The Phillies had trouble scoring this spring, but expect them to pick it up once season starts. Jimmy Rollins has the ability to get better as year progresses. His goal is to do what no National League team has done since the Reds in 1975-76: win back to back World Series.
No team has repeated since the Yankees in 2000. Rollins used the World Baseball Classic to pick Derek Jeter’s brain about the best way to repeat. Phils will get plenty of competition from Sports Illustrated’s favorites, the Mets, and from Lou Piniella’s Cubs. You may have heard that it’s been a while since the Cubs last won a World Series. Piniella is trying all kinds of things to try to motivate a team that has been swept away the last two playoffs in the first round.
He will not work them as hard during the season. Mets will have the NL magic.
NL EAST
1. METS
Johan Santana will dominate this year because he knows what it is all about in NY and the NL and has a closer in Francisco Rodriguez and a set-up man in J.J. Putz. Mets blew 29 saves last year; it just seemed like a hundred. Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado are explosive. Daniel Murphy adds a little toughness and David Wright and Jose Reyes are in their prime. Mets are No Choke.
2. PHILLIES
Look for Phils to win the wild card. Rollins was best player on Team USA. Brad Lidge is the perfect closer. Cole Hamels is the perfect left-handed starter, when healthy. Raul Ibanez will help more than people think. Ryan Howard carried them down the stretch. Phillies play hard when most teams are soft these days, but rotation has to hold up after much October stress.
3. BRAVES
Bobby Cox is in his 50th year in professional baseball. He likes this team because starting pitching was added with signing of free agent Derek Lowe. Closer Mike Gonzalez is coming back from Tommy John surgery, like all Brave relievers. Chipper Jones added three points to lifetime average last season, amazing.
4. MARLINS
Young pitching is terrific once again and Chris Volstad could be special. Hanley Ramirez already is special, and is the best hitter in the division. The $33 million Marlins have to make moves based on finances, but they always seem to find a way to be competitive. Root for Scott Proctor to hold up. Put the Marlins in the NL West and they make the playoffs.
5. NATIONALS
This team will score runs but doesn’t have nearly enough pitching. Rookie Jordan Zimmerman shows much promise and John Lannan had a solid rookie season, but that is not enough. Bullpen is dicey, outfield defense is a nightmare. Adding Adam Dunn’s bat helps, and now that Stan Kasten is in charge, improvements in character and team will come. Love that Ryan Zimmerman.
NL CENTRAL
1. CUBS
Lovable losers haven’t won World Series since 1908, but who’s counting? Kevin Gregg takes the spot of Kerry Wood as closer and Carlos Marmol offers an explosive arm as set-up man. Mr. Fix-it Mark DeRosa will be missed. Shortstop Ryan Theriot is underrated; more walks (73) than strikeouts (58). Alfonso Soriano is major threat and has help now with excitable Milton Bradley on board.
2. REDS
Dusty Baker’s team can pitch with Edinson Volquez and Aaron Harang leading the rotation and Francisco Cordero the closer. Will the Reds have enough hitting to make it interesting? Joey Votto crushes fastballs. Former Toms River Little League hero Jeff Frazier will start the year in Double-A, but Reds showed last year they are not afraid to move youngsters up quickly.
3. CARDINALS
The All-Star Game will be in St. Louis this year, likely the highlight of the summer for Redbirds fans. But with Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa, anything is possible. Cardinals have to get themselves some pitching. New closer Jason Mott is a fantastic story, a converted catcher. Shortstop Khalil Greene hit 17 fewer home runs and average plummeted to .213 last season.
4. BREWERS
Quite a falloff when you go from CC Sabathia as your ace to Jeff Suppan. That’s what happens when Sabathia splits and Ben Sheets has surgery. Ryan Braun leads offense as all eight starters are back. Mike Cameron is still hanging around, reunited with old Padres teammate Trevor Hoffman. When you don’t spend the money, it shows up in pitching.
5. PIRATES
Bucs will not finish last but will have 17th straight losing season, which will set a major league record. What do you expect for $50 million? Rotation boasts two ex-Yankees, Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens. Not enough offense to win. Keep an eye on young outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who figures to get called up at midseason. This is team that passed on catcher Matt Wieters for talent reasons.
6. ASTROS
Too old, too many question marks, this club is counting on big years from Miguel Tejada, Kaz Matsui and Pudge Rodriguez and pitchers Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz. Lance Berkman is fun to watch but needs help. Center fielder Michael Bourn has not lived up to GM Ed Wade’s expectations. Bullpen is solid with closer Jose Valverde, who led the NL in saves the last two years.
NL WEST
1. DODGERS
Gotta love Manny Ramirez, who drove in 53 runs in 53 games after being acquired from Boston. LA was 30-23 with 4.6 runs per game when Manny played and 54-55 with only 4.1 runs in all other games. Young talent emerged last season, but losing Derek Lowe really hurts. Those 211 innings will be missed. Joe Torre owns that playoff magic, like Manny.
2. DIAMONBACKS
With exciting young players Justin Upton and Stephen Drew, this team is entertaining, and you have to love their TV broadcasters Mark Grace and Daron Sutton. Mark Reynolds led the majors in errors (34) and strikeouts (204) last year, that’s hard to do. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren lead the staff but young Max Scherzer must improve.
3. ROCKIES
Heat is on Clint Hurdle this season. Todd Helton is healthy again after back surgery. Rotation has two good ones at the top. Ubaldo Jimenez is the real deal and Aaron Cook knows how to win — and eats innings (211 1/3). Jason Marquis needs to deliver and Troy Tulowitzki needs to stay healthy. The shortstop hit .327 second half last year after injuries produced .166 first half average.
4. GIANTS
Tim Lincecum is the bomb. Matt Cain is strong. Randy Johnson needs a time machine. Barry Zito could use Rick Peterson. The closer is Brian Wilson, not the Beach Boy. The big problem is scoring runs; the Giants managed only 640 of them last season. Wow, Edgar Renteria is still playing. Young Pedro Sandoval is WW though — Worth Watching.
5. PADRES
GM Kevin Towers is the king of dumpster diving and says there is absolutely “zero pressure and no expectations” on his players. He’s right. Team has gone through a sale in ownership and is coming off 99 losses in a terrible division. There is nowhere to go but up for Padres. At least they have a beautiful ballpark and that punk Matt Bush is no longer with the organization. Trade Jake Peavy to the Mets, please.
YANKS SPARE NO EXPENSE ON PLAYERS
THE NEW YANKEES