MLB Preview Part One: The National League

What is a baseball blog without a preview of the year ahead, yes? On the heels of the 2011 campaign, here is the first part of my MLB Preview, covering the National League. So, without further ado, here we go.

Jason Heyward looks to improve on a stellar rookie campaign in 2011

NL East – winner: Atlanta Braves

Order of Finish:

1. Atlanta Braves

• This year's team is as good, if not better, than the 90s teams. Freddie Freeman has a bat at first base good enough to win Rookie of the Year, while Jason Heyward will follow his phenomenal rookie year with another strong outing. The Dan Uggla signing immediately made this team a contender, and the pitching is as strong as it's been in years. This is not only going to be an impressive final season for Chipper Jones, it will likely bring an NL Pennant back to the ATL, and possibly even a World Series ring.

2. Philadelphia Phillies

• Remember that Mark Wahlberg movie about the Eagles holding open tryouts? It might come down to that in Philly. Second baseman Chase Utley is out for the year, and possibly his career. Closer Brad Lidge is starting the season on the DL, and ditto for rightfielder Dominic Brown, who took the place of Jayson Werth, who took the money and ran for DC. A weak division is all that keeps Philly in second, but they will likely miss the playoffs.

3. Florida Marlins

• Losing Dan Uggla hurts, but this is still a damn fine team. The 2-3-4 spots are solid with Omar Infante (2B), Hanley Ramirez (SS) and Mike Stanton (RF), while the addition of John Buck behind the plate adds some pop to help recoup the loss of Uggla. Pitching outside of ace Josh Johnson is iffy, though, and will ultimately keep these guys out contention. Steps are being made in the right direction, though, so expect to see Miami in the thick of it in a couple seasons.

4. Washington Nationals

• If Strasburg were healthy, this team would be much higher. Bryce Harper's likely September callup will add some major pop in the outfield, while the signings of Adam LaRoche and Jayson Werth immediately fill the gap created by Adam Dunn's departure. There will be some major offensive fireworks throughout the season with this team, but until the pitching improves (Livan Hernandez and John Lannan are not the answer here), this team is still a couple years from contention.

5. New York Mets

• There aren't many good things to say about this team outside of the much-needed firing of GM Omar Minaya, replaced by Sandy Alderson. Jose Reyes is only getting older and slower, while David Wright is nowhere near the powerhouse he used to be. Jason Bay is overpaid and underperforming in left field, and the bench is full of has-been's and never-were's. RA Dickey is a nice glimmer of light in the rotation, but about all the Mets have to look forward to in 2011 is not being the Pirates.

NL Central – winner: Cincinnati Reds

Last year: the NL Central. This year: the NLCS?

Order of Finish:

1. Cincinnati Reds

• Man, is this team fun to watch, or what? Last year's incredible run to the NL Central title showed the nation what NL Central fans already know: Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Edinson Volquez are all damn good players. There is nothing but upside with this offense, although Scott Rolen isn't getting any younger. The velocity out of young Aroldis Chapman's fastball has brought comparisons to Steve Strasburg, while closer Francisco Cordero is simply dominating. There's no reason this team can't win a second straight Central title.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

• This year's team is as good as it was during the battle with the Cubs for the division in 2008. Once Zack Greinke comes back from the DL, the rotation will be stout, with Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum being solid 2-3 guys. John Axford looks to improve on a surprising rookie season at closer, in which he managed 24 saves, and the lineup is nothing but production. Expect massive numbers out of Prince Fielder in a contract year, while Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee will look to add to their All-Star resumes. If Cincy stumbles, Milwaukee can win the division.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

• Losing Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery is devastating for this team. While Jaime Garcia and Chris Carpenter are bright spots in the rotation, Carpenter's health is a concern. Ryan Franklin has been mulling retirement, which leads some to question his motivation. If the Albert Pujols situation remains a distraction without a resolution, his production may not be enough. Numbers out of the top of the lineup (Ryan Theriot, Lance Berkman, Pujols, and Matt Holliday) will have to be titanic for this team to make any noise in a tough division.

4. Chicago Cubs

• Not their year. The same problems that plagued this team in 2010 (high contracts, low production) will be there in 2011, though the additions of Carlos Pena at first and Matt Garza to the rotation definitely help. Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano continue to be paid too much for their middling production, while Aramis Ramirez continues to be a liability at third. The good news is, second-year players Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro will only improve on monumentally impressive rookie campaigns, and the return of Kerry Wood to the Friendly Confines adds stability and a fan favorite to the bullpen. Getting there.

5. Houston Astros

• They're making progress, and they'll be good eventually, but “competitive” is not a fair description yet. They have arguably the best leadoff man in the majors in centerfielder Michael Bourn, while the addition of Clint Barmes at short helps a shaky infield. Carlos Lee has to recover from a dismal 2010, while Chris Johnson needs to prove his rookie numbers were not a fluke. Pitching is finally what it needs to be with Brett Myers and JA Happ, but there are too many other inconsistencies and simply not enough power.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

• Oh, Jesus. There is virtually nothing to look forward to with this team. A year after 2010, they just hope to avoid another 105-loss season. Andrew McCutchen is a bright spot at the top of the order in centerfield, but this is a team with no stars and little offense. The pitching is dismal, with number-one guy Paul Maholm just hoping to improve on a 9-15 season a year earlier. This squad is a disaster, and there are very few signs of improvement on the horizon.

NL West – winner: San Francisco Giants

NL Wild Card - Colorado Rockies

Order of Finish:

1. 

   A great pitcher, sure. But also the most productive stoner EVER.

   San Francisco Giants

• A year after winning the World Series, the Giants have a squad capable of a repeat. Tim Lincecum is one of the best pitchers in the game, and there is nothing but upside in that offense. Sophomore catcher Buster Posey will only get better after his ROY campaign a year ago, while Andres Torres (CF) and Freddy Sanchez (2B) will be fun at the top of the lineup. Pitching will be dominant out of Lincecum and Matt Cain, but Jon Sanchez has to lower his walks. Brian Wilson is the best closer in baseball right now.

2. Colorado Rockies

• Any other division, they win it easily. Ubaldo Jimenez anchors a dominant rotation that includes Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin. Huston Street is not the answer at closer, but there will be plenty of offense out of recent re-sign Troy Tulowitski, powerful CF Carlos Gonzalez and the speedy Dexter Fowler. Todd Helton is getting old, and likely at the end of his career. The team has the potential to win the wild card, and will be a hell of a lot of fun to watch in 2011.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

• The Dodgers won't compete this year. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great players on this team. Casey Blake is fun to watch, and there will always be immediate production out of Andre Ethier and Marcus Thames. However, Rafael Furcal is a massive injury risk (and there is no immediate answer at short if he goes down) and the rotation is a big question mark outside of Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley. If they don't make a move to firm up the rotation and add a bat, third place may even be wishful thinking.

4. San Diego Padres

• This team is tough to predict, as they are often so Jekyll-and-Hyde. They have solid bats, but losing Adrian Gonzalez is going to hurt a lot. Pitching will be fun to watch out of Mat Latos and Clayton Richard, but there is not much upside with the rest of a shaky rotation. Chase Headley has to start hitting for power for this team to compete, while Jason Bartlett needs to remind everyone why he was an All-Star in 2009. The 2010 campaign with 90 wins and the wild card was a fun story, but don't expect a repeat performance.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

• The definition of rebuilding. This team will be fun to watch in spurts, but there is a lot to fix. Stephen Drew and Justin Upton are productive in the 3-4 holes, while Juan Miranda has upside at first base. Plenty of potential in the rotaiton with Dan Hudson and Joe Saunders, but too many questions otherwise.
  SOURCES: 2011 AthlonSports MLB Preview Issue, MLB.com, ESPN.com, WikiMedia (for pictures).