the Giants.

The Giants still have a shot at the Division title, but they have very little to bring up when the rosters expand. The current team is enough to carry them to a Wild Card berth, but I really see them getting worn out down the stretch. The addition of Cody Ross off of waivers may appear to be a problem currently, but after this next week, it could be a boon. The Giants claimed Ross to keep him from the Padres and have no real room for him on their 25 man roster. This may cause some problems to start since their outfield is fairly solid already. Ross may end up breaking up the clubhouse chemistry and cause a little stumble. That may prove to be too much for the Giants to handle at this point. The Giants are, however, in an excellent position to take the Wild Card, but that is a different race that will be covered later.

Regardless of who wins the division title, the Padres have certainly earned a playoff berth and are almost guaranteed to make it there. They would have to completely implode to miss all of October. These races look to be very interesting and, if anything, it will be a very interesting month of baseball throughout the National League.