*Teams listed in predicted order of finish.
The Milwaukee Brewers
A team that many experts picked to win the division last year, the Brewers were severely disappointing in 2010, finishing below .500 with a record of 77-85. After an off season in which the Brewers added the power arms of Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum, the Brewers are ready to live up to their potential and win the NL Central for the first time in team history. Adding Greinke and Marcum gives the Brewers three aces to their starting rotation, that includes 25 year-old Yovani Gallardo. Experts say Gallardo has all the makings to be Cy Young caliber pitcher and Greinke has already won the award. All the talk in baseball is about the Phillies rotation. This youthful Brewers club may be almost as talented and about a decade younger. Don't sleep on the Brewers.
While, the Brewers do have much of their core players signed for years to come(Rickie Weeks, Ryan Braun, and Corey Hart), the time might be now if they are going to bring a Championship to Milwaukee. Superstar first basemen, Prince Fielder is in the final year of his contract and all indications point to him testing free agency at seasons end. Fielder will definitely draw interest from big spenders such as the Yankees, Cubs, and Angels. A small market team such as the Brewers won't stand a chance at re-signing the 26 year-old home run machine. The Brewers have a team that will compete for years to come, but it will be much easier to win with the services of the Prince.
The St. Louis Cardinals
Everyone in St. Louis is nervous. And if they aren't they should be. The biggest news in the off season for the Cardinals, was bad news. The team was unable to agree on terms for a contract extension for the 3-time MVP, 9-time all star, arguably the greatest ballplayer of all-time, and without a doubt, the best player in the game today, Albert Pujols. Prince Albert had a down year, for Pujols standards and still led the league in Home Runs, Runs, and RBIs. He has had at least 30 home runs, 100 RBI, and a .300 batting average in each of his first 10 seasons. You know who else has compiled those numbers to start a career? NO ONE! I can't imagine Pujols not playing for the Cards, and the last thing baseball needs is for him to go to the Yankees. I'm a little afraid that's where he'll end up a year from now, and everyone outside of New York should be too.
The Cincinnati Reds
The Reds shocked the world of baseball in 2010, winning the division for the first time since 1995. In 2011 however, teams will be ready to play when the Reds come to town. No longer under the radar, the Reds won't have the element of surprise to use as ammunition.
The Reds made little to no moves in the off season and the team remains basically the same. Sure, they still have the reigning MVP, Joey Votto and a stellar cast of young hitters including: Brandon Phillips, Drew Stubbs, and Jonny Gomes, but I believe it will be a down year in Cincinnati. Don't fret Reds fans, the Reds are young, talented and will be a contender for many years to come.
The Chicago Cubs
What is going to go wrong for the Cubs this year? It always seems to be something. Last year, there were multiple occasions of teammate on teammate violence, usually involving Carlos Zambrano. Their manager, Lou Pinella stepped down late in the year and more importantly the Cubs finished 5th in the division which includes the lowly Pirates and the struggling Astros.
The Cubs are baseball's most tortured franchise. They have not won a World Series since 1908. The last time they played in a World Series was in 1945, when they lost to the Detroit Tigers. It was in this series in which the Cubs became cursed. The curse is known as the "Curse of the Goat", and the story goes likes this...
It was game 4 of the World Series and a man by the name of Billy Sianis had two box seats to the game. Naturally, he brought his pet goat to occupy one of the seats. Mr. Sianis and his goat got past the ticket collector and security and made it to their seats where they would enjoy the pivotal game 4. It was a perfect afternoon for the man and his goat, until they were asked to leave, by order of the teams owner. The cause for ejection was do to the objectionable odor that resonated from the goat. Outraged by the ejection and the fact the team had insulted his goat, Sianis placed a hex on the Cubs, stating they would never play another World Series game at Wrigley Field. To this day the Cubs have not been back to the World Series...The Houston Astros
They are bad... Really bad.... But not as bad as...
The Pittsburgh Pirates
Can you name a single player on the Pittsburgh Pirates? Me either. I don't know how the Pirates make a profit year in and year out, but they do. Their ownership seems satisfied with making that profit and refuse to put any real money into the team. Winning is not a priority in Pittsburgh. I feel for the few Pirates that remain, because your team will continue to trade it's best players or let them walk when their contracts are up if it means saving a penny. The Pirates will likely once again have the lowest payroll in baseball. In 2010, their payroll was approximately $35 million, or $170 million less than the New York Yankees. How can they even be expected to compete? But yeah, baseball not having a salary cap is a good thing.
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