Hitting The Cutoff Man

Note: this post was scheduled to run Sunday but got delayed. The next post, "2 Things I Want To Happen In '10" will appear a little later today.

There are now just three days remaining until the first Spring Training camps open, which means at this point, every team out there possesses a sense of hope. Of course, for some that sense is built on nothing more than some wild optimism and a crossing of fingers. Here's to you, Royals.

But outside of the teams everyone expects to be in the postseason, there are plenty that have a legitimate shot, if a few things go their way. Here is a quick look at three of those clubs.

Texas Rangers -- Really, the whole AL West could be fascinating to watch this season. The Angels appeared to go backward this offseason, while the Mariners made some stellar acquisitions and the A's signed Ben Sheets to head a good young pitching staff.

The Rangers didn't do anything too flashy, but they did enough to build off a promising 2009 season and possibly dethrone the Angels. Last year, Texas led the division as late as July 10 and was still within 3.5 games on Sept. 4, before finishing 10 games out, with 85 wins. The Rangers then signed old nemesis Vladimir Guerrero to DH, added Rich Harden to the starting rotation, brought Colby Lewis back from Japan and inked Darren Oliver to help out in the pen.

Offensively, the Rangers need bounceback years from Chris Davis at first base and Josh Hamilton in center field, but mostly they need their starting pitching to hold together. Harden has to stay healthy, while pleasant surprises like Scott Feldman and Tommy Hunter have to avoid sliding backward too far.

Cincinnati Reds -- If people don't pick the Cardinals to win the NL Central, they will probably go with the Cubs or even the Brewers. But don't sleep on the Reds.

Cincy produced the fourth-worst OBP in the majors last season, but that figures to improve simply on the basis of Willy Taveras no longer being around (although Dusty Baker might find a way to bat him leadoff anyways). Joey Votto already is an excellent hitter, Jay Bruce could be one soon, and young outfielders Drew Stubbs and Wladimir Balentien have some upside. The rest of the lineup is filled with solid veterans like Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen.

The pitching staff surprisingly finished in the top 10 in ERA last season. Edinson Volquez won't be back until sometime midseason after having Tommy John surgery in August, and while that's a big blow, the Reds could have enough arms around to overcome it. Nobody stands out in the current rotation, but Aaron Harang is way better than his 31 losses the last two years indicate, and there is room for vast improvement in guys like 23-year-old Homer Bailey.

Arizona Diamondbacks --When the D-backs made it to the 2007 NLCS, then started the next season 20-8 with a host of promising young players on the roster, it seemed as though they were poised to dominate the NL West for years. It hasn't happened. Arizona went on to miss the playoffs in 2008 and then last season finished last in the NL West, somehow falling five games behind the lowly Padres. Still, this season could be different.

If Brandon Webb comes back strong, Arizona has a premiere one-two punch with him and Dan Haren, while newly acquired Edwin Jackson should be a decent No. 3. Offensively, Justin Upton is already a star, and while Mark Reynolds isn't likely to hit 44 homers again, he should still be a solid middle-of-the-order contributor. Kelly Johnson was a solid acquisition at second base.

The D-backs do need a couple of guys to step up in the back end of the rotation, and young hitters like Stephen Drew and Chris Young must get it together. But with the Dodgers stagnated budget-wise, there's room for Arizona to rebound in the NL West.