3.25.2004

Here are my predictions for the National League...

NL East
PHI 95-67 ---
ATL 85-77 10.0
FLA 83-79 12.0
MON 73-89 22.0
NYM 68-94 27.0

NL Central
CHC 98-64 ---
HOU 93-69 5.0 (WC)
STL 81-81 17.0
MIL 73-89 25.0
PIT 72-90 26.0
CIN 67-95 31.0

NL West
LA 86-76 ----
SD 84-78 2.0
SF 82-80 4.0
ARZ 74-88 12.0
COL 70-92 16.0

General Comments...
...I didn't bother to predict the playoffs because, as we have all come to realize, the playoffs in baseball are pretty much a roll of the dice anyway (just ask Billy Beane).
...As much as it pains me to say this, I think the Chicago Cubs are the best team in the National League. With that said, that doesn't mean that they can't completely collapse in the playoffs like they did in Game 6 (props to my man Bartman, and to Alex Gonzalez, Kyle Farnsworth, Dusty Baker and everybody else that contributed to one of the happiest moments of my life).
...I know people have been predicting the demise of Atlanta for at least 5 years now, but I think this is finally the year that it happens.
...Milwaukee finishing fourth in the Central?!?!?! It may look like a home-town pick, but my prediction is based partially on them being better than last season and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh being pretty weak.
...I hate to doubt the Marlins because I jumped on their bandwagon in about mid-June last season, but I just see no way for them to win that division. They'll benefit from having stronger starting pitching (assuming they stay relatively healthy) over the course of the season, but they lost a lot of offense (and defense) with I-Rod and Derek Lee being gone.
...Does anybody really have any idea how the NL West is going to shake out? LA, SD, SF and maybe even ARZ seem like they all have a shot. Each team is solid, but has a glaring weakness (LA's offense, SD's young rotation, SF's back of the rotation and positions like right field and the middle infield).

11:06 PM