2006 National League Baseball Preview

NL East

1- Atlanta Braves (y)
2- New York Mets (x)
3- Philadelphia Phillies
4- Washington Nationals
5- Florida Marlins

NL Central

1- St. Louis Cardinals (y)
2- Milwaukee Brewers
3- Houston Astros
4- Chicago Cubs
5- Cincinnati Reds
6- Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West

1- San Diego Padres (y)
2- Los Angeles Dodgers
3- San Francisco Giants
4- Arizona Diamondbacks
5- Colorado Rockies

(y)= clinched division title
(x)= clinched playoff berth

NLCS: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Mets

World Series: Chicago White Sox over St. Louis Cardinals

MVP: Albert Pujos, St. Louis
Cy Young: Dontrelle Willis, Florida
Manager of Year: Ned Yost, Milwaukee
Rookie of Year: Brian McCann, Atlanta

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Considering the Braves have won an amazing 14 consecutive division crowns, it's all but impossible to pick anyone else to win the NL East. With youngsters Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann in the mix for a full season, I like Atlanta to do it again. (Bobby Cox is a first ballot Hall of Famer, by the way). But the Mets won't make it easy this year . . . With Carlos Delgado and Paul LoDuca added to an already potent lineup and Billy Wagner in to stabilize the ninth, New York should win 90 plus ballgames and make the playoffs. The Phillies will fight their way to another .500 season and a third place finish (all hitting, little pitching) while the Nationals will ride Alfonso Soriano all the way to fourth. The Florida Marlins? Playing out the string in April, folks.

In the Central, you have to like Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals. If Scott Rolen is healthy again, the redbirds should be on their way to another 100 win season for Mr. LaRussa. I'll take the Milwaukee Brewers (everone's trendy pick this year) to play feisty, youthful ball all year long and snare second place, while the Astros and Cubs fight for the middle. These clubs need help from their own: Houston needs Roger Clemens back (maybe in June?) and Chicago needs Mark Prior healthy in the worst of ways. At the bottom, Cincinnati will finish ahead of a hapless Pittsburgh team, but it's hard to imagine either club being all that competitive with their roster makeups.

I'll play it safe in the West and take the Padres to repeat. Too much starting pitching, the great Trevor Hoffman still anchoring the ninth, and a solid lineup to boot . . . But the Dodgers will be more competitive with Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra in the fold (now if only Eric Gagne could get healthy again) and could contend, as could the San Francisco Giants if Mr. Balco---er, Bonds---can refind his stroke and stay on the field. Amazing how much one player can affect one team's expectations, isn't it? Arizona will be a feisty fourth place club if the pitching (El Duque was the "big" pick-up) comes together, while the Rockies are a longshot to do much of anything; I'll take them in fifth.

-JAB