To clarify on the whole fair-weather fan subject, my main beef is with the people who act all diehard and live and die with every pitch...once they matter. If you don't claim to be a huge fan (Ben, and Danny with the A's) I have no problem with that. The number of people who came out of the woodwork a couple years ago, disappeared last spring, then re-emerged in the second half of the year astounded and disgusted me. These are the same people that probably didn't watch a game from 1993-2002, and the new team they adopted in that time frame is probably struggling now. Anyhoo...NL EAST:
1. New York Mets: The pitching won't scare anyone, but like the Yanks, this lineup is ridiculous. In the NL that's more than enough.
2. Philadelphia Phillies: After another good off-season, will this be the year they live up to expectations? Yes!!! Well, probably. Maybe....umm, we'll wait and see.
3. Florida Marlins: There will probably be some sophomore slumps, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them challenge the Mets.
4. Atlanta Braves: Weird to see them this low. We'll have to get to used to it, because they're not going anywhere for a while.
5. Washington Nationals: Yikes. To quote Bill Walton, this team is ATROCIOUS.
NL CENTRAL:
1. St. Louis Cardinals: Any team in this division could conceivably win it, but until one of these teams steps up and does it, I'm sticking with the Birds.
2. Milwaukee Brewers: A lot of young studs on this team. Under the radar.....
3. Cincinnati Reds: Moving to right a great move for Junior. A spotty rotation and worse bullpen, but they find ways to win.
4. Chicago Cubs: If you spend over $300 million and only add Soriano and a bunch of average guys...I mean, wow. Wow.
5. Houston Astros: Even if Clemens choo-choo-chooses Houston, it won't be enough. The Oakland of the National League doesn't have it in them this year.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: I'm comfortable with them being anywhere from 2nd to last in this division. Like the Brewers, lots of young guys to get excited about.
NL WEST:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Lineup got worse, pitching got better. I really want to take Colorado here, but a team that employs Byung-Hung Kim just cannot win a division.
2. Colorado Rockies: Have a good young core, but need to take advantage of Todd Helton before he is totally washed up.
3. San Diego Padres: Decent pitching, but I am just not feeling them. They overachieved a ton last year.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: A year or two away from getting a stranglehold on the division.
MVP: Relax, Albert, you got it this year. Don't get pissed at Ryan Howard again. Runner-up: Carlos Beltran.
Cy Young: Brandon Webb. Runner-up: Roy Oswalt.
Rookie of the Year: Chris Young. Runner-up: Kevin Kouzmanoff.
Most improved: Hanley Ramirez. Runner-up: Prince Fielder.
Biggest fall-offs: Chipper Jones, Brian Giles, Craig Biggio.
PLAYOFFS:
New York over St. Louis, Philadelphia over Los Angeles
New York over Philadelphia
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