Chicago Cubs: Not much went right for the Cubs last year, the team that Sports Illustrated favored to be 2004 champions. Two of their three young aces, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, spent significant time on the DL and Sammy Sosa had a bad year all around. Fortunately, Carlos Zambrano had a great season, posting an 18-8 record and a 2.75 ERA while striking out 188 in 209.2 innings. His ERA has gone down every season, and he finished fifth in the Cy Young balloting. Their 38-year-old control artist Greg Maddux went 16-11, but his 4.02 ERA was his highest since 1987. Accompanying the injury-plagued starters, the bullpen is questionable, with no real closer. For now the spot belongs to Ryan Dempster, who seems recovered from Tommy John’s surgery, but it could go back to Joe Borowski, who is back from a rotator cuff injury.
The offense will benefit from a full season of Nomar Garciaparra at short, a position that was so often in question last year, and Jeromy Burnitz takes over in right for the traded Sosa. Once again, keep an eye on the five-tool talented Corey Patterson. The starting pitching should do its job if Wood and Prior are healthy, but how well will the bullpen and offense perform?
Cincinnati Reds: Five years ago, the acquisition of Ken Griffey, Jr. was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming and the start of a new Big Red Machine. Since then, Griffey has been a major bust, spending a lot of time on the DL, though he was healthy long enough to launch his 500th homer last season. Once again, he will start in center, but another Cincinnati native, Barry Larkin, has retired. Rich Aurilia is the favorite to take his Larkin’s place at shortstop. Keep an eye on outfielder Austin Kearns as he returns from injury. The Reds believe the 24-year-old is primed for a breakout, but Adam Dunn, now the record holder for most strikeouts in a season, is the focal point of the offense.
The rotation consists mainly of guys who never quite reached their potential, led by portsider Eric Milton, who won 14 games for the Phillies. The projected number two starter is Ramon Ortiz, who has a better repertoire than Milton, though he has not been able to get hitters out consistently. The bullpen could be excellent, led by left-hander Kent Mercker and the versatile Danny Graves closing out games.
Houston Astros: The feel-good story for this team last year was local hero Roger Clemens, who came out of “retirement” to Rocket to an 18-4 record and his seventh Cy Young Award. The Astros also recorded their first win in a postseason series. In addition to Clemens, the rotation should be deadly, especially if his left-handed buddy Andy Pettitte is fully recovered from surgery. A healthy Pettitte can be the key to the team’s success. Despite playing much of last year with a ribcage injury, Roy Oswalt led the National League in wins. The closer is Brad Lidge, who fanned 157 in just 94.2 frames last year with high heat and a devastating slider.
Losing Carlos Beltran takes away a brilliant centerfielder and a five-tool threat. The offense will rely on the two constants in the Houston lineup since 1991, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, until Lance Berkman returns from an injury. Shortstop Adam Everett proved a surprise last year and 3B Morgan Ensberg is better than his stats showed, as he often came through in the clutch.
Milwaukee Brewers: For a team that hasn’t had a winning record since 1992, the Brew Crew has an impressive future in the rotation. Last year, Ben Sheets posted the season that had long been expected of him, with a 2.70 ERA and 264 strikeouts, including 18 in one game. Due to poor run support, especially in the second half, Sheets went just 12-14 and Doug Davis was 12-12 despite a 3.39 ERA. Curveball specialist Victor Santos should fit in nicely behind them this year.
Offensively, acquiring Carlos Lee from the White Sox provides pop not seen since Burnitz and Richie Sexson were on the field. However, scouts have referred to Lee as a “train wreck” in left field. Question marks exist all over the diamond, except for RF Geoff Jenkins. Prince Fielder, son of Cecil, and Richie Weeks are both hot prospects who should form a killer right side of the infield in a year or two, but for now, the Brewers will have to settle for Wes Helms and Junior Spivey, who can play both second and short. Spivey will likely play short and team with Bill Hall on the pivot, but they’re not Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. The Brewers are a team on the rise, so grab a beer and sit tight. The prospectus is bright, but they’ll struggle for another year.
Pittsburgh Pirates: These Bucs haven’t posted a winning season since Barry Bonds was all-natural, but their offense offers signs of hope. Leftfielder Jason Bay was the NL’s Rookie of the Year last season, hitting .282 with 26 blasts and 82 RBI. Tike Redman, playing alongside him in center, has fantastic speed and is starting to show signs of power, but his instincts need work. Rob Mackowiak, a DH during his time in the American League, is one of the team’s few power threats.
After dealing Kris Benson to the Mets, the rotation is much younger. Oliver Perez will be the Opening Day starter. Beyond that, there is the enigmatic Josh Fogg and Kip Wells, neither of whom has been especially productive. The rebuilding continues.
St. Louis Cardinals: The defending NL Champs will play their final season in Busch Stadium this year. Last year, they scored a league-leading 855 runs and posted the second-lowest ERA at 3.74. Acquiring Mark Mulder from the A’s gives the Cards a bona fide left-handed ace to supplement Matt Morris’s power stuff. In addition, Jeff Suppan, Chris Carpenter, and Jason Marquis all won at least 15 games for St. Louis last year, thanks in part to lights-out closer Jason Isringhausen.
On the offensive side, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds all hit over .300 and drove in more than 100 runs. Additionally, Rolen and Edmonds are both brilliant defenders who take away plenty of opposing tallies. With Reggie Sanders and Larry Walker flanking Edmonds in the outfield, they have only added to their firepower. However, replacing shortstop Edgar Renteria with David Eckstein significantly hurts the infield defense.
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