Best National League Team – Chicago Cubs
Despite their embarrassing first-round exit from the 2008 NLDS, the Cubs remain, at least on paper, the best team in the NL. With the pace of one of the most balanced lineups, the Cubs should once again sweep the Central Division. With Derek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, the resurgent Kosuke Fukudome and the addition of RF Milton Bradley, the Cubs’ lineup is stronger than ever.
Add their balanced lineup with a talented pitching staff that includes starters Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster, combined with a strong, young bullpen, and the Chicago Cubs should be atop the NL when it all clears up. . All they have to do is find a way to stay healthy, which could be a difficult task. After all, this is the Chicago Cubs.
Worst National League Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Frankly, this kit stinks like a rotten banana peel left sitting in a hot car for weeks. Led by opening day starter Paul Maholm, look for the Pirates to once again finish bottom of their division. His strategy of developing young talent like Jason Bey and then trading them off when they get good enough to make decent money doesn’t seem to help his desire to win a lot of games. That is, if that is really your wish in the first place.
Team with the most recovery – St. Louis Cardinals
Despite not having his ace pitcher, Chris Carpenter found a way to win 86 games last season. If Carpenter and the rest of his pitching staff can somehow find a way to stay healthy and RHP Adam Wainwright can get used to the 200-plus innings it usually takes to be a starting pitcher in the MLB, the Cardinals could be a contender. very dangerous. in the Central Division. If you add 1B Albert Pujols and emerging SS Khalil Greene to the mix, the Cardinals could give the Cubs a run for their money this season.
Team to watch: Cincinnati Reds
Step out of local hero Ken Griffey Jr. and into a very good, young core. With the speed of CF Willy Taveras (68 stolen bases in 2008) at the top of their lineup and the expected improvement of young stars Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, the Reds could take a lot of hits on the other Central Division teams. Also, if Aaron Harang can find a way to recapture his form from 2006 and 2007, where he won 16 games, Bronson Arroyo and Edinson Volquez could have a much-needed third member of their pitching rotation with commanding ability. The Reds may not be contending for a division, but they will certainly open a lot of eyes in 2009.
Top 5 young players to watch:
Yovani Gallardo, RHP – Milwaukee Drinks
The best pitching prospect in the Brewers organization, Gallardo has the talent to be dominant in the NL. With a dominant fastball and what is considered the best curveball in all of baseball, he expects him to gain a lot of attention in 2009. Gallardo will start 2009 in the minors, but he won’t be there for long.
Khalil Greene, SS – St. Louis Cardinals
Already considered a solid defensive player, Greene appears poised for a breakout season as a hitter. Greene, who struck out 100 times in 389 at-bats last year, struck out just three times in his first 60 at-bats during spring training and hit .417.
Homer Bailey, RHP – Cincinnati Reds
The top prospect in a very well-formed farm system for the Reds, this could be Bailey’s year. After a terrible time adjusting to the talent and rigors of MLB, Bailey should be able to transition from minor league prospect to major league success in 2009. Bailey had a terrific spring training with a 2.61 ERA in six spring appearances, giving up six runs on 18 hits in 20 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out 20.
Jeff Samardzija, right right – Chicago Cubs
With an often-injured starting corps, the former Notre Dame star may have a chance to shine in 2009. With a commanding fastball and a changeup that can fool even the best hitters, look for Samardzija to emerge as one of the Cubs’ brighter. young stars.
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP – Colorado Rockies
Given the Best Junior Pitcher award in 2008, Chacín has the promise of being a great pitcher. Chacin has mastered his fastball and his changeup and is fully capable of throwing any pitch in any situation. His fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, with a strong sinking action. He uses the same arm action on his changeup as he does on his fastball, which makes those two pitches a very unpleasant combination.
Best manager: Tony La Russa, St. Louis Cardinals
While La Russa may seem a bit odd with his insistence on changing the pitcher’s spot in the lineup, there’s no mistaking La Russa’s experience and expertise. With a much healthier Cardinals team heading into 2009, La Russa could lead the Cardinals to an unlikely spot in the playoffs.
Manager On The Molten Lava – Hot Seat: Jerry Manuel – NY Mets
After shoring up their bullpen and opening up that shiny new ballpark, the Mets enter 2009 with high expectations after a mountain of disappointments in 2007 and 2008. This season, there are simply no more excuses the Mets can offer that will be acceptable to their fans, who are already feeling the pinch of buying overpriced tickets in the midst of a recession. Anything short of a 5-0 start will have Mets fans clamoring for Manuel’s head and anything short of a World Series will have them clamoring for his job. For Jerry Manuel’s sake, they better win now.
April 6, 2009
