Tom Freese MLB Baseball Handicapping Article: 2008 National League Forecast

MLB: 2008 National League Forecast
by Tom Freese

With most MLB teams having their players report to their training facilities the sense is that spring is in the air. Let’s forecast what teams will be in the postseason in the National League.

The Mets seem to be the team to beat in the NL East with the addition of Johan Santana and a healthy Pedro Martinez at the front of their rotation. Rest assured that the Mets will be on a mission in 2008 after their monumental September swoon that saw them blow a big lead to the Phillies and miss out on a playoff berth.

In the NL Central, we like the Cubs. Ace starter Carlos Zambrano has a legitimate second starter in Ryan Dempster, who was the closer last year. Japanese import Kasuke Fukudome is a great talent. Manager Lou Pinella has picked his own team to win the World Series. Does he mean it? Or is just Lou being Lou? The main reason the Cubs almost never make the World Series is because their pitchers wear out because they play so many day games in the heat of the summer.

In the NL West, we like Arizona as ace starter Brandon Webb now has a strong second starter with the addition of Danny Haren. Both of these guys would be the #1 on most MLB teams. All of the teams we talked about here have lineups that can put up some big offensive numbers. The teams that will be in the Wild Card chase would be the Phillies, Braves, Rockies, and Dodgers. Next week will take a look at the American League.

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