Article:National League Central Preview

1st Place, Chicago Cubs Lineup: SS Ryan Theriot LF Alfonso Soriano 1B Derrick Lee 3B Aramis Ramirez RF Kasuke Fukudome 2B Mark DeRosa C Geovany Soto CF Felix Pie

Rotation: RHP Carlos Zambrano LHP Ted Lilly RHP Ryan Dempster LHP Rich Hill RHP Jason Marquis SU: Carlos Marmol CL: Kerry Wood

The Cubs brought over Kasuke Fukudome from Japan this winter to help solidify the middle of their order. It's still tough to tell what kind of power numbers he will put up in America, but he should be around .300 providing speed and solid defense. If Derrick Lee rebounds this year and can stay healthy, the Cubs should score plenty of runs. I like Theriot and Soriano at the top of the lineup. While their offense may not have quite the weapons that Millwaukee does, they have the better pitching. Carlos Zambrano and Rich Hill haven't even hit their prime yet and both are among the better starters in the NL already. Lilly is very steady in the 2 spot. It will be interesting to see how Dempster makes his return to the rotation, but the Cubs are banking on 30 starts from him. Their bullpen is finally settled as Kerry Wood takes over the closers role with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry setting him up.

2nd Place, Cincinnati Reds Lineup: CF Corey Patterson SS Jeff Keppinger/Alex Gonzalez RF Ken Griffey Jr. LF Adam Dunn 2B Brandon Phillips 3B Edwin Encarnacion 1B Joey Votto/Scott Hatteberg C David Ross

Rotation: RHP Aaron Harang RHP Bronson Arroyo RHP Johnny Cueto RHP Edison Voloquez RHP Homer Bailey SU: David Weathers CL: Francisco Cordero

I think the Reds are primed to surprise people this year. With all that young talent in the lineup and rotation, I will actually be surprised if they aren't challenging the Cubs for the division in September. The second half of their starting rotation is very raw and that is the only thing that will be holding them back this year. Their lineup is going to score plenty of runs with veterans Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey and Brandon Phillips anchoring the middle of the order and youngsters like, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce all looking to break onto the scene in '08. The Reds have so many hitters that they don't have room for them all which is why Bruce will start the year in AAA. Their bullpen should be the strongest it's been in years with the addition of Francisco Cordero which moves Dave Weathers into his more comfortable set-up role. They also have the trading chips to acquire another starting pitcher if need be at the trade deadline. Things are definitely on the up in Cincinatti.

3rd Place, Milwaukee Brewers Lineup: 2B Rickie Weeks SS J.J. Hardy LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder RF Corey Hart 3B Billy Hall CF Mike Cameron/Tony Gwynn Jr. C Jason Kendal

Rotation: RHP Ben Sheets RHP Jeff Suppan RHP Yovani Gollardo LHP Chris Capuano RHP Carlos Villanueva SU: Derrick Turnbow CL: Eric Gagne

The Brewers should be in the wild card mix as well as the NL Central race this season. The have some question marks regarding their pitching, but their offense could be the best in the National League. Rickie Weeks should rebound and be the lead-off hitter he's been touted to be this season. They have a very deep, young lineup that doesn't really give you a break until you get to Jason Kendal down in the 8th spot and even he can be a tough out when he's on. Their pitching is a whole different story. Ben Sheets is still answering health questions after injuries only allowed him 24 starts last season. Jeff Suppan is a nice veteran presence to have on the staff as a number 4 starter, but asking him to be a number 2 is probably a reach. I like Gallardo and Villanueva, but I don't think their starting pitching will hold up against the Cubbies. Their bullpen isn't in much better shape. Eric Gagne hasn't been healthy this spring and it's still uncertain if he will be healthy to start the season. If Gagne and Sheets can stay healthy all year long, the Brewers should make some noise.

4th Place, Houston Astros Lineup: RF Hunter Pence 2B Kazuo Matsui 1B Lance Berkman LF Carlos Lee SS Miguel Tejeda 3B Ty Wiggington C J.R. Towles CF Michael Bourn

Rotation: RHP Roy Oswalt LHP Wandy Rodriguez RHP Brandon Backe RHP Woody Williams RHP Shawn Chacon SU: Doug Brocail CL: Jose Valverde

The Astros undoubtedly have the offense to keep up with any team in this division, and any team in major league baseball for that matter. They could hit 250+ home runs as a team this season if they stay healthy. Not only do they have power, but they get on base and have 3 or 4 guys who should steal 20+ bases. If only their pitching had the same kind of quality. Instead of giving Carlos Lee 100 million dollars last winter, it would have been in the Astros' best interest to invest that money in pitching to surround Roy Oswalt. Wandy Rodriguez has come on to be a serviceable left handed starter, but outside of him and Oswalt, the Astros are paper thin in the rotation. Their bullpen isn't much better. Jose Valverde is a quality young closer, but the Astros have no clear set-up man or any real structure to their bullpen outside of Valverde. Even with the offensive fire power, it should be a long year in Houston.

5th Place, Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup: CF Nate McClouth SS Jack Wilson 2B Freddy Sanchez LF Jason Bay 1B Andy LaRoche RF Xavier Nady 3B Jose Bautista C Ronny Paulino

Rotation: RHP Ian Snell LHP Tom Gorzelanny LHP Paul Maholm RHP Matt Morris LHP Zack Duke SU: Damaso Marte CL: Matt Capps

The Pirates look like they have a young rotation in place that could be there for years. Snell, Gorzelanny, Maholm and Duke are all 27 years of age or younger and all have proven themselves to some degree at the major league level. The Pirates are hoping this is the year they can all stay healthy and grow together. Their lineup won't allow them to compete with the better teams in this division, but they still have some talent there. I would expect bounce back years from Jason Bay and Andy LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez is one of the most underrated hitters in the game (when healthy) so they will score some runs, but not enough. Their bullpen is still a work in progress but they believe they have found their closer of the future in Matt Capps. The Pirates, like the Reds, are certainly on their way up, but it may take another year or two for them to be legit contenders.

6th Place, St. Louis Cardinals Lineup: RF Skip Schumaker 2B Adam Kennedy 1B Albert Pujols CF Rick Ankiel 3B Troy Glaus LF Chris Duncan C Yadier Molina SS Ceaser Izturis

Rotation: RHP Adam Wainwright RHP Todd Wellemeyer RHP Brad Thompson RHP Braden Looper RHP Kyle Lohse SU: Russ Springer CL: Jason Isringhousen

It's tough to pick a team lead by Albert Pujoles and Tony LaRussa to finish last, but the Cardinals pitching is in such bad shape that it will take a small miracle for them to even finish at .500 this season. Not to mention Pujols is hurting and could cut his season short to have surgery on his arm in order to be ready for spring training in 2009. I like Adam Waiwright and they have some other young quality arms, but they aren't ready to win any divisions.

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