Major League Baseball: 2009 National League Preview

1. Chicago Cubs (N.L. Central Champs)

2. New York Mets (N.L. East Champs)

3. Philadelphia Phillies (N.L. Wild Card)

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (N.L. West Champs)

5. St. Louis Cardinals

6. Atlanta Braves

7. Milwaukee Brewers

8. Arizona Diamondbacks

9. Florida Marlins

10. Houston Astros

11. San Francisco Giants

12. Colorado Rockies

13. Cincinnati Reds

14. San Diego Padres

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

16. Washington Nationals

N.L. East - In a fairly weak National League, the East clearly holds two of the top teams. I look for the Mets and Phillies to once again fight it out to the end. The Mets addition of closers Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz will give them the edge over the 2008 World Series Champion Phillies and help avoid another late season collapse. Philadelphia keeps nearly all their talent that won them the championship last season and with the 3 year, $54 million contract given to slugger Ryan Howard this off-season, the Phillies will be ready to make another run come playoff time. The Braves and Marlins will offer a minor threat in the division, but they just don't have the talent to keep up in this competitive N.L. East.

N.L. Central - With the departure of CC Sabathia in Milwaukee, the Cubs will face no serious threat in their quest to three-peat as Central champs. The Cubs have one of the most balanced teams in the National League and the question will not be if they will make the playoffs, but can they win it all and break the 100 plus year drought of no World Series Championships. Unless the Cardinals or Brewers are in the pennant race come trade deadline and pull off a big deal as Milwaukee did last season with CC Sabathia, the Cubs will cruise to another near 100 win season.

N.L. West - The West will once again be a fight to see who can stay above a .500 win percentage. I have the Dodgers getting the fourth overall win total in the National League assuming they get this Manny Ramirez contract finalized. They also possess the best young talent in the West with guys like Matt Kemp and James Loney expected to have breakout years. L.A. should look to add another arm to their starting rotation either this off-season or around the trade deadline after Brad Penny bolted to Boston in January for a one year, $5 million contract. If the Dodgers can get these two things done they will easily eclipse that .500 win percentage and finish the 2009 MLB season with a double digit lead in the N.L. West.