Today In The National

Your National League previews, in order of my semi-deluded predicted order of finish.

NL North
Cincinnati
What we know: Easily the NL's best pitching staff is tuned up and ready for 2008. And, the offense seems recharged.

What we don't know: If they have gelled enough to make the next step in the playoffs.
 
Burlington
What we know: jjirish took $10 million off its payroll, which immediately signals "rebuild."

What we don't know: The regulars look strong in camp. Will that translate into regular season success.

Columbus
What we know: Pretty much the same team as last year, although they are clearing out some salary right now, presumably to build for season three.

What else we know: Give them two season because, right now, Cinci owns this division.

Chicago
What we know: Even in pretend baseball, Chicago gets slapped around. They seem to have a lot of good parts, but it just didn't click last year.

What we don't know: Health. Jack Pulsipher has already gone down this spring and has found himself on the trading block. And all of the pitchers carry # signs, which either means that the GM can't decide between the lesser of evils OR it's going to be a long year with young pitching.


NL East
Phila
What we know: Last year, they had a great rotation and won the games on their backs. The pitchers are back.

What else we know: They add a couple of new bullets to the chamber in Jerome Clontz and Lefty Hodges.

Washington
What we know: They've hit 34 home runs in spring training. Their pitchers have given up 26.

Buffalo
What we know: They peeled $16m off their player budget and enter the season with a $20m prospect line. See also, "Future, Building for the".

What we don't know: How competitive they will be and whether the farm replaces the fire power lost during free agency.

Charlotte
What we know: They cut nearly $20m off their payroll and put it into operations.

What we don't know: If the spring training lineup is any indication of this season's offensive abilities. If it is, they could sustain. If not. Eek.

NL South
Atlanta
What we know: Atlanta was the hottest team in the NL at the end and they made it to the World Series.

What else we know: They increased payroll by nearly $20m.

One other thing we know: The pitching is Cincinnati/Kansas City good.

Santa Fe
What we know: This team has a lot of offensive weapons.

What we don't know: The pitching staff is plodding along at a 5.73 clip. Are they more than Dunwoody-Fultz?

Austin
What we know: The backend of the rotation seems to have issues right now.

What else we know: These guys collapsed at the end of the season and snuck into the playoffs.

What we don't know: Whether the offensive slumber during spring training breaks.

San Juan
What we know: They have a nice little nucleus of power with Timo Phillips, Olmedo Tarasco, Devon Gentry and Efrain Cheng.

What else we know: The pitchers have a team ERA of 16.14 in spring training. Ouch babe.

NL West
Colorado Springs
What we know: This lineup lacked a prolific hitter in season one. They have candidates to take that marquee role.

What we don't know: Who's going to step up? Somebody? Anybody?

Los Angeles
What we know: This team won't finish any lower than second place.

What we don't know: The tools are there to jump ahead, but can the hitters make it happen?

Portland/San Francisco

What we know: These two teams are basically the same. They are biding time, racing for 120 losses this season, only to emerge as 110-game winners in seasons 4 and 5.

What we don't know: How many international prospects they will scoop up? Over/under is (combined) 8.5.

Blogged with the Flock Browser