Time to determine the fate of the Senior Circuit. I'm an American League guy and therefore don't have as strong of a pulse on the league without the DH, but I'll prognosticate anyway. I've got the lava lamp going, the incense is lit and I'm in a state of deep meditation. Let's begin.
NL East1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals
The Mets laid low during the Johan Santana sweepstakes this winter and in the end came out victorious. Good thing, because they desperately needed him to stabilize their starting rotation. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran should help the Metropolitans score a ton of runs and if Pedro Martinez is healthy the Mets should make this a season to remember at Shea. Philadelphia's trio of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard also strike fear in the hearts of pitchers, but the key to their success will be determined by the health of their starting staff. Brett Myers will be taking the ball every fifth day after a season in the pen and if Cole Hamels and Kyle Kendrick continue their upward trend the Phils could challenge the Mets to the bitter end. The Braves need Tom Glavine and Mike Hampton to give them something (anything) if they expect to be in the race.
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Chicago Cubs*
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
*
Wild CardThe Brewers made some real strides last year and it could pay dividends this season. Prince Fielder became the youngest player ever to clout 50 homers and 2007 Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun give the Brew Crew a formidable one-two offensive punch. If Ben Sheets stays healthy (a big if) and if Eric Gagne can return to form now that he's back in the National League (another big one), then the Brewers should make the postseason for the first time since 1982. The Cubs went from worst to first last season and the good vibes should continue in Chicago. If new acquisition Kosuke Fukudome is the real deal, the Cubbies offense will make a lot of noise. Carlos Zambrano (when he's on) is one of the best pitchers out there, but the uncertainty in the bullpen will be the reason the Cubs fail to capture back-to-back divisions in 2008. If a closer emerges, then Chicago could be tough to beat. The Cards are rebuilding, but still possess one of the game's greatest hitters in Albert Pujols.
NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. San Diego Padres
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Francisco Giants
The D-Backs shocked baseball fans everywhere by reaching the NLCS last season (along with the eventual League Champion Rockies) and should be even better in 2008. Arizona pulled off a minor coup by bringing in Dan Haren from Oakland and if Randy Johnson is healthy the Snakes could run away with the West. Their offense isn't scary, but they have tremendous upside with players like Justin Upton and Conor Jackson. The Padres should keep Arizona honest all summer with a starting staff headed by Jake Peavey and closer Trevor Hoffman. But San Diego's offense needs someone to complement Adrian Gonzalez in the lineup. Still, if Mark Prior and Randy Wolf can contribute (anything), then the Pades should battle the D-Backs tooth and nail all season. Joe Torre inherits a talented, but injury-prone roster in Los Angeles and will find himself out in the cold come October.
NL Champ: Arizona Diamondbacks
The desert dwellers it will be. I'm gambling on a team without a concrete closer, but I think their 1-2 punch of Dan Haren and Brandon Webb and a scrappy offense gets them to the Dance. But there are no clear-cut favorites in this league and one player's performance on any of the contending teams could make the difference between winning and losing. The season will come down to a series of moments and the team that handles the pressure best will come out on top. OK, time to turn off the lava lamp and put out the incense.
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You should fire your editor and/or proofreader. The National League West was mistakenly labeled AL West.