While Tim Kurkjian truly wrote in
Sports Illustrated in April 1992 that the division belonged to the Reds and Braves, OOTP does not fully agree.
Preseason predictions have the Dodgers at the top, in a near dead-heat with Atlanta and Cincinnati.
Code:
NL PREDICTED STANDINGS WEST DIVISION
Team W L PCT GB Runs AVG HR SB ERA K BB
Los Angeles Dodgers 86 76 0.531 - 612 0.239 90 602 3.3 988 528
Cincinnati Reds 85 77 0.525 1 685 0.256 107 641 3.55 1045 508
Atlanta Braves 85 77 0.525 1 708 0.254 132 647 3.51 965 506
San Francisco Giants 81 81 0.5 5 650 0.249 107 620 3.5 923 515
San Diego Padres 79 83 0.488 7 647 0.249 111 701 3.89 1055 510
Houston Astros 74 88 0.457 12 621 0.247 102 684 3.64 991 564
No Dodgers listed among the top ten hitter predictions, though.
Code:
TOP 10 HITTERS
Player Team G AB HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
B. Bonds, LF PIT 158 605 24 89 38 0.313 0.415 0.507
J. Kruk, 1B PHI 158 616 17 100 4 0.324 0.412 0.489
D. Justice, RF ATL 158 603 30 100 2 0.283 0.374 0.476
L. Dykstra, CF PHI 161 658 12 57 69 0.269 0.373 0.408
B. Larkin, SS CIN 158 633 17 83 19 0.295 0.368 0.447
W. Clark, 1B SF 161 629 26 107 4 0.283 0.355 0.471
M. Alou, LF MON 158 601 19 93 29 0.306 0.346 0.502
A. Van Slyke,CF PIT 159 631 9 101 14 0.297 0.364 0.439
R. Gant, LF ATL 157 614 26 86 32 0.266 0.341 0.448
G. Sheffield,3B SD 159 626 23 83 29 0.279 0.341 0.454
However, the Dodgers do have a pitcher showing in the top ten. Not Orel. Not Ramon Martinez.
Code:
TOP 10 PITCHERS
Player Team G W L S ERA IP HA BB K K/9
T. Candiotti LAD 33 19 10 0 2.21 262.2 183 78 189 6.47
Z. Smith PIT 29 18 8 0 2.34 217.2 182 31 101 4.18
D. Cone NYM 34 16 10 0 2.73 235.2 170 85 202 7.74
J. Rijo CIN 31 14 9 0 2.88 214.2 181 63 167 7.03
C. Leibrandt ATL 32 15 9 0 3.05 215.2 204 50 141 5.89
B. Saberhagen NYM 33 13 12 0 2.78 241.1 202 47 173 6.46
D. Drabek PIT 34 13 9 0 3.09 249 220 60 137 4.97
J. Deshaies SD 33 15 8 0 3.34 208.1 194 71 132 5.69
S. Avery ATL 32 14 10 0 3.01 219.2 188 62 127 5.22
J. Burkett SF 34 14 12 0 3.06 234.1 215 54 124 4.79
Interestingly, the Braves have two pitchers listed and neither is Smoltz or Glavine. Remember, Maddux (also not shown) is still with the Cubs; he comes to Atlanta next year.