【MLB專欄】教士覬覦王座?得先問道奇意見—2021年國聯西區季前概述

San Diego Padres' Yu Darvish pitches in a spring training baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
達比修有。(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

教士休賽季的補強幅度可說是「驚天地泣鬼神」,接連換來達比修有和Blake Snell兩位強投,接著與游擊手Fernando Tatis Jr.延長漫天合約,大動作對國聯西區的版圖造成衝擊,不過衛冕軍道奇迎來「科學家強投」Trevor Bauer,原本就夠華麗的輪值如虎添翼,「兩強相爭,必有一傷」,兩隊的正面交鋒會是今年球季的吸睛焦點。

洛杉磯道奇

去年總算一圓睽違超過30年之久的冠軍夢,本季的道奇依舊競爭力十足,許多預測網站都看好連霸分區、挑戰百勝,因為陣容實在太過整齊,Enrique Hernandez和Joc Pederson離去的缺都有人能補上,而七年老臣Justin Turner的回鍋更達到穩定軍心的效果。

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Trevor Bauer。(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

先發投手群一字排開星光閃閃,年過三十的Clayton Kershaw、Trevor Bauer、David Price經驗豐富,懂得調整節奏與狀態,能幫助年輕的Walker Buehler和Julio Urias更加成長、進化,值得一提的是,除了國際自由球員Urias以外,「輪值五虎將」的其餘四位都是昔日選秀首輪,含金量相當高。守護神Kenley Jansen已33歲,倘若表現不如預期,生涯72次救援的Blake Treinen、百哩火球男Brusdar Graterol都能頂上。

打線部分,Mookie Betts、Corey Seager、Cody Bellinger都正值顛峰,去年小將捕手Will Smith竄起,威脅性十足,板凳則有潛力新秀Gavin Lux蓄勢待發。

聖地牙哥教士

上季教士在季後賽首輪擊敗紅雀,可惜分區系列戰遭到道奇橫掃,君子報仇一年不晚,達比修有及Snell都是一時之選,但Joe Musgrove、Dinelson Lamet、Chris Paddack就顯得較有疑慮,他們「實力」無庸置疑但「續航力」有待證明。Drew Pomeranz、Emilio Pagan、Mark Melancon組成的「牛棚鐵三角」,儘管知名度較低,不過壓制力不在話下。

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres laughs with teammates as he exits the field during the fifth inning of the Cactus League spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 02, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Fernando Tatis Jr.。(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) (Ralph Freso via Getty Images)

開路先鋒Trent Grisham和「游擊砲」Tatis都有「20轟20盜」的能耐,中心棒次Manny Machado、Eric Hosmer、Tommy Pham使對手防不勝防。南韓金河成能否為亞洲內野手爭一口氣,更是韓國球迷們的心心念念。

亞利桑那響尾蛇

「瘋邦」去年一塌糊塗,9場出賽挨13轟,生涯首度單季ERA+不到100,FIP達7.18,K/9值6.5也是歷年來新低,才31歲的他究竟是否「能量釋放」導致一去不復返?攸關響尾蛇的前景,不然五年長約就要「撲通」一聲了。欣慰的是其他年輕的先發投手Zac Gallen、Luke Weaver、Caleb Smith逐漸成長茁壯,沙場老將Joakim Soria、Tyler Clippard則扮演後援雙保險。

Christian Walker、Eduardo Escobar、Ketel Marte都能提供火力,2017年首輪大物Pavin Smith預計卡得一席,而主戰捕手Carson Kelly去年手感冷卻、選球優點盡失,今年如能反彈,亦是打線利多。

舊金山巨人

投手群改朝換代後,當初冠軍陣容班底剩下Brandon Crawford、Brandon Belt及Buster Posey的餘暉,新面孔Tommy La Stella的纏鬥能力及選球是優秀的開路先鋒,Mike Yastrzemski為打線中少數砲手,Evan Longoria來到35歲年紀,成績降至聯盟平均等級,大致上得靠短槍連線嘗試串連取分。

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Starting pitcher Johnny Cueto #47 of the San Francisco Giants throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 11, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Johnny Cueto。(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) (Ralph Freso via Getty Images)

Kevin Gausman、Johnny Cueto、Alex Wood、Anthony DeSclafani共築的輪值尚屬堪用,亮點在於牛棚:擅長滑球的Matt Wisler、仰賴速球的Jake McGee以及下勾Tyler Rogers,都有不錯看頭。

科羅拉多洛磯

和Nolan Arenado分道揚鑣,洛磯進入「後納豆時代」,靠Trevor Story、Charlie Blackmon聯手支撐,2019年曾單季24轟的Ryan McMahon以及新簽的C.J. Cron如能有水準以上的貢獻,對方投手依然不會太好過。此外,2015年選秀探花Brendan Rodgers今年可望獲得大量上場機會,可以多加關注。

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story (27) throws to first during a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Trevor Story。(AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

German Marquez、Kyle Freeland、Antonio Senzatela、Jon Gray和Austin Gomber這些先發投手皆不到30歲,但在期待繳出漂亮成績單之前,穩定且健康地出賽整季是他們共同的課題,能盡量多吃局數是比較實際的目標,王牌Marquez上季先發了13場比賽(全大聯盟最多),ERA+是優異的140,維持身手有機會挺進明星賽。東山再起的Daniel Bard擔綱終結者,Mychal Givens和Scott Oberg負責守住第七局和第八局。

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