American League Update: Yankees Open Season with Win

By Pat Carroll

     Aside from being a windy, cloudy 42-degree day in the Bronx, everything worked out for the New York Yankees on Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers. C.C. Sabathia threw six solid innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out seven Tiger batters. Offensively, Mark Teixeira hit a 3-run bomb in the third inning, giving the Yanks an early lead and they never trailed after. Alex Rodriguez was 1-for-2 with a run and two walks, Curtis Granderson added a home run and an RBI, newcomers Russell Martin and Rafael Soriano proved their worth and the Yankees won 6-3. Stay tuned for more AL news.

#3 Domonic Brown

By Chris Douthat



Add caption

     It seems we’ve been hearing Domonic Brown’s name throughout trade talk for years now. And for good reason. Brown, the pride and joy of Philadelphia’s farm system, posseses all five tools that has teams drooling with envy. Had it not been for an unfortunate injury to the hand, Brown would have been the Phillies opening day right fielder. Instead, the Phillies will have to wait until the end of April for the Brown-era to begin.

     A 20^th round draft pick in 2006, Brown has worked his way up the minor league ladder, improving everywhere he goes. His 2010 season in particular had people talking. Hitting .327 with 20 HR and 22 doubles, Brown punished the opposing team’s pitching before earning a mid-season call-up to the majors after Shane Victorino went down with an injury. Though he struggled (batted .210 over 35 games), the Phillies are still incredibly excited. Remember, this is the same player they refused to trade for both Cliff Lee AND Roy Halladay.

     In terms of areas of improvement, you’d like to see him become more patient at the plate. Over 128 games last year (split between AA, AAA, and MLB), Brown walked only 42 times. With his speed (19 stolen bases in 2010), being able to get on base more would greatly improve the Phillies already potent lineup.

     Unless Ben Francisco starts tearing it up, expect Brown to be in the starting lineup as soon as he returns from surgery. Philly fans have been waiting long enough; it’s time to see what this kid can do. And if his minor league record is an indication of what’s to come, then those hoping for Philadelphia’s reign of dominance to end are going to be very disappointed.

American League Preview: 1-14

By Pat Carroll

                                                              


                                                               1. Boston Red Sox

      Coming off one of the best offseasons in recent memory with the acquisitions of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Bobby Jenks, the Red Sox have the pieces to win a World Series. Gonzalez will play pepper with the Green Monster, leading to many doubles and RBIs, while Crawford provides a spark on the base paths with his speed and power.  The rotation of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka and veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is one of the best in the league along with a bullpen that features Jenks, Daniel Bard and closer Jonathan Papelbon, who struggled in 2010. The tale of last season for the Sox was injuries with Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury and Josh Beckett all going down for lengthy spurts in '10. If they can remain healthy, look for Sox to make a deep postseason run.

                                                       2. New York Yankees

      The Yankees didn’t have nearly as much success in the offseason as their arch rivals up in Boston did, but they did retain a team that won 95 games last year and the AL Wild Card. The mixture of seasoned veterans and young talent will give the Yanks a dynamic line-up that has the potential to compete with the best of the American League. The Yankee rotation will miss Andy Pettitte, who retired in the offseason, but the addition of veteran Freddy Garcia will bolster a rotation that features ace C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes. The bullpen remains centered around Mariano Rivera, but newcomers Rafael Soriano, Pedro Feliciano and Bartolo Colon will give the Yanks much needed depth in the later innings. Robinson Cano had an MVP-type season in 2010, hitting .319 with 29 home runs and 109 RBIs at a traditionally weak second base position.  If Cano can imitate (or improve) on last season, with the help of A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and the supporting cast, the Yankees have the tools to make the postseason by winning the division or wild card.



    

      3. Minnesota Twins

      This may be a surprise pick for some but the Twins have a talented young team. However, their success is riding heavily on the pitching staff. Ace Francisco Liriano had a strong comeback season in 2010, finishing the year with a 3.62 ERA and 201 strikeouts, three years removed from Tommy John surgery. Carl Pavano took the team by storm with 17 wins and a 3.65 ERA, his lowest since 2004. Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey and young Nick Blackburn fill out the rotation with a balance of arms with while  Joe Nathan will  shut it down in the bullpen.  Offensively, the Twinkies finished 2010 in the top 10 in runs, batting average, on-base percentage (OBP), and slugging percentage. Justin Morneau's health, after sustaining a concussion in July will be a main factor if the Twins want to repeat their offensive efficiency. With a line-up that includes 2009 MVP Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, Jim Thome and Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota has the firepower to reach 90-95 wins.

                                                            4. Texas Rangers

     

      After reaching the World Series for the first time last season on the back of Cliff Lee, the Rangers proved they are the team to beat in the American League. Now with Lee shifting leagues for the Phillies, the pitching staff will have to make up (in what ways they can) for his absence. The addition of Brandon Webb will carry some of the load that Lee left. C.J. Wilson, who led the team in wins (15), ERA (3.35) and WHIP (1.19),  Colby Lewis and Scott Feldman each return from a rotation that was 10th in the MLB in ERA in 2010.  AL MVP Josh Hamilton tore up American League pitching last year, hitting .359 with 32 home runs and a slugging percentage of .633. Young phenoms Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz were key in the Rangers' run through October, with Andrus providing the offense and defense and Feliz adding late game pitching heroics, finishing the year with 40 saves. With production from veteran Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler, the Rangers have the weapons to take the AL West and compete for their second World Series appearance. 

     5. Chicago White Sox

     The White Sox have made great strides since they last won the World Series in 2005. Veterans from the '05 title team, Mark Buerhle and Paul Konerko are still producing as rich, young talent has made its way to the show. Last seaon, Konerko led the ChiSox in home runs (39), RBIs (111) and OPS (.977) while Buerhle won 13 games and had the best web gem of the year on Opening Day. The rest of the rotation is solid with John Danks (15 wins, 162 Ks, 3.72 ERA), Gavin Floyd (10 wins, 151 Ks, 4.08 ERA), and Edwin Jackson (10 wins, 181 Ks, 4.47 ERA) each winning 10+ games in 2010. Jake Peavy also is in the mix, after undergoing surgery for a detached muscle in his shoulder. If upon his return he can be effective, the White Sox will have another ace up their sleeve who can control his fastball and at times dominate an opponent. With the addition of power bat Adam Dunn and the continued development of Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham, watch out for the White Sox to contend with the Twins and Tigers in a competitive AL Central.

      6. Oakland Athletics

      
     The frugal Oakland Athletics, under the ownership of Billy          Beane, have always been about building the farm system and keeping home-grown talent. And thats just what they've done. In 2010, the A's had one of the best and most underrated pitching staffs, from top to bottom, in all of baseball. Ranking in the top 6 in ERA, Quality Starts, WHIP and BAA, the A's feature a rotation of Trevor Cahill, who won 18 games last year, Brett Anderson, who has a nasty slider and can throw his fastball for strikes, Gio Gonzalez, who won 15 games and led the team in innings pitched (200 2/3) and strikeouts (171) and Dallas Braden, who pitched a perfect game on Mother's Day and is the veteran of this young staff. Along with the rotation, the bullpen features new additions Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes to close the door. Talk about a whole lot of young talent in one rotation, thanks in part to Billy Bean's scouting abilities. The offense has been upgraded with newcomers Josh Willingham, David DeJesus and Hideki Matsui, who will each play key veteran roles in a relatively young line-up.  Pitching has always been a key to success for the A's and if their young arms can stay healthy, the A's have a chance to compete for the AL West division title or wild card berth.

                                         7. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

     After a season in which the Angels missed their first postseason since 2006 and finished with a record below .500, the sky is the limit for the Halos. With the offseason acquistions of pitcher Scott Downs and outfielder Vernon Wells, the Angels have a few new pieces that will hopefully put them over the hump and back into the playoffs. Featuring a formidable rotation led by Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Joel Pineiro, the Angels will be able to compete with that of the Rangers and A's, who are maturing right before their eyes. Scott Kazmir's pitching woes have continued with his ERA rising in each of the past five seasons. The Angels success will rely heavily on the strength of their rotation and their consistency. Wells has always been known for his power and will look to be a complement with Torii Hunter to provide a spark in the line-up and to drive in runs. Five-tool Prospect Mike Trout will surely make an impact with the club when he's called up in May or June and if things go as planned, give the Angels another weapon in their arsenal come pennant race time.

                                                8. Detroit Tigers

    

     The Tigers are a team to look out for in an unpredicatable AL Central. Their hopes ride behind the bat of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez and the arms of Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer and Brad Penny. Consistency and injuries will be the two main factors into whether the Tigers make the postseason or not.  The Tigers didn't make many moves in the offseason, but they made the right ones. Dumping Johnny Damon's salary to the Rays and adding veteran catcher Victor Martinez  were two of the main moves that hopefully will lead to a successful season. Verlander has looked better than ever, leading the Tigers in wins (18), ERA (3.37), strikeouts (219), and WHIP (1.16) and Porcello is starting to get the hang of pitching in the bigs. Offensively, the Tigers finished the 2010 season fifth in batting average and eigth in on-base percentage and will look to emulate those statistics in 2011. With a division so full of uncertainty, the Tigers will give the Twins and White Sox a run for their money but will  finish in third.

     9. Tampa Bay Rays

     How could a team with so much going for them drop to this spot? Well, the loss of Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Matt Garza and Rafael Soriano certainly has something to do with it. The Rays have been heavily competitive in the AL East over the past three seasons, making it to the World Series in 2008. However, they will take a step backwards this year. Aside from Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist, the Rays' line-up consists of young guys or newcomers. Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez were re-united in Tampa but both are past their primes and the odds of them having a great or even decent season is not very likely. The young, scrappy guys will be looking to make a name for themselves and hopefully a mainstay in the majors.  However, their rotation is very young and talented. David Price leads a staff of former top Rays pitching prospects, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann and newcomer Jeremy Hellickson. This unproven rotation can show signs of brilliance but their will definite growing pains throughout the game in different facets of each pitchers game. If the Rays can pitch and score runs, they can beat any team in the league. But that's a big if. When its all said and done, the Rays will finish up in a close third behind the Yankees.  

                                                      10. Toronto Blue Jays

     A lot has changed in Toronto over the past few years. The Jays more former ace Roy Halladay is now in the National League with the dangerous Phillies. Vernon Wells left for the West coast. Their more recent ace Shawn Marcum left for the Brew Crew. And the Blue Jays have been struggling to compete in the AL East. The Jays did, however, lead the league in slugging percentage thanks to a Jose Bautista. Bautista came into his own, leading the league in home runs (54) and leading the Jays in every slugging category known to man. Realistically, a season like that is a once in a lifetime, if once in a career feat. Along with Bautista, the Jays have some consistent bats in Adam Lind, Travis Snider and Aaron Hill, who will all have to be main contributors for this Jays team to have a shot at a division or wild card spot in the playoffs. The pitching for the Jays is not nearly what it was when Halladay was on the bump every fifth day but it has improved. Youth is the tale of the Jays' pitching rotation with Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero, Kyle Drabek, Jesse Litsch and Jo-Jo Reyes all in their mid-20s. First year manager John Farrell, former Red Sox pitching coach, will have fun working this young staff into shape for a long road ahead. Given time, this Jays team can improve and compete, but this year expect them to finish the year in fourth ahead of the woeful Orioles. 

   


                                                      11. Baltimore Orioles

      The Orioles showed their disgruntled fans that they are trying to become a winning ballclub with their offseason moves. Vladimir Guerrero, Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds, J.J. Hardy and Justin Duchscherer all flocked to Baltimore in the hopes of turning the AL East cellar dweller into a contender. Well, O's fans, don't count on it. At least not this season. Guerrero is on the decline in his career, and though he led the Rangers with 115 RBIs in 2010, the lack of a potent line-up in Baltimore will hurt his stats as he will not be able to drive in as many runs that he could in Texas. Derrek Lee has seen better days, Reynolds strikes out a lot and is usually in the top 5 in errors by season's end. However, Brian Matusz and Matt Wieters are the two main bright spots for the future of the franchise. Matusz, a 24-year old left-hander, showed promise in 2010, picking up 10 wins on a bad team, while striking out 143 batters. Look for him to improve in '11 in all facets of his game. Wieters struggled at times defensively behind the plate but was relatively success at the plate, finishing the year with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs. The former 1st round pick does, however, possess the skills and work ethic to make improvements to his power and hitting against lefties. Even with the drastic changes for the Orioles, they will finish at the bottom of the ever-competitive AL East for the fourth year in a row.

      12. Seattle Mariners

     Despite having the 2010 AL Cy Young award winner Felix Hernandez, the Mariners have a gigantic hole to dig out of if they want to compete in a suddenly strong AL West. Offensively in 2010, the Mariners were dead last in team batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. If not for King Felix, this team would be dead last on this list. The Mariners leader in home runs had 15 (Russell Branyan) and RBIs had 64 (Franklin Gutierrez). The complete lack of offense will be the reason for their near 100 losses that they will most likely pick up. From a pitching standpoint, the Mariners have a decent rotation led by Hernandez, Justin Vargas and Erik Bedard. However, with a lack of run support, it will be incredibly difficult for Mariners pitchers to hold leads and therefore, pick up wins (King Felix finished 2010 with a 13-12 record; had he received run support, he would have been a 20-game winner). With terrible offense and near mediocre pitching, the Mariners will finish 2011 well below .500 and fighting for a top pick in next year's first-year draft.   

     13. Cleveland Indians

     From being just a game away from a World Series appearance in 2007 to losing 93 games in 2010, the Cleveland Indians have almost completely gone full circle. Finishing in the bottom percent in nearly every batting and pitching category, the Indians have hardly any positives to take away. Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo led the team in batting average, home runs, runs, RBIs and OPS and pretty much single-handedly (with some help) carried the Indians' offense. Well, there is a bright side. Young talented catcher Carlos Santana and first baseman Matt LaPorta are in the bigs and will look to prove their worth this season in which the Indians will flirt with the 100 loss mark. The pitching rotation of Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson and Mitch Talbot will struggle to earn run support on poor offensive club and the Indians will be endangered of losing franchise player Grady Sizemore when his contract runs out or he his dealt before the trade deadline. Other then that, I think the Indians will have a decent year, picking up 95 losses to top last years mark.

     

                                                    14. Kansas City Royals

      Most teams don't come back well after losing an ace pitcher. Especially teams, like the Royals. 2009 Cy Young winner Zack Greinke's absence will undoubtedly be felt. No longer can the Royals turn to a pitcher that even resembles an ace every fifth day. Last year's rotation, with Greinke, was nearly last in ERA, Quality Starts, WHIP and BAA. Former first round pick Luke Hochevar is now the front man in a rotation made up of veteran Bruce Chen, Kyle Davies, an injury-prone Jeff Francis and newcomer Aaron Crow. Look for another abysmal pitching season from the Royals, as a matter of fact, don't be surprised if the Royals have one of, if not the worst pitching staffs in the major leagues in 2011. Aside from Joakim Soria, Royals' pitching is in for a rough year. Offensively, the Royals are solid with Billy Butler, Jeff Francouer, Melky Cabrera, Mike Aviles and Kila Ka'aihue. One things for the sure: the Kansas City Royals' future is mighty bright with one of the best farm systems in major league history. So, a few years down the road, look out AL Central. Until then, the Royals will take their assigned seat at the bottom of the division.

#2 Mike Trout

By Chris Douthat
     Had Bryce Harper decided to stay in school, Mike Trout would be without question the top prospect in the game. A first round draft choice in 2009 by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Trout has the makings of an elite player. Listed as 6’1 and 217 lb., the outfielder has people talking with his exceptional play.

     Only 19, Trout split 2010 with Cedar Rapids (A) and Rancho Cucamonga (A+), where he hit .341, with 28 doubles, 9 triples, 10 HR, and 58 RBI. Trout also managed to swipe 56 bases and walk 73 times, showcasing his plus speed and ability to pick out good pitches from bad.

Scouts are impressed by Trout’s fielding. Said former Texas Rangers scout Frankie Piliere:

“Trout is a very natural center fielder. He takes charge, and does all the things you like to see in terms of range and arm. His arm is just about average, but he has made some accurate, on-line throws to third base and was able to carry the mound on medium-depth fly balls to center.”

     Given his age, position, and ability to hit, the Angels have every right to be excited about Trout, as he has the makings of an all-around elite player. If all goes well, Trout could make a case for the starting job mid-2012 or at the start of the 2013 season. And who knows, given the ages and health concerns of Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu, and Vernon Wells, we could very well see him sooner. Either way, the future is incredibly bright for this young man.

Top 10 Prospects: #1 Bryce Harper

By Chris Douthat
     When it comes to Top Prospect lists, many people tune out after the first couple of names. Some are simply interested in the top players while others only want to find where their respected team's players rank on these lists.

     I completely understand, in fact, I use to be one of those people. So in order to save you from some information overload, I've decided to only do a Top 10 list. Each day I'll highlight a different prospect, starting with my top rated prospect and finishing with Number 10.

     Afterwards, I'll provide updates on the players throughout the season while also casting some light on others making some noise in their respected leagues. There are six divisions in minor league ball (AAA, AA, A+, A, A-, Rookie) so luckily I'll have my hands full.

Without further adieu, lets start this list...

#1 Bryce Harper (OF)

     Bryce Harper is simply put, a freak of nature. Having managed to overshadow fellow top-pick and teammate Stephen Strasburg as the most exciting prospect in all of baseball, Harper is slated to start the year in Class-A Hagerstown. As a 17 year old, an age where most kids are either starting or finishing their senior year of high school, Harper was absolutely demolishing the ball for the College of Southern Nevada. Hitting 31 home runs, 98 RBI, with a .443 batting average, Harper was named the 2010 Golden Spikes Award recipient, joining the likes of current established players such as Buster Posey, David Price, and Tim Lincecum.

Following a strong showing in the Florida Instructional League where he hit .319 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, and 12 RBI, Harper was sent to the Arizona Fall League. Playing with some of the game’s most promising up-and-coming players, Harper again performed like the top draft pick that he is, finishing the season with a .343 batting average, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, and 7 RBI in 35 at-bats.

In terms of potential, the sky’s the limit with this kid. If Harper is able to produce in the Major Leagues like he did in college, Washington very well could become a force to be reckoned with, considering they also have two great young pitchers in Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman. Though still very young, Harper isn’t as far from the Majors as you might think. Growing pains aside, if Harper puts up big numbers, a 2012 September call-up seems very possible, with 2013 as a likely date for his permanent arrival.

The Girl on Base: Girls watch baseball..and they like it too!

By Brheanna Berry

Hey, all you baseball fans. I’m Brheanna Berry. Yes, Brheanna as in a girl, who just happens to eat, breath and sleep baseball as much as the next guy. I am currently a student at James Madison University, majoring in the School of Media Arts and Design with a minor in sports communication.

 It’s almost here! Time to either start earning some money or losing it on your MLB fantasy teams. The season officially starts this Thursday March 31, 2011, kicking off with the Brewers at the Reds, the Angels at the Royals, the Braves at the Nationals, the Tigers at the Yankees, and the Padres at the Cardinals.

 As any good fan, like the teams, you are fed up with spring training life in Arizona and Florida. You’re ready to crack open your bag of peanuts or sunflower seeds. Sit back in your best jersey and prepare to defend your team to its death beside your buddies. Well I as well have been long anticipating the arrival of this glorious season.

No, I don’t pick my team by the color of their uniforms, the cutest pitcher (although my team does have the best looking shortstop in the game, but that was just pure luck) and I certainly don’t find my affection leaning towards who has the cutest mascot.

Yes I am professing to all you sports fans that girls do watch and like baseball.

It’s true!

As any good writer would say talk about what you know. Now I’m no English major, but as a simple blogger, I’ll do my best to adhere to that advice. No one has to ask me twice to rant and rave about my boys in black and purple!

The Colorado Rockies are a young team. But don’t let that fool you. They are, and have always been very strong offensively and super energetic throughout the entire game. We have a strong lineup and a bull pen that needs to be recognized quickly if the rest of the National League wants to compete. After a close spring training win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team is looking much more relaxed and confident then last season.

 As long as 23 year old right handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin continues to perfect his fastball, Dexter Fowler continues to steal bases, and the Tulo-Cargo combo continues to be, well, just awesome then this young team is sure to leave its fans pleased.

So thank the gods who decided to start the season early, re-arrange your life according to your teams schedule and make your own dinner, because the ladies are busy watching the game!

National League Preview: 1-16

By Matt Smith

1. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are clearly the class of the National League, point blank, period. They feature a starting rotation with three dominant starters in Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Roy Oswalt, and two reliable starters in Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton. The lineup is incredibly balanced; sluggers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley will surely have opportunities for plenty of RBI’s with Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Jimmy Rollins setting the table. The bullpen could be this team’s Achilles’ heel, but expect the Phillies to near the hundred win mark.

2. Atlanta Braves

The Phillies have received all of the attention this offseason, but the Braves will surely make noise in the NL East. The Braves have no shortage of pop in their lineup as Atlanta mainstays Chipper Jones and Brian McCann will provide veteran leadership for players such as sophomore sensation Jason Heyward. If their aging bullpen can perform at a high level, expect starting pitchers one through four and a potent lineup to carry the Braves to at least a playoff berth.

3. San Francisco Giants

The Giants are the best team in a division that has become surprisingly competitive over the past few years. Workhorses Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain head a strong rotation that carried them to the championship in 2010. Brian Wilson anchors a superb bullpen for San Fran, who will have to have another strong campaign to hold off the youthful teams in their division. Phenom Buster Posey heads an offensive attack that’ll be just strong enough to support the Giants into the postseason.

4. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are a strong, young team that will take the National League by storm this year. Their frontline pitching and bullpen are exceptional, but their four and five starters will hinder them throughout the season. Traditionally, the Rockies have been strong offensively, and this year is no exception as they possess two legitimate MVP candidates in Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez.

5. Milwaukee Brewers

There has been a power shift in the National League as the Cardinals have relinquished their stranglehold on first place in the division. The Brewers can HIT, they had five players (Weeks, Fielder, Braun, McGehee, Hart) hit over twenty home runs last year and Prince Fielder is in the midst of a contract year. The emergence of closer John “The Axe Man” Axford along with the acquisition of starters Zack Greinke and Shawn Marcum should make the Brew Crew reliable on the bump as well, making them a force in the NL Central in 2011.

                                                       6. Cincinnati Reds

They are certainly no “Big Red Machine”, but the 2011 Reds are definitely playoff contenders. Cincinnati features three young, effective starters in Edison Volquez, Mike Leake, and Jonny Cueto, but lack a consistent bullpen. NL MVP Joey Votto will attempt to re-enact last season in which he hit .324 with 37 bombs and 113 RBI’s. He will not be alone however, as reliable hitters Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce will assist in the Offensive assault. Look for the athletic Drew Stubbs to be the X-factor for the Reds this year.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers

After the Reds, there is a significant drop off in the National League as the Dodgers simply lack the talent to make a significant playoff run. Clayton Kershaw is a developing superstar but he’ll have to carry an aging rotation and an ineffective bullpen for the Dodgers to keep runs at a minimum. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have seemingly limitless talent but L.A. has a gaping hole at Catcher and lack overall power. They finished 27^th in homeruns last year and figure to finish similarly this year in the power standings. Look for a .500 season in a tough NL West for the Dodgers this year.

8. St. Louis Cardinals

This may be shocking to see the Cardinals this low in the standings but keep in mind this was written after Adam Wainwright’s injury. If the injury plagued Chris Carpenter goes down again, the Red Birds could spiral out of control. If not expect him and 2010 surprise Jaime Garcia to keep the Cards competitive with assistance from a strong bullpen. If Lance Berkman can find his old form they will have a potential murderer’s row in perennial MVP candidate Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and of course Berkman.

9. Florida Marlins

Take note everyone, the Marlins are at it again. The historically frugal Marlins have stockpiled young talent once more and are poised for a playoff run. Offensively they have three superior talents in the 2009 Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, the multi-talented shortstop Hanley Ramirez, and the highly touted Mike Stanton. The Marlins have improved their bullpen with the addition of Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb in the Cameron Maybin trade, and the starting rotation will be solid if young guns Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez continue improving.

10. San Diego Padres

Guess what everybody? This year, the Padres will not be able to hit at all but will pitch with the best of them. They’ve added Chad Qualls to the strongest bullpen in the big leagues and have a rotation that is strong at the front (Mat Latos, Clayton Richard) but weak towards the end (Stauffer, Leubke/LeBlanc). With the departure of Adrian Gonzalez they will need to play small ball in a field that is conducive to such a style. Expect a competitive team in the Padres, who will likely thrive at home, but struggle on the road.

11. Chicago Cubs

Oh dear, I admire the Chicago faithful, but there is little hope for the Cubbies to break the curse of the Billy Goat this year. The bullpen is horrendous (29^th in 2010), but the rotation could be a strength if import Matt Garza can make an impact and veterans Carlos Silva and Ryan Dempster mirror their ’10 seasons. The offense will likely struggle as the lineup is loaded with washed up talent (Carlos Pena, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome), but at least they’re well paid! Starlin Castro is an emerging star, but the Cubs will not factor into the 2011 race.

12. New York Mets

Make no mistake about it, this New York Mets ball club still has plenty of talent, and is more than capable of finishing with a winning record. Ike Davis is emerging as a middle of the order threat and David Wright is a steady third baseman, offensively and defensively. If by some miracle Carlos Beltran and speedster Jose Reyes can remain healthy, this could be a potentially explosive lineup with plenty of speed. The injury woes are not limited to the offense however, as the Mets will need Johan Santana and Chris Young to regain their pre-injury all star forms to make New York a formidable team in the NL East. The Metropolitans have talent in the rotation, in the pen, and in the dugout, but injuries and off the field mishaps may cost them a chance at the playoffs.

13. Washington Nationals

There is no grand mystery as to why the Nats continue to struggle. They simply lack top flight starters that can hand the game over to what is a highly underrated bullpen that features rising closer Drew Storen. The starting rotation is devoid of anything resembling an ace, but John Lannan, Livan Hernandez, Jason Marquis, Tom Gorzelanny, and Jordan Zimmerman, who is coming of Tommy John surgery, have the potential of being an average staff. The loss of Adam Dunn will no doubt hurt the Nationals, but adding Jayson Werth to a team already with star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will make the Nationals strong at the plate. Expect Washington to be buried in a tough NL East, but this is a team heading in the right direction.

14. Houston Astros

Offensively, this team is horrid. Carlos Lee is still a source of big time power and Hunter Pence is a superb, overlooked outfielder, but the lineup as a whole is weak. The loss of Roy Oswalt last year leaves Houston without an ace, but the additions of Brett Myers and J.A. Happ will ease the pain of his absence. Expect the ‘Stros to lose many close games this year as their bullpen lacks depth and closer Brandon Lyons does not seem like a long term option finishing games. This team is simply undermanned and will not factor into the NL Central divisional race.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

First things first, this team in all likelihood, will end up with another losing season. But all is not lost in the Steel City. Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutcheon are special talents and if the Pirates can retain them, should produce for years to come. Garrett Jones adds power to the mix and the additions of Lyle Overbay and Matt Diaz could help make Pittsburgh a decent offensive club. However, increased offensive production will only go so far as the Pirates, who finished with a team ERA of an astounding 5.00 last year, will not keep opposing teams off the board. The addition of Kevin Correia will help them somewhat, but expect the Pirates to get shelled regularly, and make a run at 100 losses.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks

Many may be surprised to see the D-backs as the absolute worst team in the National League, but they have a GLARING weakness. This team has one of the worst bullpens ever assembled (5.74 ERA in 2010) and their starting rotation was nothing to write home about either (4.39 ERA in 2010). Couple that with the loss of Adam LaRoche and Mark Reynolds and you have a team in a high state of disrepair. Justin Upton is a five tool stud, but Arizona has very little talent, and very little chance of climbing out of the National League West cellar.