European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday april 1 2007 stars and stripes Page 47 no dodgers cards could ride pitching to playoffs no from Back Page Philadelphia Phillies the Phil lies also boast a formidable line up with Howard Rollins and Allstar second baseman Chase Utley they have scrappy win ners too Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino the bullpen which features aging closer Tom Gordon might be the weak spot after barely falling Short the past two seasons the Phillies finally win the wild card and return to the playoffs for the first time since 1993 Atlanta braves the braves won an unprecedented 14 straight division titles before going 7983 last season they up graded a shaky bullpen by acquiring Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez but traded Power hit Ting first baseman Adam Laroche to get Gonzalez John Smoltz highlights the rotation and Tim Hudson Hopes to Redis cover the form that made him such a big Winner with Oakland Mike Hampton is injured again Chipper Jones health could be the key to the offence which finished second in the no in runs last year Andrew Jones enters the final season of his contract Florida a toxins Joe Girardi was fired after one year in Florida then selected no manager of the year he was replaced by fredi Gonzalez who inherits an extremely Young team that showed great Promise last sea son Hanley Ramirez was the Rookie of the year do Treue will is leads the pitching staff and Miguel Cabrera is one of the Best hitters in the league Josh Johnson 127 Era is expected to miss at least the first two months with an ailing Elbow Washington nationals playing in a Tough division this team could easily lose More than 100 games the rotation is a Complete mess behind no 1 starter John Patterson who is coming off an Arm injury several youngsters and castoffs will get a Chance to prove themselves for better or worse third baseman Ryan Zim Merman is a budding Star but Nick Johnson is recovering from a broken leg Rookie manager Manny Acta replaces Frank Rob Inson Central St Louis cardinals even after their rotation was depleted by off season defections the cardinals National could win this mediocre division by default Carpenter might be the Best Pitcher in the league and Pujols and Scott Rolen Are still around to Anchor the lineup Jason Isringhausen looks healthy again follow ing hip surgery As Long As Isringhausen is closing games Adam Wainwright can get comfortable in the rotation Mark Mulder shoulder surgery should be Back in july and Kip Wells might prove to be a bargain Braden Looper moves into the rotation after spending his entire career in the bullpen injuries Are a con Cern for Jim Edmonds and Juan Encarnacion Houston astros Carlos Lee should add punch to a perennially anaemic to a million contract he teams with Lance Berkman to form a Power Ful tandem in the Middle of the lineup after Andy Pettitte left for the Yankees newcomers Jason Jennings and Woody Williams Hope to stabilize the rotation be Hind Ace Roy Oswalt Brad Lidge the closer looks to Bounce Back from a shaky season Chicago cubs the cubs certainly added Talent while spend ing a Fortune in the of season but after going 6696 last year they National n a t i o n a eague East preview 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 pitching while the phils bolstered their own rotation dont count braves or marlins out Chart Power rankings graded on a scale of 14 with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent new York mets 9765 first Pedro Martinez shoulder Side lined through july e iffy Tion is a big con Cem Jose Reyes energizes an imposing lineup o f f n s e Philadelphia Phillies 8577 second after barely miss ing playoffs the past two seasons no map Ryan Howard and the Phillies might finally have enough pitching but bullpen must hold up pod Atlanta braves 7983 third their Streak of 14 straight division titles ended last year upgrade pen but p d Needa healthy Mike Hampton and an effective Tim Hud son on the Mound Florida marlins 7884 fourth Low payroll lots of Young Talent including Rookie 9 a of the year Hanley Ramirez ass fredi Gonzalez replaces no Man Ager of the year Joe Girardi pod Washington nationals 7191 fifth a fourth straight last place finish for the former Montreal 9 expos m would Surprise no one p lineup lost Alfonso Soriano and is still missing injured Nick Johnson rotation is a mess i the brew ers signed a los map Jeff sup pan to a million Deal hoping he can be part of a steady rotation that also includes Chris Capuano and of injured Ben sheets Mil Waukee has Upan coming Talent in Prince fielder and Rickie weeks Bill Hall is one of the most underrated players in the game he shifts to the Outfield hand in the of season and missed much of Spring training no strikeout King Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo form a Nice 12 combo at the top of the rotation but the other starters leave a lot to be desired Cincinnati Hast had a winning season since 2000 its longest drought since 194555 Pittsburgh pirates the pirates Are excited about the addition of e a g Central p r w red Birds look like division favorite the cardinals won the division by one game last year and then went on to win the world series with Only 83 victories both the cubs who spent a ton of Cash and astros who added Carlos Lee should Challenge Chart Power rankings graded on a scale of 14 with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent St Louis cardinals 8378 first will closer Jason Isringhausen hip surgery be read to a go rotation was depleted by off season defections Houston astros 8280 second previously Strong rotation could be shaky Andy pet gone and Roger Clemens undecided about pitching Carlos Lee should add punch pod reds Cincinnati i reds 8082 third trying to emerge from six straight losing seasons clubs longest i f such slump since 194555 Rota Tion and bullpen Are biggest con i Cerns pod Milwaukee Brewers 7587 fourth increased pay Roll by about million a los in Jeff sup pan p d joins a capable rotation need Ace Ben sheets healthy Pittsburgh pirates 6795 fifth have 14 straight losing seasons two Short of a e is e league record Hope new 1b Adam Laroche will make differ ence on offence and defense pod Chicago cubs 6696 sixth nos worst record Dusty Baker replaced it with Lou Piniella million on 10 free agents including Mil lion for Alfonso Soriano pod a have a lot of ground to make up Carlos Zambrano is a legitimate Ace who enters the final year of his contract a healthy Derrek Lee should provide a major boost to an offence that also features slugger Aramis Ramirez Chicago has several pricey new pieces but How will they All fit together new Catcher Johnny Estrada and infielder Craig Counsell provide a Veteran presence if everything goes right the Brewers might be Able to contend in this wide open division Cincinnati reds Ken Griffey or slides from Center Field to right after he broke his throwing of p r f v i w West is wide open with All eyes on Bonds although the dodgers look like the Best team on paper theres no Clear favorite Here the padres had the nos Best Era last year while the other Barry Zito should bolster the giants staff Chart Power rankings graded on a scale of 1 4 with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent Laroche they think he can make a major difference on of sense and defense after he hit 285 with 32 homers and 90 Bis for Atlanta last season Freddy Sanchez not Only won an every Day Job last year he took Home the no batting title Lethander Zach Duke part of a Young Rota tin Hopes to rebound from a Sophomore slump the closers role could be a problem West san Diego padres 8874 first trying to win their third straight division title m Greg Maddux joins pitching staff that led the Lin Era last year los Angeles dodgers 8874 second addition of Jason Schmidt gives them what appears to 9 be one of baseballs Best Rota p d tons of sense lacks Power probably favorite to win division san Francisco giants 7685 third besides Barry Bonds rest of the lineup Doest strike much fear in foes p d rotation features new Ace Barry Zito bullpen is a question Mark Arizona diamondbacks 7686 fourth Randy Johnson returns coming off Back surgery it pitching staff features by pod Young award Winner Brandon Webb lineup lacks proven Power Colorado Rockies 7686 to fourth no winning season since 2000 Young prospects Are starting to make their Way to majors Todd Helton looks to Bounce Back from two seasons with illness and injuries pod a los Angeles dodgers after winning the wild card last year the dodgers look like the team to beat out West in 2007 Center fielder Juan Pierre was a curious signing at million Over five years but Lethander Randy Wolf made a lot of sense for an imposing rotation that also features Derek Lowe Brad Penny and Schmidt the bullpen appears solid too the lineup probably wont scare Many foes with sever Al aging sluggers in the Middle of it speedy shortstop Rafael fur Cal injured his ankle late in Spring training the heart and soul of this team might be impressive Catcher Russell Martin a the padres led the league in Era last season arid should have a Strong staff again with Jake Peavy Chris Young Maddux and Hoffman but they could have a hard time winning a third straight division title the lineup looks Lousy though first baseman Adrian Gonzalez often gets overlooked second baseman Marcus Giles arrives from Atlanta and joins his brother right fielder Brian Giles Maddux and fellow fort some thing David Wells Are quite a con Trast in the clubhouse former an gels pitching coach Bud Black re places Bruce Bochy As manager san Francisco giants besides the two Barry s Bonds and the giants feature second base Man Ray Durham and talented Young Pitcher Matt Cain they need to get something useful out of Matt Morris during his second season in san Francisco another key to Success could be closer Armando Benitez who has struggled through two injury plagued seasons Bengie Molina is a sound acquisition at Catcher and new Comer Dave Roberts provides Speed in the Lead off Slot still Bonds lacks Protection in this line up Bochy takes Over for Felipe Alou As manager Colorado Rockies Todd Hel ton is still in Denver after the Rockies considered trading him to Boston now he Hopes to Bounce Back from two seasons hindered by injuries and illness Allstar Matt Holliday third base Man Garrett Atkins and outfielder Brad Hawpe Are among the Young players who have already established themselves in the big leagues next in line could be Rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Catcher Chris Lanetta the Rockies can hit and they play excellent defense but they Proba Bly dont have enough pitching Arizona diamondbacks the club is loaded with prize prospects Many of whom have arrived in the big leagues shortstop Stephen Drew Center fielder Chris Young right fielder Carlos Quentin first baseman Conor Jackson now lets see How fast they can produce and How Well they adjust to the everyday grind in the majors the rotation looks pretty Good on paper but it might not be that Strong behind by Young award Winner Brandon Webb the big unit and Livan Hernandez have logged a lot of innings Over the writers Rob Muaddi Jamie Mccauley and Chris Duncan contributed to this report