NL Central Preview |
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1. St. Louis Cardinals 2006 Record: 83-78 Projected 2007 Record: 86-76 The Lineup The champs’ lineup got better in the off season, adding second baseman Adam Kennedy from the Angels. Albert Pujols, still griping about how he should have been MVP, will be motivated to win MVP again. Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds must also stay healthy to give the Cards any shot of defending their World Series crown. The Pitching Does any team’s pitching staff look as different as the Cardinals’? They lost Jeff Suppan to Milwaukee and Jason Marquis to the Cubs, and all they added was Kip Wells from Pittsburgh, who sat out all of 2006. Chris Carpenter will once again be the ace, but behind him and Wells, the Cards have Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright, and Braden Looper, three pitchers that were in the bullpen last year for St. Louis. In the bullpen, Jason Isringhausen (4-8, 3.55 ERA, 33 SV in 2006) will be back from injury to close games. The Key Pitching, that’s it. The Cardinals have arguably the best lineup in the division, but the weakest rotation. In order to win the division again, Reyes, Wainwright, and Looper must shoulder some of the load away from Carpenter and Wells. 2. Milwaukee Brewers 2006 Record: 75-87 Projected 2007 Record: 85-77 The Lineup The Brewers had one of the youngest lineups in baseball last year, and that will benefit them this year. 1B Prince Fielder (.217 AVG, 28 HR, 81 RBI in 2006) is coming off a strong rookie season and will have to be productive in the middle of the lineup if Milwaukee is to be successful. Another key is Bill Hall’s production. He led all major-league shortstops in homeruns last year with 35, and will look to have an MVP-type year for the Brew-Crew. The Pitching The Brewers picked up NLCS MVP Jeff Suppan in the off-season, who will bring veteran leadership to an otherwise young Brewers’ pitching staff. Ben Sheets will once again be Ned Yost’s opening day starter, with Chris Capuano, Dave Bush, and Claudio Vargas rounding out the rest of the rotation. Losing Doug Davis will hurt in the end, though. In the bullpen, Francisco Cordero looks to be the dominant closer he was with the Rangers a couple years ago again. In front of him, the Brewers also have Derrick Turnbow, who struggled last year as the closer. The Key The key on this team is the bullpen. Last year, the Brewers did not have a set closer because of Turnbow and Cordero’s struggles. In order to win, the Brewers need someone to close games, whether it’s Turnbow or Cordero. 3. Chicago Cubs 2006 Record: 66-96 Projected 2007 Record: 84-78 The Lineup Alfonso Soriano, Michael Barrett, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Cesar Izturis, Jacque Jones. What a lineup! No really. The Cubs got their man in Alfonso Soriano (.277 AVG, 46 HR, 95 RBI, 41 SB in 2006), who will join sluggers Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez in this deadly lineup. The defense doesn’t look good, though. Soriano has to learn center field. Barrett will once again be a defensive liability, while Mark DeRosa will have to shift from the outfield to the infield, which could cause problems. The Pitching Ace Carlos Zambrano will welcome free agent signees Ted Lilly (15- 13, 4.31 ERA in 2006) and Jason Marquis to the staff, but were these moves worth it? Lilly is getting old, while Marquis sometimes hits better than he pitches. Mark Prior will attempt to comeback (again) and Rich Hill should be solid for the Cubbies. In the bullpen, Ryan Dempster will be an average closer. The Key Health. It has to be. Lee, Ramirez, Izturis, and Prior all had injury problems last year and must be healthy for the team from the North Side to make a wildcard push. 4. Houston Astros 2006 Record: 82-80 Projected 2007 Record: 83-79 The Lineup The Astros picked up the bat they needed in the off-season, picking up OF Carlos Lee. He, along with 1B Lance Berkman, will be a strong duo in the middle of Houston’s lineup. Look for OF Luke Scott to continue his development, as he finished 2006 strong with 10 homeruns, eventually taking Preston Wilson’s job. Utility man Mark Loretta will also be key in pinch-hit situations as well as giving 40-year old Craig Biggio occasional days off. The Pitching Houston’s pitching took a hit last off-season when Andy Pettitte left them for New York. So, to bolster the staff, they traded for SP Jason Jennings (9-13, 3.78 ERA in 2006) from Colorado. Houstonian Woody Williams also joins the rotation, with Brandon Backe out until 2008 after Tommy John surgery. Ace Roy Oswalt will be back, looking for another Cy Young-type season. However, the back end of the rotation consists of Wandy Rodriguez and Fernando Nieve, two pitchers aren’t proven major-leaguers yet. The Astros need one of these youngsters to step up in order to be successful. In the bullpen, the Astros need Brad Lidge to have a bounce back year, as last year he blew countless saves and had a 5.28 ERA. The Key Last year’s key was hitting. This year it has flip-flopped. It’s the pitching. Oswalt will give you the usual 18-win season. However, Jennings, Williams, and Rodriguez must step up in order for Houston to be buzzing come October. 5. Pittsburgh Pirates 2006 Record: 67-95 Projected 2007 Record: 73-89 The Lineup The Pirates picked up 1B Adam LaRoche from the Braves in an otherwise quiet off-season for the Bucs. He will join Jason Bay (.286 AVG, 109 RBI, 35 HR in 2006) and Freddy Sanchez (.344 AVG, 6 HR, 85 RBI in 2006) in a nice, young lineup. The Pitching In order to get Adam LaRoche from Atlanta, the Pirates sent closer Mike Gonzales packing. This will hurt Pittsburgh’s bullpen, as Solomon Torres is an unproven closer. The rotation will consist of three southpaws, with Zach Duke (10- 15, 4.47 ERA in 2006) being Jim Tracy’s number one. Behind him will be righty Ian Snell (14-11, 4.74 ERA in 2006), lefty Paul Maholm (8- 10, 4.76 ERA in 2006), southpaw Tom Gorzelanny (2- 5, 3.79 ERA in 2006), and either Shawn Chacon or Tony Armas, Jr. The Key In order for the Pirates to have a shot for the wildcard, they need strong pitching from their youngsters. Having four youngsters in your rotation could be either great for the Pirates, or potentially devastating. 6. Cincinnati Reds 2006 Record: 80-82 Projected 2007 Record: 70-92 The Lineup The Reds signed Alex Gonzalez in the off-season, getting a veteran shortstop who will help young hitters like 3B Edwin Encarnacion and 2B Brandon Phillips excel more. He also brings great defense and the Reds should be able to turn more double plays this year. In the middle of the lineup, LF Adam Dunn will need to put MVP type numbers again for the Reds to succeed. They also need a healthy Ken Griffey, Jr, and production from utility man Jeff Conine off the bench. The Pitching The Reds pitching staff once again is a big question mark. Outside of aces Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, they have lefty Eric Milton (8-8, 5.19 ERA in 2006) and right-hander Kyle Lohse (3-5, 4.57 ERA in 2006) who will be shaky third and fourth starters. In the bullpen, Cincy will have veterans Dave Weathers and Mike Stanton closing out games. The Key Health, as well as pitching. Griffey must stay in the lineup and Arroyo in the rotation for the Reds to even have a chance to compete. On top of that, they need solid pitching from Milton and Lohse. |
