Season Preview: For What It's Worth: Part II

National League Central Division

Top of the Heap: This year the Milwaukee Brewers will finish the job and the win the division they led most of the 2007 season, only to crumble and allow the Chicago Cubs to steal the pennant. The Cubbies, however, will make things close. Neither team has an outstanding starting rotation, but both teams have an incredible pitcher on the staff. Carlos Zambrano will take the mound opening day for Chicago, and hopefully, he'll be able to get along with his teammates this season. Milwaukee's Ben Sheets has Cy Young worthy stuff, but if Cy Young were injured half as much as Sheets, the coveted pitching award would have another namesake. The Brewers need Sheets to be at full strength to anchor the pitching staff. In the bullpen, Milwaukee picked up some interesting additions, including the once-fantasy-king-Canadian-closer, Eric Gagne. Back in the day (you know, before all of this steroid testing stuff), this guy was breaking the century mark with his fastball. But he's also had some injury issues, and may have lost his "mojo."

The Brewers' lineup looks to be the toughest 1-8 in the Central Division, again followed closely by the Cubs. The question will be whether the young talent in Milwaukee, like Ryan Braun (NL Rookie of the Year, .324 BA) and Price Fielder (119 RBI, 50 HR) can top or even match what they were able to do in 2007. If they can, they should be able to top the Cubs in the Central Division.

Better Luck Next Year: If Zach Duke and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates proletarian pitching personnel are able to perform to their potential, this prediction may prove perfunctory. In other words, there's a chance the Pirates don't finish at the bottom of the Central Division barrel, but only if their pitching can produce. Even then, I don't think they can really contend. Pittsburgh's front office believes their position players all simultaneously under-performed, and so, saw no reason to make waves in the off-season to bolster their lineup. They could be right, then again, so could I.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It: Here's an early peek at the biggest headline of 2008 for the NL Central. Kosuke Fukudome wins the title of best "rookie" in the National League. I might be way off base on this, but I look for this Japanese power hitter to continue his offensive prowess here in the Big Leagues. He may be a veteran, but since it's his first year in Major League baseball, he'll be eligible for Rookie of the Year. About the only thing that may happen in the Central Division that could top this is the reemergence of a dominant pitching staff in St. Louis. Both Chris Carpenter and Mark Moulder are scheduled to return from injury and/or surgery mid-season. If they are able to recapture their past glory, they could help the Cardinals make a strong push for the division.