Inside Pitch

Manny is back in Hollywood so let's see how his act plays with the Dodgers and Joe Torre for a full year. This is a great lineup that should carry LA back to the postseason but will it be enough come October to overcome the Mets, Phillies and Cubs? Young players like Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier will benefit from seeing Ramirez's legendary pregame work ethic (seriously) every day.

Of course, that's provided MannyBeingManny doesn't quit on his team like he did in Boston. And you have to love C Russell Martin. See if they make a deal for a starting pitcher at the deadline to boost the rotation.

The Dodges-Giants rivalry will get ramped up more this year because I'm looking for the Giants to be  improved. Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum leads a great rotation that needs a little more help from its offense. And, no, that help isn't coming via a return from ace perjurer No. 25.

The Diamondbacks roared from the gate last year and then flamed out. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are a great 1-2 atop the rotation but the young bats still need to mature. Pity the poor Padres, whose team was shredded by the payroll-damaing divorce of owner John Moores and will probably play out the season waiting to see where Jake Peavy goes at the deadline.

So my pics are: 1-Dodgers; 2-Giants; 3-Diamondbacks; 4-Padres.

Choose your NL West winner below.

---Mike Harrington