NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM PREVIEWS IN ORDER OF PROJECTED FINISH.Byline: Staff and Wire Services EAST ATLANTA BRAVES The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. 2004: 96-66, first place. Manager: Bobby Cox Hits: Move of Smoltz to rotation and acquisition of Hudson gives Braves formidable starting five. Closer Kolb will not just be a fantasy baseball Fantasy baseball is a game whereby players manage imaginary baseball teams based on the real-life performance of baseball players, and compete against one another using those players' statistics to score points. hero after being granted parole from Milwaukee. Braves are solid everywhere in starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes except corner outfield spots. Check swings: Unless Mondesi and Jordan can revive their careers, the Braves will have outfield problems. Mondesi reported in great shape but has been battling hamstring problems. How seamless will Smoltz make the transition back to starter? He's looked great in spring training, but some question his durability. Outlook: Every year, it seems, another team is picked to win the NL East. And yet the Braves have a streak of 13 consecutive division titles. Furcal furcal /fur·cal/ (fur´k'l) shaped like a fork; forked. fur·cal adj. Forked. furcal forked. and Giles are the keys to the lineup. If they stay healthy, offense should score a lot of runs. If back end of the starting rotation produces, Braves should challenge for their 14th in a row. LINEUP SS Rafael Furcal Rafael Antoni Furcal[1] (born August 24, 1977 in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic),[2] nicknamed "Fookie", is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 2B Marcus Giles Marcus William Giles (born May 18, 1978 in San Diego, California) is a San Diego Padres Major League Baseball player who most recently played for the Atlanta Braves. He is a second baseman and bats right-handed. 3B Chipper Jones Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972, in DeLand, Florida), is an American Major League baseball player. Although initially a shortstop, Chipper has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. CF Andruw Jones Andruw Rudolf Jones (born April 23, 1977 in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles) is a baseball player who will be a free agent after the World Series. From 1996 until 2007, Jones played for the Atlanta Braves, a Major League Baseball franchise. C Johnny Estrada Johnny Pulado Estrada III (born June 27, 1976 in Hayward, California), is a Major League Baseball player. Estrada, a right-handed thrower and switch hitter, plays catcher. Estrada was selected in the 17th round of the June 1997 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. RF Raul Mondesi 1B Adam LaRoche David Adam LaRoche (born November 6, 1979 in Orange County, California), is a Major League Baseball player. He is currently the starting first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who traded for him in 2007 after he spent three seasons playing for the Atlanta Braves. LF Brian Jordan ROTATION RH John Smoltz John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967 in Warren, Michigan) is a Major League Baseball player currently playing with the Atlanta Braves. He is predominantly known as a starter and former Cy Young Award winner. RH Tim Hudson Timothy Adam Hudson (born July 14, 1975 in Salem, Alabama[1] ) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves. Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics (1999-2004) and played his last two years of college LH Mike Hampton Michael William Hampton (born September 9, 1972 in Brooksville, Florida, U.S.) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who plays for the Atlanta Braves. He bats right-handed and throws left-handed. Hampton is well-known for being one of the best active hitting pitchers. RH John Thomson John Thomson is the name of:
LH Horacio Ramirez CLOSER RH Danny Kolb Daniel Lee ("Danny" or "Dan") Kolb (born March 29, 1975 in Sterling, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher currently a free agent in Major League Baseball. Kolb has played with the Texas Rangers (1999-2002), Atlanta Braves (2005) and Milwaukee Brewers 2003-2004 and FLORIDA MARLINS The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Marlins have played in Dolphin Stadium. 2004: 83-79, third place. Manager: Jack McKeon John Aloysius McKeon (born November 23, 1930 in South Amboy, New Jersey), nicknamed Trader Jack, was a manager in Major League Baseball for the Florida Marlins. , third season. Hits: It will be no fun for opposing pitchers to face the Marlins. Combining power and speed, Florida will score a lot of runs. The Marlins were 11th in the NL in runs and 12th in homers last year, when their best left-handed hitter, Pierre, totaled three home runs. The addition of Delgado, who has 336 home runs, including at least 30 each of the past eight seasons in Toronto, gives the Marlins the left-handed power hitter they have long lacked. The Marlins also have the pitching to back up the offense. When healthy, Beckett can outduel any ace in the National League. The addition of Leiter to go with Burnett and Willis makes the top four spots in the rotation as good as anyone's in the league. The bullpen, with the additions of Todd Jones and Antonio Alfonseca Antonio Alfonseca (born April 16, 1972 in La Romana, Dominican Republic) is a right-handed pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization who is also known for his extra digit on each hand and foot. to go along with Mota, should not miss a beat despite the loss of Armando Benitez. Check swings: Jeff Conine Jeffrey Guy Conine (born June 27, 1966 in Tacoma, Washington) is a retired Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder who played his best years with the Florida Marlins. had two offseason shoulder surgeries and didn't play much in spring training. If he's not ready, Encarnacion, a good fielder, will be in right. Also, the health of the starting pitching is a concern. Beckett and Burnett have battled back from injuries, and the Marlins don't have enough depth if they are hurt. Outlook: The Marlins have the intangibles to unseat the Braves. They match up well with Atlanta and, barring injuries, should have a strong season. LINEUP CF Juan Pierre Juan D'Vaughn Pierre (born August 14, 1977 in Mobile, Alabama), is a professional baseball center fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed. In his seven years through 2006, Pierre has batted . 2B Luis Castillo There are three people named Luis Castillo:
LF Miguel Cabrera For the Mexican painter, see . José Miguel Torres Cabrera (born April 18, 1983 in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball player for the Florida Marlins. 1B Carlos Delgado This article is about the baseball player. For the Venezuelan president, see Carlos Delgado Chalbaud. Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández (born June 25, 1972 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball first baseman for the New York Mets. 3B Mike Lowell Michael Averett Lowell (born February 24, 1974 in Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball third baseman of Cuban descent and also a cancer survivor. He is a right-handed batter and is currently a member of the Boston Red Sox. C Paul Lo Duca Paul Anthony Lo Duca (born April 12, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York) is a catcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the New York Mets. Previously, Lo Duca played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004) and Florida Marlins (2004-2005). RF Juan Encarnacion SS Alex Gonzalez Alex González may refer to:
ROTATION RH Josh Beckett Joshua Patrick Beckett (born May 15, 1980) is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Boston Red Sox. In his career in the playoffs, he has won the World Series MVP Award in 2003 and pitched 65. LH Al Leiter RH A.J. Burnett LH Dontrelle Willis Dontrelle Wayne Willis (born January 12, 1982, in Oakland, California), nicknamed "The D-Train", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Florida Marlins. RH Ismael Valdez CLOSER RH Guillermo Mota Guillermo Reynoso Mota (born July 25, 1973 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently on the New York Mets. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES “Phillies” redirects here. For other uses, see Phillies (disambiguation). The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. 2004: 86-76, second place. Manager: Charlie Manuel, first season. Hits: The Phillies' everyday lineup is as good as anyone's in the NL East. Former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX standout Utley has been given the second base job, but super sub Placido Placido may refer to any of the following: People Placido is a traditional Spaniard clan name (see Clan Placido) and it is now a common given name and a less common surname. It is also a fairly common surname in Southern Italy. Polanco provides depth. The bullpen is strong, with Wagner and Tim Worrell anchoring. Check swings: Can Lofton play a full season in center? He's already been battling hamstring problems. The starting rotation also is a concern. A lack of a dominating No. 1 pitcher will hurt against teams such as the Braves and Marlins. And Vicente Padilla has already been disabled, giving highly touted rookie Gavin Floyd a shot. Outlook: With a $95 million payroll, this team is supposed to compete, and obtain for that matter, a playoff spot. The Phillies opted for a manager that promotes more harmony in the clubhouse than Larry Bowa did. But a player's manager is great when there's enough talent. The Phils have the offense, but unless the bottom end of the rotation delivers, or they can swing a trade to add more pitching, they will likely fall short. LINEUP SS Jimmy Rollins CF Kenny Lofton RF Bobby Abreu 1B Jim Thome LF Pat Burrell 2B Chase Utley C Mike Lieberthal 3B David Bell ROTATION RH Jon Lieber LH Randy Wolf RH Cory Lidle RH Brett Myers RH Gavin Floyd CLOSER LH Billy Wagner NEW YORK METS
2004: 71-91, fourth place. Manager: Willie Randolph, first season. Hits: The Mets METS Metropolitans (New York baseball team) METS Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard MetS Metabolic Syndrome METS Metabolic Equivalents (multiples of resting oxygen uptake) spent a lot of money in the offseason. Beltran makes them a more dynamic offense. And Piazza looks healthy and happy behind the plate. The infield defense with Matsui and Reyes up the middle and Mientkiewicz at first will be strong. On paper, the rotation looks good with the addition of Martinez. Check swings: The corner outfield spots are a question mark, with the oft-injured Floyd and unhappy Cameron. Piazza's defense also is a worry, as is the bullpen. Will Mike DeJean and Felix Heredia be enough to get the ball to Looper looper, name for caterpillars that move with a looping motion, including the inchworm and the cabbage looper. looper or cankerworm or inchworm ? Outlook: New GM Omar Minaya spent $172 million on Martinez and Beltran, but they can only do so much if their injury-prone teammates don't stay healthy. Reyes, Piazza and Floyd have missed substantial time the last two seasons. Matsui's rookie year was cut short by a back injury, and Cameron is coming off wrist surgery. Plus, Benson and Zambrano have a history of arm problems. This team is much deeper than in recent years, but the regulars must stay off the disabled list and produce if the Mets want to contend. LINEUP SS Jose Reyes 2B Kaz Matsui CF Carlos Beltran C Mike Piazza LF Cliff Floyd 3B David Wright 1B Doug Mientkiewicz RF Mike Cameron ROTATION RH Pedro Martinez LH Tom Glavine RH Kris Benson RH Victor Zambrano LH Kazuhisa Ishii CLOSER RH Braden Looper WASHINGTON NATIONALS 2004: 67-95, fifth place. Manager: Frank Robinson, fourth season. Hits: A permanent home should provide a boost, as will the additions of Castilla and Guzman. The offense was 14th in the NL with 635 runs and 15th in batting average (.249). Hernandez has led the NL the past two seasons in innings pitched and complete games. In 2004, no other pitcher on the team threw more than 140 innings. Check swings: The Nats will not score a lot of runs, and you have to wonder when Guillen will implode To link component pieces to a major assembly. It may also refer to compressing data using a particular technique. Contrast with explode. and wear out his welcome. The pitching is OK, but it's the offense that's the primary concern. Outlook: With a $50 million payroll, the Nationals are essentially a small-market team, with a tight budget imposed by Major League Baseball "MLB" and "Major Leagues" redirect here. For other uses, see MLB (disambiguation) and Major Leagues (disambiguation). Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. . New ownership should make a difference, although that's not expected until the summer. Unfortunately for Washington fans, the Nationals are an off-the-rack team in a custom-fitted division. They just don't have the talent to contend in the NL East. LINEUP LF Brad Wilkerson 1B Nick Johnson 2B Jose Vidro RF Jose Guillen 3B Vinny Castilla CF Ryan Church C Brian Schneider SS Cristian Guzman ROTATION RH Livan Hernandez RH Tony Armas Jr. RH Esteban Loaiza RH Tomo Ohka RH Zach Day CLOSER RH Chad Cordero CENTRAL ST. LOUIS CARDINALS For the National Football League team that played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, see . The St. Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards" or "the Redbirds") are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. 2004: 105-57, first place. Manager: Tony La Russa, 10th season. Hits: The Cardinals have the big bats to score a lot of runs. Walker in the outfield for a full season only makes them stronger. Bullpen is solid from top to bottom, and acquisition of Mulder to anchor the rotation was a big move. Check swings: Additions of Grudzielanek and Eckstein for Tony Womack and Edgar Renteria could cost the Cardinals pitchers. Neither Eckstein nor Grudzielanek have the range of their predecessors. Another move that could prove costly was letting defensive-minded Mike Matheny go behind the plate. Also, with Morris coming off shoulder surgery and Carpenter and Marquis wearing down at end of last season, middle of starting rotation is a concern. Outlook: Cards have firepower to compete for a playoff spot, but they aren't the same team that made it to the World Series last year. LINEUP SS David Eckstein RF Larry Walker 1B Albert Pujols 3B Scott Rolen CF Jim Edmonds LF Reggie Sanders 2B Mark Grudzielanek C Yadier Molina ROTATION RH Chris Carpenter RH Jason Marquis LH Mark Mulder RH Jeff Suppan RH Matt Morris CLOSER RH Jason Isringhausen CHICAGO CUBS 2004: 89-73, third place. Manager: Dusty Baker, third season. Hits: Subtraction subtraction, fundamental operation of arithmetic; the inverse of addition. If a and b are real numbers (see number), then the number a−b is that number (called the difference) which when added to b (the subtractor) equals of Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou in the clubhouse already has had positive effects on the other players. Cubs are solid at most positions and, if healthy, starting rotation is among best in baseball. Check swings: Can Patterson be a leadoff hitter so Todd Hollandsworth can be the everyday left fielder? Probably not, so look for Hairston to be in left and leading off. Wood appears healthy, but Prior is another story. Also, Cubs still haven't solved closer problem. Joe Borowski is hurt again, this time with wrist injury. Hawkins couldn't handle the job last year but will be given another opportunity. Outlook: Garciaparra had an impressive spring and once again appears healthy. With his offense, and that of Ramirez and Lee, the Cubs should score enough runs. Whether this team will win depends on the health of its starting pitching. LINEUP CF Corey Patterson 2B Todd Walker SS Nomar Garciaparra 3B Aramis Ramirez RF Jeromy Burnitz 1B Derrek Lee LF Todd Hollandsworth C Michael Barrett ROTATION RH Kerry Wood RH Mark Prior RH Carlos Zambrano RH Greg Maddux RH Ryan Dempster CLOSER RH LaTroy Hawkins HOUSTON ASTROS 2004: 92-70, second place. Manager: Phil Garner, first full season. Hits: Return of Pettitte makes this a very strong starting rotation. And Lidge is one of the better closers in the game. Check swings: Loss of Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent takes a significant amount of offensive production out of the lineup. Astros ASTROS Artillery Saturation Rocket System ASTROS Advanced Star/Target Reference Optical Sensor are looking to swing a deal for an outfielder but don't have much to trade. Thus, Biggio will be back in the outfield instead of his preferred spot at second base. This will give Burke a chance to show he belongs. Also, health of the rotation is a concern. If they lose Clemens, Oswalt or Pettitte for a long period of time, Houston is in trouble. Outlook: While Houston will miss Beltran and Kent, the Astros will try to win games with one of the best rotations in the majors. Unless Houston can figure out a way to generate offense, making the playoffs may be a stretch. LINEUP LF Craig Biggio SS Adam Everett 1B Jeff Bagwell RF Lance Berkman 3B Morgan Ensberg CF Jason Lane 2B Chris Burke C Brad Ausmus ROTATION RH Roy Oswalt LH Andy Pettitte RH Roger Clemens RH Brandon Backe RH Brandon Duckworth CLOSER RH Brad Lidge CINCINNATI REDS 2004: 76-86, fourth place. Manager: Dave Miley, third season. Hits: The Reds still have one too many outfielders. Wily Mo Pena is the odd man out until they can deal one of the other three. The starting pitching should be better, but that's not saying a lot, considering where the Reds were a year ago. Check swings: Jimenez and Aurilia at second and short don't conjure up memories of Joe Morgan and Dave Concepcion. Can Griffey finally put together an injury-free season? Cincinnati allowed a club-record 907 runs - most in the majors - and 236 homers, three shy of the NL record. The addition of Milton, who gave up an NL-leading 43 HRs with Philadelphia last year, won't help those numbers. Outlook: The Reds are better, but not nearly enough to be in the mix for a playoff spot. LINEUP 2B D'Angelo Jimenez SS Rich Aurilia 1B Sean Casey CF Ken Griffey Jr. RF Austin Kearns LF Adam Dunn 3B Joe Randa C Jason LaRue ROTATION RH Paul Wilson LH Eric Milton RH Ramon Ortiz RH Aaron Harang LH Brandon Claussen CLOSER RH Danny Graves MILWAUKEE BREWERS 2004: 67-94, sixth place. Manager: Ned Yost, third season. Hits: The addition of Lee should give the Brewers a little more punch in the lineup, and Miller behind the plate will help a young pitching staff. Check swings: The Brewers are counting heavily on their starting pitching staff to take the next step. Time will only tell if they have enough talent. By trading Danny Kolb, the Brewers turned their bullpen into an unknown commodity. Adams was good in a setup role, but being a major-league closer is a big step. Third base is up in the air, as Branyan and Wes Helms will platoon. Outlook: New owner Mark Attanasio, who paid $223 million for the club last winter, has infused the small-budget Brewers with money (a $15 million payroll boost to $43 million) and hope. His plan is to spend the next three seasons getting talent up through the minor-league system so he can compete annually come 2008. LINEUP CF Brady Clark 2B Junior Spivey 1B Lyle Overbay LF Carlos Lee RF Geoff Jenkins C Damian Miller 3B Russell Branyan SS J.J. Hardy ROTATION RH Ben Sheets LH Doug Davis RH Victor Santos LH Chris Capuano RH Wes Obermueller CLOSER RH Mike Adams PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2004: 72-89, fifth place. Manager: Lloyd McClendon, fifth season. Hits: Top of starting rotation and the bullpen is the strength of the team, as is infield defense up the middle from Castillo and Wilson. Check swings: Outside of Wilson, there is no hitter in this lineup that opposing pitchers fear. Outlook: This could be the best Pirates pitching staff since the early 1990s - if, if, if. If Perez keeps progressing. If Wells finally puts it together. If top prospect Zach Duke (minor-league-leading 1.46 ERA) emerges during the season. If Mesa, who turns 39 in May, can duplicate his career-salvaging season. If Redman does more than just eat up innings. And the offense is especially iffy if·fy adj. if·fi·er, if·fi·est Informal Doubtful; uncertain: an iffy proposition. [From if. , especially without Jason Kendall and his dependable .300 average. A lot must go right just for Pirates to reach .500 with the majors' second-lowest payroll after averaging 91 losses past five seasons. LINEUP RF Matt Lawton SS Jack Wilson LF Jason Bay 1B Craig Wilson 3B Ty Wigginton CF Tike Redman 2B Jose Castillo C Benito Santiago ROTATION LH Oliver Perez RH Kip Wells LH Mark Redman RH Josh Fogg LH Dave Williams CLOSER RH Jose Mesa WEST SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California that currently play in the National League West Division. New York Giants history Early days and the John McGraw era 2004: 91-71, second place. Manager: Felipe Alou, third season. Hits: Alou's addition gives the Giants a little more pop in the middle of the lineup. Matheny is an excellent defensive catcher who should help some of the younger pitchers. If the Giants had Benitez closing games last year, they would have won the division going away. In fact, the Giants blew 28 saves last year, including a three-run lead in the ninth inning on the second-to-last day of the season to give the Dodgers the NL West title. Check swings: When or if Bonds will play. The Giants' average age for the eight regulars is 36. Outlook: The Giants got good reviews for many of their offseason moves but for this team to make it back to the postseason, the veterans can't afford much drop-off in their recent levels of play. And no matter what newcomers such as Alou, Vizquel, Benitez and Matheny do on the field, none of it will matter if Bonds doesn't return and play close to the level he has had while winning MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. awards the past four seasons. Even if the Giants aren't in the pennant race, September could still be interesting with Bonds pursuing Hank Aaron's career home run record and the BALCO trial tentatively set to start. LINEUP 2B Ray Durham SS Omar Vizquel 1B J.T. Snow RF Moises Alou LF Pedro Feliz CF Marquis Grissom 3B Edgardo Alfonzo C Mike Matheny ROTATION RH Jason Schmidt LH Kirk Rueter RH Brett Tomko LH Noah Lowry RH Jerome Williams CLOSER RH Armando Benitez SAN DIEGO PADRES 2004: 87-75, third place. Manager: Bruce Bochy, 11th season. Hits: The Padres' everyday lineup might not be the flashiest in the division, but it is the most solid. The defense is good, and they have enough power, especially if Klesko is healthy. The starting rotation is deep, as is the bullpen. Check swings: The starting pitchers have a history of breaking down. The outfield is another concern. Not only is it perhaps the worst-throwing outfield in the majors, but Klesko and Giles are coming off subpar sub·par adj. 1. Not measuring up to traditional standards of performance, value, or production. 2. Below par in a hole, round, or game of golf. seasons. Part of Klesko's problem was he was coming off September 2003 surgery on his right shoulder, but he and Giles, both left-handed hitters, got psyched out by the vast right and right-center fields at Petco Park, which swallowed up what they thought should be home runs. Roberts will give the Padres a much-needed spark on the basepaths, but he's been prone to hamstring and groin injuries. The Padres are prepping super-sub Xavier Nady to back up Roberts. Outlook: The Padres are essentially the same team as last year, when they improved by 23 wins and stayed in the playoff race until the final week. They finished with their best record since 1998, when they won the NL pennant. The team made mostly minor tweaks in the offseason, and there's no reason it can't contend again. The loss of David Wells might hurt, but Williams is a capable replacement. RHP rhp abbr. rated horsepower Jake Peavy strained his groin in spring training but is expected to be ready to start the home opener April 7. LINEUP CF Dave Roberts 2B Mark Loretta RF Brian Giles 1B Phil Nevin LF Ryan Klesko SS Khalil Greene C Ramon Hernandez 3B Sean Burroughs ROTATION RH Jake Peavy RH Woody Williams RH Brian Lawrence RH Adam Eaton RH Tim Redding CLOSER RH Trevor Hoffman LOS ANGELES DODGERS "Dodgers" and "Brooklyn Dodgers" redirect here. For the American football team, see Brooklyn Dodgers (football). For the Eastern Basketball Association team, see Brooklyn Dodgers (basketball). 2004: 93-69, first place. Manager: Jim Tracy, fifth season. Hits: Kent and Drew give the Dodgers a little more dynamic in the middle of the lineup. Lowe adds depth to the rotation. Check swings: Whether Bradley can keep from imploding. If Penny and Gagne can stay healthy. If Valentin, who was not a good defensive shortstop, can play third. Whether Phillips will hit enough behind the plate. And if that isn't enough, how about Choi at first base. He hit .270 with 15 homers and 40 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in for the Marlins last season before being traded to the Dodgers, where he was a flop. Choi hit just .161 in 62 at-bats after the deal, completed at the end of July. Outlook: The popular view has been to rip GM Paul DePodesta for all his moves. But the fact of the matter is nobody gave the Dodgers much of a chance last year, and they won the division. With no clear-cut favorite in the division, it's not inconceivable the Dodgers steal the title for the second consecutive season. LINEUP SS Cesar Izturis LF Jayson Werth RF J.D. Drew 2B Jeff Kent CF Milton Bradley 3B Jose Valentin C Jason Phillips 1B Hee-Seop Choi ROTATION RH Derek Lowe LH Odalis Perez RH Jeff Weaver RH Elmer Dessens RH Scott Erickson CLOSER RH Eric Gagne ARIZONA DIAMONBACKS 2004: 51-111, fifth place. Manager: Bob Melvin, first season. Hits: The team upgraded its offense with the additions of Green, Glaus, Cruz and Clayton. The D'backs also have good depth in the starting rotation despite trading Randy Johnson. Check swings: Gonzalez is coming off elbow surgery, and the D'backs can't afford to not have him in the lineup. Hill and Tracy are unproven youngsters, and Arizona is desperate for relief pitching. Outlook: The team bears almost no resemblance to last year's disaster, and that could mean a huge turnaround. Certainly, it can't get much worse. A .500 season is a possibility, and it's not beyond belief that the team could even contend in the mediocre NL West, depending on injuries, the success of the rotation, and the production from the power trio of Gonzalez, Glaus and Green. LINEUP 2B Craig Counsell SS Royce Clayton LF Luis Gonzalez 3B Troy Glaus RF Shawn Green CF Jose Cruz Jr. 1B Chad Tracy C Koyie Hill ROTATION RH Javier Vazquez RH Russ Ortiz LH Shawn Estes RH Brandon Webb LH Brad Halsey CLOSER RH Greg Aquino COLORADO ROCKIES 2004: 68-94, fourth place. Manager: Clint Hurdle, fourth season. Hits: Helton and Wilson will be counted on to provide a lot of the offense. Check swings: Whether anyone else in the starting lineup can provide any support. Atkins has shown he can handle a bat, but is still a work in progress with the glove. A steady fielder in the minors, Barmes gets his first real test in the majors. The inexperience could lead to some long games for Colorado's rotation, which relies more on groundouts than strikeouts. Outlook: The Rockies have retooled their roster with an emphasis on youth, hoping to build for the future. Problem is it isn't likely to help the team much this season. Colorado will open with two regulars - Helton and Wilson - who have played more than one full season in the majors, and the growing pains grow·ing pains pl.n. Pains in the limbs and joints of children or adolescents, frequently occurring at night and often attributed to rapid growth but arising from various unrelated causes. could hurt. Oddsmakers in Vegas have picked Colorado to win 67 games, the lowest in the majors, and that number could be on the high end if some of the Rockies' rookies don't pan out. LINEUP 2B Aaron Miles 3B Garrett Atkins 1B Todd Helton CF Preston Wilson LF Matt Holliday RF Brad Hawpe C J.D. Closser SS Clint Barmes ROTATION RH Jason Jennings LH Joe Kennedy LH Jeff Francis RH Shawn Chacon RH Jamey Wright CLOSER LH Brian Fuentes CAPTION(S): 16 photos Photo: (1) Tim Hudson (2) Carlos Delgado (3) Jon Lieber (4) Carlos Beltran (5) Esteban Loaiza (6) Mark Mulder (7) Nomar Garciaparra (8) Brad Lidge (9) Eric Milton (10) Carlos Lee (11) Benito Santiago (12) Mike Matheny (13) Dave Roberts (14) Derek Lowe (15) Shawn Green (16) Garrett Atkins |
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