NL Central outlook
By Times Staff Writer
Published April 2, 2006
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
2005: 100-62, 1st.
MANAGER: Tony La Russa.
PAYROLL: $94-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Sidney Ponson, 2B Junior Spivey.
KEY LOSSES: 2B Mark Grudzielanek, RHP Matt Morris.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
SS David Eckstein .294, 8 HR, 61 RBIs.
RF Juan Encarnacion .287, 16, 76.
1B Albert Pujols .330, 41, 117.
CF Jim Edmonds .263, 29, 89.
3B Scott Rolen .235, 5, 28.
LF So Taguchi .288, 8, 53.
2B Junior Spivey .232, 7, 24.
C Yadier Molina .252, 8, 49.
ROTATION: RHP Chris Carpenter, LHP Mark Mulder, RHP Jason Marquis, RHP Jeff Suppan, RHP Sidney Ponson.
CLOSER: RHP Jason Isringhausen.
BOTTOM LINE: The stacked Cardinals should reach 100 victories for the third consecutive season.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS2005: 81-81, 3rd.
MANAGER: Ned Yost.
PAYROLL: $51-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: 1B Prince Fielder, 3B Corey Koskie.
KEY LOSS: 1B Lyle Overbay.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
CF Brady Clark .306, 13 HR, 53 RBIs.
2B Rickie Weeks .239, 13, 42.
RF Geoff Jenkins .292, 25, 86.
LF Carlos Lee .265, 32, 114.
1B Prince Fielder .288, 2, 10.
3B Corey Koskie .249, 11, 36.
C Damian Miller .273, 9, 43.
SS J.J. Hardy .247, 9, 50.
ROTATION: LHP Doug Davis, LHP Chris Capuano, RHP Tomo Ohka, RHP Dave Bush.
CLOSER: RHP Derrick Turnbow.
BOTTOM LINE: The Brewers, who last season snapped a 12-year losing streak, are the chic pick to challenge for a wild-card spot, but they're not going anywhere unless ace Ben Sheets (back strain, DL) gets healthy.
HOUSTON ASTROS2005: 89-73, 2nd.
MANAGER: Phil Garner.
PAYROLL: $90-million.
KEY ADDITION: LF Preston Wilson.
KEY LOSS: RHP Roger Clemens.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Craig Biggio .264, 26 HR, 69 RBIs.
CF Willy Taveras .291, 3, 29.
1B Lance Berkman .293, 24, 82.
3B Morgan Ensberg .283, 36, 101.
LF Preston Wilson .260, 25, 90.
RF Jason Lane .267, 26, 78.
SS Adam Everett .248, 11, 54.
C Brad Ausmus .258, 3, 47.
ROTATION: RHP Roy Oswalt, LHP Andy Pettitte, RHP Brandon Backe, LHP Wandy Rodriguez, RHP Fernando Nieve or RHP Taylor Buchholz.
CLOSER: RHP Brad Lidge.
BOTTOM LINE: If Clemens doesn't return, there will be added pressure on the rotation to help carry what last season was one of the league's weakest offenses.
CHICAGO CUBS2005: 79-83, 4th.
MANAGER: Dusty Baker.
PAYROLL: $92-million.
KEY ADDITION: CF Juan Pierre.
KEY LOSS: SS/3B Nomar Garciaparra.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
CF Juan Pierre .276, 2 HR, 47 RBIs.
2B Todd Walker .305, 12, 40.
1B Derrek Lee .335, 46, 107.
3B Aramis Ramirez .302, 31, 92.
RF Jacque Jones .249, 23, 73.
LF Matt Murton .321, 7, 14.
C Michael Barrett .276, 16, 61.
SS Ronny Cedeno .300, 1, 6.
ROTATION: RHP Carlos Zambrano, RHP Greg Maddux, RHP Jerome Williams, LHP Glendon Rusch, LHP Sean Marshall.
CLOSER: RHP Ryan Dempster.
BOTTOM LINE: With pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood on the DL to start the season, the Cubs may fall into the same, tired pattern.
CINCINNATI REDS2005: 73-89, 5th.
MANAGER: Jerry Narron.
PAYROLL: $48-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: 1B Scott Hatteberg, RHP Bronson Arroyo.
KEY LOSS: 1B Sean Casey.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Tony Womack .249, 0 HR, 15 RBIs.
SS Felipe Lopez .291, 23, 85.
CF Ken Griffey .301, 35, 92.
LF Adam Dunn .247, 40, 101.
RF Austin Kearns .240, 18, 67.
1B Scott Hatteberg .256, 7, 59.
3B Edwin Encarnacion .232, 9, 31.
C Jason LaRue .260, 14, 60.
ROTATION: RHP Aaron Harang, RHP Bronson Arroyo, LHP Brandon Claussen, LHP Eric Milton, LHP Dave Williams.
CLOSER: RHP Todd Coffey.
BOTTOM LINE: If the rotation is solid, the Reds might flirt with .500. More likely, though, it'll be their sixth consecutive losing season.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES2005: 67-95, 6th.
MANAGER: Jim Tracy.
PAYROLL: $47-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RF Jeromy Burnitz, 1B Sean Casey.
KEY LOSS: RHP Jose Mesa.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
CF Chris Duffy .341, 1 HR, 9 RBIs.
SS Jack Wilson .257, 8, 52.
1B Sean Casey .312, 9, 58.
LF Jason Bay .306, 32, 101.
RF Jeromy Burnitz .258, 24, 87.
3B Joe Randa .276, 17, 68.
2B Jose Castillo .268, 11, 53.
C Ryan Doumit .255, 6, 35.
ROTATION: LHP Oliver Perez, RHP Brandon Duckworth or RHP Victor Santos, LHP Zach Duke, RHP Ian Snell, LHP Paul Maholm.
CLOSER: LHP Mike Gonzalez.
BOTTOM LINE: Young starting pitching and a first-year closer add up to a 14th straight losing season, two off the Phillies' major-league record, set 1933-48.