Power Ranking the National League After MLB's Opening Week

Spring is in the air, and that can only mean one thing. It is officially baseball season.

While the NBA and NHL are gearing up for their playoff runs, the MLB season is just getting underway, making the next few months some of the most exciting of the year.

Today we take a look at baseball's senior circuit, the National League, and how each team has fared so far. While there is still over 150 games remaining in the season for teams to make their place, it's always important to get off to a hot start.

Lets take a look at 2012's inaugural National League power rankings. 

16. San Diego Padres (1-3)

The San Diego Padres were expected by most to finish in last place in the open NL West this season, and early on, they haven't given any reason for people to change that prediction.

San Diego lost their first three games against the Dodgers at home before managing to salvage the fourth game of the series. 

They then lost last night to Arizona, and it doesn't get easier from here. San Diego has two more games against the unbeaten D-Backs before traveling to LA to face the same Dodgers team that just took three of four from them to open the year. 

By the time that series is said and done, the Padres could already be well back in the race in the NL West if they can't generate more offense. 

To sum up their struggles to open the season, the Padres' leading hitter with more than four at bats so far this year is Cameron Maybin. Maybin's average? .238

15. Chicago Cubs (1-4)

The Cubs haven't won a World Series Championship in over 100 years, and it doesn't seem like that will change in 2012.

The Cubs have started the season 1-4, which puts them in last place in the NL Central after losing two of three against the Nationals and two in a row against the Brewers, all at home.

The issue for the Cubs thus far has been their pitching not their offense. Chicago has given up seven runs in three of their four losses so far this season.

14. Colorado Rockies (1-3)

The Rockies have expectations to be in the playoff hunt this season, but it's been a rough start in the team's first four games.

The Rockies have won just one of their opening four and have struggled in every offensive category. Colorado is 26th in runs, 28th in batting average and 30th in runs scored so far this year.

With a lineup that includes Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzales and Todd Helton, you wouldn't expect that trend to continue throughout the season, but so far, the Rockies' bats have been colder then the mountains they represent this April. 

13. Atlanta Braves (1-4)

The Braves (along with the Red Sox) had one of the biggest collapses in Major League history last season, and based on the first five games of the year, they don't seem like they have recovered in 2012. 

Atlanta got swept on the road by the Mets and have split the opening two games in Houston, two teams that were expected to be among the worst in the NL this season.

The Braves are another team who struggled hitting the ball so far this season. Their leading hitter, Martin Prado, is hitting just .250. However, now that they have Chipper Jones back in the lineup, they hope to begin to turn it around before they go on the road to face one the league's best teams, the Brewers.  

12. San Francisco Giants (1-3)

The Giants were another team who got swept in their opening three games of the season, as the D-Backs beat them three times in one run games to open the year.

San Francisco got their first victory after a shutout performance by Barry Zito against Colorado last night, but they already have some ground to make up within the division, as they trail Arizona and LA by three games.

Although the Giants may be low in the rankings right now, due to their solid starting rotation that includes Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, logic says they will be able to get back in the mix very quickly.

11. Philadelphia Phillies (1-3)

Despite their loaded lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies have just not been able to score runs in the first four games of this season. 

The Phillies are 28th in runs and 27th in on-base percentage so far this year. Even in their lone win, the Phillies scored just one run before losing two straight against the Pirates and losing their opener to the Marlins.

Their team batting average is a miserable .198 so far this season, which explains their 1-3 start. 

Like some of the other teams below the top 10 (Atlanta, Colorado and San Francisco), the Phillies have the talent to be a top-five team in the NL by season's end and make it into the playoffs, but for now, they sit out of the top 10 because of their poor performance. 

10. Pittsburgh Pirates (2-2)

The Pirates have struggled to score in their opening four games (which they likely will all season), but a fast start on the mound has propelled them to two wins in their opening four games.

The Pirates took two out of three against the Phillies in the opening series, which was impressive. Pittsburgh got very strong starts from each of their four starters so far, as Erik Bedard, Kevin Correia, Jeff Karstens and James McDonald combined to pitch 25 innings and give up just five earned runs.

That rotation will be key for the Pirates this year, as their offense is really sub-par and they will need to have great pitching performances to win games. 

9. Houston Astros (3-2)

The Astros were expected by many (including myself) to be the worst team in the National League this season. Although they very well might end up there by the end of the season, Houston has gotten off to a decent start in April. 

The 'Stros won three straight games after losing their opener and will have a chance to win their second straight series in the rubber game against Atlanta tonight.

Houston has surprisingly produced in great bunches offensively to open the season. The Astros are fifth in the majors in runs scored and batting average thanks to strong starts by Carlos Lee, Jose Altuve and JD Martinez.

It remains to be seen if the young hitters in the Astros lineup will continue to score runs, but they will need it if Houston wants to contend in the stacked NL Central this season. 

8. Miami Marlins (2-3)

The biggest story around the Marlins right now is what is going on off the field with their manager, Ozzie Guillen, who will miss the next five games after being suspended for comments he made about Fidel Castro. 

Leaving that aside, the Marlins' play on the field has been inconsistent to start the season. The new-look Marlins have all the talent to contend for a pennant this season, but they have seen just two wins in their opening five games.

The Marlins got blanked by Kyle Lhose on Opening Day and then lost two of three to the Reds before beating the Phillies to open their series. 

Miami's stacked lineup will need better contributions from Hanley Ramirez and Gaby Sanchez in the middle of their lineup moving forward. 

7. Cincinnati Reds (3-3)

The Reds have just a 3-3 record to start the year, but they've played extremely well against the Cardinals and Marlins to open the season. 

The Reds have gotten great contributions from Zach Cozart and Jay Bruce, as well as a great start from Jhonny Cueto. 

However, the rest of the Reds starters have let them down this season. Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Homer Bailey all gave up at least three runs in their opening starts. 

6. New York Mets (4-2)

Perhaps the most surprising start in the majors has come from Queens, where the New York Mets started the year 4-0 before losing two straight against the Nationals.

The Mets swept the Braves behind great pitching performances from Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey and Jonathan Niese. 

David Wright came out of the gates scorching before breaking his pinky, and the Mets' patched-together lineup, which includes eight players who came up from their farm system, has been good thus far, but has a long way to go to prove they can play with the big dogs in the NL East. 

5. Washington Nationals (4-2)

The Nationals have the potential to be one of the sleeper teams in the National League this season.

Their lineup is better than you think, especially once they call up Bryce Harper, and their rotation has the potential to be one of the best in the National League behind Stephen Strausburg. 

Washington took two out of three from the Cubs on the road and beat the Mets in today's rubber game thanks to a great pitching performance once again by Strausburg. 

If Washington is going to compete with Miami and Philadelphia in the NL, they'll need the rest of their rotation, including Edwin Jackson and Jordan Zimmerman, to keep them afloat.

4. Milwaukee Brewers (3-2)

Despite losing Prince Fielder in the offseason, the Brewers still will be in the mix all year long in the NL Central. 

The Brew Crew lost two out of three to the Cardinals to open the year, but Milwaukee is still over .500 after winning the first two of their series against the Cubs.

The lineup is more than capable despite losing Fielder, with last year's MVP, Ryan Braun, leading the way. Joining him is Corey Hart, who has come out on fire to open the season, batting .429 with three home runs. They also have Rickie Weeks, Jonathan Lucroy and Aramis Ramirez in the middle to solidify their lineup. 

The Cardinals may still be the favorite, but it would be foolish to forget about the Brewers in the NL Central this season. 

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1)

Perhaps with a new ownership the Dodgers have been re-energized, as they have opened the season 4-1.

LA won three of four against San Diego on the road and then beat the Pirates in their home opener.  There may not be a more talented team in the NL this season. The Dodgers have studs Matt Kemp and Andre Either in the middle of their lineup, as well as perennial Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw leading their pitching staff. 

Los Angeles will have a tough battle all year long with Arizona and possibly San Francisco in the NL West, but there is no reason why they can't be one of the five NL teams in the playoffs this season. 

2. St. Louis Cardinals (5-2)

The defending World Series Champions don't seem to have missed a beat to start this season despite not having Albert Pujols or Tony LaRussa anymore.

The Cardinals offense is absolutely scorching to open the season. St. Louis is first in runs and second in batting average this year.

Despite the two losses to Milwaukee and Cincinnati, St. Louis is in first place in the NL Cental thanks to great contributions by David Freese, Rafeal Furcal and Lane Berkman. 

They also have Adam Wainwright back in their rotation after missing all of last season to join Kyle Lohse and Jamie Garcia in the top of their rotation. 

The Cardinals are just one of those teams who are always good, and this year seems to be no different despite what they lost in the offseason. 

1. Arizona Diamondbacks (4-0)

Despite not having the best roster in the league or the highest payroll, the Arizona Diamondbacks just continue to win games like they did last year. 

Last season, the Diamondbacks came out of nowhere to win the NL West, and they are the only undefeated team remaining in the National League as of April 11. 

The D-Backs impressively swept the Giants to start the year and then followed that up with a win over the Padres.

They don't have spectacular talent, but Arizona is just solid at every position. They also have a great pitching staff that propelled them to the playoffs last year. If they make it again this year, it will be their pitchers who get them there in 2012 as well. 

No team has been more impressive in the opening week for the National League than the Diamondbacks, so they grab the first No. 1 spot in the NL Power Rankings this season.