Baseball - NL

There was a time I was really more of a national league fan than an American league fan. No DH - more pitching, defense, interesting rosters - all that stuff. These days, not so much. And one reason is - I don't think the NL is as good as the AL. The fact that they haven't won a game in the world series since 2003 provides some evidence there. The fact is, only 2 teams (Cards, Stros) seem really strong here (compared to the AL - Boston, NY. Toronto, Chicago, Cleveland, Oakland, California and possibly Minnesota, all of whom have both potent offenses [not the Twins, maybe] and at least 3 solid starters), and only a couple others even in the Twins range (San Diego, maybe the Brewers, the Braves, Mets, Phils). So - who knows. Anyway, here we are. Make of it what you will.

East:
1. Atlanta - until someone beats them... they should score some runs, they still have Smoltz - the rest is increasingly up on the air though.
2. NY - blah. Pedro's hurt already. The rest? Blah. They have talent but - I think this team inherited the curse of the Bambino. The curse of Bill Buckner - you win like that and you have used up all your karma for the next 86 years.
3. Philadelphia - not a bad team, but nothing to write home about. Lots of promising hitters, but the pitching does not inspire confidence.
4. Washington - with a break or two, they could finish 2nd. Without, they could lose 100. Split the difference. I'm not optimistic.
5. Florida - I don't know if they have any major leaguers left other than Cabrera and Willis, but odds are that's enough to beat the Nats. If Hermidia is ready? who knows.

NL Central:
1. St. Louis - don't look as strong as they've been, but still the best in the league. Especially if Rolen is back.
2. Houston - if Roger re-ups, they'll be back in the series, odds on. Without him they have a nice team - there's risk - Pettitte could get hurt, Ensburg could slip - but I think they will stay pretty strong.
3. Milwaukee - this is not a bad team. Sheets and Davis and a bvunch of more than adaquate fillers in the rotation; some good looking relievers; young guys like Hardy and Weeks and Fielder - they could be hanging around the wild card pretty easily.
4. Chicago - Lee, Zambrano, Ramirez keep them sort of respectable - with Prior and Wood hurt again, they aren't winning anything.
5. Cincinatti - a bunch of okay #4 starters in a bad park; plenty of offense, no defense; no hope.
6. Pittsburgh - might surprise. Doubt it. Jason Bay is a hell of a player, though, isn't he.

West:
1. San Diego - safer bet than Barry's knees.
2. San Francisco - on the other hand... the likes of Cain and Lowry are where they will really rise or fall, and Jason Schmidt's health (almost as much as Bonds').
3. LA - not be all that bad. Gagne is key. Fewer people will care that Grady Little doesn't speak any english on the west coast.
4. Arizona - I don't know why I would pick them ahead of the Rockies. Anyone know? Jose Velverde maybe?
5. Colorado - bet they score a lot of runs, but give up more.

Playoffs - Atlanta - St. Louis - San Diego - Houston
Winner: With Roger? Houston; no Roger? St. Louis.
MVP - Pujols, of course.
Cy Young - since Clemens won't be picthing until May, even if he does pitch - I'll say Oswalt. Have I mentioned how awful last year's 2 cy young winners were? nice pitchers and all, but how can you take Colon over Santana or Carpenter over Clemens or Oswalt - or even Peavy? or Pettitte? Zambrano? hell - over Pedro! terrible choices.
Rookie - they all say Hermidia in Florida. Or Zimmerman in Washington. I'll be perverse and say Cain in San Francisco, for no good reason.