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The worst fears of St. Louis Cardinals fans could come to fruition on Wednesday as noon that is the deadline that star Albert Pujols and the team have agreed upon for the sides to agree to a contract extension for one of baseball’s best-ever hitters. Nothing by that deadline, which is when the slugger reports for spring training in Florida, and Pujols says he won’t talk about a deal during the season and will become a free agent after the 2011 season.
The 31-year-old Pujols reportedly is seeking a 10-year, $300 million deal; that total value of the contract is more than a few franchises are worth. The Cards reportedly are open to the $30 million a year number but not for that long considering Pujols would be 41 when the deal ends. Pujols received and rejected a contract proposal from St. Louis two weeks ago and there has been no progress in the talks since then, according to ESPN. Pujols originally set a deadline of Tuesday but pushed it back a day to avoid conflict with Cardinals great Stan Musial receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Needless to say, Pujols’ potential free agency would hang over the Cardinals all season.
"This is a spectacular distraction potentially," Manager Tony La Russa said. "We won't allow it to be."
The three-time MVP will make $16 million this season in the final year of his eight-year, $111 million contract. Pujols hit .312 with 42 homers and 118 RBIs last season and has batted .331 and averaged 41 home runs, 123 RBIs and 119 runs scored during a 10-year major league career. His 408 career homers are the most by any player in his first 10 seasons, and he's the only player in history to average at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in his first 10 years.
Can the Cards win the NL Central with a Pujols distraction lingering over them? Bet on St. Louis futures at Bodog Sportsbook
The 31-year-old Pujols reportedly is seeking a 10-year, $300 million deal; that total value of the contract is more than a few franchises are worth. The Cards reportedly are open to the $30 million a year number but not for that long considering Pujols would be 41 when the deal ends. Pujols received and rejected a contract proposal from St. Louis two weeks ago and there has been no progress in the talks since then, according to ESPN. Pujols originally set a deadline of Tuesday but pushed it back a day to avoid conflict with Cardinals great Stan Musial receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Needless to say, Pujols’ potential free agency would hang over the Cardinals all season.
"This is a spectacular distraction potentially," Manager Tony La Russa said. "We won't allow it to be."
The three-time MVP will make $16 million this season in the final year of his eight-year, $111 million contract. Pujols hit .312 with 42 homers and 118 RBIs last season and has batted .331 and averaged 41 home runs, 123 RBIs and 119 runs scored during a 10-year major league career. His 408 career homers are the most by any player in his first 10 seasons, and he's the only player in history to average at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in his first 10 years.
Can the Cards win the NL Central with a Pujols distraction lingering over them? Bet on St. Louis futures at Bodog Sportsbook
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It’s difficult to pinpoint which reports of Albert Pujols contract talks are true, but one thing is certain, both he and the St. Louis Cardinals are still far apart.
Pujols denied reports that the Cards’ offered him $19-20 million per year just a couple of days ago. The latest is that the Cardinals offered Pujols part ownership. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss is reporting that Pujols received an offer for nine-to-10 years at $200 million. However, it still ranks significantly lower than Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million deal.
Strauss adds that once the initial contract offer was rejected, “the deal took several other forms that involved shifting years and salary and apparently even an equity stake in the team.”
It’s difficult to know where the Cardinals will go from here. They don’t have Yankee money, but they don’t have Yankee talent either. Without Pujols there will likely be a fan revolt, but it’s understandable why there are hesitant to give a 31-year-old first baseman a long-term deal in a DH-less National League.
The Cards currently have 20-1 odds to win the Super Bowl in the Bodog Sportsbook, but it’s sure to dip into the hundreds if Pujols gets away for nothing. If the Cards can’t make a deal with their star, a trade for a handful of talent may be the best bet.
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Pujols denied reports that the Cards’ offered him $19-20 million per year just a couple of days ago. The latest is that the Cardinals offered Pujols part ownership. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss is reporting that Pujols received an offer for nine-to-10 years at $200 million. However, it still ranks significantly lower than Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million deal.
Strauss adds that once the initial contract offer was rejected, “the deal took several other forms that involved shifting years and salary and apparently even an equity stake in the team.”
It’s difficult to know where the Cardinals will go from here. They don’t have Yankee money, but they don’t have Yankee talent either. Without Pujols there will likely be a fan revolt, but it’s understandable why there are hesitant to give a 31-year-old first baseman a long-term deal in a DH-less National League.
The Cards currently have 20-1 odds to win the Super Bowl in the Bodog Sportsbook, but it’s sure to dip into the hundreds if Pujols gets away for nothing. If the Cards can’t make a deal with their star, a trade for a handful of talent may be the best bet.
Futures are up for the upcoming MLB season. Be a player and bet on MLB odds.
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The St. Louis Cardinals’ worst fears were confirmed on Thursday when the team announced that, indeed, ace pitcher Adam Wainwright would have to have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and will miss at least the 2011 season.
Already this news has affected Cardinals futures, with St. Louis being raised from 20/1 to 22/1 on Bodog’s 2011 World Series odds (the NL Central rival Brewers’ odds actually lowered to 20/1). And the Cardinals’ win total certainly will be lowered when those are released soon on Bodog.
Wainwright injured the elbow, which has been damaged previously, in spring training on Monday, and the Cards immediately assumed the worst. How good has Wainwright been? In the past two seasons, he led the National League in victories (39), innings (463 1/3) and ERA (2.53) and has had a best-in-baseball 2.74 ERA since May 22, 2007. The Cardinals were 58-29 in his starts the last three seasons, and only 205-194 when he didn't start. Wainwright’s rehab will take anywhere from 12-15 months.
"There's nobody better starting today in either league," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “It's a huge hit.”
This move might force St. Louis to make a trade for an established starter like Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona, but more likely the team will give Kyle McClellan, the team’s top setup man last year, the chance to win the fifth starter’s job even though he never has started in the majors. Other guys with starting experience in camp are 40-year-old Miguel Batista, with 238 career starts but only one in the past two seasons, or Ian Snell. La Russa said there are six or seven internal candidates for Wainwright's spot. The Cards’ first four of Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook were good last year but all have questions and all four have had arm surgery during their careers.
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Already this news has affected Cardinals futures, with St. Louis being raised from 20/1 to 22/1 on Bodog’s 2011 World Series odds (the NL Central rival Brewers’ odds actually lowered to 20/1). And the Cardinals’ win total certainly will be lowered when those are released soon on Bodog.
Wainwright injured the elbow, which has been damaged previously, in spring training on Monday, and the Cards immediately assumed the worst. How good has Wainwright been? In the past two seasons, he led the National League in victories (39), innings (463 1/3) and ERA (2.53) and has had a best-in-baseball 2.74 ERA since May 22, 2007. The Cardinals were 58-29 in his starts the last three seasons, and only 205-194 when he didn't start. Wainwright’s rehab will take anywhere from 12-15 months.
"There's nobody better starting today in either league," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “It's a huge hit.”
This move might force St. Louis to make a trade for an established starter like Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona, but more likely the team will give Kyle McClellan, the team’s top setup man last year, the chance to win the fifth starter’s job even though he never has started in the majors. Other guys with starting experience in camp are 40-year-old Miguel Batista, with 238 career starts but only one in the past two seasons, or Ian Snell. La Russa said there are six or seven internal candidates for Wainwright's spot. The Cards’ first four of Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook were good last year but all have questions and all four have had arm surgery during their careers.
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The St. Louis Cardinals have been the talk of baseball for the past few weeks with spring training now underway. But that talk hasn’t been very positive, as the team couldn’t agree with star Albert Pujols on a contract extension before Pujols’ self-imposed deadline last week. Now his potential free agency will linger over the team for the entire season as St. Louis attempts to reclaim the top spot in the NL Central from the reigning champion Cincinnati Reds. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the team learned this week that ace Adam Wainwright would need Tommy John surgery and would miss the season. That is beyond devastating.
2010 finish: 86-76, second in NL Central (missed playoffs).
Key offseason additions: Lance Berkman, Ryan Theriot, Gerald Laird, Nick Punto, Brian Tallet, Miguel Batista.
Key offseason losses: Brad Penny, Brendan Ryan, Blake Hawksworth, Jason LaRue, Aaron Miles, Randy Winn, Jeff Suppan.
Bodog baseball odds to win World Series: 22/1.
Pujols was said to be looking for a 10-year, $300 million contract. But there have only been eight contracts in history that were even half that large. But you know what you will get with the three-time MVP: He has averaged 41 home runs, 123 RBIs and 119 runs scored during a 10-year major league career, never finishing with worse than a .312 batting average, 32 homers, 103 RBIs or 99 runs in a single year. He’s the only player in history to average at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in his first 10 years.
Perhaps the biggest question about the lineup will be Berkman, a 35-year-old who hasn’t played full time in seven years and struggled big time last year; he’s penciled in as the right fielder. The Cards need him to regain his power stroke to protect Matt Holliday and Pujols. Third base could be a mystery with David Freese, who must come back from surgeries on both ankles and re-establish the promise he showed in the first half of 2010.
The rotation was expected to be a strength before the Wainwright injury. In the past two seasons, he led the National League in victories (39), innings (463 1/3) and ERA (2.53). Wainwright finished second in the NL Cy Young voting last year and third the previous year. Manager Tony La Russa called him the best pitcher in baseball. The team says it will look internally for a replacement, with the leading candidate being stud set-up man Kyle McClellan. The good news for the Cardinals is that Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse — the rest of 2010's season-ending rotation – return, although all four have question marks. The team re-signed Westbrook after acquiring him from Cleveland for the final two months last year. With St. Louis, Westbrook had a 3.48 ERA. The bullpen is set at closer with Ryan Franklin but there are questions elsewhere on that unit, especially if it loses McClellan.
Projected lineup
1 2B Skip Schumaker
2 CF Colby Rasmus
3 1B Albert Pujols
4 LF Matt Holliday
5 RF Lance Berkman
6 3B David Freese
7 C Yadier Molina
8 SS Ryan Theriot
Projected rotation
1 RHP Chris Carpenter
2 LHP Jaime Garcia
3 RHP Jake Westbrook
4 RHP Kyle Lohse
5 RHP Kyle McClellan
CL: Ryan Franklin
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2010 finish: 86-76, second in NL Central (missed playoffs).
Key offseason additions: Lance Berkman, Ryan Theriot, Gerald Laird, Nick Punto, Brian Tallet, Miguel Batista.
Key offseason losses: Brad Penny, Brendan Ryan, Blake Hawksworth, Jason LaRue, Aaron Miles, Randy Winn, Jeff Suppan.
Bodog baseball odds to win World Series: 22/1.
Pujols was said to be looking for a 10-year, $300 million contract. But there have only been eight contracts in history that were even half that large. But you know what you will get with the three-time MVP: He has averaged 41 home runs, 123 RBIs and 119 runs scored during a 10-year major league career, never finishing with worse than a .312 batting average, 32 homers, 103 RBIs or 99 runs in a single year. He’s the only player in history to average at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in his first 10 years.
Perhaps the biggest question about the lineup will be Berkman, a 35-year-old who hasn’t played full time in seven years and struggled big time last year; he’s penciled in as the right fielder. The Cards need him to regain his power stroke to protect Matt Holliday and Pujols. Third base could be a mystery with David Freese, who must come back from surgeries on both ankles and re-establish the promise he showed in the first half of 2010.
The rotation was expected to be a strength before the Wainwright injury. In the past two seasons, he led the National League in victories (39), innings (463 1/3) and ERA (2.53). Wainwright finished second in the NL Cy Young voting last year and third the previous year. Manager Tony La Russa called him the best pitcher in baseball. The team says it will look internally for a replacement, with the leading candidate being stud set-up man Kyle McClellan. The good news for the Cardinals is that Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse — the rest of 2010's season-ending rotation – return, although all four have question marks. The team re-signed Westbrook after acquiring him from Cleveland for the final two months last year. With St. Louis, Westbrook had a 3.48 ERA. The bullpen is set at closer with Ryan Franklin but there are questions elsewhere on that unit, especially if it loses McClellan.
Projected lineup
1 2B Skip Schumaker
2 CF Colby Rasmus
3 1B Albert Pujols
4 LF Matt Holliday
5 RF Lance Berkman
6 3B David Freese
7 C Yadier Molina
8 SS Ryan Theriot
Projected rotation
1 RHP Chris Carpenter
2 LHP Jaime Garcia
3 RHP Jake Westbrook
4 RHP Kyle Lohse
5 RHP Kyle McClellan
CL: Ryan Franklin
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Only because we feel obligated here at the Beat will we give you a preview of the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s hard not to feel sorry for Pirates fans, as this once-proud franchise hasn’t had a record above .500. Will that happen this year? Absolutely no chance. But at least the team has one of the best parks in all of sports, PNC Park.
2010 finish: 57-105, last in NL Central (missed playoffs naturally)
Key offseason additions: Lyle Overbay, Matt Diaz, Kevin Correia, Scott Olsen, Garrett Atkins, Joe Beimel, manager Clint Hurdle.
Key offseason losses: Zach Duke, Lastings Milledge, Chan Ho Park, manager John Russell.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series (ha ha): 200/1 (by far the longest odds on the board)
Perhaps last year was rock bottom as the Pirates lost 105 games, the most for the Pirates since the 1952 team went 42–112. As mentioned above, it was their 18th consecutive losing season, which is by far tops in all of the big four American pro sports. The scary thing is that this team would need to improve by 16 wins just to avoid 90 losses. That ain’t happening either.
If there is a bright side, it’s that the club is in a full youth movement and there are some promising pieces. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen is a potential star, and third baseman should be a good cleanup hitter for the next several years, although he still strikes out way too much. Second baseman Neil Walker and left fielder Jose Tabata both were good in their rookie seasons last year.
The main question in the spring is probably who will win the fifth spot in the rotation. Charlie Morton and Scott Olsen will get the most consideration, but there are plenty of variables that will be taken into consideration. It’s a bit scary the No. 1 guy in the rotation is James McDonald, who was all of 4-6 last year with a 4.02 ERA. McDonald has thrown 140 2/3 innings in his major league career. The closer spot was decided right before the full squad reported, with Joel Hanrahan getting the nod over Evan Meek, a surprise All-Star last year as a set-up man. That’s where he will stay this season.
Last place in the NL Central seems a lock, but things shouldn’t be quite as bad as 2010. Maybe.
Projected lineup
1 CF Andrew McCutchen
2 LF Jose Tabata
3 2B Neil Walker
4 3B Pedro Alvarez
5 1B Lyle Overbay
6 RF Garrett Jones
7 C Chris Snyder
8 SS Ronny Cedeño
Projected rotation
1 RHP James McDonald
2 RHP Kevin Correia
3 LHP Paul Maholm
4 RHP Ross Ohlendorf
5 LHP Scott Olsen
CL: Joel Hanrahan
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2010 finish: 57-105, last in NL Central (missed playoffs naturally)
Key offseason additions: Lyle Overbay, Matt Diaz, Kevin Correia, Scott Olsen, Garrett Atkins, Joe Beimel, manager Clint Hurdle.
Key offseason losses: Zach Duke, Lastings Milledge, Chan Ho Park, manager John Russell.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series (ha ha): 200/1 (by far the longest odds on the board)
Perhaps last year was rock bottom as the Pirates lost 105 games, the most for the Pirates since the 1952 team went 42–112. As mentioned above, it was their 18th consecutive losing season, which is by far tops in all of the big four American pro sports. The scary thing is that this team would need to improve by 16 wins just to avoid 90 losses. That ain’t happening either.
If there is a bright side, it’s that the club is in a full youth movement and there are some promising pieces. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen is a potential star, and third baseman should be a good cleanup hitter for the next several years, although he still strikes out way too much. Second baseman Neil Walker and left fielder Jose Tabata both were good in their rookie seasons last year.
The main question in the spring is probably who will win the fifth spot in the rotation. Charlie Morton and Scott Olsen will get the most consideration, but there are plenty of variables that will be taken into consideration. It’s a bit scary the No. 1 guy in the rotation is James McDonald, who was all of 4-6 last year with a 4.02 ERA. McDonald has thrown 140 2/3 innings in his major league career. The closer spot was decided right before the full squad reported, with Joel Hanrahan getting the nod over Evan Meek, a surprise All-Star last year as a set-up man. That’s where he will stay this season.
Last place in the NL Central seems a lock, but things shouldn’t be quite as bad as 2010. Maybe.
Projected lineup
1 CF Andrew McCutchen
2 LF Jose Tabata
3 2B Neil Walker
4 3B Pedro Alvarez
5 1B Lyle Overbay
6 RF Garrett Jones
7 C Chris Snyder
8 SS Ronny Cedeño
Projected rotation
1 RHP James McDonald
2 RHP Kevin Correia
3 LHP Paul Maholm
4 RHP Ross Ohlendorf
5 LHP Scott Olsen
CL: Joel Hanrahan
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The Houston Astros essentially gave up on 2010 and at least this season when they traded former franchise stalwarts Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman to begin a full-fledged rebuilding process. So really Houston’s success in 2011 won’t be so much determined on wins and losses as much as the progress of some of the team’s top prospects and young established players.
2010 finish: 76-86, fourth in NL Central (missed playoffs)
Key offseason additions: Clint Barmes, Bill Hall, Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Key offseason losses: Matt Lindstrom, Felipe Paulino, Brian Moehler, Geoff Blum.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series: 75/1
Probably the three key players to watch are: first baseman Brett Wallace, who was acquired in a side deal of the Oswalt trade with the Phillies. He needs to prove he’s ready to start every day at first; catcher Jason Castro, a 2008 first-round pick; and third baseman Chris Johnson, who was very good as a rookie, batting a team-best .308 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs.
The outfield should be solid as it includes three former All-Stars — Carlos Lee, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence. Houston would love to trade Lee and his huge contract but won’t find any takers. Lee, 34, is starting to slow down as he hit.246 with 24 homers and 89 RBIs last year. The Astros will have a brand new double-play combination in second baseman Bill Hall and shortstop Clint Barmes. Both have shown they can hit – Houston shortstops and second basemen had just nine combined homers last year and the Astros were near the bottom of the NL in offense — but neither is exactly a Gold Glove player defensively.
The front four of the rotation is set and is solid, with the No. 5 spot up for grabs in the spring. The three likely candidates are Nelson Figueroa, who was good as a starter late last year, Ryan Rowland-Smith, who was terrible with Seattle last year, and top prospect Jordan Myles. At just 20, Myles likely will start the year at Triple-A, however.
This team actually went 59-52 – including 40-33 after the All-Star break — after a 17-34 start. But don’t get illusions about competing for a playoff spot. Contending for the division, much less, the World Series is a pipe dream. But perhaps fourth place in the NL Central is doable.
Projected lineup
1 CF Michael Bourn
2 SS Clint Barmes
3 RF Hunter Pence
4 LF Carlos Lee
5 3B Chris Johnson
6 2B Bill Hall
7 1B Brett Wallace
8 C Jason Castro
Projected rotation
1 RHP Brett Myers
2 LHP Wandy Rodriguez
3 RHP Bud Norris
4 LHP J.A. Happ
5 RHP Nelson Figueroa
CL: Brandon Lyon
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2010 finish: 76-86, fourth in NL Central (missed playoffs)
Key offseason additions: Clint Barmes, Bill Hall, Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Key offseason losses: Matt Lindstrom, Felipe Paulino, Brian Moehler, Geoff Blum.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series: 75/1
Probably the three key players to watch are: first baseman Brett Wallace, who was acquired in a side deal of the Oswalt trade with the Phillies. He needs to prove he’s ready to start every day at first; catcher Jason Castro, a 2008 first-round pick; and third baseman Chris Johnson, who was very good as a rookie, batting a team-best .308 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs.
The outfield should be solid as it includes three former All-Stars — Carlos Lee, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence. Houston would love to trade Lee and his huge contract but won’t find any takers. Lee, 34, is starting to slow down as he hit.246 with 24 homers and 89 RBIs last year. The Astros will have a brand new double-play combination in second baseman Bill Hall and shortstop Clint Barmes. Both have shown they can hit – Houston shortstops and second basemen had just nine combined homers last year and the Astros were near the bottom of the NL in offense — but neither is exactly a Gold Glove player defensively.
The front four of the rotation is set and is solid, with the No. 5 spot up for grabs in the spring. The three likely candidates are Nelson Figueroa, who was good as a starter late last year, Ryan Rowland-Smith, who was terrible with Seattle last year, and top prospect Jordan Myles. At just 20, Myles likely will start the year at Triple-A, however.
This team actually went 59-52 – including 40-33 after the All-Star break — after a 17-34 start. But don’t get illusions about competing for a playoff spot. Contending for the division, much less, the World Series is a pipe dream. But perhaps fourth place in the NL Central is doable.
Projected lineup
1 CF Michael Bourn
2 SS Clint Barmes
3 RF Hunter Pence
4 LF Carlos Lee
5 3B Chris Johnson
6 2B Bill Hall
7 1B Brett Wallace
8 C Jason Castro
Projected rotation
1 RHP Brett Myers
2 LHP Wandy Rodriguez
3 RHP Bud Norris
4 LHP J.A. Happ
5 RHP Nelson Figueroa
CL: Brandon Lyon
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The Cincinnati Reds won the National League Central and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1995 last season. However, the Reds looked a bit like they had stage fright in the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, including getting no-hit in the opening game by Roy Halladay. Can the young, talented Reds take another step in 2011 and contend for the NL pennant or even the World Series?
2010 finish: 91-71, won NL Central (lost to Phillies in NLDS)
Key offseason additions: Edgar Renteria, Fred Lewis, Dontrelle Willis, Jeremy Hermida.
Key offseason losses: Orlando Cabrera, Arthur Rhodes, Aaron Harang, Laynce Nix, Mike Lincoln.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series: 25/1
The Reds didn’t do a whole lot this offseason, instead preferring to lock up players like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto to extensions worth a total of more than $150 million. Votto was the breakout star in baseball last year, winning the NL MVP award. He was a first-time All-Star, finishing second in the NL in batting average at .324 and third in homers (37) and RBIs (113). He led the NL in slugging percentage (.600), topped the major leagues in on-base percentage (.424) and had 16 stolen bases in 21 chances. He’s the Albert Pujols of this team now.
In Votto, Bruce, Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillips, the Reds have a strong core portion of the lineup. Arroyo, Opening Day starter Edinson Volquez and Cueto are a good starting point for a rotation that still lacks a true ace, although either Volquez or Cueto could become one. The battle for the final two spots of the Reds' rotation will be the most compelling storyline of the club's Spring Training. In the bullpen, Francisco Cordero has his shaky moments but still had 40 saves last year. And flame-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman will start as a scary set-up man but could be a closer in waiting if Cordero falters or gets hurt.
This team should be considered the favorite in the NL Central again, especially with the devastating injury to Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright.
Projected lineup
1 CF Drew Stubbs
2 2B Brandon Phillips
3 1B Joey Votto
4 3B Scott Rolen
5 RF Jay Bruce
6 LF Jonny Gomes
7 C Ramon Hernandez
8 SS Paul Janish
Projected rotation
1 RHP Edinson Volquez
2 RHP Bronson Arroyo
3 RHP Johnny Cueto
4 RHP Homer Bailey
5 LHP Travis Wood
CL: Francisco Cordero
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2010 finish: 91-71, won NL Central (lost to Phillies in NLDS)
Key offseason additions: Edgar Renteria, Fred Lewis, Dontrelle Willis, Jeremy Hermida.
Key offseason losses: Orlando Cabrera, Arthur Rhodes, Aaron Harang, Laynce Nix, Mike Lincoln.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series: 25/1
The Reds didn’t do a whole lot this offseason, instead preferring to lock up players like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto to extensions worth a total of more than $150 million. Votto was the breakout star in baseball last year, winning the NL MVP award. He was a first-time All-Star, finishing second in the NL in batting average at .324 and third in homers (37) and RBIs (113). He led the NL in slugging percentage (.600), topped the major leagues in on-base percentage (.424) and had 16 stolen bases in 21 chances. He’s the Albert Pujols of this team now.
In Votto, Bruce, Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillips, the Reds have a strong core portion of the lineup. Arroyo, Opening Day starter Edinson Volquez and Cueto are a good starting point for a rotation that still lacks a true ace, although either Volquez or Cueto could become one. The battle for the final two spots of the Reds' rotation will be the most compelling storyline of the club's Spring Training. In the bullpen, Francisco Cordero has his shaky moments but still had 40 saves last year. And flame-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman will start as a scary set-up man but could be a closer in waiting if Cordero falters or gets hurt.
This team should be considered the favorite in the NL Central again, especially with the devastating injury to Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright.
Projected lineup
1 CF Drew Stubbs
2 2B Brandon Phillips
3 1B Joey Votto
4 3B Scott Rolen
5 RF Jay Bruce
6 LF Jonny Gomes
7 C Ramon Hernandez
8 SS Paul Janish
Projected rotation
1 RHP Edinson Volquez
2 RHP Bronson Arroyo
3 RHP Johnny Cueto
4 RHP Homer Bailey
5 LHP Travis Wood
CL: Francisco Cordero
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Perhaps no team in the National League is more poised to make a big jump forward than the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee added to good starting pitchers in trades from the American League to go with what already was one of the best lineups in the National League.
While the Brew Crew does have young stars like Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks locked up for a few more years, the team felt the need to go for it in 2011 because star first baseman Prince Fielder is set to become a free agent after this season. There’s no way the Brewers can afford his price, so a slow start likely means Fielder will be traded before July’s deadline.
2010 finish: 77-85, third in NL Central (missed playoffs)
Biggest offseason additions: Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Takashi Saito, Yuniesky Betancourt, Sean Green, manager Ron Roenicke.
Biggest offseason losses: Alcides Escobar, David Bush, Carlos Villanueva, Trevor Hoffman, Chris Capuano, Doug Davis, Todd Coffey, manager Ken Macha.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series: 20/1
The big move was the acquisition of Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, from the Royals. Last year the Milwaukee rotation had a worse ERA than every NL team but the sad sack Pirates. Greinke didn’t pitch as well in 2010 as he did in his ’09 Cy Young year and said the losing affected his in-between-starts focus. Greinke was 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA for the Royals last season after going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA in his Cy Young year. It’s unlikely that Greinke matches his 2009 numbers but should improve on his 2010 numbers in the weaker-hitting NL. Marcum started for the Blue Jays on opening day last season and went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA, a year after missing the entire 2009 season. And in 10 of his starts he had to face the powerful Yankees, Red Sox or Rays.
How will John Axford do as a full-time closer? The former independent league pitcher and part-time bartender started last season at Triple-A but eventually earned a shot to take over from Hoffman as Milwaukee's closer. Axford won eight of 10 decisions, saved 24, struck out nearly three times as many batters as he walked and finished with a 2.48 ERA. Was he a one-hit wonder?
With the injury to St. Louis star pitcher Adam Wainwright, the Brewers have to be considered the Cincinnati Reds’ main contender in the NL Central.
Projected lineup
1 2B Rickie Weeks
2 RF Corey Hart
3 LF Ryan Braun
4 1B Prince Fielder
5 3B Casey McGehee
6 SS Yuniesky Betancourt
7 CF Carlos Gomez
8 C Jonathan Lucroy
Projected rotation
1 RHP Zack Greinke
2 RHP Yovani Gallardo
3 LHP Randy Wolf
4 RHP Shaun Marcum
5 LHP Chris Narveson
CL: John Axford
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While the Brew Crew does have young stars like Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks locked up for a few more years, the team felt the need to go for it in 2011 because star first baseman Prince Fielder is set to become a free agent after this season. There’s no way the Brewers can afford his price, so a slow start likely means Fielder will be traded before July’s deadline.
2010 finish: 77-85, third in NL Central (missed playoffs)
Biggest offseason additions: Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Takashi Saito, Yuniesky Betancourt, Sean Green, manager Ron Roenicke.
Biggest offseason losses: Alcides Escobar, David Bush, Carlos Villanueva, Trevor Hoffman, Chris Capuano, Doug Davis, Todd Coffey, manager Ken Macha.
Bodog odds to win 2011 World Series: 20/1
The big move was the acquisition of Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, from the Royals. Last year the Milwaukee rotation had a worse ERA than every NL team but the sad sack Pirates. Greinke didn’t pitch as well in 2010 as he did in his ’09 Cy Young year and said the losing affected his in-between-starts focus. Greinke was 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA for the Royals last season after going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA in his Cy Young year. It’s unlikely that Greinke matches his 2009 numbers but should improve on his 2010 numbers in the weaker-hitting NL. Marcum started for the Blue Jays on opening day last season and went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA, a year after missing the entire 2009 season. And in 10 of his starts he had to face the powerful Yankees, Red Sox or Rays.
How will John Axford do as a full-time closer? The former independent league pitcher and part-time bartender started last season at Triple-A but eventually earned a shot to take over from Hoffman as Milwaukee's closer. Axford won eight of 10 decisions, saved 24, struck out nearly three times as many batters as he walked and finished with a 2.48 ERA. Was he a one-hit wonder?
With the injury to St. Louis star pitcher Adam Wainwright, the Brewers have to be considered the Cincinnati Reds’ main contender in the NL Central.
Projected lineup
1 2B Rickie Weeks
2 RF Corey Hart
3 LF Ryan Braun
4 1B Prince Fielder
5 3B Casey McGehee
6 SS Yuniesky Betancourt
7 CF Carlos Gomez
8 C Jonathan Lucroy
Projected rotation
1 RHP Zack Greinke
2 RHP Yovani Gallardo
3 LHP Randy Wolf
4 RHP Shaun Marcum
5 LHP Chris Narveson
CL: John Axford
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The Rockies were on the fringes of the playoff hunt for a time late last season before fading and losing nine of their final 10 games. A big reason Colorado missed out was because it was 52–29 but a lousy 31–50 on the road, where the Rockies hit just.226. Thus the biggest offseason addition not listed below might be new hitting coach Carney Lansford, who was promoted from Triple-A. The hope is Lansford can get the most out of Seth Smith, Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta, who all struggled last year but thrived under Lansford at Triple-A. Maybe he’ll even help Todd Helton, who had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2010.
2010 finish: 83-79, third in NL West
Key offseason additions: Ty Wigginton, Matt Lindstrom, Jose Lopez, Felipe Paulino.
Key offseason losses: Jeff Francis, Miguel Olivo, Clint Barmes, Melvin Mora, Joe Beimel, Octavio Dotel.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +190
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 12/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 25/1
Bodog over/under win total: 86.5
Colorado didn’t really add too much from outside the organization, with probably the most important piece being the hard-throwing Lindstrom. He will start the season likely as the set-up man but can close if Huston Street gets hurt again. The Rockies’ main objective this offseason was to lock up some key pieces long term and they did: $199 million into long extensions for Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, their two franchise players, and another $32 million to hang onto pitcher Jorge De La Rosa. Tulo and CarGo are likely to be perennial NL MVP candidates and both were in the discussion last year.
As usual, this team will all come down to pitching. Ubaldo Jimenez was unhittable for the first few months but just average the final few. Aaron Cook can’t stay healthy and is inconsistent when he is. De La Rosa has pitched more than 130 innings in the big leagues just once. The back end of the bullpen should be strength with Street, Lindstrom, Rafael Betancourt and Matt Belisle.
The Rockies reached the playoff in the past two odd-numbered years. They could easily make it three.
Projected lineup
1 CF Dexter Fowler
2 RF Seth Smith
3 LF Carlos Gonzalez
4 SS Troy Tulowitzki
5 3B Ian Stewart
6 1B Todd Helton
7 2B Jose Lopez
8 C Chris Iannetta
Projected rotation
1 RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
2 LHP Jorge De La Rosa
3 RHP Aaron Cook
4 RHP Jhoulys Chacin
5 RHP Jason Hammel
CL: Huston Street
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2010 finish: 83-79, third in NL West
Key offseason additions: Ty Wigginton, Matt Lindstrom, Jose Lopez, Felipe Paulino.
Key offseason losses: Jeff Francis, Miguel Olivo, Clint Barmes, Melvin Mora, Joe Beimel, Octavio Dotel.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +190
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 12/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 25/1
Bodog over/under win total: 86.5
Colorado didn’t really add too much from outside the organization, with probably the most important piece being the hard-throwing Lindstrom. He will start the season likely as the set-up man but can close if Huston Street gets hurt again. The Rockies’ main objective this offseason was to lock up some key pieces long term and they did: $199 million into long extensions for Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, their two franchise players, and another $32 million to hang onto pitcher Jorge De La Rosa. Tulo and CarGo are likely to be perennial NL MVP candidates and both were in the discussion last year.
As usual, this team will all come down to pitching. Ubaldo Jimenez was unhittable for the first few months but just average the final few. Aaron Cook can’t stay healthy and is inconsistent when he is. De La Rosa has pitched more than 130 innings in the big leagues just once. The back end of the bullpen should be strength with Street, Lindstrom, Rafael Betancourt and Matt Belisle.
The Rockies reached the playoff in the past two odd-numbered years. They could easily make it three.
Projected lineup
1 CF Dexter Fowler
2 RF Seth Smith
3 LF Carlos Gonzalez
4 SS Troy Tulowitzki
5 3B Ian Stewart
6 1B Todd Helton
7 2B Jose Lopez
8 C Chris Iannetta
Projected rotation
1 RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
2 LHP Jorge De La Rosa
3 RHP Aaron Cook
4 RHP Jhoulys Chacin
5 RHP Jason Hammel
CL: Huston Street
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As recently as 2007 the Arizona Diamondbacks won the NL West, but the franchise pretty much bottomed out again (as it did after winning its one World Series early last decade) last year with an NL-leading 97 losses and finishing 26 games behind the division-winning Giants. Not one of the 20 pitchers who threw for the Diamondbacks in 2008 remains on the team’s roster as it has completed a total overhaul.
2010 finish: 65-97, fifth in NL West
Key offseason additions: J.J. Putz, Zach Duke, Armando Galarraga, David Hernandez, Melvin Mora, Geoff Blum, Juan Miranda, Kam Mickolio, Xavier Nady.
Key offseason losses: Brandon Webb, Adam LaRoche, Mark Reynolds, Rodrigo Lopez, Blaine Boyer, Augie Ojeda.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +1500
Bodog over/under wins total: 72.5
New GM Kevin Towers, who had success in San Diego, has pretty much started over, and that began last summer when he traded pitchers Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson for prospects. Haren brought Joe Saunders and two good prospects from the Angels, and Jackson brought immediate help in the White Sox’s Daniel Hudson, who was 7–1 with a 1.69 ERA after being acquired July 30. He’s probably the ace now. The Snakes also added Putz to close after last year’s bullpen compiled the worst ERA (5.74) in National League history. The team lost a whopping 30 games in which it led or was tied after the sixth inning last year.
The top half of the lineup should be fairly solid, as long as Arizona doesn’t trade its most valuable commodity in outfielder Justin Upton. But teams will continue to ask about him and he would fetch a lot. There won’t be much power in the lineup as Arizona got rid of corner infield starters Reynolds and LaRoche, who combined for 57 homers in 2010. Reynolds brought two young relievers from Baltimore. But now the Snakes might have the worst starting corner infielders in the majors, and you need power from those spots. They won’t get it.
It’s likely to be another long year in the desert – those $100 million payrolls are a thing of the past — but some young pieces are in place at key positions. Maybe new full-time manager Kirk Gibson can get the best out of them.
Projected lineup
1 SS Stephen Drew
2 RF Justin Upton
3 2B Kelly Johnson
4 CF Chris Young
5 C Miguel Montero
6 LF Xavier Nady
7 3B Melvin Mora
8 1B Juan Miranda
Projected rotation
1 RHP Daniel Hudson
2 LHP Joe Saunders
3 RHP Ian Kennedy
4 LHP Zach Duke
5 RHP Armando Galarraga
CL: J.J. Putz
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2010 finish: 65-97, fifth in NL West
Key offseason additions: J.J. Putz, Zach Duke, Armando Galarraga, David Hernandez, Melvin Mora, Geoff Blum, Juan Miranda, Kam Mickolio, Xavier Nady.
Key offseason losses: Brandon Webb, Adam LaRoche, Mark Reynolds, Rodrigo Lopez, Blaine Boyer, Augie Ojeda.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +1500
Bodog over/under wins total: 72.5
New GM Kevin Towers, who had success in San Diego, has pretty much started over, and that began last summer when he traded pitchers Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson for prospects. Haren brought Joe Saunders and two good prospects from the Angels, and Jackson brought immediate help in the White Sox’s Daniel Hudson, who was 7–1 with a 1.69 ERA after being acquired July 30. He’s probably the ace now. The Snakes also added Putz to close after last year’s bullpen compiled the worst ERA (5.74) in National League history. The team lost a whopping 30 games in which it led or was tied after the sixth inning last year.
The top half of the lineup should be fairly solid, as long as Arizona doesn’t trade its most valuable commodity in outfielder Justin Upton. But teams will continue to ask about him and he would fetch a lot. There won’t be much power in the lineup as Arizona got rid of corner infield starters Reynolds and LaRoche, who combined for 57 homers in 2010. Reynolds brought two young relievers from Baltimore. But now the Snakes might have the worst starting corner infielders in the majors, and you need power from those spots. They won’t get it.
It’s likely to be another long year in the desert – those $100 million payrolls are a thing of the past — but some young pieces are in place at key positions. Maybe new full-time manager Kirk Gibson can get the best out of them.
Projected lineup
1 SS Stephen Drew
2 RF Justin Upton
3 2B Kelly Johnson
4 CF Chris Young
5 C Miguel Montero
6 LF Xavier Nady
7 3B Melvin Mora
8 1B Juan Miranda
Projected rotation
1 RHP Daniel Hudson
2 LHP Joe Saunders
3 RHP Ian Kennedy
4 LHP Zach Duke
5 RHP Armando Galarraga
CL: J.J. Putz
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The “Fathers” were looking like the biggest surprise team in baseball last year, leading the NL West for much of the season despite dire projections in 2010. However, the Padres’ frittered away their division lead and needed a sweep of the San Francisco Giants on the season’s final weekend to force a one-game p playoff. San Diego almost did, winning the first two game of the series before being blanked by San Francisco’s Jonathan Sanchez on the final day of the season.
The season marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Padres won at least 90 games in a season, was the first time that they failed to reach the postseason when doing so. But the team had no payroll flexibility for this year and decided to trade franchise player Adrian Gonzalez before he could leave as a free agent, meaning contention this year is going to be much tougher.
2010 finish: 92-72, second in NL West (missed playoffs)
Key offseason additions: Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett, Cameron Maybin, Aaron Harang, Brad Hawpe, Jorge Cantu, Chad Qualls, Dustin Moseley.
Key offseason losses: Adrian Gonzalez, Jon Garland, David Eckstein, Yorvit Torrealba, Ryan Webb, Edward Mujica, Miguel Tejada, Matt Stairs, Chris Young.
Bodog baseball odds to win World Series: 50/1.
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 25/1
Bodog odds to win NL West: +1000
Bodog over/under wins total: 75.5
The good news is that the Padres should be much better defensively up the middle this season with Hudson, Bartlett and Maybin. But Hawpe is going to come near what Gonzalez put up offensively, and even with Gonzo the Pads were one of the worst offensive teams in the majors. Gonzalez was responsible for 16 percent of San Diego’s RBI and 23.5 percent of its HR production last year. San Diego really needs outfielder Ryan Ludwick to bounce back after he was a disaster following a trade from St. Louis.
The Padres won last year on pitching and defense and no doubt will have to again. Ace Mat Latos returns after a brilliant first full season in which he went 14–10 with a 2.92 ERA. He set a big league record by allowing two or fewer runs in 15 straight starts from June 10-Sept. 7. He’ll be followed by lefty Clayton Richard (14-9, 3.75), and then the questions begin. The bullpen is a strength, at least until All-Star closer Heath Bell is traded – and he will be.
The NL West isn’t overpowering so San Diego could hang around the race again this year, but reaching 90 wins seems unlikely.
Projected lineup
1 SS Jason Bartlett
2 2B Orlando Hudson
3 3B Chase Headley
4 LF Ryan Ludwick
5 1B Brad Hawpe
6 RF Will Venable
7 CF Cameron Maybin
8 C Nick Hundley
Projected rotation
1 RHP Mat Latos
2 LHP Clayton Richard
3 RHP Aaron Harang
4 RHP Tim Stauffer
5 LHP Wade LeBlanc
CL: Heath Bell
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The season marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Padres won at least 90 games in a season, was the first time that they failed to reach the postseason when doing so. But the team had no payroll flexibility for this year and decided to trade franchise player Adrian Gonzalez before he could leave as a free agent, meaning contention this year is going to be much tougher.
2010 finish: 92-72, second in NL West (missed playoffs)
Key offseason additions: Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett, Cameron Maybin, Aaron Harang, Brad Hawpe, Jorge Cantu, Chad Qualls, Dustin Moseley.
Key offseason losses: Adrian Gonzalez, Jon Garland, David Eckstein, Yorvit Torrealba, Ryan Webb, Edward Mujica, Miguel Tejada, Matt Stairs, Chris Young.
Bodog baseball odds to win World Series: 50/1.
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 25/1
Bodog odds to win NL West: +1000
Bodog over/under wins total: 75.5
The good news is that the Padres should be much better defensively up the middle this season with Hudson, Bartlett and Maybin. But Hawpe is going to come near what Gonzalez put up offensively, and even with Gonzo the Pads were one of the worst offensive teams in the majors. Gonzalez was responsible for 16 percent of San Diego’s RBI and 23.5 percent of its HR production last year. San Diego really needs outfielder Ryan Ludwick to bounce back after he was a disaster following a trade from St. Louis.
The Padres won last year on pitching and defense and no doubt will have to again. Ace Mat Latos returns after a brilliant first full season in which he went 14–10 with a 2.92 ERA. He set a big league record by allowing two or fewer runs in 15 straight starts from June 10-Sept. 7. He’ll be followed by lefty Clayton Richard (14-9, 3.75), and then the questions begin. The bullpen is a strength, at least until All-Star closer Heath Bell is traded – and he will be.
The NL West isn’t overpowering so San Diego could hang around the race again this year, but reaching 90 wins seems unlikely.
Projected lineup
1 SS Jason Bartlett
2 2B Orlando Hudson
3 3B Chase Headley
4 LF Ryan Ludwick
5 1B Brad Hawpe
6 RF Will Venable
7 CF Cameron Maybin
8 C Nick Hundley
Projected rotation
1 RHP Mat Latos
2 LHP Clayton Richard
3 RHP Aaron Harang
4 RHP Tim Stauffer
5 LHP Wade LeBlanc
CL: Heath Bell
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If you chose the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 preseason as your World Series champions – shoot, even at midseason – then you made some good money at Bodog. Remember that the offensively challenged Giants were mostly an afterthought most of the summer and middling along in the NL West before a late-season surge had them catch and pass the Padres in late September. But it still took a final day 3-0 victory over San Diego – behind five shutout innings from starter Jonathan Sanchez – to capture the Giants’ first division title and playoff berth since 2003. Then of course the team went on to win the first World Series title since the franchise moved west.
2010 finish: 92-70, first in NL West (won World Series)
Key offseason additions: Miguel Tejada, Jeff Suppan, Elmer Dessens.
Key offseason losses: Juan Uribe, Edgar Renteria, Jose Guillen, Chris Ray.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +145
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 13/2
Bodog odds to win World Series: 14/1
Bodog over/under wins total: 88.5
Rarely has a defending World Series champion done so little tinkering in the offseason, but the Giants essentially chose to stay with their core. Renteria was the World Series MVP but isn’t really much of a loss and Tejada is a good stop-gap at shortstop.
Offense is still going to be a problem. The Giants decided to bring back both Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell despite the fact both could well be one-year wonders – Burrell not even a full year as he only landed in San Francisco after the Rays cut him last summer. The Giants are basically counting on a full season of 2010 NL Rookie of the Year Buster Posey, a thinner and thus better Pablo Sandoval and a healthy Mark DeRosa, who missed most of last year. San Francisco also thinks it may have this year’s potential rookie of the year in Brandon Belt. He may start the year in the minors but get an early call-up like Posey did. But the team is hoping he wins the first base job in camp.
But as in 2010, this team is all about its rotation of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner. But all four guys pitched more last year than they ever had. Lincecum’s ERA was almost a full run higher than the previous season. He was a double-digit loser for the first time, but he turned it on in the playoffs. There still might be questions about Sanchez and Bumgarner. Oh, and Barry Zito and his $64.5 million contract will still hold the fifth spot. The back end is in great shape with the eccentric Brian Wilson, who tied a team record with 48 saves last year.
If the Giants’ starting pitchers can stay healthy, even with the iffy offense, the Giants should be the NL West favorites. They don’t seem capable of winning another World Series, but they proved last year that anything can happen in the playoffs.
Projected lineup
1. CF Andres Torres
2. 2B Freddy Sanchez
3. LF Aubrey Huff
4. C Buster Posey
5. 3B Pablo Sandoval
6. SS Miguel Tejada
7. 1B Brandon Belt
8. RF Cody Ross
Projected rotation
1 RHP Tim Lincecum
2 LHP Jonathan Sanchez
3 RHP Matt Cain
4 LHP Barry Zito
5 LHP Madison Bumgarner
CL: Brian Wilson
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2010 finish: 92-70, first in NL West (won World Series)
Key offseason additions: Miguel Tejada, Jeff Suppan, Elmer Dessens.
Key offseason losses: Juan Uribe, Edgar Renteria, Jose Guillen, Chris Ray.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +145
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 13/2
Bodog odds to win World Series: 14/1
Bodog over/under wins total: 88.5
Rarely has a defending World Series champion done so little tinkering in the offseason, but the Giants essentially chose to stay with their core. Renteria was the World Series MVP but isn’t really much of a loss and Tejada is a good stop-gap at shortstop.
Offense is still going to be a problem. The Giants decided to bring back both Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell despite the fact both could well be one-year wonders – Burrell not even a full year as he only landed in San Francisco after the Rays cut him last summer. The Giants are basically counting on a full season of 2010 NL Rookie of the Year Buster Posey, a thinner and thus better Pablo Sandoval and a healthy Mark DeRosa, who missed most of last year. San Francisco also thinks it may have this year’s potential rookie of the year in Brandon Belt. He may start the year in the minors but get an early call-up like Posey did. But the team is hoping he wins the first base job in camp.
But as in 2010, this team is all about its rotation of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner. But all four guys pitched more last year than they ever had. Lincecum’s ERA was almost a full run higher than the previous season. He was a double-digit loser for the first time, but he turned it on in the playoffs. There still might be questions about Sanchez and Bumgarner. Oh, and Barry Zito and his $64.5 million contract will still hold the fifth spot. The back end is in great shape with the eccentric Brian Wilson, who tied a team record with 48 saves last year.
If the Giants’ starting pitchers can stay healthy, even with the iffy offense, the Giants should be the NL West favorites. They don’t seem capable of winning another World Series, but they proved last year that anything can happen in the playoffs.
Projected lineup
1. CF Andres Torres
2. 2B Freddy Sanchez
3. LF Aubrey Huff
4. C Buster Posey
5. 3B Pablo Sandoval
6. SS Miguel Tejada
7. 1B Brandon Belt
8. RF Cody Ross
Projected rotation
1 RHP Tim Lincecum
2 LHP Jonathan Sanchez
3 RHP Matt Cain
4 LHP Barry Zito
5 LHP Madison Bumgarner
CL: Brian Wilson
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When you talk about Washington Nationals futures, you really can’t focus on 2011 but more like 2012 or ’13. The Nats got more publicity than any other last place team in 2010 because of one player: 2009 No.1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg. But then the phenom suffered a significant tear of an elbow ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery. The Nats obviously will be cautious with their franchise pitcher and thus it’s very unlikely he pitches in the majors until 2012.
Speaking of 2012 or ’13, the Nats’ likely franchise position player, 2010 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper, won’t be seen in the majors until then. The slugger is in camp with the team but he’s very raw and will begin the season in low-A ball. He’s at least a year away from playing in the majors and probably. So really 2011 is just about getting a bit better with an eye on a big jump in 2012 and then maybe contention in 2013.
2010 finish: 69-93, fifth in NL East
Key offseason additions: Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche, Tom Gorzelanny, Rick Ankiel, Henry Rodriguez, Todd Coffey, Jerry Hairston Jr.
Key offseason losses: Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Joel Peralta, Miguel Batista, Adam Kennedy, Scott Olsen
Bodog odds to win NL East: +2800 (only the Pirates have longer odds to win a division)
Bodog over/under wins total: 71.5
The Nats stunned the baseball world and sent the salary structure totally out of whack this offseason by signing Phillies free agent outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract. Werth is a fine player who had a .296 average, 27 homers, 85 RBIs and 106 runs scored last year, but he’s no superstar and will be making superstar money. But Nats GM Mike Rizzo admitted he had to overpay to get Werth to come to a losing team. Now Werth joins third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Harper and Strasburg as the players this team will build around. The Nats did lose slugger Adam Dunn, but adding LaRoche makes them much better defensively, and LaRoche can hit a few homers.
It won’t be easy replacing Strasburg in the rotation. In 12 major league starts beginning June 8, Strasburg was 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA. He allowed just 56 hits while walking 17 and striking out a whopping 92 in 68 innings. Washington did chase some big names like Cliff Lee, Matt Garza and Zack Greinke but couldn’t land one. The only starter acquired during the offseason was Tom Gorzelanny, who is average at best. But Rizzo believes Washington's starting staff will get better because Jordan Zimmermann and Jason Marquis are healthy, and John Lannan will be more consistent on the mound.
This team did improve by 10 wins last season but that’s probably aiming to high in 2012. But a five-win improvement is doable.
Projected lineup
1 CF Nyjer Morgan
2 SS Ian Desmond
3 RF Jayson Werth
4 3B Ryan Zimmerman
5 1B Adam LaRoche
6 LF Roger Bernadina
7 C Ivan Rodriguez
8 2B Danny Espinosa
Projected rotation
1 RHP Livan Hernandez
2 RHP Jason Marquis
3 LHP John Lannan
4 RHP Jordan Zimmermann
5 LHP Tom Gorzelanny
CL: Drew Storen
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Speaking of 2012 or ’13, the Nats’ likely franchise position player, 2010 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper, won’t be seen in the majors until then. The slugger is in camp with the team but he’s very raw and will begin the season in low-A ball. He’s at least a year away from playing in the majors and probably. So really 2011 is just about getting a bit better with an eye on a big jump in 2012 and then maybe contention in 2013.
2010 finish: 69-93, fifth in NL East
Key offseason additions: Jayson Werth, Adam LaRoche, Tom Gorzelanny, Rick Ankiel, Henry Rodriguez, Todd Coffey, Jerry Hairston Jr.
Key offseason losses: Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Joel Peralta, Miguel Batista, Adam Kennedy, Scott Olsen
Bodog odds to win NL East: +2800 (only the Pirates have longer odds to win a division)
Bodog over/under wins total: 71.5
The Nats stunned the baseball world and sent the salary structure totally out of whack this offseason by signing Phillies free agent outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract. Werth is a fine player who had a .296 average, 27 homers, 85 RBIs and 106 runs scored last year, but he’s no superstar and will be making superstar money. But Nats GM Mike Rizzo admitted he had to overpay to get Werth to come to a losing team. Now Werth joins third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Harper and Strasburg as the players this team will build around. The Nats did lose slugger Adam Dunn, but adding LaRoche makes them much better defensively, and LaRoche can hit a few homers.
It won’t be easy replacing Strasburg in the rotation. In 12 major league starts beginning June 8, Strasburg was 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA. He allowed just 56 hits while walking 17 and striking out a whopping 92 in 68 innings. Washington did chase some big names like Cliff Lee, Matt Garza and Zack Greinke but couldn’t land one. The only starter acquired during the offseason was Tom Gorzelanny, who is average at best. But Rizzo believes Washington's starting staff will get better because Jordan Zimmermann and Jason Marquis are healthy, and John Lannan will be more consistent on the mound.
This team did improve by 10 wins last season but that’s probably aiming to high in 2012. But a five-win improvement is doable.
Projected lineup
1 CF Nyjer Morgan
2 SS Ian Desmond
3 RF Jayson Werth
4 3B Ryan Zimmerman
5 1B Adam LaRoche
6 LF Roger Bernadina
7 C Ivan Rodriguez
8 2B Danny Espinosa
Projected rotation
1 RHP Livan Hernandez
2 RHP Jason Marquis
3 LHP John Lannan
4 RHP Jordan Zimmermann
5 LHP Tom Gorzelanny
CL: Drew Storen
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The L.A. Dodgers went into 2010 as the NL West favorites to win their third consecutive division title for the first time in franchise history but vastly underachieved. Now they look to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1986-87. But according to MLB-com, the Dodgers usually do rebound, especially when the finish fourth the year before. They finished fourth in '07 and first in '08. They were fourth in '05 and first (tied) in '06. They were fourth in 1993 and first in '94. They were fourth in '87 and not only finished first in '88, but won the World Series.
2010 finish: 80-82, fourth in NL West
Key offseason additions: Jon Garland, Juan Uribe, Matt Guerrier, Marcus Thames, Gabe Kapler, Tony Gwynn Jr., Blake Hawksworth, Ron Mahay, manager Don Mattingly.
Key offseason losses: Russell Martin, Scott Podsednik, Reed Johnson, Brad Ausmus, George Sherrill, Jeff Weaver, Ryan Theriot, manager Joe Torre.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +275
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 16/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 35/1
Bodog over/under win total: 84
All of the talk around the Dodgers this was about money – in that the team didn’t have any as the McCourts battle in divorce court for control of the team. Thus for most of the winter GM Ned Colletti couldn’t do much. No big-name free agents were even targeted, with the Dodgers instead taking fairly inexpensive fliers on the Jon Garlands, Marcus Thames and Juan Uribes of the world. Colletti was able to bring back starters Ted Lilly and Hiroki Kuroda.
Of course this will be the first full season for former Yankee star Don Mattingly managing the Dodgers. He took over for a retired Joe Torre last September. Mattingly has never managed in the bigs other than that stretch. By the way, the Dodgers finished first the last two times they changed managers, in 2006 with Grady Little and in '08 with Joe Torre.
The Dodgers still have some star-caliber players such as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney, Rafael Furcal, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton, but all have performance and or/injury questions still to be answered. Broxton, especially, collapsed in the second half last season, but the closer job is still his to lose. Left field and catcher are major question marks.
This team certainly can contend if the top players all have bounce-back years, but Furcal’s healthy might be the key. He makes this offense go from the top when he’s 100 percent.
Projected lineup
1 SS Rafael Furcal
2 3B Casey Blake
3 RF Andre Ethier
4 CF Matt Kemp
5 1B James Loney
6 2B Juan Uribe
7 LF Jay Gibbons
8 C Rod Barajas
Projected rotation
1 LHP Clayton Kershaw
2 RHP Chad Billingsley
3 LHP Ted Lilly
4 RHP Hiroki Kuroda
5 RHP Jon Garland
CL: Jonathan Broxton
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2010 finish: 80-82, fourth in NL West
Key offseason additions: Jon Garland, Juan Uribe, Matt Guerrier, Marcus Thames, Gabe Kapler, Tony Gwynn Jr., Blake Hawksworth, Ron Mahay, manager Don Mattingly.
Key offseason losses: Russell Martin, Scott Podsednik, Reed Johnson, Brad Ausmus, George Sherrill, Jeff Weaver, Ryan Theriot, manager Joe Torre.
Bodog odds to win NL West: +275
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 16/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 35/1
Bodog over/under win total: 84
All of the talk around the Dodgers this was about money – in that the team didn’t have any as the McCourts battle in divorce court for control of the team. Thus for most of the winter GM Ned Colletti couldn’t do much. No big-name free agents were even targeted, with the Dodgers instead taking fairly inexpensive fliers on the Jon Garlands, Marcus Thames and Juan Uribes of the world. Colletti was able to bring back starters Ted Lilly and Hiroki Kuroda.
Of course this will be the first full season for former Yankee star Don Mattingly managing the Dodgers. He took over for a retired Joe Torre last September. Mattingly has never managed in the bigs other than that stretch. By the way, the Dodgers finished first the last two times they changed managers, in 2006 with Grady Little and in '08 with Joe Torre.
The Dodgers still have some star-caliber players such as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney, Rafael Furcal, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton, but all have performance and or/injury questions still to be answered. Broxton, especially, collapsed in the second half last season, but the closer job is still his to lose. Left field and catcher are major question marks.
This team certainly can contend if the top players all have bounce-back years, but Furcal’s healthy might be the key. He makes this offense go from the top when he’s 100 percent.
Projected lineup
1 SS Rafael Furcal
2 3B Casey Blake
3 RF Andre Ethier
4 CF Matt Kemp
5 1B James Loney
6 2B Juan Uribe
7 LF Jay Gibbons
8 C Rod Barajas
Projected rotation
1 LHP Clayton Kershaw
2 RHP Chad Billingsley
3 LHP Ted Lilly
4 RHP Hiroki Kuroda
5 RHP Jon Garland
CL: Jonathan Broxton
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The Philadelphia Phillies have opened as the Bodog favorites to win the World Series behind their pitching rotation for the ages, but the offense could be an issue if All-Star second baseman Chase Utley isn’t healthy – and right now he isn’t.
Utley has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game because of a right knee injury. The Phils have brushed this off, even thought Utley last weekend got a cortisone shot in the knee for what the team was calling patellar tendinitis. And Utley’s knee did not respond to the shot and the Phillies are now searching for additional options that at this time do not include surgery. At this time being the key phrase.
The Phillies will seek additional medical opinions on Utley's right knee, which is showing the same symptoms related to the issues he experienced last season despite that cortisone shot and receiving the same treatment that had initially alleviated the problem. There is no additional damage in the knee, however, and non-surgical treatment will continue for now.
Utley is suffering from bone inflammation and a condition called chondromalacia that has caused severe pain in his right knee. And for the first time since the Phillies shut him down in February, they did not publicly rule out surgery as an option.
"We're trying to do this non-operatively," GM Ruben Amaro said. "We'd rather not go in there and operate. We are going to try to exhaust all those possibilities.”
Right now the Phillies are only hoping Utley is ready for Opening Day, but the likelihood that he stays behind as the team heads north is looking more and more realistic. Utley, who hits third in the lineup, was limited to a career-low 115 games last season after needing July surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right thumb. He hit .276 with 16 homers and 65 RBIs. Remember that the Phillies already lost a big bat this offseason when Jayson Werth signed with the Washington Nationals. Light-hitting Wilson Valdez would start in Utley’s place.
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Utley has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game because of a right knee injury. The Phils have brushed this off, even thought Utley last weekend got a cortisone shot in the knee for what the team was calling patellar tendinitis. And Utley’s knee did not respond to the shot and the Phillies are now searching for additional options that at this time do not include surgery. At this time being the key phrase.
The Phillies will seek additional medical opinions on Utley's right knee, which is showing the same symptoms related to the issues he experienced last season despite that cortisone shot and receiving the same treatment that had initially alleviated the problem. There is no additional damage in the knee, however, and non-surgical treatment will continue for now.
Utley is suffering from bone inflammation and a condition called chondromalacia that has caused severe pain in his right knee. And for the first time since the Phillies shut him down in February, they did not publicly rule out surgery as an option.
"We're trying to do this non-operatively," GM Ruben Amaro said. "We'd rather not go in there and operate. We are going to try to exhaust all those possibilities.”
Right now the Phillies are only hoping Utley is ready for Opening Day, but the likelihood that he stays behind as the team heads north is looking more and more realistic. Utley, who hits third in the lineup, was limited to a career-low 115 games last season after needing July surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right thumb. He hit .276 with 16 homers and 65 RBIs. Remember that the Phillies already lost a big bat this offseason when Jayson Werth signed with the Washington Nationals. Light-hitting Wilson Valdez would start in Utley’s place.
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Once the Philadelphia Phillies stunned the baseball world by signing free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee to add to an already-stellar top of the rotation in Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, the Phils zoomed past the Boston Red Sox as the 2011 World Series favorites on Bodog. But that’s not to say this spring hasn’t already seen its share of issues, especially one major injury that could derail the Phillies’ chances of winning a fifth straight NL East title.
2010 finish: 97-65, first in NL East (lost on NLCS to Giants)
Key offseason additions: Cliff Lee, Delwyn Young, Eddie Bonine
Key offseason losses: Jayson Werth, Chad Durbin, Jamie Moyer, Greg Dobbs, Mike Sweeney
Bodog odds to win NL East: -350 (biggest division favorite in ML😎
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 8/5
Bodog odds to win World Series: 13/4
Bodog over/under win total: 96.5 (highest in majors)
Injuries have struck the Phils this spring, including to arguably their most indispensable player, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley. He has yet to play this spring and is sidelined indefinitely with what the Phils call mild patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia in his knee. Utley had an MRI exam early this week, which also revealed bone inflammation. The Phillies and Utley are exploring alternative treatments and solutions after a cortisone injection last weekend. Long story short: Utley might have to have surgery that could take away a large chunk of his season. At best, Utley is likely to open the season on the 15-day disabled list, but Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he expects him to play this season. If the Phillies don’t trade for a second baseman, Wilson Valdez would become the starter. In the games Utley missed last year, including the 43 on the sideline with a thumb injury, Phils second basemen hit just .253, scored 18 runs and had 15 RBIs. Since 2005, no second baseman has more home runs (162), extra-base hits (403) or RBI (572) than Utley.
In addition, touted young outfielder Domonic Brown had hand surgery earlier this spring and will also start the year on the DL. The 23-year-old, Philly’s top prospect, was the guy penciled in to replacing Werth, who signed a huge deal with the Nationals this offseason. Even with Werth, the 772 runs the Phillies scored last year were their fewest since 2002. So even with guys like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco, offense might be a bit of a problem this year, especially in the outfield with the big hole left by Werth.
As for the rotation, there is simply no comparison in the majors. Halladay is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, with one in each league. Lee won the 2008 AL Cy Young, and his postseason work the past few years made him the most coveted arm on the free-agent market. Oswalt is a two-time 20-game winner. Hamels was the World Series MVP in '08. Together, this foursome owns 13 top-five finishes in Cy Young voting, three Cy Young Awards, 13 All-Star selections, six 20-win seasons, three postseason MVP awards and a 20–8 postseason record. Even fifth starter Joe Blanton would be a solid No. 3 on many teams. Closer Brad Lidge bounced back from a rough 2009 to convert 27 of 32 save chances in 2010, including 21 of 23 in the second half when he had a 2.10 ERA.
With their rotation, the Phillies are obviously going to be tough to beat. But it doesn’t mean they are invincible. The biggest threat to a fifth straight NL East title and deep postseason run will be health.
Projected lineup
1 SS Jimmy Rollins
2 3B Placido Polanco
3 2B Chase Utley
4 1B Ryan Howard
5 LF Raul Ibanez
6 CF Shane Victorino
7 RF Ben Francisco
8 C Carlos Ruiz
Projected rotation
1 RHP Roy Halladay
2 LHP Cliff Lee
3 RHP Roy Oswalt
4 LHP Cole Hamels
5 RHP Joe Blanton
CL: Brad Lidge
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2010 finish: 97-65, first in NL East (lost on NLCS to Giants)
Key offseason additions: Cliff Lee, Delwyn Young, Eddie Bonine
Key offseason losses: Jayson Werth, Chad Durbin, Jamie Moyer, Greg Dobbs, Mike Sweeney
Bodog odds to win NL East: -350 (biggest division favorite in ML😎
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 8/5
Bodog odds to win World Series: 13/4
Bodog over/under win total: 96.5 (highest in majors)
Injuries have struck the Phils this spring, including to arguably their most indispensable player, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley. He has yet to play this spring and is sidelined indefinitely with what the Phils call mild patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia in his knee. Utley had an MRI exam early this week, which also revealed bone inflammation. The Phillies and Utley are exploring alternative treatments and solutions after a cortisone injection last weekend. Long story short: Utley might have to have surgery that could take away a large chunk of his season. At best, Utley is likely to open the season on the 15-day disabled list, but Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he expects him to play this season. If the Phillies don’t trade for a second baseman, Wilson Valdez would become the starter. In the games Utley missed last year, including the 43 on the sideline with a thumb injury, Phils second basemen hit just .253, scored 18 runs and had 15 RBIs. Since 2005, no second baseman has more home runs (162), extra-base hits (403) or RBI (572) than Utley.
In addition, touted young outfielder Domonic Brown had hand surgery earlier this spring and will also start the year on the DL. The 23-year-old, Philly’s top prospect, was the guy penciled in to replacing Werth, who signed a huge deal with the Nationals this offseason. Even with Werth, the 772 runs the Phillies scored last year were their fewest since 2002. So even with guys like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco, offense might be a bit of a problem this year, especially in the outfield with the big hole left by Werth.
As for the rotation, there is simply no comparison in the majors. Halladay is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, with one in each league. Lee won the 2008 AL Cy Young, and his postseason work the past few years made him the most coveted arm on the free-agent market. Oswalt is a two-time 20-game winner. Hamels was the World Series MVP in '08. Together, this foursome owns 13 top-five finishes in Cy Young voting, three Cy Young Awards, 13 All-Star selections, six 20-win seasons, three postseason MVP awards and a 20–8 postseason record. Even fifth starter Joe Blanton would be a solid No. 3 on many teams. Closer Brad Lidge bounced back from a rough 2009 to convert 27 of 32 save chances in 2010, including 21 of 23 in the second half when he had a 2.10 ERA.
With their rotation, the Phillies are obviously going to be tough to beat. But it doesn’t mean they are invincible. The biggest threat to a fifth straight NL East title and deep postseason run will be health.
Projected lineup
1 SS Jimmy Rollins
2 3B Placido Polanco
3 2B Chase Utley
4 1B Ryan Howard
5 LF Raul Ibanez
6 CF Shane Victorino
7 RF Ben Francisco
8 C Carlos Ruiz
Projected rotation
1 RHP Roy Halladay
2 LHP Cliff Lee
3 RHP Roy Oswalt
4 LHP Cole Hamels
5 RHP Joe Blanton
CL: Brad Lidge
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For the first time since the start of the 1990 season, the Braves begin a year without Bobby Cox in the dugout. Cox finally retired at the end of last year and was replaced by protégé Fredi Gonzalez, who has the young talent on hand to build on last year’s wild-card spot. With the rotation virtually returning intact and a strong bullpen, Atlanta seems set on the mound. And the addition of Dan Uggla, maturation of Jason Heyward and the return to health of Chipper Jones should make the lineup better than it was last year.
2010 finish: 91-71, second in NL East (won wild card)
Key offseason additions: Dan Uggla, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill, Joe Mather, Rodrigo Lopez, manager Fredi Gonzalez
Key offseason losses: Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Troy Glaus, Omar Infante, Matt Diaz, manager Bobby Cox
Bodog odds to win NL East: +425
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 10/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 22/1
Bodog over/under win total: 87.5
One of the biggest trades of the offseason saw Atlanta land Uggla from the division rival Marlins. Uggla helps the Braves have addressed their major offseason need, adding a right-handed power hitter to a lineup that includes lefties Brian McCann, Heyward and the new starting first baseman, rookie Freddie Freeman. Uggla has averaged 31 homers, 100 runs scored and 93 RBIs over his five-year career and he got a new five-year, $62 million extension to ensure he stays in Atlanta. Heyward and Freeman will serve as the first under-22 duo to be in a Braves' Opening Day lineup since Bob Horner and Glenn Hubbard in 1979. Martin Prado will move from second base to left field and could be Gonzalez’s most valuable piece, able to play first or third if Freeman or Jones falter. Still, this offense needs Jones healthy to fill the No. 3 hole and need Nate McLouth to bounce back from a horrific 2010 (.190 average) to spur the lineup from the leadoff hole.
The team’s top four starting pitchers, Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson are all capable of notching 15-win seasons. The fifth spot is a bit of a question mark but likely will be held by Mike Minor, the Braves’ top 2009 draft pick who showed his poise in a late-season call-up before tiring at the end. The relief corps was enhanced during the offseason with the acquisitions of veterans Linebrink and Sherrill.
Is Atlanta better than last year? The Braves are but their record might not improve if only because the Phillies and Marlins also are better. But another wild-card spot is a definite possibility for Atlanta.
Projected lineup
1 LF Martin Prado
2 CF Nate McLouth
3 3B Chipper Jones
4 2B Dan Uggla
5 C Brian McCann
6 RF Jason Heyward
7 SS Alex Gonzalez
8 1B Freddie Freeman
Projected rotation
1 RHP Tim Hudson
2 RHP Derek Lowe
3 RHP Tommy Hanson
4 RHP Jair Jurrjens
5 LHP Mike Minor
CL: Craig Kimbrel
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2010 finish: 91-71, second in NL East (won wild card)
Key offseason additions: Dan Uggla, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill, Joe Mather, Rodrigo Lopez, manager Fredi Gonzalez
Key offseason losses: Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Troy Glaus, Omar Infante, Matt Diaz, manager Bobby Cox
Bodog odds to win NL East: +425
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 10/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 22/1
Bodog over/under win total: 87.5
One of the biggest trades of the offseason saw Atlanta land Uggla from the division rival Marlins. Uggla helps the Braves have addressed their major offseason need, adding a right-handed power hitter to a lineup that includes lefties Brian McCann, Heyward and the new starting first baseman, rookie Freddie Freeman. Uggla has averaged 31 homers, 100 runs scored and 93 RBIs over his five-year career and he got a new five-year, $62 million extension to ensure he stays in Atlanta. Heyward and Freeman will serve as the first under-22 duo to be in a Braves' Opening Day lineup since Bob Horner and Glenn Hubbard in 1979. Martin Prado will move from second base to left field and could be Gonzalez’s most valuable piece, able to play first or third if Freeman or Jones falter. Still, this offense needs Jones healthy to fill the No. 3 hole and need Nate McLouth to bounce back from a horrific 2010 (.190 average) to spur the lineup from the leadoff hole.
The team’s top four starting pitchers, Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson are all capable of notching 15-win seasons. The fifth spot is a bit of a question mark but likely will be held by Mike Minor, the Braves’ top 2009 draft pick who showed his poise in a late-season call-up before tiring at the end. The relief corps was enhanced during the offseason with the acquisitions of veterans Linebrink and Sherrill.
Is Atlanta better than last year? The Braves are but their record might not improve if only because the Phillies and Marlins also are better. But another wild-card spot is a definite possibility for Atlanta.
Projected lineup
1 LF Martin Prado
2 CF Nate McLouth
3 3B Chipper Jones
4 2B Dan Uggla
5 C Brian McCann
6 RF Jason Heyward
7 SS Alex Gonzalez
8 1B Freddie Freeman
Projected rotation
1 RHP Tim Hudson
2 RHP Derek Lowe
3 RHP Tommy Hanson
4 RHP Jair Jurrjens
5 LHP Mike Minor
CL: Craig Kimbrel
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It’s not exactly akin to the Yankees leaving Yankee Stadium for their new park, but 2011 will be the Florida Marlins’ last playing that football stadium that has had dozens of names. And the Fish could make their final season at Sun Life Stadium a successful one as they have several impressive young players who, if things go right, could easily land this club a wild-card berth. And if the Phillies suffer any big injuries, even the NL East is a possibility.
2010 finish: 80-82, third in NL East
Key offseason additions: Javier Vazquez, John Buck, Omar Infante, Edward Mujica, Ryan Webb, Randy Choate, Dustin Richardson
Key offseason losses: Dan Uggla, Cameron Maybin, Ronny Paulino, Jose Veras, Andrew Miller, Will Ohman
Bodog odds to win NL East: +850
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 20/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 40/1
Bodog over/under win total: 82
It’s not too often a team feels better about itself the year after trading its leader in homers, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored and RBIs, but Florida does have dealing second baseman Dan Uggla to the Braves because the team and Uggla couldn’t agree on a long-term extension (he did with Atlanta).
But led by All-Stars Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson, Florida has two franchise-caliber players to build around. Mix in some rising talent in Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison, Gaby Sanchez, Chris Coghlan and Ricky Nolasco, and the club has enough supporting pieces to make the season very interesting. Stanton is a specimen. He combined for 43 homers last year, clocking 21 in the minors and then whacking 22 in 359 at-bats with Florida.
Florida was busy this offseason in adding a starting catcher in Buck, an innings-eating starter in Vazquez and a key lefty in Choate. In fact, the Fish added four relievers to what was a major weak link in 2010. That will only help a rotation that had five guys with double-digit wins last year. Johnson was the key, going 11-6 with a league-leading 2.30 ERA before succumbing to a back injury in September. Vazquez’s career ERA in the NL (4.02) is more than six-tenths of a run lower than his ERA in the AL (4.65). Outside of Philadelphia and San Francisco, the Marlins might have the best rotation in baseball. Closer could be a problem as Leo Nunez was very inconsistent last year and eventually lost his job. Florida's relievers blew 25 saves last year, tops in the NL. The only team with more blown saves was Baltimore, with 27.
New manager Edwin Rodriguez did a solid job as interim manager following the June 23 firing of Fredi Gonzalez and was retained with a one-year deal. But there are reports he is just keeping the seat warm for the White Sox’s Ozzie Guillen, a Miami native. Of course getting this team to the playoffs for the first time in eight years would ensure Rodriguez stays put in the new park.
Projected lineup
1 CF Chris Coghlan
2 2B Omar Infante
3 SS Hanley Ramirez
4 RF Mike Stanton
5 1B Gaby Sanchez
6 LF Logan Morrison
7 C John Buck
8 3B Matt Dominguez
Projected rotation
1 RHP Josh Johnson
2 RHP Ricky Nolasco
3 RHP Anibal Sanchez
4 RHP Javier Vazquez
5 RHP Chris Volstad
CL: Leo Nunez
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2010 finish: 80-82, third in NL East
Key offseason additions: Javier Vazquez, John Buck, Omar Infante, Edward Mujica, Ryan Webb, Randy Choate, Dustin Richardson
Key offseason losses: Dan Uggla, Cameron Maybin, Ronny Paulino, Jose Veras, Andrew Miller, Will Ohman
Bodog odds to win NL East: +850
Bodog odds to win NL pennant: 20/1
Bodog odds to win World Series: 40/1
Bodog over/under win total: 82
It’s not too often a team feels better about itself the year after trading its leader in homers, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored and RBIs, but Florida does have dealing second baseman Dan Uggla to the Braves because the team and Uggla couldn’t agree on a long-term extension (he did with Atlanta).
But led by All-Stars Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson, Florida has two franchise-caliber players to build around. Mix in some rising talent in Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison, Gaby Sanchez, Chris Coghlan and Ricky Nolasco, and the club has enough supporting pieces to make the season very interesting. Stanton is a specimen. He combined for 43 homers last year, clocking 21 in the minors and then whacking 22 in 359 at-bats with Florida.
Florida was busy this offseason in adding a starting catcher in Buck, an innings-eating starter in Vazquez and a key lefty in Choate. In fact, the Fish added four relievers to what was a major weak link in 2010. That will only help a rotation that had five guys with double-digit wins last year. Johnson was the key, going 11-6 with a league-leading 2.30 ERA before succumbing to a back injury in September. Vazquez’s career ERA in the NL (4.02) is more than six-tenths of a run lower than his ERA in the AL (4.65). Outside of Philadelphia and San Francisco, the Marlins might have the best rotation in baseball. Closer could be a problem as Leo Nunez was very inconsistent last year and eventually lost his job. Florida's relievers blew 25 saves last year, tops in the NL. The only team with more blown saves was Baltimore, with 27.
New manager Edwin Rodriguez did a solid job as interim manager following the June 23 firing of Fredi Gonzalez and was retained with a one-year deal. But there are reports he is just keeping the seat warm for the White Sox’s Ozzie Guillen, a Miami native. Of course getting this team to the playoffs for the first time in eight years would ensure Rodriguez stays put in the new park.
Projected lineup
1 CF Chris Coghlan
2 2B Omar Infante
3 SS Hanley Ramirez
4 RF Mike Stanton
5 1B Gaby Sanchez
6 LF Logan Morrison
7 C John Buck
8 3B Matt Dominguez
Projected rotation
1 RHP Josh Johnson
2 RHP Ricky Nolasco
3 RHP Anibal Sanchez
4 RHP Javier Vazquez
5 RHP Chris Volstad
CL: Leo Nunez
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They say that spring training is the time of hope for every team, but that sure seems to be hard to find with the New York Mets, who probably had the worst offseason of any team. The Mets are stuck with a vastly overpaid, underperforming payroll and ownership couldn’t make any big fixes this offseason because they are cash-strapped in the wake of being deeply involved in Bernie Maddof’s Ponzi scheme. Oh, and did I mention that ace pitcher Johan Santana may not be ready to pitch in the majors until July? And that Carlos Beltran’s knees are each about 80 years old? And that Francisco Rodriguez beat up his father-in-law in the team clubhouse at the end of last year?
2010 finish: 79-83, fourth in NL East
Key offseason additions: Chris Young, Chris Capuano, D.J. Carrasco, Scott Hairston, Willie Harris, Tim Byrdak, Blaine Boyer, manager Terry Collins
Key offseason losses: Pedro Feliciano, John Maine, Fernando Tatis, Sean Green, Henry Blanco, manger Jerry Manuel
Bodog odds to win NL East: +1600
Bodog over/under wins total: 77
The one player the Mets can’t replace is Santana, who underwent surgery last September for a torn anterior capsule in his left (throwing shoulder) shoulder. He’s owed a whopping $72 million over the next three seasons and his body is clearly breaking down. Santana underwent a procedure to remove bone chips in his left elbow in August 2009. He also had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee in the 2008 offseason. Santana was 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA and 144 strikeouts last season. Mike Pelfrey becomes the pseudo-ace. Pelfrey's 1.67 strikeouts-per-walk ratio over the past three seasons ranks seventh-worst among pitchers with 480-plus innings, and understandably his ERA has fluctuated from 3.72 to 5.03 to 3.66.
The lineup will need huge bounce-back seasons from Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Jason Bay, who will make a combined $49.2 million this season. All three were hurt last year, which has been nothing new for Beltran and Reyes the past few years. Bay was a bust in his first season since coming over from the Red Sox. He finished the first season of a four-year, $66 million deal with the Mets having hit .259 with six homers and 47 RBIs in 95 games (it was shortened by a concussion). It was the fewest homers and lowest slugging percentage (.402) of his career. Beltran’s arthritic right knee will force him to right field. Reyes, because of leg, oblique and thyroid ailments, has played 169 games over the past two seasons. Both are in contract years and thus will be motivated to produce.
Can the Mets contend in the NL East? Well, miracles do happen. But in reality the team is just hoping to get through this season without any more on or off-field issues. More than $60 million of contracts are due to come off the books after the year.
Projected lineup
1 SS Jose Reyes
2 CF Angel Pagan
3 3B David Wright
4 RF Carlos Beltran
5 LF Jason Bay
6 1B Ike Davis
7 C Josh Thole
8 2B Brad Emaus
Projected rotation
1 RHP Mike Pelfrey
2 LHP Jon Niese
3 RHP Chris Young
4 RHP R.A. Dickey
5 LHP Chris Capuano
CL: Francisco Rodriguez
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2010 finish: 79-83, fourth in NL East
Key offseason additions: Chris Young, Chris Capuano, D.J. Carrasco, Scott Hairston, Willie Harris, Tim Byrdak, Blaine Boyer, manager Terry Collins
Key offseason losses: Pedro Feliciano, John Maine, Fernando Tatis, Sean Green, Henry Blanco, manger Jerry Manuel
Bodog odds to win NL East: +1600
Bodog over/under wins total: 77
The one player the Mets can’t replace is Santana, who underwent surgery last September for a torn anterior capsule in his left (throwing shoulder) shoulder. He’s owed a whopping $72 million over the next three seasons and his body is clearly breaking down. Santana underwent a procedure to remove bone chips in his left elbow in August 2009. He also had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee in the 2008 offseason. Santana was 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA and 144 strikeouts last season. Mike Pelfrey becomes the pseudo-ace. Pelfrey's 1.67 strikeouts-per-walk ratio over the past three seasons ranks seventh-worst among pitchers with 480-plus innings, and understandably his ERA has fluctuated from 3.72 to 5.03 to 3.66.
The lineup will need huge bounce-back seasons from Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Jason Bay, who will make a combined $49.2 million this season. All three were hurt last year, which has been nothing new for Beltran and Reyes the past few years. Bay was a bust in his first season since coming over from the Red Sox. He finished the first season of a four-year, $66 million deal with the Mets having hit .259 with six homers and 47 RBIs in 95 games (it was shortened by a concussion). It was the fewest homers and lowest slugging percentage (.402) of his career. Beltran’s arthritic right knee will force him to right field. Reyes, because of leg, oblique and thyroid ailments, has played 169 games over the past two seasons. Both are in contract years and thus will be motivated to produce.
Can the Mets contend in the NL East? Well, miracles do happen. But in reality the team is just hoping to get through this season without any more on or off-field issues. More than $60 million of contracts are due to come off the books after the year.
Projected lineup
1 SS Jose Reyes
2 CF Angel Pagan
3 3B David Wright
4 RF Carlos Beltran
5 LF Jason Bay
6 1B Ike Davis
7 C Josh Thole
8 2B Brad Emaus
Projected rotation
1 RHP Mike Pelfrey
2 LHP Jon Niese
3 RHP Chris Young
4 RHP R.A. Dickey
5 LHP Chris Capuano
CL: Francisco Rodriguez
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Key offseason additions: Matt Garza, Carlos Pena, Kerry Wood, Reed Johnson, Fernando Perez, Max Ramirez, manager Mike Quade.
Key offseason losses: Tom Gorzelanny, Xavier Nady, Sam Fuld, manager Lou Piniella.
Bodog MLB odds to win 2011 World Series: 35/1.
Despite spending some $142 million on payroll last season, the Cubs fell apart and finished fifth in the NL Central with 75-87 record. Piniella jettisoned the team during the season for retirement, and Chicago did play much better under Quade (winning 19 of its final 29 games), who got the full-time job over Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg after the season to the dismay of many Cubs fans.
If Carlos Zambrano can pitch like he did in the final two months of last year and Matt Garza can control his wicked stuff, the Cubs should have a good top three of the rotation with those two and Ryan Dempster. The back end of the rotation figures to be manned by Randy Wells and Carlos Silva but there will be some competition there from guys like Jeff Samardzija and Andrew Cashner.
The lineup has many questions. For example, why did the Cubs spend $10 million on Carlos Pena? The former Ray is a good fielder and clubhouse guy but hit .196 last year and is a strikeout machine. He has averaged 36 home runs per year over the past four seasons and only got a one-year deal so it’s not a big risk. The Cubs also have two players on downward tracks in their careers in outfielder Alfonso Soriano (still due $72 million) and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Catcher Geovany Soto was much improved last season after a terrible 2009. Shortstop Starlin Castro showed signs of being a star but is still wild defensively. Former Dodger Blake DeWitt likely will man second base but he’s average at best. And the team needs to find a spot for Tyler Colvin, possibly rotating among the corner outfield spots or in place of Kosuke Fukudome.
Is this team better and can it contend in the suddenly deep NL Central? It can, but it probably will take career years from most of the veterans.
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