2011 Major League Baseball Preview Part II: The National League
Written by Josh Katz
National League East Champions: Philadelphia Phillies-On paper, it is nearly impossible to pick against the Phillies in 2011. Not since the Atlanta Braves of the 1990’s have we seen such a lockdown starting rotation, with four potential Cy Young candidates all on the same roster. After stealing Cliff Lee from the clutches of the Yankees and Rangers during free agency, the Phillies have the ability to shut down even the most potent of lineups on any given night. As good as Philadelphia seems at the moment, there are a couple of questions surrounding this ball club. Despite a solid 2010 season, Brad Lidge has been known to implode on occasion, and I believe the Phillies will have to make a move at some point to bolster their bullpen. Also, the departure of Jayson Werth leaves somewhat of a hole in the middle of the lineup. The Phillies will need a big contribution from 23-year-old OF Domonic Brown who is essentially replacing the clutch Werth. Another vital aspect of this Phillies team is the health of both Rollins and Utley, two key components of the lineup who must remain intact in order for Philadelphia to go deep into the postseason. With all of that said, the “four horsemen” should provide enough pitching to wrap up the East with relative ease.
-The NL Central is always a crapshoot, as the Cincinnati Reds proved in 2010. But this season, I believe The Beer Makers will be toasting Miller High Life when it is all said and done. Milwaukee started off their quiet but outstanding offseason by nabbing two terrific starting pitchers in Zach Greinke via Kansas City and Shawn Marcum via Toronto. Add veteran pitcher Randy Wolf to the mix and the Brewers have a solid front three in a division that is basically up for grabs. When you break down the Central, there are only really three teams that can threaten for a division crown. Houston, Pittsburgh and Chicago all stink on dry ice, and the Cardinals took a major blow as they mourn the loss of Ace Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery. While the Reds will be the favorite to repeat as division champs, I have to give the edge the Brewers based on their starting rotation. The Brew Crew will have to play the closer-by-committee card until a 9th inning man emerges, but I get the feeling that fellow Hebrew Ryan Braun and this retooled pitching staff will surprise everyone and win the Central in a close and exciting race.
-The G-Men won the World Series in 2010 the way it is supposed to be done: phenomenal pitching and timely hitting. And also, they hold a special place in my heart for beating the Phillies when no one thought they had a chance. If you can’t tell by now, I thoroughly enjoy watching Philly teams and their fans suffer. It really revs my engine. The Giants are poised for another run at a National League crown, and should win the West the way they did in 2010. The Giants have Freak Timmy Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jon Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner, who each now have a World Series ring and a year more of experience under their young belts. San Francisco’s lineup does worry me a little because of its lack of power, but that did not slow them down last year en route to glory. And they have the real life “Wild Thing” Rick Vaughn in the bullpen in closer Brian Wilson, who is as hilarious as he is solid in the 9th inning. The Giants should runaway and hide with the West by summers’ end.
-I know what you’re thinking Dosers; your boy has completely lost his mind. That very well may be true, but something amazin’ just may happen in northern Queens in 2011. The Mets have had a tumultuous stretch for the last few seasons, complete with collapses, bad contracts and of course this Bernard Madoff mess that has the Met owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon as broke as a graduate student. I feel like I am describing the New York Giants or the New York Knicks, but this time it is a team I have no rooting interest in: The New York Mets. The Mets refusal to purchase free agents without anything besides Groupon this offseason has left them in a compromising spot, but on paper, the Mets lineup when healthy is pretty damn good featuring now healthy Jose Reyes & Carlos Beltran (both playing for new contracts), Jason Bay, David Wright, Angel Pagan and second year players Iike Davis & Josh Thole who are already fan favorites at Citi Field. New York also has a new breed of extraordinary gentleman running the show, with new GM Sandy Alderson, Manager Terry (not Kerry) Collins and his crew of cronies making educated decisions rather than throwing $30 million contracts at the likes of Super-Bums Ollie Perez and Luis Castillo like former GM Omar Minaya did. I understand that the Mets have a suspect starting rotation that will be without ace Johan Santana until who knows when, but they will have K-Rod back in the bullpen, and have added the likes of Chris Young and Chris Capuano to a staff that features Mike Pelfrey and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who had an outstanding 2010. I may be going out on a limb this season, but I believe the Mets will win the National League Wild Card in 2011, and restore some dignity to a franchise that frankly could use some. Remember where you heard it first.
