European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Pace3o stars and stripes Mideast edition sunday no cards could ride pitching to playoffs from Back Page from Back Page Philadelphia Phillies the Phil lies also boast a formidable line up with Rollins and Allstar second baseman Chase they have scrappy win too Aaron Rowand and Shane the could win this mediocre division by Carpenter might be the Best Pitcher in the and Pujols and Scott Rolen Are still around to Anchor the Jason Isringhausen looks healthy again follow ing hip As Long As Isringhausen is closing Adam n a t i o n a league fast pro Phillies May have enough to catch mets last year was the first time in 14 years a team besides the braves won the no East the mets have questionable starting while the phils bolstered their own dont count braves or marlins Chart Power rankings graded on a scale of with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent adj Gnu Ilco Winch features aging closer Tom Wainwright can get comfortable a tvs a l 1 might be the weak after barely falling Short the past two the Phillies finally win the wild card and return to the playoffs for the first time since Atlanta braves the braves won an unprecedented 14 straight division titles before going 7983 last they up in the Mark Mulder shoulder surgery should be Back in and Kip Wells might prove to be a Braden Looper moves into the rotation after spending his entire career in the injuries Are a con Cern for Jim Edmonds and Juan Houston astros Carlos Lee graded a shaky bullpen by acquire should add punch to a perennially intr a ing Rafael Soriano and Mike but traded Power hit Ting first baseman Adam Laroche to get John Smoltz highlights the and Tim Hudson Hopes to Redis cover the form that made him such a big Winner with Mike Hampton is injured Chipper Jones health could be the key to the which finished second in the no in runs last Andrew Jones enters the final season of his Florida marlins Joe Girardi was fired after one year in Flori then selected no manager of the he was replaced by fredi who inherits an extremely Young team that showed great Promise last sea Hanley Ramirez was the Rookie of the Dontrelle will is leads the pitching and Miguel Cabrera is one of the Best hitters in the Josh Johnson Era is expected to miss at least the first two months with an ailing Washington nationals playing in a Tough this team could easily lose More than 100 the rotation is a Complete mess behind 1 starter John who is coming off an Arm several youngsters and castoffs will get a Chance to prove themselves for better or third baseman Ryan Zim is a budding Star but Johnson is recovering from broken Rookie manager a Acta replaces Frank Rob Central Louis cardinals even after air rotation was depleted by off an the cardinals at 10 anaemic signed to a million he teams with Lance Berkman to form a Power Ful tandem in the Middle of the after Andy Pettitte left for the newcomers Jason Jennings and Woody Williams Hope to stabilize the rotation be Hind Ace Roy Brad the looks to Bounce Back from a shaky Chicago cubs the cubs certainly added Talent while spend ing a Fortune in the but after going 6696 last they new York mets 9765 first Pedro Martinez shoulder Side lined through july s Taffy i Tion is a big con 7 s Jose t f f Reyes h n n energizes i s s an impose e e ing Philadelphia Phillies 8577 second after barely miss ing playoffs the past two no map s Ryan Howard and the p d Phillies might finally have enough but bullpen must hold Atlanta braves 7983 third their Streak of 14 straight division titles ended last upgraded Bull pen but need a healthy Mike Hampton and an effective Tim Hud son on the o d Florida marlins 7884 fourth Low lots of Young Talent including Rookie of the year Hanley Ramirez p d at fredi Gonzalez replaces no Man Ager of the year Joe Washington nationals 7191 fifth a fourth straight last place finish for the former Montreal expos would Surprise no lineup lost Alfonso Soriano and is still missing injured Nick Johnson rotation is a p d a that also includes Chris Capuano and of injured Ben Mil Waukee has Upan coming Talent in Prince fielder and Rickie Bill Hall is one of the most underrated players in the he shifts to the n a combo at the top of the but the other starters leave a lot to be Cincinnati Hast had a winning season since its longest drought since Pittsburgh pirates the pirates Are excited about the addition of c it n t it i r f v i f w Houston 8378 second will closer Jason Isringhausen Strong rotation could be surgery be Andy pet 5 ready to title is i gone j and was Roger t i plated d Clemens t f f by off about h n n Carlos i s s should add e e t3 red Birds look like division favorite 9ame ast year and then went on to win he world series with Only 83 both the who spent a ton of Cash and who added Carlos should Challenge Chart Power rankings graded on a scale of 1 with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent reds Cincinnati reds 8082 third trying to emerge from six straight losing clubs longest such slump since Rota Tion and bullpen Are biggest con Milwaukee Brewers 7587 fourth increased pay Roll by about a los map Jeff pod joins a capable need Ace Ben sheets Pittsburgh pirates 6795 fifth have 14 straight losing two Short of major league l Hope new 1b Adam Laroche will make differ ence on offence and pod Chicago cubs 6696 sixth nos worst record Dusty Baker replaced v with Lou Finielia million on 10 free including Mil lion for Alfonso a pod have a lot of ground to make new Catcher Johnny Estrada and Carlos Zambrano is a legitimate infielder Craig Counsell provide a Ace who enters the final year of Veteran if everything his run tract a his a healthy Derrek Lee should provide a major boost to an offence that also features slugger Aramis Chicago has several pricey new but How will they All fit together goes the Brewers might be Able to contend in this wide open Cincinnati reds Ken Griffey slides from Center Field to right after he broke i they think he can make a major difference on of sense and defense after he hit with 32 homers and 90 Bis for Atlanta last Freddy Sanchez not Only won an every Day Job last he took Home West is wide open with All eyes on Bonds Power rankings graded on a scale of with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent san Diego padres 8874 first trying to win their third straight division Greg Maddux joins pitching staff that led the Lin Era last to i f t f be h n los Angeles dodgers 8874 second addition of jas6n Schmidt gives them what a 9 pears to be one of baseballs Best Rota p d of sense jacks probably favorite to win san Francisco giants 7685 third besides Barry rest of the lineup Doest strike much fear in rotation features new Ace Barry bullpen is a question poo Arizona diamondbacks 7686 fourth Randy Johnson coming off Back pitching staff features Young award Winner Brandon lineup lacks proven Colorado Rockies 7686 fourth no winning season since Young prospects Are 9 starting to make their Way to Todd Helton looks to Bounce Back from two seasons with illness and Hopes to rebound from a Sophomore the closers role could be a West los Angeles dodgers after winning the wild card last year the dodgers look like the team to beat out West in Center fielder Juan Pierre was a curious signing at million Over five but Lethander Randy Wolf made a lot of sense for an imposing rotation that also features Derek Brad Penny and the Buu pen san Diego padres the padres led the league in Era last season and should have a Strong staff again with Jake Chris Maddux and but they could have a hard time winning a third straight division the lineup looks though first baseman Adrian Gonzalez often gets second baseman Marcus Giles arrives from Atlanta and joins his right fielder Brian Maddux and fellow fort some thing David Wells Are quite a con Trast in the former an gels pitching coach Bud Black re places Bruce Bochy As san Francisco giants besides the two barrys Bonds and the giants feature second base Man Ray Durham and talented Young Pitcher Matt they need to get something useful out of Matt Morris during his second season in san another key to Success could be closer Armando who has struggled through two injury plagued Bengie Molina is a sound acquisition at and new Comer Dave Roberts provides Speed in the Lead off Bonds lacks Protection in this line Bochy takes Over for Felipe Alou As Colorado Rockies Todd Hel ton is still in Denver after the Rockies considered trading him to he Hopes to Bounce Back from two seasons hindered by injuries and Allstar Matt third base Man Garrett Atkins and outfielder Brad Hawpe Are among the Young players who have already established themselves in the big next in line could be Rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Catcher Chris the Rockies can hit and they play excellent but they Proba Bly dont have enough Arizona diamondbacks the club is loaded with prize pros Many of whom have arrived in the big leagues shortstop Stephen Center fielder Chris right fielder Carlos first baseman Conor lets see How fast they can produce and How Well they adjust to the everyday grind in the the rotation looks pod a this team might be impressive Catcher Russell Martin mad Djanie Mccauley and mid cons Duncan contributed to this