Add Feedback | Send this Article | Published 4/04/03

Graphic By: Matt Witherow

Montreal Expos
This team showed many signs of improvement last year, especially with all the talk about moving the team to Washington. The bright spot on this team is right-fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who over the last five years has batted at least .300 with 30 or more HRs and 100 plus RBIs. Catcher Michael Barrett and second basemen Jose Vidro add offensive help to the lineup. Young guns Jeff Leifer (1B), Brad Wilkerson (LF) and Endy Chavez (CF) will hopefully boost the Expos with additional power. Montreal's pitching rotation looks a bit rough with Javier Vazquez as the number one pitcher and the Hernandez brothers (Livan & Orlando). However if the Expos can get their bats talking, they should not have a problem keeping up with the Braves.

Philadelphia Phillies
This team had the most productive off-season in the major leagues. They acquired first basemen Jim "Tomahawk" Thome, who brings huge offensive power to the team, third basemen David Bell, who could be near the end of his career, and 18-game winner Kevin Millwood. Along with the new additions, the Phillies already have prime time players such as Bobby Abreu (.413 OBP), Pat Burrell (116 RBIs) and shortstop Jimmy Rollins (.306 OBP), who has a great glove. Millwood and Randy Wolf form a great righty-lefty, one-two punch to go along with Vincent Padilla's nasty pitching. I wouldn't be surprised if the Phillies were this year's Anaheim Angels of last year.

Florida Marlins
Even with the addition of Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, the Marlins will most likely flop under .500 once again. Since I lived in South Florida for six years, I went to quite a few games. I noticed that after the Marlins won the World Series in 1997, they couldn't pay fans to attend games. Florida lost their two best bats in the off-season (Preston Wilson and Kevin Millar) and picked up a mediocre leadoff hitter in Juan Pierre. The Marlins' pitching rotation consists of young pitchers that have potential, but not in Marlins' uniforms. The Marlins will find themselves swimming at the bottom of the N.L. East.

New York Mets
With the second highest payroll in the majors, New York has a lot to prove this year. The acquisitions of starting pitcher Tom Glavine, Cliff Floyd and pitcher Mike Stanton will help improve the team; however, that won't make them World Series contenders. With the loss of infielders Edguardo Alfonzo and Ray Ordonez, the Mets need defensive help. Although Jeremy Burnitz, Mo Vaughn, Cliff Floyd and Mike Piazza have offensive power, the Mets have to worry about their pitching. Glavine and Stanton are the two bright spots on the team but will not be able to carry the weight of the team on their shoulders. The Mets will have a rough time this year competing with the Braves and Phillies.

N.L. West
San Francisco Giants
Looking for revenge after losing game seven of the World Series, the Giants beefed up their team in the off season. Although they lost 2B Jeff Kent to the Astros and starting pitcher Russ Ortiz to the Braves, they added 3B Edguardo Alfonzo, speedy right-fielder Jose Cruz Jr. and 2B Ray Durham. These three will provide plenty of speed, batting and defense. It is important to mention that the Giants have one of the best players ever to play the game: Barry Bonds. Year in and year out he is consistent in his batting along with his glove. However, when Dusty Baker took the head-coaching job for the Chicago Cubs, the Giants lost an important factor on their team. The Giants still have the skill to repeat what they did last year, and maybe win that vital game seven.

Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks, who I like to call "the Ageless Wonders," look like playoff contenders once again. With the best pitching combination in Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling to go along with Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez, Arizona poses a threat in their division. The Diamondbacks picked up infielder Carlos Baerga and added two relief pitchers to the mix. However, with the loss of first basemen Erubial Durazo and infielder Jay Bell, Arizona will need to do more talking with their bats to help out their pitching in order to be playoff-bound.

Los Angeles Dodgers
With star pitcher Kevin Brown coming and going from the injured reserved list, the Dodgers need a lot of help to succeed this year. Losing Marquis Grissom, starting pitcher Omar Daal, 1B Eric Karros, and 2B Tom Grudzielanek puts a rather deep hole in their team. They signed first basemen Fred McGriff and catcher Todd Hundley in attempt to boost their offense, but they will provide little help. Their pitching isn't half bad with Wilson Alvarez (15-10) and Eric Gagne (52 saves) leading the way, but the rest of the rotation is shaky. Look for the Dodgers to be struggling this year and ending at bottom of their division.

Colorado Rockies
There's not much you can do for their pitching staff, considering they pitch in the hitter-friendly Coors Field. With a young pitching staff headed by Jason Jennings (9-4), the Rockies' rotation looks to be a little rocky. They did acquire Jose Hernandez (3B), Charles Johnson (C) and Preston Wilson (OF) to boost their batting. Todd Helton and Larry Walker are still in their prime and should once again prove to be the backbone of Colorado. However, if the Rockies are looking to contend this year, the pitching at Coors Field has to be consistent, and the young players have to step up.

San Diego Padres
Finishing 30 games under .500 last year, the Padres need a lot of work this year. Ryan Klesko, who had a team high of 162 hits in 2002, not only shows improvement against lefties but also that he is the Padres' best player. Mark Kotsay (CF) and Rondell White (LF) add some support offensively. The Padres' pitching rotation has some skill but it's nothing too impressive. The Padres have a lot to prove this year since they have a young and inexperienced team.

N.L. Central
St. Louis Cardinals
Every position player on this team has potential to be an All-Star. The infield consists of Edgar Renteria (SS), Fernando Vina (2B), Scott Rolen (3B) who was acquired from Philadelphia, and Tino Martinez (1B), who has golden glove potential all over. Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew all return to make a great defensive outfield. You could fill the entire National League All-Star starting lineup with St. Louis's starting lineup. The skill on this team is beyond belief. However, the Cardinals' weak spot is their pitching, and they need to work on that in order to thrive in their division. Matt Morris, who won 22 games in 2001, looks to rebound from a disappointing season last year. Besides Morris, the other pitchers have little experience or are coming off a bad year. Even without pitching strength, the Cardinals' defense and offense should provide plenty of support to clinch them a playoff birth.

Houston Astros
In the off-season the Astros got Jeff Kent, one of the best players on the market. Kent just might be what the Astros need in order to reach the playoffs. Jeff Bagwell, Julio Lugo, Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman and Richard Hidalgo add plenty of batting support for their pitching. The Astros pitching isn't too shabby either. Wade Miller and Roy Oswalt are a combined 70-31 in their baseball careers. Shane Reynolds and Brian Moehler add a little support in the rotation, while Billy Wagner has the potential to reach above 40 saves. The Astros can taste the playoffs on the tip of their tongues but have a long season ahead of them and a lot to show.

Cincinnati Reds
Ever since they got Ken Griffey Jr. from Seattle, it seems as if the Reds have gone downhill, along with Griffey's career. Sean Casey and Barry Larkin are both coming off injury-plagued seasons and will hopefully bounce back this year with productive numbers. Young players Adam Dunn and Brandon Larson must step up this year and make some noise. If Griffey can put up his old All-Star numbers, the Reds can become a fearful team this year. The rotation, consisting of 15-game winner Jimmy Haynes and young prospect Ryan Dempster, needs to be more consistent in games in order for the Reds to become a contender.

Pittsburgh Pirates
With young talent from players like Kenny Lofton, Brian Giles, Jason Kendall and Aramis Ramirez, the Pirates may or may not have the potential to become contenders. While they do have an average lineup, the pitching rotation will be the big question here. Their number one pitcher Kris Benson only won nine games last year, and the rest of the rotation has yet to show signs of production. However, they do have Mike Williams, one of the league's best closers, and have recorded 46 saves last year (which was also a Pirates' record for most saves on a losing team). If the coaches and the players are all on the same level, the Pirates could surprise some teams this year.

Chicago Cubs
If there were to be one team that would surprise everyone this year, it could be the Cubs. Dusty Baker comes in as a new manager of a healthy, young and talented team. Sammy "Say it ain't so" Sosa will once again be at the top of the league in home runs and RBIs. Mark Bellhorn, Moises Alou and Alex Gonzalez add a lot of offensive help. After losing Fred McGriff, the Cubs signed the South Korean rookie Hee Seop Choi to add a spark to the offense. Chicago believes that Choi will have a huge impact on the Cubs season. However, I am a little nervous to agree with that. Pitchers Kerry Wood and Matt Clement add a nice 1-2 combination, but that's about all they have for pitching. If the Cubs work together as a team, they could surprise everyone this year. They already surprised me by beating the New York Mets 15-2 on opening day. Let the manhandling begin.

Milwaukee Brewers
I don't know if there is any help for this team. After finishing 50 games under .500 last year and being last in the NL in runs and next to last in ERA, the Brewers did little to nothing in the off-season to help themselves out. The only bright spot on the team is Richie Sexon, who had 29 HRs with 102 RBIs last year. Centerfielder Alex Sanchez, who led all rookies last year in steals with 37, can use his speed and agility to cover a lot of ground in Miller Park. The Brewers' pitching rotation does not have one starting pitcher who had a winning record last year. It's going take a lot of praying to get the Brewers into the playoffs, and I see them scraping the bottom of the division once again.