The N.L. Central figures to be competitive, as well, but not in the same manner as its Western Division foes. Here's a quick look at each of the six N.L. Central teams:
1. CHICAGO CUBS
The Cubs boast one of the league's most aggressive hitting line-ups, and it starts at the top with Alfonso Soriano. Finding a consistent hitter in the two-slot will be an adventure again for skipper Lou Piniella. The middle of the line-up figures to have a little more balance than last year as they've added lefty Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome, who will take over in right field. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will have to rebound from "off" years, and Geovani Soto and Mark DeRosa are quietly underrated and undervalued in this offense.
The pitching will once again be the Cubs strong point. The front end of the rotation is one of the best with Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly. Rich Hill is only going to get better. But there are some question marks at the back end. Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall will all battle it out for the last two slots. The bullpen doesn't have a clear cut closer anymore with Dempster battling for a rotation spot, but a trio of Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol still makes the top of this bullpen very formidable, so long as they can all stay healthy.
The Cubs should win this division, but they will have competition.
2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Brewers, like the Cubs, will be relying on the long ball. The bulk of the power is in the infield with Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy and Ryan Braun. Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks provide the stolen base threats, but Hart will be in the middle of the lineup rather than towards the top with Weeks. There is also still a question of whether Bill Hall will be moved to 3B from CF in order to allow Braun to shift into the OF.
The rotation is bundled with a lot of depth, but also a lot of "ifs", and the two biggest "ifs" are Ben Sheets and Chris Capuano's health. Another "if" is whether rookie Yovani Gallardo is as good as he appeared last season. The only consistency here is Jeff Suppan, who is almost automatic for 200 innings and rarely visits the DL. The bullpen will only be as good as new closer Eric Gagne, and the Brewers are hopeful he'll return to the form he showed in Texas in the first half of last year, and not his disastrous stay in Boston in the second half. Derrick Turnbow, David Riske and Solomon Torres give the Brewers some bullpen depth, as long as Gagne is healthy and effective.
The Brewers will battle the Cubs for the division, but ultimately, the Cubs pitching will be too much to overcome.
3. CINCINNATI REDS
The Reds could be the surprise team in this division. Their lineup is as balanced and as deep as any in the N.L. The Reds are capable of beating you with small ball, or the long ball. Ryan Freel inherits the everyday job in center field after trading Josh Hamilton to Texas, and will lead off. The middle of the lineup features Ken Griffey, Brandon Phillips, Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion. And the Reds are very high on rookie sensation Joey Votto at first base.
The rotation might be as good as any in the N.L., as well, with Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey forming a nice 1-2-3. Edinson Volquez, acquired from Texas in the Hamilton deal, will likely get one of the other two rotation spots, along with Matt Belisle. The back end of the bullpen is deep with the addition of closer Francisco Cordero, allowing David Weathers to return to a set-up guy. And Jared Burton might be one of the better seventh inning guys in the league. However, unless the starters can get to those guys, the rest of the bullpen is very average, very hittable, and very beatable.
The rotation and lineup will keep the Reds afloat, but in the end, the bullpen will be the thorn in new manager Dusty Baker's side, and the Reds will fall short behind Chicago and Milwaukee.
4. HOUSTON ASTROS
Like the others in this division, the Astros lineup is loaded. In fact, this lineup might have the best offense outside of Colorado. New additions Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui give the Astros some much needed speed at the top of the lineup. The middle of the lineup could be the deepest in the league with Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Miguel Tejada. Ty Wigginton could also be a sleeper in this lineup in the seventh spot.
After ace Roy Oswalt, the Astros rotation is a mess. Woody Williams had an awful 2007, Brandon Backe is coming off Tommy John surgery (2005), Wandy Rodriguez is rarely consistent and Chris Sampson can't seem to stay in the rotation at all. But if those four guys can turn all that around, the Astros might have a distant shot. The bullpen isn't much different. They acquired Jose Valverde, last season's Major League saves leader, to close out their games. But after Valverde, there isn't much depth. Doug Brocail and Mark McLemore will be the primary set-up guys, and Oscar Villarreal will gets some looks, as well, but really, this pitching staff isn't anything special beyond Oswalt and Valverde.
The Astros will score a ton of runs, but in games Oswalt isn't starting, they'll also give up a ton.
5. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The Cards break the trend set by the first four teams in the division. There are more questions in this lineup than in the others. Albert Pujols, slowed at times last year because of nagging injuries, didn't have an Albert Pujols-type season in 2007, and comes into this season with health concerns, starting with his elbow. Rick Ankiel takes over in center field after the Cards sent fan favorite, but aging and hurting, Jim Edmonds to San Diego. They did manage to upgrade offensively at third base, swapping Scott Rolen for Troy Glaus. However, Glaus isn't the same with the glove as Rolen. Chris Duncan returns in left field, as well. The rest of lineup is average at best.
The Cards also have a lot of rotation questions. Adam Wainwright is now the ace of the staff after a very good 2007, but the health of Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder will be the key for the Cards. If they can return to some form of their old selves, the Cards could make a little noise. The back end of the rotation isn't much with Joel Pineiro and Matt Clement. The bullpen isn't all that bad though. In fact, it returns almost in its entirety with Jason Isringhausen anchoring the staff. Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer figure to get the bulk of the setup roles.
The Cards have too many "ifs" in both their lineup and pitching staff to be serious contenders.
6. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Bucs continue to have a stronghold on last place in the division. Their lineup does feature a lot of guys who can hit, but not consistently for power. Jack Wilson, Jason Bay, Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez are all very good hitters, but only Bay and LaRoche can consistently put up power numbers if they choose. Xavier Nady, Ronny Paulino and Jose Bautista give the lineup some balance throughout and at the bottom, and Ryan Doumit or Nate McClouth add some more depth off the bench.
The rotation isn't very overpowering, but there are some bright spots here. Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell and Zack Duke are all good young pitchers, and Snell, the ace of the staff, should have no problems getting 200 strikeouts. Matt Morris also gives them a veteran presence, and should be good for 200 innings. The bullpen can be very good, especially if they're given a lead to work with. Matt Capps is a very formidable but virtually unknown closer, and Damaso Marte and John Grabow are solid set-up guys, although only Capps has overpowering stuff.
The Pirates figure to score a few runs, and the rotation will only get better with age, but this team is nowhere near ready to compete with the rest of the division.
Coming up soon, the National League East!
1. CHICAGO CUBS
The Cubs boast one of the league's most aggressive hitting line-ups, and it starts at the top with Alfonso Soriano. Finding a consistent hitter in the two-slot will be an adventure again for skipper Lou Piniella. The middle of the line-up figures to have a little more balance than last year as they've added lefty Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome, who will take over in right field. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will have to rebound from "off" years, and Geovani Soto and Mark DeRosa are quietly underrated and undervalued in this offense.
The pitching will once again be the Cubs strong point. The front end of the rotation is one of the best with Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly. Rich Hill is only going to get better. But there are some question marks at the back end. Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall will all battle it out for the last two slots. The bullpen doesn't have a clear cut closer anymore with Dempster battling for a rotation spot, but a trio of Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol still makes the top of this bullpen very formidable, so long as they can all stay healthy.
The Cubs should win this division, but they will have competition.
2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Brewers, like the Cubs, will be relying on the long ball. The bulk of the power is in the infield with Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy and Ryan Braun. Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks provide the stolen base threats, but Hart will be in the middle of the lineup rather than towards the top with Weeks. There is also still a question of whether Bill Hall will be moved to 3B from CF in order to allow Braun to shift into the OF.
The rotation is bundled with a lot of depth, but also a lot of "ifs", and the two biggest "ifs" are Ben Sheets and Chris Capuano's health. Another "if" is whether rookie Yovani Gallardo is as good as he appeared last season. The only consistency here is Jeff Suppan, who is almost automatic for 200 innings and rarely visits the DL. The bullpen will only be as good as new closer Eric Gagne, and the Brewers are hopeful he'll return to the form he showed in Texas in the first half of last year, and not his disastrous stay in Boston in the second half. Derrick Turnbow, David Riske and Solomon Torres give the Brewers some bullpen depth, as long as Gagne is healthy and effective.
The Brewers will battle the Cubs for the division, but ultimately, the Cubs pitching will be too much to overcome.
3. CINCINNATI REDS
The Reds could be the surprise team in this division. Their lineup is as balanced and as deep as any in the N.L. The Reds are capable of beating you with small ball, or the long ball. Ryan Freel inherits the everyday job in center field after trading Josh Hamilton to Texas, and will lead off. The middle of the lineup features Ken Griffey, Brandon Phillips, Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion. And the Reds are very high on rookie sensation Joey Votto at first base.
The rotation might be as good as any in the N.L., as well, with Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey forming a nice 1-2-3. Edinson Volquez, acquired from Texas in the Hamilton deal, will likely get one of the other two rotation spots, along with Matt Belisle. The back end of the bullpen is deep with the addition of closer Francisco Cordero, allowing David Weathers to return to a set-up guy. And Jared Burton might be one of the better seventh inning guys in the league. However, unless the starters can get to those guys, the rest of the bullpen is very average, very hittable, and very beatable.
The rotation and lineup will keep the Reds afloat, but in the end, the bullpen will be the thorn in new manager Dusty Baker's side, and the Reds will fall short behind Chicago and Milwaukee.
4. HOUSTON ASTROS
Like the others in this division, the Astros lineup is loaded. In fact, this lineup might have the best offense outside of Colorado. New additions Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui give the Astros some much needed speed at the top of the lineup. The middle of the lineup could be the deepest in the league with Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Miguel Tejada. Ty Wigginton could also be a sleeper in this lineup in the seventh spot.
After ace Roy Oswalt, the Astros rotation is a mess. Woody Williams had an awful 2007, Brandon Backe is coming off Tommy John surgery (2005), Wandy Rodriguez is rarely consistent and Chris Sampson can't seem to stay in the rotation at all. But if those four guys can turn all that around, the Astros might have a distant shot. The bullpen isn't much different. They acquired Jose Valverde, last season's Major League saves leader, to close out their games. But after Valverde, there isn't much depth. Doug Brocail and Mark McLemore will be the primary set-up guys, and Oscar Villarreal will gets some looks, as well, but really, this pitching staff isn't anything special beyond Oswalt and Valverde.
The Astros will score a ton of runs, but in games Oswalt isn't starting, they'll also give up a ton.
5. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The Cards break the trend set by the first four teams in the division. There are more questions in this lineup than in the others. Albert Pujols, slowed at times last year because of nagging injuries, didn't have an Albert Pujols-type season in 2007, and comes into this season with health concerns, starting with his elbow. Rick Ankiel takes over in center field after the Cards sent fan favorite, but aging and hurting, Jim Edmonds to San Diego. They did manage to upgrade offensively at third base, swapping Scott Rolen for Troy Glaus. However, Glaus isn't the same with the glove as Rolen. Chris Duncan returns in left field, as well. The rest of lineup is average at best.
The Cards also have a lot of rotation questions. Adam Wainwright is now the ace of the staff after a very good 2007, but the health of Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder will be the key for the Cards. If they can return to some form of their old selves, the Cards could make a little noise. The back end of the rotation isn't much with Joel Pineiro and Matt Clement. The bullpen isn't all that bad though. In fact, it returns almost in its entirety with Jason Isringhausen anchoring the staff. Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer figure to get the bulk of the setup roles.
The Cards have too many "ifs" in both their lineup and pitching staff to be serious contenders.
6. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Bucs continue to have a stronghold on last place in the division. Their lineup does feature a lot of guys who can hit, but not consistently for power. Jack Wilson, Jason Bay, Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez are all very good hitters, but only Bay and LaRoche can consistently put up power numbers if they choose. Xavier Nady, Ronny Paulino and Jose Bautista give the lineup some balance throughout and at the bottom, and Ryan Doumit or Nate McClouth add some more depth off the bench.
The rotation isn't very overpowering, but there are some bright spots here. Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell and Zack Duke are all good young pitchers, and Snell, the ace of the staff, should have no problems getting 200 strikeouts. Matt Morris also gives them a veteran presence, and should be good for 200 innings. The bullpen can be very good, especially if they're given a lead to work with. Matt Capps is a very formidable but virtually unknown closer, and Damaso Marte and John Grabow are solid set-up guys, although only Capps has overpowering stuff.
The Pirates figure to score a few runs, and the rotation will only get better with age, but this team is nowhere near ready to compete with the rest of the division.
Coming up soon, the National League East!
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