[FakeLaser]

NL East

1) Philadelphia Phillies
I originally had them 2nd, but as I was looking them over, I realized that they’re a lot more well rounded than the Mets. They aren’t as good offensively, but their starting rotation is far and away better. It’s not like they’re a slouch on offense either, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are beasts. Jimmy Rollins is one of the best leadoff men in baseball and Burrell, Helms, Barajas and Rowand can all hit as well. I really, really like their rotation for some reason. Brett Myers is underrated and I think his troubles are behind him. Freddy Garcia is going to benefit hugely moving to the NL. Jamie Moyer is still a good pitcher and a great clubhouse guy to have. Cole Hamels will be the ace of this staff someday, possibly even this year. He’s one of the best young pitchers in baseball. Jon Lieber and Adam Eaton will fight over the last spot in the rotation, and they’re both certainly viable 5th starters. Solid pen anchored by Tom Gordon, an upper tier closer. Possibly the most well-rounded team in the NL.
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Starting Rotation: 8
Bullpen: 8
Overall: 8

2) New York Mets
Nobody can touch them offensively in the NL, but they don’t have enough pitching. Tom Glavine is their only sure thing this season though, and he’s in his 40s. Who knows when Pedro is going to pitch again? There’s no way in hell El Duque is making it through a full season either, IMO. He’s probably 50, and now has arthritis in his neck and back. Oliver Perez needs to be at least half the pitcher he was in 2004. John Maine should be ok. I wouldn’t count on Jorge Sosa. The bullpen is solid, but the rotation has the potential to be awful, which will kill them. If El Duque makes it through the season, Pedro pitches and Maine and Perez step up they will win the division. It’s just too many if’s to pick them to win it though.
Offense: 9.5
Defense: 6.5
Starting Pitching: 5.5
Bullpen: 8
Overall: 7.3

3) Atlanta Braves
Their biggest strength is their bullpen. Mike Gonzalaz or Rafael Soriano should be taking Bob Wickman’s job sooner rather than later. Brian McCann, Jeff Franoceur and Matt Diaz make up a good young core, surrounded by veterans like the Jones’. The pitching staff is solid but unspectacular, following John Smoltz. The pen is shaping up to be really good. They won’t have enough to contend this year, but soon they could be back on top.
Offense: 7.5
Defense: 7
Starting Pitching: 7
Bullpen: 8
Overall: 7.3

4) Florida Marlins
The team of the future. Another season or two and these guys could win another World Series and then be disbanded and the whole process will start over again. The oldest starter is Miguel Cabrera, I think, and he’s like 25. The pitching staff is tremendous. The team just needs another year or so for seasoning before they become serious contenders. They competed for the wild card last year and will be in the hunt again. I had them in 3rd originally, but I think the departure of Girardi will hurt them somewhat. Give them another year.
Offense: 7
Defense: 7
Starting Pitching: 8.5
Bullpen: 5
Overall: 6.9

5) Washington Nationals
I can’t even express how bad this team is. I’ll be shocked if they win 10 games. Cristian Guzman and Nook Logan will both start and struggle to post a .300 OBP. Nick Johnson will not stay healthy. The only real bright spots are Ryan Zimmerman and Felipe Lopez. Oh yeah, and John Patterson, who is pretty amazing. Their number 2 starter, Tim Redding, has not won a game since 2004. Chad Cordero is a good closer but he’ll probably get 7 save attempts all season.
Offense: 4
Defense: 6
Starting Pitching: 2
Bullpen: 5
Overall: 4.25

NL Central

1) Milwaukee Brewers
This is the division I changed the most. I had the Brew Crew ranked 4th. The more I think about them, the more I think they'll be the surprise team this year. They remind me of the Tigers a year ago. They are my favorite NL team. Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy, Corey Hart, Bill Hall, Chris Capuano… if the Brewers can hold onto these guys for a couple more seasons they can do something. If Ben Sheets is healthy they have one of the nastiest rotations in the NL. Sheets, Capuano, Suppan, Bush, Vargas. Jeff Suppan was a great signing. Dave Bush is the most underrated pitcher in the NL. They have the potential to do great things and in this weak division, they will capitalize. I questioned their bullpen originally but now I think it'll be solid with Cordero and Turnbow anchoring it. It will only take about 85 games to take this one and I, personally, think they have it in them.
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Starting Pitching: 8.5
Bullpen: 8
Overall: 8.1


2) Chicago Cubs *
I’d like to say they’ll win the division, and even though they made some huge signings, I don’t think they’ll be enough to win the division (yet) after winning only 66 games last year. Soriano makes the team a million times better. One of the best offenses in the NL with a healthy Derek Lee, Aramis Ramirez on top of Soriano and some other solid hitters like Mark DeRosa and Cliff Floyd. Zambrano is a beast. Ted Lilly will be a good pitcher now that he’s in the NL. Jason Marquis will still be terrible. I’d rather take my chances with Wade Miller. Rich Hill will be good and who the hell knows what to expect from Prior or Kerry Wood (lengthy DL trips, most likely). Wait ‘til next year.
Offense: 8.5
Defense: 7
Starting Pitching: 7.5
Bullpen: 7
Overall: 7.25

3) St. Louis Cardinals
They suck but not enough to lose to the other teams in the division. The only move they made was signing Adam Kennedy. I originally said they'd be better this year with Wainwright moving to the rotation now that Isringhausen is healthy, but now that I think about it, they lose Wainwright and Looper in the pen and they are now both question marks in the rotation. Horrible way to solve a problem. They should have kept one of either Suppan or Weaver, I hate to say it. Kip Wells is their number 2 starter. Chris Duncan should continue to improve. Jim Edmonds might literally fall apart though. Aging mediocre team that will begin to show its holes.
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Starting Pitching: 6
Bullpen: 5
Overall: 6.75

4) Houston Astros
Very meh team. Berkman and Lee are nice, but they should have kept Aubrey Huff. Biggio is kind of holding them back, but they can't let him go. The rest of the team is mediocre, with the possible exception of Morgan Ensberg, depending on which version shows up. If they had Clemens they’d have a really good rotation, provided Woody Williams isn’t complete garbage. The Jason Jennings deal was pretty dumb, though he’ll be good. It’s the kind of move you make to compete now, which isn’t likely without Clemens. Brad Lidge will determine how good they are. Last year the Astros lost the most games in MLB after leading 7 innings. If they won a few of those games they would have won the division last season. I had them ranked 3rd, but now I'm pushing them back a spot because Lidge has been garbage this spring. Usually, spring training stats don't mean much, but when a closer is terrible for an entire season, then can't get double and triple A guys out in spring training, there is serious cause for concern.
Offense: 7.5
Defense: 6.5
Starting Pitching: 6
Bullpen: 6
Overall: 6.25

5) Pittsburgh Pirates
Well, they’re not going to be as bad as they were last year. Adam LaRoche will compliment Jason Bay well. Freddy Sanchez won the batting title last year and should be solid again. Jose Castillo and Jack Wilson might be the best defensive double play combo in all of baseball (if Castillo starts). Jack Wilson needs to shut up though. Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzellany are all good young arms. Shawn Chacon could be ok. Matt Capps will probably take over as closer at one point. Torres and Marte are solid arms and Dan Kolb could rebound (though I doubt it). They have a decent base to work with. This could be a turnaround year for the Pirates. I have changed my mind and will rank them ahead of the Reds. They played over .500 ball second half last year and have improved the team. They're young and improving. PNC Park may have a decent team one of these days.
Offense: 7
Defense: 8
Starting Pitching: 5.5
Bullpen: 6
Overall: 6.6

6) Cincinnati Reds
Last year’s other surprise team will once again sink to the cellar of the NL Central. Aaron Harang is the man. Bronson Arroyo probably won’t be as good but he’ll be solid. After that it isn’t pretty. Eric Milton is the worst person of all time. The bullpen is a bunch of mediocre arms thrown together with no rhyme or reason. Junior won’t stay healthy. Scott Hatteberg actually starts for the Reds. They did not improve at all.
Offense: 6
Defense: 7
Starting Pitching: 6.75
Bullpen: 4
Overall: 5.9

NL West
1) Los Angeles Dodgers
I agree with SammyG, best staff in the NL, though San Diego and Philly are right behind them. They have solid arms in the pen, Broxton is the man and might take Saito’s job. Gonzo was one of the best pickups in baseball. Juan Pierre costs a lot but he’ll help out. They are a much better team this year than they were last year. They might be the best team in the NL actually.
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Starting Pitching: 9
Bullpen: 8
Overall: 8.25

2) San Diego Padres
Another sick pitching staff. Greg Maddux was one of the best signings of the offseason. He and David Wells will be great mentors for Peavy, Young and Hensley. The bullpen is better than the Dodgers, but they don’t have the offense to compete, especially in Petco. Adrian Gonzalaz could club 30 HR though.
Offense: 6.75
Defense: 6.75
Starting Pitching: 8.75
Bullpen: 8.75
Overall: 7.75

3) Arizona Diamondbacks
They’re a team built for the future which kind of makes the Randy Johnson trade not make much sense. Connor Jackson, Stephen Drew and Chris Young are all going to be great players. Brandon Webb will compete for the Cy Young again and RJ should benefit from the switch to the NL. Doug Davis was a great pickup, he has a lot of potential. The bullpen is decent. They aren’t seasoned enough to compete with the Pads or Dodgers.
Offense: 7
Defense: 7
Starting Pitching: 7.5
Bullpen: 6.5
Overall: 7

4) Colorado Rockies
They’ve got good young bats and a solid vet (Helton) to guide them. Matt Holliday should continue to be one of the best offensive players in the NL. Kaz Matsui does start for the Rockies though, and that is not a good thing. Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis are decent pitchers but it’s pretty much garbage after that. Brian Fuentes is solid, but the rest of the pen sucks. Not enough pitching, plain and simple.
Offense: 8
Defense: 6.75
Starting Pitching: 5
Bullpen: 6.5
Overall: 6.6

5) San Francisco Giants
This team is way too old to stay healthy, and surrounded with too much drama to be any good. They landed Zito, but they lost Jason Schmidt, so it’s not like Zito will improve the team. Matt Cain and Noah Lowry are both solid young arms, they need to step it up. Cain might, Lowry probably won't. Matt Morris and Russ Ortiz need to be halfway decent, and they won’t. It’ll be close between the Giants and the Rockies for last place. Oh yeah, Barry Bonds. Fuck him.
Offense: 6
Defense: 4
Starting Pitching: 7
Bullpen: 5
Overall: 5.5

ALDS
Yankees def. Angels (FINALLY)
Tigers def. Red Sox

NLDS
Phillies def. Brewers
Dodgers def. Cubs

ALCS
Tigers def. Yankees

NLCS
Dodgers def. Phillies

WS
Tigers def. Dodgers

AL MVP: Derek Jeter
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana
NL Cy Young: Carlos Zambrano
AL ROY: Alex Gordon
NL ROY: Kevin Kouzmanoff