[Matt from TN]

National League

The Cubs and Dodgers remain atop the league, but slowly each of them are slipping closer to the rest of the pack. For the first time in a long time, they both have some serious concerns. The Cardinals and Giants have the best chance of beating these teams out and breaking the death grip they have held on the NL pennant. Either Brooklyn or Chicago has won the pennant for the past 7 years. If you go back to the Phillies and Braves days of dominance, those 4 teams have won each of the last 16 NL pennants!


1. Dodgers (89-65, 1st) - The way they finished last year hardly inspired confidence in this group. There have been rumblings that manager Carl Sweney may even call it quits. They have very good pitching, but for the first time in many years, they have some offensive holes. Perhaps the biggest question is if Oscar Vancini will bounce back from his lowest average in 7 years and a 26 HR and 26 RBI drop from 1939, or if this was a sign of his declining skills at age 36.

Top Starters:
SP Edwin Impens (18-11, 3.86)
SP Remmy Paul (13-7, 4.25)
SP Frank Smith (23-13, 2.18)

1B Jeff Bundy (.294, 28 HR, 109 RBI)
2B Brad Coffenberger (.311, 77 RBI)
3B Flip DeLeon (.327, 71 RBI)
SS Jonny Perly (.278, 57 RBI, 78 SB)
LF Oscar Vancini (.279, 33 HR, 98 RBI)
RF Jonathan Wright (.293, 13 HR, 75 RBI)

Top Prospects:
C Leroy Daurio (Majors)
SP James Bajofer (A)
1B Dennis Kitterman (A)
3B Paul Varghese (A)


2. Cubs (83-71, 2nd) - They are still anchored by an incredible rotation, but injuries have sabotaged the past 2 seasons. If you go back to their first two WS appearances in 1936-37, injuries hurt them there too. In one of their only relatively injury-free seasons (1938), they won 101 games and the WS. Can their pitchers remain healthy? If not, this offense cannot carry them with so much other talent across the league. Is it a coincidence that this team has not won another pennant since Cookie Parrish's last year before announcing his sudden retirement?

Top Starters:
SP Mike Buntain (17-12, 3.20)
SP Punchy Cote (22-12, 2.58)
SP David Wickersham (12-16, 4.17)
SP Alex Winterhalter (16-9, 3.37)

C Earle Clipp (.268,12 HR, 64 RBI)
1B Dan Troge (.284, 23 HR, 94 RBI)
CF Dave Arkless (.254, 20 HR, 83 RBI)
RF Dewey Mickelsen (.322, 18 HR, 49 RBI in 369 AB)

Top Prospects:
SP Jay Wallsworth (AAA)
CF Chris Hulliberger (A)

3. Cardinals (81-73, 3rd) - This is an exciting young team on the verge of reclaiming the Cardinals' glory of 20 years ago. Their rotation is finally coming around thanks to the late addition of Brett Smith last season. However, the team had to coax Smith to come back after he was on the verge of retiring. He did return, but how comfortable will he be? After spending the past 10 years in Cincinnati, he was noticably uncomfortable in the Cardinals locker room, although it never spilled out onto the field, where he was brilliant.

Top Starters:
SP Abe Dickens (21-11, 3.45)
SP Brett Smith (24-10, 2.98)

C Herman Dunkel (.266, 10 HR, 71 RBI)
2B Joe Christie (.307, 11 HR, 48 RBI in 287 AB)
3B Genarito Nunez (.318, 11 HR, 94 RBI)
LF Phil Starkey (.295, 69 RBI)
CF Morton Chamblee (.307, 18 HR, 94 RBI, 21 SB)

Top Prospects:
2B Edwin Keesaer (Majors)
CF Francis Gilmartin (Majors)
SP Clyde Eakes (A)
SP Roy Wolfe (A)


4. Giants (79-75, 4th) - They have a very good mix of pitching and offensive talent. They should be near the top of the league, but to really contend for the pennant, they need some of their young pitchers to step up and some of their veteran hitters to rebound.

Top Starters:
SP George Cone (18-19, 3.33)
SP Clint Rohm (17-14, 3.46)

C Lloyd Johnson (.217, 19 HR, 70 RBI)
1B Carlos Hulse (.291, 13 HR, 60 RBI)
2B Bobby Martin (.316, 66 RBI)
3B Dale Lamberty (.282, 31 HR, 92 RBI)
CF Froggy Borgert (.234, 31 HR, 102 RBI)

Top Prospects:
SP Jack Schoonover (Majors)
2B Walt Fabbricatore (Majors)
SP Tom Zonneveld (A)
RF Stu Cripps (A)


5. Pirates (70-84, T-6th) - Their offense could be one of the best in the league, and with some pitching help, they could emerge as a surprise contender.

Top Starters:
SP Bill Blakemore (20-18, 3.63)

1B Teddy Plihtov (.323, 47 RBI in 269 AB)
1B Vic Ullom (.326, 11 HR, 50 RBI in 368 AB)
3B Eric Teeuw (.315, 80 RBI)
SS Elmer Menard (.296, 56 RBI in 368 AB)
CF Bud Breckenridge (.321, 18 HR, 92 RBI, 47 SB)
RF Rudy Young (.270, 11 HR, 69 RBI)

Top Prospects:
SP Marvin Herpel (AAA)
SS Russell Kalin (AAA)
1B Ben Giordano (AA)


6. Braves (69-85, 8th) - Last season was a disaster. They finished in last place and fired their manager. They handed over the reigns to respected outfielder George Ward to lead the club as player-manager. This team is better than they showed last season but likely still not good enough to win the pennant.

Top Starters:
SP Elmer Finch (13-12, 2.88)
SP Otto Kahle (21-16, 2.88)

3B Rocky D'Urso (.298, 40 RBI in 255 AB)
RF George Ward (.310, 69 RBI)

Top Prospects:
SP Sonny Faulkner (Majors)
SP Zachariah Smith (Majors)
2B Bonnard Shadle (Majors)
2B John Valcarcel (A)
SS Cutter Brekke (A)


7. Phillies (75-79, 5th) - They have enough talent to keep from embarrassing this franchise's legacy, but most young help is still far, far away.

Top Starters:
SP Randall Bray (14-10, 3.29)
SP Tom Mierhofer (15-17, 3.16)

C Virgil Lusk (.279, 12 HR, 48 RBI in 276 AB)
1B William Suggs (.261, 18 HR, 65 RBI)
2B Augie Cost (.264, 14 HR, 62 RBI)
3B Kid Fite (.269, 14 HR, 60 RBI in 294 AB)

Top Prospects:
1B Lonny Arrendale (A)
1B Bobby Johnson (A)
RF George Petty (A)


8. Reds (70-84, T-6th) - They threw in the towel last season and got some good prospects for Brett Smith. They continue to build an impressive farm system, and their major league team should continue to benefit from it.

Top Starters:
SP Schoolboy Emberling (10-17, 3.69)

1B Hank Faver (.298, 16 HR, 85 RBI)
2B Pee Wee Osborne (.289, 11 HR, 82 RBI)
CF Flint Rutty (.291, 81 RBI)

Top Prospects:
2B Skeeter Schaldemose (Majors)
RF Herman Baily (Majors)
1B Edward Rossi (AAA)
SP Ace Shipley (AA)
SP Gene Masarech (A)
SP Frank Vamos (A)