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BASEBALL 2008
National League Team Capsules
EAST DIVISION
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
2007: 89-73, 1st
MANAGER: Charlie Manuel
OUTLOOK: The Phillies got a taste of the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, but were swept in the first round by Colorado. A potent offense will score plenty of runs. However, this pitching staff will need every one of those runs. If they stay healthy and pitch to their capabilities, the Phillies could go deep in the playoffs.
LINEUP
| SS Jimmy Rollins |
| CF Shane Victorino |
| 2B Chase Utley |
| 1B Ryan Howard |
| LF Pat Burrell |
| 3B Pedro Feliz |
| RF Geoff Jenkins |
| C Carlos Ruiz |
ROTATION
| RH Brett Myers |
| LH Cole Hamels |
| LH Jamie Moyer |
| RH Kyle Kendrick |
| RH Adam Eaton |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Brad Lidge |
| RH Tom Gordon |
| LH J.C. Romero |
6
Regulars who hit more than 20 homers in `07.
NEW YORK METS
2007: 88-74, 2nd
MANAGER: Willie Randolph
OUTLOOK: The Mets are an NL favorite thanks to the trade for Santana, a two-time Cy Young Award winner. This team was one victory from the 2006 World Series and wants to win now. Delgado, Alou, Martinez and Hernandez have one year left on their contracts. Age and injuries are the biggest threats to a postseason run.
LINEUP
| SS Jose Reyes |
| 2B Luis Castillo |
| 3B David Wright |
| CF Carlos Beltran |
| 1B Carlos Delgado |
| LF Moises Alou |
| RF Ryan Church |
| C Brian Schneider |
ROTATION
| LH Johan Santana |
| RH Pedro Martinez |
| LH Oliver Perez |
| RH John Maine |
| RH Orlando Hernandez |
KEY RELIEVERS
| LH Billy Wagner |
| RH Aaron Heilman |
| LH Scott Schoeneweis |
7
Division lead lost in final 17 games last season.
ATLANTA BRAVES
2007: 84-78, 3rd
MANAGER: Bobby Cox
OUTLOOK: The Braves were eager to improve their rotation after last year's reliance on Hudson and Smoltz. Glavine, soon to be 42, should be an improvement as the No. 3 starter. Atlanta had no trouble scoring runs last season, and if the bullpen comes through, the Braves can challenge for the division title.
LINEUP
| 2B Kelly Johnson |
| SS Yunel Escobar |
| 3B Chipper Jones |
| 1B Mark Teixeira |
| C Brian McCann |
| RF Jeff Francoeur |
| CF Mark Kotsay |
| LF Matt Diaz |
ROTATION
| RH Tim Hudson |
| RH John Smoltz |
| LH Tom Glavine |
| RH Jair Jurrjens |
| LH Mike Hampton |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Rafael Soriano |
| RH Peter Moylan |
| LH Will Ohman |
30
Wins by Hudson and Smoltz last season.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
2007: 73-89, 4th
MANAGER: Manny Acta
OUTLOOK: There's more talent and depth, but not much in the way of significant upgrades. Dukes and Milledge could add excitement to the lineup, but the pitching staff is very similar to last season, which is good news in a strong bullpen but means there are still major questions about an injury-prone rotation.
LINEUP
| SS Cristian Guzman |
| CF Lastings Milledge |
| 3B Ryan Zimmerman |
| 1B Dmitri Young |
| RF Austin Kearns |
| LF Wily Mo Pena |
| C Paul Lo Duca |
| 2B Ronnie Belliard |
ROTATION
| RH Shawn Hill |
| LH Odalis Perez |
| RH Jason Bergmann |
| RH Tim Redding |
| LH Matt Chico |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Chad Cordero |
| RH Jon Rauch |
| LH Ray King |
0
Players who hit 30 home runs last season.
FLORIDA MARLINS
2007: 71-91, 5th
MANAGER: Fredi Gonzalez
OUTLOOK: A new ballpark is finally on the horizon, but owner Jeffrey Loria says there will be no spending spree until the Marlins are in their new home, perhaps in 2011. Another roster purge is likely after this season, when the team's banner rookie class of 2006 becomes eligible for arbitration.
LINEUP
| SS Hanley Ramirez |
| 2B Dan Uggla |
| 1B Mike Jacobs |
| LF Josh Willingham |
| RF Jeremy Hermida |
| CF Cody Ross |
| 3B Jorge Cantu |
| C Mike Rabelo |
ROTATION
| LH Scott Olsen |
| LH Andrew Miller |
| LH Mark Hendrickson |
| RH Ricky Nolasco |
| RH Rick VandenHurk |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Kevin Gregg |
| LH Taylor Tankersley |
| RH Matt Lindstrom |
201
Home runs last year, a team mark.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CHICAGO CUBS
2007: 85-77, 1st
MANAGER: Lou Piniella
OUTLOOK: While the Cubs' top three starters are solid, there are questions surrounding the final two spots. And, can this team avoid another dreadful start after rallying from 81/2 games back in June last season? Even with those uncertainties, the Cubs look like the class of this woeful division.
LINEUP
| 2B Ryan Theriot |
| LF Alfonso Soriano |
| 1B Derrek Lee |
| 3B Aramis Ramirez |
| RF Kosuke Fukudome |
| 2B Mark DeRosa |
| C Geovany Soto |
| CF Felix Pie |
ROTATION
| RH Carlos Zambrano |
| LH Ted Lilly |
| RH Ryan Dempster |
| LH Rich Hill |
| RH Jason Marquis |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Kerry Wood |
| RH Carlos Marmol |
| RH Bob Howry |
.300
Ryan Theriot's average in the leadoff spot last season.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
2007: 83-79, 2nd
MANAGER: Ned Yost
OUTLOOK: The Brewers made the commitment to win, not build, with its free-agent signings and the decision to move Braun to the outfield instead of letting him develop at third base. With Braun batting behind last year's NL home run leader, Fielder, the Brewers have a deep lineup.
LINEUP
| 2B Rickie Weeks |
| CF Mike Cameron |
| 1B Prince Fielder |
| LF Ryan Braun |
| RF Corey Hart |
| 3B Bill Hall |
| SS J.J. Hardy |
| C Jason Kendall |
ROTATION
| RH Ben Sheets |
| RH Jeff Suppan |
| RH Yovani Gallardo |
| RH Claudio Vargas |
| RH Dave Bush |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Eric Gagne |
| RH Derrick Turnbow |
| RH David Riske |
1982
The last time Milwaukee qualified for the postseason.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
2007: 78-84, 3rd
MANAGER: Tony La Russa
OUTLOOK: This is a franchise in flux after consecutive 100-win seasons in 2004 and '05 and a World Series championship in '06. Pujols is still a slugging threat, but the biggest question is whether the patchwork rotation can win enough before Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter return.
LINEUP
| RF Skip Schumaker |
| LF Chris Duncan |
| 1B Albert Pujols |
| 3B Troy Glaus |
| CF Rick Ankiel |
| C Yadier Molina |
| 2B Adam Kennedy |
| SS Cesar Izturis |
ROTATION
| RH Adam Wainwright |
| RH Todd Wellemeyer |
| RH Brad Thompson |
| RH Braden Looper |
| RH Kyle Lohse |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Jason Isringhausen |
| RH Ryan Franklin |
| RH Russ Springer |
1
Regulars who had more than 70 RBIs last season (Pujols, 103).
HOUSTON ASTROS
2007: 73-89, 4th
MANAGER: Cecil Cooper
OUTLOOK: Tejada was the cornerstone of an active offseason. However, behind Oswalt, the rotation remains suspect. Backe returned from Tommy John surgery last year and Williams, 41, was awful most of the spring. If the rotation is stable, this division can be had.
LINEUP
| CF Michael Bourn |
| 2B Kaz Matsui |
| 1B Lance Berkman |
| LF Carlos Lee |
| SS Miguel Tejada |
| RF Hunter Pence |
| 3B Ty Wigginton |
| C J.R. Towles |
ROTATION
| RH Roy Oswalt |
| LH Wandy Rodriguez |
| RH Brandon Backe |
| RH Shawn Chacon |
| RH Woody Williams |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Jose Valverde |
| RH Doug Brocail |
| RH Geoff Geary |
39
Combined victories last season by the projected rotation.
CINCINNATI REDS
2007: 72-90, 5th
MANAGER: Dusty Baker
OUTLOOK: Baker was hired to pull the franchise out of its worst stretch in a half-century: seven straight losing seasons. Baker's biggest challenge will be cobbling a rotation out of a group of youngsters with little major league experience and veterans with mediocre histories.
LINEUP
| CF Corey Patterson |
| 2B Brandon Phillips |
| RF Ken Griffey Jr. |
| LF Adam Dunn |
| 3B Edwin Encarnacion |
| 1B Scott Hatteberg |
| SS Alex Gonzalez |
| C David Ross |
ROTATION
| RH Aaron Harang |
| RH Bronson Arroyo |
| RH Johnny Cueto |
| RH Edinson Volquez |
| RH Josh Fogg |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Francisco Cordero |
| RH David Weathers |
| LH Jeremy Affeldt |
11
Saves last season that required more than an inning, second most in the NL.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
2007: 68-94, 6th
MANAGER: John Russell
OUTLOOK: Despite losing 94 games last season, the Pirates return their entire lineup. If they endure another losing season -- they haven't had a winner since 1992 -- they'll tie the 1933-48 Phillies for the major league record of 16 in a row. New management is promising a turnaround, but how soon?
LINEUP
| CF Nate McLouth |
| SS Jack Wilson |
| 2B Freddy Sanchez |
| LF Jason Bay |
| 1B Adam LaRoche |
| RF Xavier Nady |
| C Ronny Paulino |
| 3B Jose Bautista |
ROTATION
| RH Ian Snell |
| LH Tom Gorzelanny |
| LH Paul Maholm |
| RH Matt Morris |
| LH Zach Duke |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Matt Capps |
| LH Damaso Marte |
| LH John Grabow |
3
Consecutive seasons of at least 94 losses. A fourth would be a franchise record.
WEST DIVISION
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
2007: 90-72, 1st
MANAGER: Bob Melvin
OUTLOOK: With the addition of Haren, and if Johnson stays healthy, Arizona will have one of the most formidable rotations in the game. The bullpen also looks deep, with the addition of Qualls helping to offset the departure of Valverde. The question is the offense. Arizona has to improve to defend its division title.
LINEUP
| CF Chris Young |
| 2B Orlando Hudson |
| 1B Conor Jackson |
| LF Eric Byrnes |
| 3B Mark Reynolds |
| C Chris Snyder |
| RF Justin Upton |
| SS Stephen Drew |
ROTATION
| RH Brandon Webb |
| LH Randy Johnson |
| RH Dan Haren |
| LH Doug Davis |
| RH Micah Owings |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Brandon Lyon |
| RH Tony Pena |
| RH Chad Qualls |
32
One-run games won by Arizona last season.
COLORADO ROCKIES
2007: 90-73, 2nd, NL champion
MANAGER: Clint Hurdle
OUTLOOK: The Rockies opened up the checkbook in the offseason to secure their young nucleus, signing Tulowitzki, Hawpe, Corpas and Cook, plus locking up Holliday with a two-year contract. The team is hoping to show that last season's incredible late-season run was a sign of things to come.
LINEUP
| CF Willy Taveras |
| SS Troy Tulowitzki |
| 1B Todd Helton |
| LF Matt Holliday |
| 3B Garrett Atkins |
| RF Brad Hawpe |
| C Yorvit Torrealba |
| 2B Jayson Nix |
ROTATION
| LH Jeff Francis |
| RH Aaron Cook |
| RH Ubaldo Jimenez |
| LH Mark Redman |
| LH Franklin Morales |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Manny Corpas |
| LH Brian Fuentes |
| RH Matt Herges |
34
Wins in '07 by the projected `08 rotation.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
2007: 89-74, 3rd
MANAGER: Bud Black
OUTLOOK: The Padres have one of the best pitching staffs in the major leagues, but the big question will be whether their popgun offense can keep them in contention again after they fell one win short of making the postseason for the third straight year. A rebound by outfielder Edmonds would be a big help.
LINEUP
| RF Brian Giles |
| 2B Tadahito Iguchi |
| 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff |
| 1B Adrian Gonzalez |
| CF Jim Edmonds |
| SS Khalil Greene |
| C Michael Barrett |
| LF Scott Hairston |
ROTATION
| RH Jake Peavy |
| RH Chris Young |
| RH Greg Maddux |
| LH Randy Wolf |
| RH Justin Germano |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Trevor Hoffman |
| RH Heath Bell |
| RH Cla Meredith |
42
Saves last season by the reliable Hoffman.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
2007: 82-80, 4th
MANAGER: Joe Torre
OUTLOOK: The Dodgers had the NL's best record in mid-July last year and were still in contention until losing 11 of their last 14. The hiring of Torre should stabilize the clubhouse. The Yankees reached the postseason in each of Torre's 12 years, and the Dodgers appear to have a good shot to get there this season.
LINEUP
| LF Juan Pierre |
| SS Rafael Furcal |
| C Russell Martin |
| CF Andruw Jones |
| 2B Jeff Kent |
| 1B James Loney |
| RF Matt Kemp |
| 3B Nomar Garciaparra |
ROTATION
| RH Brad Penny |
| RH Derek Lowe |
| RH Chad Billingsley |
| RH Hiroki Kuroda |
| RH Esteban Loaiza |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Takashi Saito |
| RH Jonathan Broxton |
| LH Joe Beimel |
129
Home runs in `07, 15th in the NL.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
2007: 71-91, 5th
MANAGER: Bruce Bochy
OUTLOOK: The players basked in the beginning of the post-Barry Bonds era, enjoying a clubhouse lacking the media crush his presence drew. A happy clubhouse is one thing, but the Giants appear more likely to be the first team to draw 3 million fans in a 100-loss season than they are to compete in the NL West.
LINEUP
| LF Dave Roberts |
| CF Aaron Rowand |
| RF Randy Winn |
| C Bengie Molina |
| 2B Ray Durham |
| 3B Rich Aurilia |
| 1B Dan Ortmeier |
| SS Omar Vizquel |
ROTATION
| LH Barry Zito |
| RH Matt Cain |
| RH Tim Lincecum |
| RH Kevin Correia |
| LH Jonathan Sanchez |
KEY RELIEVERS
| RH Brian Wilson |
| RH Tyler Walker |
| LH Jack Taschner |
0
Players with 30 HRs or 100 RBIs lin '07.
