2010 National League Preview

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies 94-68 - The Phightins possess the gutsiest GM in all of pro sports in Ruben Amaro Jr., and now thanks to his willingness to explore, they have acquired an AL phenom in Roy Halladay. Now the key is Cole Hamels and his expected bounce-back 2010 season after a dismal ‘09 campaign. If Cool Cole returns to his ‘08 form, there will be no stopping this potent team. Seemingly, this is a tale of 3 seasons for Cole, yet also, possibly, three World Series appearances for Philadelphia. Oh, and did I mention that this may very well be the best line-up in the Majors.

2. Atlanta Braves 87-75 - Their rotation alone will keep them around until those sweaty-palms days of September. All in all though, this will not win a division in which the NL Champions have dominated for much of the past two seasons. The Braves are indeed a team that the Phillies can not take lightly, and with this being Bobby Cox’s swan song, expect the Braves to stay right in the mix this season.

3. Florida Marlins 83-79 - The young Fish still have much to learn and need some growing up in order to dethrone the NL Kings. They have the potential to make some noise and possibly play spoiler for some other opponents, this team, and even with the league’s lowest payroll, leaves it all on the field 162 times per year.

4. New York Mets 80-82 - The Mets could not find a groove in ‘09 with many injuries inflicted on them all season long. Do not expect the Metropolitans to just make everything click this time around either. They are still very far away from regaining their prowess as NL East Champs. September 30, 2007 is still very much so in the dashboard instead of the rearview mirror for this organization.

5. Washington Nationals 67-95 - The lowly Nats have to be good one of these days right? Yet, that day is not 2010. Ryan Zimmerman, John Lannan and Stephen Strasburg will be a joy to watch though for the time being.

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals 95-67 - The Cardinals have protection locked up behind “King” Albert Pujols with Matt Holliday. He is their “big ticket” insurance policy for the next seven seasons. Along with a stellar pitching staff consisting of Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter among others, they are going to be able to lead the Central wire-to-wire.

2. Chicago Cubs 86-76 - The Cubbies will once again supply a lot of talent across the board and can may give St. Louis a fight in the early going, but will not be there when it counts. They simply do not have the weapons to go head-to-head with the Cards over a six-month period. It just will not happen!

3. Cincinnati Reds 79-83 - They definitely have put the pieces into place to contend some time very soon, and they are getting there. This team is better than people give them credit for and will turn some heads across the league. Their rotation, if healthy, can carry them throughout much of the season and they now have a solid line-up as well. At some point in the foreseeable future, they will be a team that people will be talking about consistently.

4. Milwaukee Brewers 76- 86 - Nothing has went the Brew Crew’s way recently. Despite some top-notch young talent with Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, they can not seem to string together an all-around formidable roster of a contender. They have become lost in the shuffle of a gradually improving Central division.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates 73-89 - The Pirates are another very young team that is on the rise and will be breaking through their ceiling any year now. They are not horrible, in fact, talent like Andrew McCutchen has people in The Steel City turning their heads. They are not solely thinking about Sidney Crosby and Ben Roethlisberger. Well, I guess they still kind of have to considering those guys brought home three titles in a matter of four years.
6. Houston Astros 69-93 - What is Ed Wade doing out in Texas. I know that nothing is taxed, but WOW! At least pull off some moves to acquire decent FA’s not just your old team’s “sloppy seconds.” The ‘Stros need an entire re-building process to save them right now, and Wade is not going to get that done for them, he pretty much depletes farm systems.

NL West

1. San Francisco Giants - 90-72 - Tim Lincecum. Matt Cain. And some day soon, Madison Bumgarner. Those three names may represent the best pitching rotation since the Braves of the 1990s. The offense does not need much mention here, not saying pitching alone will necessarily get them to the playoffs, but in a division like the West, it just may do so. The signing of Mark DeRosa was key for their line-up and Pablo Sandoval is ready to take his game to the next level. Brian Wilson remains one of the game’s best in the 9th inning.

2. * Los Angeles Dodgers 88-74 Matt Kemp, (Rihanna’s new man) if positioned properly in this line-up, is baseball’s best kept secret and the ideal five-tool player. He leads a good team that may have the assets necessary to head to the playoffs for a 3rd straight season. This may be the best division in all of baseball with a multitude of teams able to contend.

3. Colorado Rockies 88-74 (lose 1-game playoff to LAD.) The Rockies may be the best NL team to miss the playoffs in quite some time and potentially one of the better small-ball baseball squads this generation will ever see. They play the game the way it is supposed to be played and use Coors Field as a strong asset, it shapes the demeanor of the team, and they thrive off of that. Especially during ROCKTOBER when the temperatures are around freezing point by that time. A rather intimidating environment to enter.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks 83-79 - ’Zona is a team back on the rise after an abysmal 2009 season which saw them lose ace Brandon Webb on Opening Day. They did win this division in ’08, yet, now since the West has tightened up immensely, they have become lost in the shuffle. Edwin Jackson compliments Webb well (if they both manage to stay healthy) and they will manage to keep games close for the most part. The offense must respond and swing the bats better as a team if they wish to succeed in the ultra competitive NL West.

5. San Diego Padres 70-92 - A trade involving star 1st baseman Adrian Gonzalez seems inevitable. It should definitely happen this year, at or around the July 31st deadline. Theo Epstein’s Red Sox seem high on the radar for Gonzo’s services and they definitely have the resources to strike a deal of such caliber. They should be able to receive numerous key prospects in return, thus starting the re-building process. Maybe this time they should primarily focus on pitching as Safeco is indeed a pitchers’ park.

NL MVP - Albert Pujols .343-44-146
NL Cy Young - Roy Halladay 19-5 2.89 ERA