Originally posted by Diesel
METS BABY! (If our pitching holds up)

Canes, there is one I think you are missing. I think the Cardinals have a strong team and could make a very good run at the whole thing.
You are right Diesel, I also forgot that Moises Alou is gone from Houston, so there's going to be even more pressure on Luìs Gonzalez and Berkman (I think that is his name, it's been a few months please forgive) to deliver the pop for the Astros, and after the All-Star Break last year Luìs Gonzalez faded badly. He didn't do well under the pressure.

St Louis is loaded, but JD Drew has GOT to produce more. Don't expect any miracles from Ankiel either, I see in the paper the other day he didn't have much control (8 walks in 3 innings) in his last start of spring and was relegated to minor league status to start the year. What happened to that kid?

My NL Rookie of the Year is our own Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett. This kid is 20 years old and has a WICKED bevy of pitches and has control of them. He is going to be something special.

And as for your Mets, they had better watch their tails as the Marlins will be nipping at them and Atlanta's heels all year. The Marlins pitching staff is the envy of MLB, and average age of them is 23 years old. If Dempster can cut down his walks, and if Penny gets run support (he had the second lowest in the NL last year) he can have a breakout year. Not to mention AJ BUrnett who had a no-hitter at age 21 last year. If the Marlins can do better in 1-run games (they lost a major league record 43 1-run games last year) they will be a force in the NL East.

As for the Phillies....even though they have two former Hurricanes (Pat Burrell and rookie Mike Metcalfe) starting for them this year, I still think they were a one-year-wonder.