Reassessing MLB's Pennant Races After the Trade Deadline: NL

NL East: The division most dramatically affected by the trade deadline. The Braves put on a how to be a buyer clinic for the Twins and Angels. You want to talk about upgrade? They took their most glaring weakness and replaced it with Mark Teixiera. Oh, and they also got a Octavio Dotel, Ron Mahay, and Royce Ring. Yes, all of this dealing cost them some prospects, but it also has to make them frightening to those watching their rearview mirror, the Mets. Ahh the Mets, who could have used another power bat or a significant pitching upgrade and got...Luis Castillo. Castillo is a good player, no doubt, but he was more important to his former team, the Twins, than he will be to Mets, who already had a functional (and perhaps better) option in Ruben Gotay. Now, the Mets may be getting Pedro Martinez back sometime in the next month, but, then again, they may not, which leaves them with the team they had and a five and a half game lead. As for the Phillies, remember at the beginning of the season when Jimmy Rollins declared that the Phillies were the team to beat and everybody laughed? Apparently, that wasn't such a ludicrous statement.It's just possible that the Phils are underrated. Consider this, Philadelphia has managed to stay in contention despite a subpar bullpen, making their ace their closer, and losing Chase Utley. That's the good news. The bad news is that their upgrades included acquiring reliever Julio Mateo and starter Kyle Lohse, and they lost Chase Utley. To be a factor, the Phils need Adam Eaton to be a respectable number 3, Freddy Garcia to be Freddy Garcia, and Cole Hamels to be Tom Seaver circa 1969. Then they have a chance.

Prediction: The Mets currently have a five and a half game headstart on them, but I'm going with the Braves because they're better.

NL Central: Sweet Lou versus the Brew Crew. The Cubs didn't really need a whole lot, sure another arm would have helped, but at least they didn't go out and get Kyle Lohse. Actually, the fight between Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett, which meant Barrett's exit, Pinella's tirade, and the acquisition of Jason Kendall, seems to be doing the Cubs some good. None of that is deadline dealing or a recent development, but since then Chicago has been playing like the team they should be. In response to the added pressure, the Brewers went out and got Scott Linebrink and Seth McClung. Neither will be the difference. I like the Brewers, a lot. I like watching them play. I like their enthusiasm. I like that their named the Brewers. But they're young, and similar to Luis Castillo, Scott Linebrink was more important to his old team than he will be to his new one. He'll help, there's no doubt about that, but he can't be Chase Utley.

Prediction: Chicago will take this either because Pinella wills it so or because the Brewers are greener than their field. Either way, Cubs by a furlong.

NL West: What do you do when you can't hit? Go west young man, or pick up a power hitter at the trade deadline. Actually, both the Rockies and Diamondbacks can hit, but not as well as they'd really like to. This race has four teams separated by three games. Let's check what these guys did to improve their chances for the pennant. Arizona? Announced that Randy Johnson was done for the season. Colorado? Decided there was no good starting pitching. Los Angeles? Dealt Wilson Betemit for Scott Proctor, meaning that their bullpen is now stronger, Nomar Garciaparra can move to third full time and James Loney can claim his rightful place at first base. All in all, not bad for a single deal. San Diego? Got busy, but I'm not sure if it was with the prom queen or a prostitute. San Diego could have used Mark Teixara, Adam Dunn, and Jermaine Dye, all of whom were available, but they got Morgan Ensberg, Rob Mackowiak, and Wilfredo Ledezma. Also, they dealt Scott Linebrink, one of the best setup men in the league. That's being unfair to the Padres though because about a month ago they did pickup Milton Bradley and Michael Barrett for as long as they can stand the two malcontents. Truth be told, I think San Diego did about as much as they could have done without seriously mortgaging their farm system. Those deals and their outstanding pitching may just be enough to get them by the rest of the west if Milton Bradley and Michael Barrett don't make like a couple of clubhouse cancers...and kill them.

Prediction: San Diego is going to take this because good pitching always beats good hitting, unless it's the other way round. In this case though, it's not because neither Colorado nor Arizona nor Los Angeles has the kind of powerhouse offense they'll need to drive them past the Pads.

Wildcard: The thing about the National League is that the wild card is not going to go to a strong team in a strong division. The league is mired in mediocrity across the board. Nobody is really good, and nobody is really bad, which is why this is anybody's ticket to the playoffs. However, as I've predicted that Atlanta is going to steal the pennant from New York and New York currently has the best record in the National League, I'm putting my money on them.

Prediction: New York City needs someone to represent them in this year's playoffs.