Breaking Down The MLB's National League

I decided to knock out the National League Edition of my MLB rankings today, because I realize my whirlwind travels from New York to watch the Cubs and Yankees open up New Yankee Stadium, then to Houston for Wrestlemania 25, leave me sadly lacking for time this weekend.

Again, I feel the need to point out that, as insightful as I'm about to be, this is only an article of an opinionated nature. No one is perfect at predicting anything, let alone how 30 teams and a minimum of 750 players will do throughout a 162-game season, but I can try, just as the thousands of other writers, players, fans, and everyone else can.

Let us start with the NL East.

1. Philadelphia Phillies—The defending World Series champions will have a tough time repeating anything, let alone winning the tough NL East with a young, scrappy Marlins team and a Mets team determined not to choke again.

Armed with three potential MVP candidates in Utley, Rollins, and Howard, and a couple of speed demons on the base paths in Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth, and Joe Blanton looking more and more like a legitimate number two starter, Philadelphia fans will be coming to the stadium longer than most other teams' fans this season.

2. Florida Marlins—Yes, I'm serious, I think Florida finishes ahead of the Mets, not by much, but I think they do. Fredi Gonzalez's young team will surprise a lot of people. Ricky Nolasco will surprise a lot of people (a former Cubs prospect, but so was Josh Hamilton) and get some Cy Young votes. Cameron Maybin is going to be exciting and will almost assuredly will be the NL's ROY this year.

This offense can be great, and probably will have it's kid-glove moments, but all in all this is a team to watch out for.

3. New York Mets—To me, the Mets almost addressed everything they needed to. Fernando Tatis starting doesn't work for me, but neither does Luis Castillo. Highly overrated, vastly under-talented for big city ball playing.

Perez, Pelfrey, and Maine need another year under their belts, while the Marlins have Nolasco, Johnson, Annibal Sanchez, and Andrew Miller, who is going to get better. Miller is a big leftie with promise, and has shown glimpses of a potential 17-game winner.

To me, the Mets just aren't a safe pick. They crumble too quickly, and I won't lay any faith in them until they prove me wrong.

4. Atlanta Braves—Same boat as the Mets. I love Derek Lowe as a player, but Kawakami, Jurrjens, and Vazquez just aren't dependable. I will change this if Tommy Hansens makes a serious go this year, but otherwise, the tools just aren't here anymore.

5. Washington Nationals—Where to start? Pretty much everything except the outfield needs worked on. Willingham, Dukes, and Milledge is a pretty darned good outfield, and Dunn and Zimmerman are two decent corner infielders, but the rest is a mess. Don't worry too much, though. Stephen Strausberg is on his way here before too long, assuming the draft doesn't go completely out of hand.

NL Central

1. Chicago Cubs—The Cubs are set on ending up in the World Series, and this is the year they get there. Too many solid arms and bats to compete with any team in most any offensive category, the Cubs are primed to end up seizing their chance to be the best team in the league, if only for two years out of every 101.

Marmol isn't the closer, for now. He'll be able to come in from the fifth to the eighth, and the only thing holding this team down will be injuries. Otherwise, pencil them in as NL champions.

2. Cincinnati Reds—Their offense is coming around and features Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, and Joey Votto. Volquez, Cueto, Bailey, Harang, and Arroyo have had a year to mesh, and this team could be intriguing come September.

3. St. Louis Cardinals—Will be great next year, it's just not their year.

4. Milwaukee Brewers—Had Sabathia or Sheets stayed, they'd be higher. I just can't see Yovanni Gallardo as a legitimate ace. The upper three teams are built better. Milwaukee simply missed its window.

5. Houston Astros—Too old, too many good teams in the division.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates—Hey, these are the Pirates we're talking about.

NL West

1. Arizona Diamondbacks—Pretty solid lineup from top to bottom. Throw "Dependable Jon" Jon Garland and Max Scherzer in the mix with Haren and Webb, and that's a team you think will be playing in October.

2. (tie) San Francisco Giants—Personally, I feel like Barry Zito needs to be closing games rather than starting them. Jonathan Sanchez is a dark horse in the rotation, and Johnson, Cain, and Lincecum will get this team back on track. Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa will battle each other for NL ROY honors, and the team will look better.

Los Angeles Dodgers—The pieces are all here. Manny and the boys. I just feel that they suffer some sort of season-altering injury. Assuming there's no big injury, though, look for them to be the clear-cut second place team and the wild card team.

4. Colorado Rockies—It's a case of lack of pitching, and the tools just aren't there. No Matt Holiday means no chances for the Rockies this year.

5. San Diego Padres—Once Jake Peavy gets traded, consider this team the Pittsburgh Pirates of the West.

Awards

ROY—Cameron Maybin, Marlins. Runners up—Travis Ishikawa and Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco.

Cy Young—Brandon Webb, Arizona. Runners up—Johan Santana, NYM, Carlos Zambrano, Chicago, Ricky Nolasco, Florida.

Manager of the Year—Lou Pinella, Chicago. Runners up—Fredi Gonzalez, Florida, Tony LaRussa, St. Louis.

MVP—Hanley Ramirez-Florida. Runners up—David Wright, NYM, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, Philadelphia

Playoffs

Cubs over Marlins

Phillies over Diamondbacks

*Cubs over Philadelphia

AL

Tampa over Los Angeles

Boston over Cleveland 

*Boston over Tampa Bay

Leading to the Cubs over Boston in six games to be World Series champions.