I'll take that bait.
NL West
1 - Los Angeles Dodgers - Deeper and with more contract and position flexibility than last year, which makes July improvements likely. The big unknown is violatility. If Kent and Bradley decide to be crazy, it could sink them.
2 - San Francisco Giants - Look pretty good on paper, but the odds of their old players staying healthy are slim. If Bonds or Schmidt go down, they have no chance to finish first.
3 - San Diego Padres - Pretty good rotation, but their hitters were psyched out by Petco last season. It remains to be seen if they can adjust because the offense can't rely on Nevin's health and Loretta having another career year.
4 - Arizona Diamondbacks - Won't be as terrible if only because monumentally bad teams almost always get a little better. But they paid a lot of money for not very much help.
5 - Colorado Rockies - Still no solution found to make a Coors field team a contender.
NL East
1 - Florida Marlins - A very good all-around team. My only doubt is that this would finally break the string of a team that has defied doubters for years. That would be the
2 - Atlanta Braves - Don't know if they have the offense or rotation this year, but they've proven us all wrong before.
3 - Philadelphia Phillies - Completely agree that the removal of Bowa makes them a legitimate wild card contender. And is there a more unsung and complementary all-around player than Bobby Abreu? Every team should want that guy.
4 - New York Mets - The same crazy combination of overpaid mercenaries we're used to seeing. Someday they'll learn the error of their ways and the rest of the NL East will be sorry.
5 - Washington Nationals - outside chance that they'll be better than the Mets if everyting goes their way. But I'm looking forward to the next televised game at RFK, with that wacky upper-deck sombrero.
NL Central
1 - St. Louis Cardinals - The only major downgrade was Epstein for Renteria. That is one powerful lineup. They can win 7-8 games less than last year and still win the division.
2 - Chicago Cubs - Don't see how they replace the bats of Sosa and Alou. But the rotation will keep them in more games than they deserve.
3 - Houston Astros - Lost a lot of bats, but in their bandbox stadium they will probably still score. In another division they'd be lower.
4 - Cincinnati Reds - I don't see these guys getting it together because of their lack of pitching.
5 - Pittsburgh Pirates - I really wish these guys could get it together because their stadium looks so nice. But they just don't know how to get or develop good players these days.
6 - Milwaukee Brewers - Not enough bad things can happen to Bud's team. It's only a matter of time before someone makes them an offer for Sheets that they can't refuse.
Wild Card - Atlanta Braves or
Giants. Florida and St. Louis have to be considered the favorites for the pennant at this point.
Not to worry, we are 50 years and counting on this side of the bay. May not be in the Cubbies league yet, but we're getting there. Just remember, the Bosox showed us the pain can end.
