European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Stars and Mideast edition april 2007 sports Nastars cot grades Well with officials despite first race Page 27 2007 major league baseball preview National league by Mike Fitzpatrick the associated press Barry Bonds is approaching 755 Craig Biggio is closing in on hits and Tom Glame is nearing 300 j5ie some of baseballs oldest stars Are set to pursue milestones this season the new to Chase were the team to i cant put it any other Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins look at our team and what were look at the improvements weve made those improvements include adding and Adam Eaton to a deep Rota Tion that s Why right hander Brett Myers has More starting pitch ing than the who will be without Ace Pedro Inez until at least mid season following shoulder its competitive we think were they think there its Myers the mets still have who enters the sea son with 290 but after coming within one win of the world series last they we rent so amused by All the on sided analysis coming out of Philadelphia the they can come out and talk As much As they Allstar third baseman David Wright said in Spring until they prove it on the then its just As far As throwing out predictions and talking about talk is very nobody knows that better than who resigned with san Francisco in the of season after plenty of haggling Over his oneyear he needs 22 Home runs to break Hank Aarons career record of ill drag ill let you Guys he you know How i do the the the talk ill let you Guys talk about the 42yearold slugger also is 159 hits from and 70 Bis shy of but what he wants he is his first world series ring he and the with million Man Barry Zito pacing the pitching staff might have to get past their oldest rivals in the no West the los Angeles who added former san Francisco Ace Jason Schmidt to the and brought Back no 3 Nomar but Greg Maddux jumped from the dodgers to the san Diego who have won consecutive division the 41yearold Biggio begins his 20th season with Houston needing 70 hits to become the 27th player to reach that achievement probably Means a ticket to its not even the numbers any Biggio it s the clientele youre having your name associated with in certain that is Biggio and the astros have another goal As Well beating out Albert Chris Carpenter and the world series Champion Louis cardinals for an no Central Crown Houston will get Competition from the overhauled Chicago who landed free agent prize Alfonso Soriano during an off season spending the who also acquired lefty Ted handed out nearly million in salaries and hired fiery manager Lou other players approaching milestones include Pitcher Randy Back in Arizona after two disappointing seasons with the new York he is 20 wins shy of 300 also padres closer Trevor Hoffman needs 18 saves to reach a look at the no in predicted order of finish no team Page 31 the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Pitcher Jamie in their quest to track Down last years no East the new York Kathy East new York mets after a painful loss to Louis in game of the a los last the mets will try to take another step but getting All the Way Back is difficult to Ine biggest concern is an unsettled new York is counting on John Oliver Perez and perhaps Rookie Mike Pelfrey to provide consistent Glavine and or Hernandez will both be 41 when the season the balanced lineup is one of the leagues Best and the reliable bullpen could be the difference in edging Phil b b see no on Page 30 tigers Rogers out until july after having blood clot removed
