NL Central Division

By MIKE DIGIOVANNA

March 31, 2002 12 AM PT

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Who’s new: 1B Tino Martinez, P Jason Isringhausen, C Mike DiFelice.

Who’s gone: 1B Mark McGwire, 3B Craig Paquette, P Alan Benes, Dustin Hermanson and T.J. Mathews, OF Bobby Bonilla, C Carlos Hernandez.

Strengths: The Cardinals have the deepest rotation in the division, and for the first time in three years, they have a top-quality closer in Isringhausen. C Mike Matheny, 2B Fernando Vina and CF Jim Edmonds each have won Gold Gloves in the last two years. The 3-4-5 hitters, J.D. Drew, Albert Pujols and Edmonds, all have the potential to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs.

Weaknesses: The loss of Paquette took a huge bite out of the bench, which lacks power.

Outlook: The Cardinals were a Tony Womack bloop single away from reaching the NL championship series, but they look even better this season. Martinez won’t hit 50 home runs, but he’ll provide more stability at first, leading some to believe St. Louis is better off without McGwire. There is not enough quality left-handed pitching in the division to neutralize St. Louis’ heavily left-handed lineup.

At Dodger Stadium: July 15-16.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Fernando Vina

3B Placido Polanco

RF J.D. Drew

LF Albert Pujols

CF Jim Edmonds

1B Tino Martinez

SS Edgar Renteria

C Mike Matheny

STARTING PITCHERS

Matt Morris

Woody Williams

Darryl Kile

Garrett Stephenson

Andy Benes

BULLPEN

Jason Isringhausen

Steve Kline

Dave Veres

Mike Matthews

HOUSTON ASTROS

Who’s new: OF Brian Hunter, P T.J. Mathews, C Gregg Zaun, 3B Geoff Blum.

Who’s gone: OF Moises Alou, 3B Vinny Castilla, P Pedro Astacio, Ron Villone, Mike Williams and Kent Bottenfield, C Tony Eusebio.

Strengths: The Astros have one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. Starters Wade Miller, Roy Oswalt and Shane Reynolds combined to win 44 games in 2001, Carlos Hernandez, armed with a nasty curve, is one of baseball’s top young left-handers, and closer Billy Wagner is set up by the reliable Octavio Dotel and Nelson Cruz. Craig Biggio is a superb leadoff hitter, and Jeff Bagwell provides power.

Weaknesses: The offense suffered a major blow with the loss of Alou., who hit .331 with 108 RBIs in 2001. Houston has two corner outfielders, Daryle Ward and Lance Berkman, who should be first basemen and a center fielder, Richard Hidalgo, who is better suited for right.

Outlook: The Astros should compete for the division title, and their starting pitching could put them over the top. If they don’t edge St. Louis, they should be in the hunt for a wild-card berth.

At Dodger Stadium: Sept. 6-8.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Craig Biggio

LF Daryle Ward

1B Jeff Bagwell

RF Lance Berkman

CF Richard Hidalgo

3B Morgan Ensberg

SS Adam Everett/

Julio Lugo

C Brad Ausmus

STARTING PITCHERS

Wade Miller

Roy Oswalt

Shane Reynolds

Dave Mlicki

Carlos Hernandez

BULLPEN

Billy Wagner

Octavio Dotel

Nelson Cruz

T.J. Mathews

CHICAGO CUBS

Who’s new: P Antonio Alfonseca and Matt Clement, OF Moises Alou and Darren Lewis, SS Alex Gonzalez, INF Mark Bellhorn and Chris Stynes.

Who’s gone: 2B Eric Young, P Julian Tavarez, David Weathers and Todd Van Poppel, OF Rondell White and Matt Stairs, SS Ricky Gutierrez, INF Ron Coomer.

Strengths: Sammy Sosa, Fred McGriff and Alou give the Cubs their most prolific 3-4-5 combination since Ron Santo, Billy Williams and Ernie Banks in the late 1960s. The rotation is solid, and the acquisition of Alfonseca fills the hole left by Tom Gordon, who is sidelined at least three months because of a torn shoulder muscle.

Weaknesses: The departures of Weathers and Van Poppel hurt the bullpen. Bill Mueller’s knee surgery leaves them unsettled at third, and there is no bona fide leadoff man.

Outlook: The offense could be prolific, but the rotation is a notch below those of St. Louis and Houston, and the bullpen is thin. The Cubs’ first back-to-back winning seasons since 1971-72 are within reach; a playoff berth may not be.

At Dodger Stadium: May 3-5.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Delino DeShields

3B Chris Stynes/

Mark Bellhorn

RF Sammy Sosa

1B Fred McGriff

LF Moises Alou

C Todd Hundley

SS Alex Gonzalez

CF Corey Patterson/

Roosevelt Brown

STARTING PITCHERS

Jon Lieber

Kerry Wood

Jason Bere

Juan Cruz

Matt Clement

BULLPEN

Antonio Alfonseca

Jeff Farnsworth

Jeff Fassero

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Who’s new: P Sean Lowe, Josh Fogg, Kip Wells and Ron Villone, 2B Pokey Reese.

Who’s gone: P Todd Ritchie, Omar Olivares, Josias Manzanillo and Rich Loiselle, OF Gary Matthews Jr.

Strengths: C Jason Kendall appears sound after playing almost all of last season with torn ligaments in his left thumb. 3B Aramis Ramirez, who hit .300 with 34 homers and 112 RBIs and batted .378 with runners in scoring position, and LF Brian Giles (.309, 37 homers, 95 RBIs) are two of baseball’s most unheralded players.

Weaknesses: The Pirates lack power outside of Giles and Ramirez, and they are not exceptionally fast, so they will have trouble manufacturing runs. Though Fogg and Wells have shown promise, most of Pittsburgh’s pitching is unproven. The bullpen is decent, but it can hardly be considered a strength.

Outlook: The good news: The new stadium, PNC Park, got rave reviews in 2001. The bad news: The home team stunk--the Pirates were 62-100 and finished 31 games back last season. This team would do well not to lose 90 games.

At Dodger Stadium: Aug. 6-8.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Adrian Brown

2B Pokey Reese

LF Brian Giles

3B Aramis Ramirez

1B Kevin Young

C Jason Kendall

RF Armando Rios

SS Jack Wilson

STARTING PITCHERS

Jimmy Anderson

Dave Williams

Kip Wells

Ron Villone

Josh Fogg/

Sean Lowe

BULLPEN

Mike Williams

Mike Fetters

Scott Sauerbeck

Brian Boehringer

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Who’s new: 2B Eric Young, P Glendon Rusch, Jose Cabrera and Luis Vizcaino, OF Matt Stairs, Alex Ochoa and Lenny Harris, C Paul Bako.

Who’s gone: OF Jeromy Burnitz and Devon White, P Jimmy Haynes and Jeff D’Amico, C Henry Blanco, INF Lou Collier.

Strengths: Ben Sheets, who throws 95 mph and has an excellent curve, has the potential to dominate, and Ruben Quevedo and Paul Rigdon are good young starters. 1B Richie Sexson could hit 50 home runs. New pitching coach Dave Stewart should toughen the staff.

Weaknesses: There is not much depth, so the offense will sputter if Sexson or LF Geoff Jenkins gets hurt. There’s no true closer because reliever Curtis Leskanic will be out until May because of shoulder surgery and reliever Chad Fox will be sidelined at least two months because of an elbow injury.

Outlook: Milwaukee’s streak of nine consecutive losing seasons, which is tied with the Pirates for the longest in the four major professional sports, should reach 10 this season, and their playoff drought should reach 20 seasons.

At Dodger Stadium: May 27-29.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Eric Young

3B Tyler Houston/

Mark Loretta

LF Geoff Jenkins

1B Richie Sexson

CF Jeffrey Hammonds

RF Matt Stairs/

Alex Ochoa

SS Jose Hernandez

C Raul Casanova

STARTING PITCHERS

Jamey Wright

Ben Sheets

Ruben Quevedo

Glendon Rusch

Paul Rigdon

BULLPEN

Ray King

Mike DeJean

Jose Cabrera

CINCINNATI REDS

Who’s new: OF Juan Encarnacion, P Gabe White.

Who’s gone: 2B Pokey Reese, 1B Dmitri Young, P Pete Harnisch, Osvaldo Fernandez and Dennys Reyes, OF Ruben Rivera.

Strengths: If Scott Williamson, who appeared in only two games in 2001, comes back from reconstructive elbow surgery--there is a chance he could be ready for opening day--the bullpen should be OK. If the Reds stay healthy, the offense should be decent.

Weaknesses: Joey Hamilton, who has battled shoulder problems for the past three years, is the opening-day starter, a pretty good indication of how weak the rotation is. SS Barry Larkin, 37, is well past his prime and has been slowed by a hamstring injury, and CF Ken Griffey Jr. needs to overcome his hamstring problems from 2001.

Outlook: They’re so desperate for starting pitching they’re considering moving closer Danny Graves into the rotation. With payroll problems and a team that won’t contend for a playoff berth, the Reds don’t appear to be generating much momentum going into their new stadium for 2003.

At Dodger Stadium: April 30, May 1-2.

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Barry Larkin

2B Todd Walker

CF Ken Griffey Jr.

1B Sean Casey

LF Adam Dunn

3B Aaron Boone

RF Juan Encarnacion

C Jason LaRue

STARTING PITCHERS

Elmer Dessens