Thanks to realignment, the San Francisco Giants will be the favorite in the revamped National League West. The big question is: How can the Giants excel without Will Clark, who signed with Texas in the off-season? Clark brought an intensity to the game that will be sorely missed, and pitchers have even less reason to pitch to Barry Bonds, the best player in the game.

The Giants' lineup is still strong, but their team defense is unsurpassed. The infield features three Gold Glove winners -- third-baseman Matt Williams, who seems to have bounced back from his subpar '92 season, second-baseman Robby Thompson and catcher Kirt Manwaring.

The Giants also have strong pitching. Free-agent Mark Portugal and 20-game winners John Burkett and Bill Swift form a strong nucleus of starting pitchers. The bullpen features setup man Mike Jackson and Rod Beck (48 saves last year), who has emerged as one of the game's premier closers. The bullpen must stay healthy, and the season could be a struggle if Burkett and Swift can't prove that last year was not a fluke.

Colorado Rockies -- They found out last year that they had plenty of offense but not much pitching. So what did they do in the offseason? They signed free-agent outfielders Howard Johnson and Ellis Burks, as well as shortstop Walt Weiss, to join a line-up that ranked third in the league in offense last year. The Rockies are solid at the corners with batting champion Andres Galaragga (.370, 22 HRs, 98 RBIs) and Charlie Hayes (.305, 25 HRs, 98 RBIs), and at short with Weiss.

The lineup must add plenty of runs to support a pitching staff that finished last in the league with a 5.41 ERA last year. "Ace" Armando Reynoso led the team with 12 wins and a 4.00 ERA.

Los Angeles Dodgers -- They could pose a major threat to the Giants. With the acquisition of Delino DeShields, the Dodgers are stacked with potential superstars. Catcher Mike Piazza (.318, 35 HRs, 112 RBIs) and first baseman Eric Karros (.247, 23 HRs, 80 RBIs) are expected to improve even more.

The Dodgers' rotation has potential, featuring young guns Ramon Martinez and Pedro Astacio, and veterans Kevin Gross, Orel Hershiser and Tom Candiotti.

The key to the team could lie in the resurgence of Darryl Strawberry.

San Diego Padres -- They're a joke. The Econo Padres have shipped such superstars as Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff the last few years, and have replaced them with Archi Cianfrocco and Dave Staton.

The Padres still have Andy Benes, who anchors a young, unproven staff, and superstar Tony Gwynn. But Gwynn has chronic knee problems and Benes' $3 million salary is about $3 million more than the Padres want to pay him.