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No team endured a heavier emotional burden last season than the Cardinals, who played through the deaths of Darryl Kile, revered even more as a teammate than as a pitcher, and legendary broadcaster Jack Buck, and somehow managed to win 26 of their ??last 33 games to win the division. Cards are worried about closer Jason Isringhausen, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and La Russa may use a catcher, Marrero, in right field until J.D. Drew recovers from knee surgery. But with four Gold Glovers and a potent lineup led by Pujols that will have Rolen for a full season, this may be the team to beat.
The Astros were a sub-.500 team until early July, then went 36-20 in July and August to climb into contention for a late fade. No NL manager went to his bulpen more than Williams (480 relief appearances), who has great late-inning relief in Billy Wagner and Octavio Dotel to support aces Oswalt and Miller. Astros surprised by outbidding the Red Sox for Kent, whose arrival led to the spring's biggest experiment, moving 37-year-old Biggio to center field. So far, a cautious OK; Biggio says it's easier to move to the outfield than his last move, from catcher to second base. Hidalgo hasn't come close to earning his four-year, $32 million deal.
How can the Red Sox be playing the NL Central in interleague play and not meet the Cubs, setting up a dream matchup of 1918 vs. 1908? ``My name is Dusty, not Messiah,'' Baker said upon being hired, but the three-time NL manager of the year is facing great expectations. Baker has potentially the best collection of young arms in the league in Wood, Clement, Prior, Juan Cruz, and Zambrano, but closer Antonio Alfonseca will miss at least a month, the Cubs are still looking for a third baseman, and Sosa needs more help than he'll get from this lineup.
The Reds move into a new ballpark with their marquee attraction, Griffey, showing signs this spring that he is ready for a monster year after injuries limited him to just 181 games the last two seasons. Rookie Larson joins a lineup already loaded with quality young hitters such as Dunn, Kearns, and Casey (recovered from a torn shoulder muscle), but even a rejuvenated Junior can't compensate for a starting rotation painfully short of talent. Clock is ticking for Weston's Jim Bowden, the Reds' embattled GM.
Pirates shaved nearly a full run off team ERA last season (from 5.05 to 4.23) but need a big upgrade from an offense that last season ranked last in the league in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage (tied). Maine native Dave Littlefield made Lofton a mid-March signing to play CF, and 3B Ramirez, who hurt an ankle in a brawl last season with Milwaukee P Ben Sheets and was a disappointment, is still just 24 and showing signs he'll help a lineup that depends too much on Giles and Kendall. Reese, who was Sox property for about a day, helped Pirates turn a major league-leading 177 DPs.
It can't get any worse for the Brewers, who lost 106 games for a 10th straight losing season, fired two managers (Davey Lopes and Jerry Royster), and replaced GM Dean Taylor with Doug Melvin, who served the Sox ably as a consultant after failing to get enough credit for building Rangers' farm system. Melvin and his new manager, the Bobby Cox-trained Yost, have an even more daunting task here, where the Brewers have given fans little reason to visit Miller Park (67-95 in their new digs in the first two seasons). SS Clayton and 3B Helms give the club a new left side of the infield.