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National League
The Reds and Cubs are closely matched, but a late spring trade that landed Walter Davis in Cincy gives the Reds the most balanced offense in the league. Pitchers Grady Ingram and Hank Makris look to challenge Chicago's Randy Liebermann and Adam Sardina as the best duo in the NL. The Dodgers are on the rise while the Pirates and Phillies are just trying to find a formula that will get them back to the top without undergoing a rebuilding process.
1. Reds (88-66, 2nd) - They don't have a premiere slugger but the Reds do have four players who can hit 20 or more homeruns. The key to winning the pennant could be how well the bottom of the rotation fares.
2. Cubs (105-49, 1st) - Chicago did win a franchise record 105 games last year, and they have a strong rotation and a very good bullpen. Bobby Johnson will be hard pressed to come near his career high 46 HR from last year. The team is aging and there is very little help on the farm.
3. Dodgers (79-75, 4th) - There is a lot of good pitching on this team, but the offense needs to mature a little more before being a legitimate challenger for the pennant. They will start a rookie behind the plate, second base is an offensive black hole and younsters Chris Kobeck and Ellie Vancini need more time to develop.
4. Pirates (81-73, 3rd) - They could have one of the better offenses in the league, but pitching is a big question. If those pitchers do well, they could push the top teams.
5. Phillies (72-82, 5th) - Will John Nolting ever be a true ace? After losing 22 games last season, the answer looks like a no. If he did pitch up to expectations, the Phils could have one of the best rotations in the NL. They have an interesting lineup, but there is likely not enough punch. With Lonny Arrendale turning 38 this summer, they will soon be in desperate need of a power hitter.
6. Giants (67-87, 6th) - Pitching could get ugly for the Giants. They will need a lot of help from the offense, and there is plenty of potential for scoring runs, especially with the spring addition of Rex Seelinger from the Cubs. Tom Howard looks washed up and George Petty, Mike Fellner, Ervin Thompson and Nick Pursell are 34, 35, 36 and 37 respectively. On a positive note, fans are excited about the chance to see Cameron Hobbs for an entire season.
7. Braves (65-89, 7th) - They have a potentially solid pitching staff and with the addition of Rudel Dietrich from Cleveland by way of Philadelphia, the offense could surprise. However, more than likely, they will struggle but the battle for 6th place could be fierce.
8. Cardinals (59-95, 8th) - They have fallen a long way, but wise trades could make this the quickest rebuilding project we've ever seen. The farm system looks great, and the team is excited about 20-year-old pitcher Charley Harrington who posted a 2.15 ERA last season in 117 IP. This could be the worst offense in the game, but over the next few years help should be on the way as prospects start rolling in.
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