2013 National League West Preview

***The Division Preview that follows is not betting advice in any way shape or form.  Please do not bet any money based in any part on these predictions.***

Don't forget to also check out the AL East,  AL Central, AL West,  NL East and NL Central previews from the past three weeks.  Check back next week for the final predictions (with some updates based on injuries and spring training performances) as well as the actual playoff, World Series, MVP and Cy Young predictions.

It may be a surprise but this division has produced 6 World Series participants since the three division format began in 1995.  The six league participants were the Padres (1998), Diamondbacks (2001), Giants (2002), Rockies (2007) and Giants (2010 and 2012).  The Diamondbacks and the last two Giants teams won it all, while the 2002 Giants lost  Game 7 to the Angels.

This division has also produced some of the best rivalries in the sport.  The Giants-Dodgers has always been a great rivalry and with both teams fielding competitive teams the rivalry should be at a flash point this year. For a few years in the middle of the 2000's the Padres-Dodgers rivarly was heating up as well, as the two teams were constantly fighting each other for the top spot.  When both teams started to fall off the rivalry cooled.

Similar to the American League West and the National League East, every team has spent time in every part of the division.  The Giants (1997, 2000, 2003, 2010 and 2012) and Diamondbacks  (1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2011) have won the most division titles.  They are followed closely by the Dodgers (1995, 2004, 2008 and 2009) and Padres (1996, 1998, 2005 and 2006).  The Rockies reached the World Series as a Wild Card in 2007.

This division is much more competitive than most fans give it credit for.  The Rockies are clearly at the bottom of the league and one of the worst teams in baseball.  The rest of the division is very closely contested.  The Giants always seem to come out on top despite low national expectations and the Padres and Dodgers are improving.  Here is how I see it playing out:

San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
94-68 (1st in NL West)
Defeated Reds 3-2 in NLDS
Defeated Cardinals 4-3 in NLCS
Defeated Tigers 4-0 in World Series
Who's new?*:
Jake Dunning (P) promoted from minors, Edwin Escobar (P) promoted from minors, Chris Heston (P) promoted from minors, Sandy Rosario (P) waiver claim from Cubs, Tony Abreu (2B) waiver claim from Royals, Ehre Adrianza (SS) promoted from minors , Nick Noonan (SS) promoted from minors , Angel Villalona (1B) promoted from minors, Roger Kieschnick (OF) promoted from minors, Juan Perez (OF) promoted from minors, Andres Torres (OF) free agent from Mets.
Who left?*:
Eric Hacker (P) unsigned free agent, Clay Hensley (P) free agent to Reds, Guillermo Mota (P) unsigned free agent, Brad Penny (P) unsigned free agent , Brian Wilson (P) unsigned free agent , Eli Whiteside (C)waiver claim by Yankees , Ryan Theriot (2B) unsigned free agent, Emmanuel Burriss (2B) free agent to Reds, Melky Cabrera (OF) free agent to Blue Jays, Aubrey Huff (OF) unsigned free agent, Justin Christian (OF) free agent to Cardinals.
What to expect: 
With the exception of Melky Cabrera moving on to Toronto, this team is returning almost untouched.  That is something quite rare for a World Series Champion in today's game.  The Giants may have even upgraded over Cabrera by adding Andres Torres from the Mets.  If Lincecum is healthy and Zito can continue his resurgence the rest of the league may be chasing the Giants all summer.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
Dating all the way back to the days of John McGraw, Christy Matthewson and Roger Bresnahan's days in New York the Giants are a big part of the history of the league.  They had long runs of success from 1904-1924, 1933-1938, 1951-1962 and then a long absence from the consistently good teams everyne remembered until the early part of this century. 
Why might this season not turn out like Giants fans want?: 
Several players may have overachieved last year including Barry Zito, who overcame several seasons below expectations to win 15 games and give the Giants strong playoff pitching performances,and Marco Scutaro, who was looked at as a liability heading into the playoffs.  The pitching staff is the key and a strong Lincecum is the key to the pitching staff.  If Lincecum struggles and Zito does not overachieve again look for the Giants to look very catchable.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Sergio Romo did not want to be a closer last year, he just kind of worked his way into the job.  The Giants needed someone to replace the injured Brian Wilson an he did such a good job that the Giants did not resign a healthy Wilson.  Romo did not really have time to think about his new position, he just had to adapt.  Now  that he has had time to think about the importance he may or may not be able to repeat the performance.
Expect great things from:
Buster Posey has played two full seasons in the majors.  In 2010 he won Rookie of the Year and the Giants won the World Series.  In 2011 he was injured and missed most of the year with a broken ankle and the Giants missed the playoffs.  In 2012 Posey came back and won an MVP and Silver Slugger award and the Giants again won the World Series.  Posey seems to be in the middle of everything good that happens to the Giants. As long as he's behind the plate the giants have the chance to win.
Time for him to step up:
After winning two of the last three World Series and getting clutch performances from unexpected players it is hard to say anyone needs to step up.
Is this his last chance?:
Tim Lincecum was probably asking whatever happened to loyalty.  The four time All Star, two time Cy Young Award winner and best pitcher in baseball, had an off year.  You could call it a terrible year.  When he finished 10-15 with an ERA above 5.00 he was left out of the playoff rotation and moved to long relief.  It seems like his great contributons to the rebirth of the Giants organization have been forgotten and he will need to have a big season to stay in the rotation.
Prediction:
1st place in NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
86-76 (2nd in NL West)
Who's new?*:
Steve Ames (P) promoted from minors, Zack Greinke (P) free agent from Angels, J.P. Howell (P) free agent from Rays, Matt Magill (P) promoted from minors, Hyun-Jin Ryu (P) free agent from Korea, Chris Withrow (P) promoted from minors, Skip Schumacker (SS) trade from Cardinals, Yasiel Puig (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Joe Blanton (P) free agent to Angels, Randy Choate (P) free agent to Cardinals , Todd Coffey (P) unsigned free agent, John Ely (P) trade to Astros, Jamey Wright (P) free agent to Rays, Matt Treanor (C) unsigned free agent, Adam Kennedy (2B) unsigned free agent, Shane Victorino (OF) free agent to Red Sox, Bobby Abreu (OF) unsigned free agent ,  Juan Rivera (OF) free agent to Yankees .
What to expect: 
The Dodgers have a lot of potential and an almost unlimited payroll.  Injuries and questions about who is playing where could lead to a slow start and added pressure.  Dodgers fans should be excited about the future but it may still take them a few years to get the right combination of players to reach the World Series.  Regardless, this team is too talented not to challenge for a Wild Card spot.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
When the Dodgers and Giants are both good at the same time it means the best rivalry in the history of sports is at its best.  This rivalry goes back to the beginning of professioal baseball and has only grown as the years go on.  If things go right for the Dodgers, the northern California-southern California rivalry should be at its most vicious.
Why might this season not turn out like Dodgers fans want?: 
Teams like the Dodgers could go one of two ways:  it could be the greatest collection of talent we have seen in a long time or it could be a train wreck that ends up with players scattered across the league at the trading deadline.  On paper the Dodgers are an All Star team all by themselves.  In reality there are some issues.  Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Chad Billingsley and Zack Greinke are already suffering from injuries.  Hanley Ramirez is out for the first two months and now there is the question of whether to move Luis Cruz from thirdbase to shortstop or leave him at third and play Dee Gordon (who for some reason has not impressed the Dodgers managment).  Dee Gordon was moved to the minor league camp on Tuesday so Cruz will be playing mostly at shortstop but that still leaves the question of who will play third?  The pitching rotation somehow has 8 solid starters but no one seems to know who is in the rotation.  The lineup is not quite set as Crawford and Kemp will be playing hur on opening day, Cruz is playing shortstop, or thirdbase or...?  Andre Ethier is constantly mentioned in trade rumors.  The players love Don Mattingly but the ownership has refused to give him an extended contract until he has proven he can get this team deep in the playoffs.  Adding to Mattingly's troubles could be having Mark McGwire as the new hitting coach.  It is hard to imagine two people with more varying philosphies in hitting.  It could lead to mixed signals to players looking for batting help.  The new ownership has spent a ton of money and expects results now. 
Don't expect too much from him: 
Matt Kemp has tremendous talent and should have won the 2011 MVP. The expectations coming into the 2012 season for Kemp were unrealistic.  He had a good season by most players' standards (especially when his injuries are taken into account) but it was considered a disappointment.  Kemp had significant surgery in the offseason.  Expect Kemp to fall somewhere in between the 2011 spectacular season and the 2012 "disappointment".  If the talent around him performs he won't need to reach the 2011 numbers for the team to reach the playoffs.
Expect great things from:
Adrian Gonzales had a rough stay in Boston and was happy to return to Southern California.  He made a big splash in his Dodgers debut but as the season went on his struggles continued.  Gonzales consistently worked on trying to correct his problems himself but finally went to McGwire for help.  He found that he was lifting his head and getting his hands too far out in front in an atempt to hit with more power.  With the work he has put in this year and his natural talent expect Gonzales to return to his San Diego performance level.
Time for him to step up:
A.J. Ellis took over for Russell Martin when Martin moved on to New York.  He took over an underachieving pitching staff.  The staff is now full of veteran, All Star, highly paid pitchers who know what they want to throw. Ellis is still a young catcher who will need to confidently call a game and be able to demand the respect and trust of the veteran pitchers.  If he allows the pitcher to take control and go away from the scouting reports the Dodgers will have a long summer.
Is this his last chance?:
Josh Beckett's stay in Boston started off with great results.  It ended with hard feelings and bad statistics.  There were stories of Beckett being a problem in the clubhouse and having a poor attitude.  Beckett has not shown any of these signs in his short time in Los Angeles and without the pressure of being the ace of the staff he can relax and pitch but if things don't go well, he is old enough that teams may think twice about adding him to ther staff.
Prediction:
2nd Place in NL West (2nd Wild Card)

San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
76-86 (4th in NL West)
Who's new?*:
Fautino De los Santos (P) waiver claim from Brewers, Jose De Paula (P) pomoted from minors, Adys Portillo (P) promoted from minors, Tyson Ross (P) trade from Athletics, Edinson Rincon (3B) promoted from minors, Yeison Asencio (OF) promoted from minors, Jaff Decker (OF) promoted from minors, Rymer Liriano (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Cory Burns (P) trade to Rangers, Dustin Moseley (P) unsigned free agent , Ross Ohlendorf (P) free agent to Nationals, Micah Owings (P) free agent to Nationals, Matt Palmer (P) free agent to Dodgers, Josh Spence (P) waiver claim by Yankees, Kip Wells (P) unsigned free agent , Andrew Werner (P) trade to Athletics, Ali Solis (C) waiver claim by Pirates, Andy Parrino (SS) trade to Athletics.
What to expect: 
The common perception is that the Padres have been bad for a long time.  The reality is that it was only six years ago that the Padres lost a one game playoff to the Rockies for the Wild Card spot and only three years since they went into the final two games of the season with a chance to win the division over the eventual World Champion Giants.  This is a different team than the one that nearly won in 2010 but the second half of 2012 certainly got Padres fans excited.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Padres are generally considered a baseball graveyard.  A few years ago the typical thought of San Diego was that they were a terrible team and it was a shame that someone as talented as Adrian Gonzalez was wasting his talent.  That season they almost won the division.  Over the next two years, the Padres traded away their talent or lost most of them to free agency.  Yet during the second half of last year, the Padres played great ball.  For the Padres players who stuck around after the near win a few years ago it would be nice to see them overcome the low budget and poor perceptions.
Why might this season not turn out like Padres fans want?: 
The Padres had a very strong second half of 2012 that seemed to imply that Bud Black had the team moving in the right direction.  It is possible that the second half was misleading as the roster does not appear to have the talent needed to compete with the Dodgers and Giants. 
Don't expect too much from him:
Carlos Quentin's career with the White Sox got off to a great start.  He made two All Star teams and finished in the top 5 of MVP voting.  He was traded to San Diego before the 2012 season but suffered with injuries.  Quentin likely won't finish in the top 5 in MVP voting but he should make good contributions to the Padres.
Expect great things from:
Chase Headley had a breakout 2012 season.  He hit 31 Home Runs, nearly doubling his career total, and drove in 115 runs.  Headley seems to have finally figured it all out and will be the leader of this team.  If he repeats his 2012 numbers the Padres may surprise a lot of people.  He may have some trouble getting started as he jammed his thumb and is likely starting the season on the disabled list.
Time for him to step up:
Edinson Volquez showed great promise in his few years in Cincinnati even going 17-6 in 2008 and starting the All Star game.  Since then he has failed to live up to expectations and after his 17 win season he failed to win more than 5 games in any season. When Mat Latos became available, the Reds jumped at the chance.  In San Diego Volquez was spectacular going 11-11 on a losing team.  He needs to be the pitcher he was in 2008 if San Diego wants to challenge for a Wild Card spot.
Is this his last chance?:
Yasmani Grandal came to San Diego from the Reds along with Volquez in the deal that sent Mat Latos to the Reds.  He played in a total of 50 games in 2012 and hit .298 but will miss the first 50 games of the season with a PED suspension.  Manager Bud Black was not secretive about his displeasure over the suspension and the negative impact it had, especially after the positive end to last year. When Grandal comes back he will need to have an impact to make it up to his teammates.
Prediction:
3rd Place NL West


Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
81-81 (3rd in NL West)
Who's new?*:
Chase Anderson (P) promoted from minors, Heath Bell (P) trade from Marlins , Charles Brewer (P) promoted from minors , Eury de la Rosa (P) promoted from minors, Randall Delgado (P) trade from Braves, Brandon McCarthy (P) free agent from Athletics , Starling Peralta (P) Rule 5 draft pick from Cubs, Matt Reynolds (P) trade from Rockies, Tony Sipp (P) trade from Indians, Eric Smith (P) promoted from minors, Zeke Spruill (P) trade from Braves, Eric Chavez (3B) free agent from Yankees, Didi Gregorious (SS) trade from Reds , Cliff Pennington (SS) free agent from Athletics , Martin Prado (3B) trade from Braves, Keon Broxton (OF) promoted from minors, Tony Campana (OF) trade from Cubs, Eric Hinske (OF) free agent from Braves, Alfredo Marte (OF) promoted from minors, Cody Ross (OF) free agent from Red Sox.
Who left?*:
Jonathan Albaladejo (P) free agent to Marlins, Matt Albers (P) trade to Indians, Trevor Bauer (P) trade to Indians, Brad Bergesen (P) unsigned free agent, Sam Demel (P) waiver claim by Astros, Matt Lindstrom (P) free agent to White Sox, Joe Martinez (P) free agent to Indians, Takashi Saito (P) unsigned free agent, Bryan Shaw (P) trade to Indians, Mike Zagurski (P) free agent to Pirates, Knorad Schmidt (C) waiver claim by Rangers, Henry Blanco (C) free agent to Blue Jays, Mike Jacobs (1B) free agent to Mariners, Ryan Wheeler (3B) trade to Rockies, Chris Johnson (3B) trade to Braves, Geoff Blum (3B) unsigned free agent, Josh Bell (3B) unsigned free agent , Jake Elmore (SS) waiver claim by Astros, Chris Young (OF) trade to Athletics, Justin Upton (OF) trade to Braves, Tyler Graham (OF) unsigned free agent.
What to expect: 
The Diamondbacks surprised everyone with a division title in 2011.  They disappointed everyone with a poor 2012.  They shocked everyone by trading away Justin Upton.  The Diamondbacks seem to be a team at war with itself and with few established stars.  As the Dodgers and Padres improve and the Giants remain consistent the Diamondbacks will need to figure out what direction they are headed. 
Why should you root for these guys?:
The players on this team have lost their leader and marquee player .  Justin Upton led the team to a playoff appearance in 2011 and very nearly beat the Brewers in the NLDS that year and very nearly won the MVP.  It is unclear what caused the Diamondbacks to sour on Upton but the players left behind are suffering for it. 
Why might this season not turn out like Diamondbacks fans want?: 
The big bat and leader on this team was Justin Upton.  With Upton gone the Diamondbacks will need to get a big performance from a lot of players to pick up the slack.  The biggest problem is the lack of pitching.  Although Ian Kennedy, Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill have potential they all had down years (McCarthy suffered an injury causing him to miss significant time for the A's).  They will need the pitiching staff to reach their potential if they want a chance to get in the playoffs.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Adam Eaton has a total of 22 games in the major leagues.  He is replacing one of the best players in the history of the organization, Justin Upton.  It was announced last week that he will miss 6-8 weeks with an elbow sprain.  Adam Eaton has a lot of potential and could push for a Rookie of the Year award when he returns but an MVP, or Justin Upton type numbers, are out of the question.
Expect great things from:
Martin Prado came to Arizona from the Braves in exchange for Justin Upton.  Prado is a .300 hitter and may not have the power of Upton but he has the speed at the top of the lineup that Arizona needs.  Prado was well respected in the Braves clubhouse and some were not happy to see him go, especially so quickly after Chipper Jones left.  Expect Prado to bring the same leadership to Arizona.
Time for him to step up:
When the Diamondbacks reached the playoffs in 2011, Paul Goldschmidt hit .306 with 30 Home Runs and drove in 94 runs.  In the 5 game NLDS against the Brewers he hit .438 with 2 Home Runs (one of them a Grand Slam) and 6 RBI.  His follow up season was much less impressive.  He hit only .286, drove in only 86 and hit only 20 Home Runs.  With the loss of Upton the team will need Goldschmidt to blossom into the team leader and to lead with his powerful bat.
Is this his last chance?:
Eric Chavez was a star in this league in the early 2000's.  As the Oakland Third Baseman Chavez was a recognizable name and was used in nationwide advertising for the playoffs from 2000-2002.  Back problems slowed his career but he has remained a solid contributor and filled in nicely for the Yankees when Alex Rodriguez was injured last year.  Chavez will not be a starter but will see significant playing time.  Chavez has always been a class act but he may not have many more chances to win a title.
Prediction:
4th Place in NL West

Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
64-98 (5th Place in NL West)
Who's new?*:
Joe Gardner (P) promoted from minors, Wilton Lopez (P) trade from Astros , Daniel Rosenbaum (P) rule 5 draft pick from Nationals, Josh Sullivan (P) promoted from minors, Cristhian Adames (SS) promoted from minors , Reid Brigniac (SS) trade from Rays , Charlie Culberson (2B) trade from Giants , Ryan Wheeler (3B) trade from Diamondbacks , Tim Wheeler (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Mike Ekstrom (P) free agent to Athletics, Jeremy Guthrie (P) free agent to Royals , Guillermo Moscoso (P) waiver claim by Royals, Zach Putnam (P) free agent to Cubs , Matt Reynolds (P) trade to Diamondbacks, Josh Roenicke (P) waiver claim by Twins, Carlos Torres (P) free agent to Mets, Alex White (P) trade to Astros, Thomas Field (2B) waiver claim by Twins , Andrew Brown (OF) free agent to Mets, Jason Giambi (1B) free agent to Indians.
What to expect: 
The Rockies faithful need to have low expectations.  Very low.  Instead of aiming to win a wild card spot they should aim to avoid finishing below the Astros, Marlins and Mets for the worst record in baseball.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Rockies are in a truly terrible period of their history.  They have three great players in Troy Tulowitski, Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzales but little else.  Anyone who enjoys rooting for the underdog, here's your team.
Why might this season not turn out like Rockies fans want?: 
Similar to the Astros, Rockies fans need to be realistic.  This is not a good team.  Although they have some talent it is not enough to keep them competitive and if they are blown away with offers for the talent they have don't be surprised to see Tulowitski and Carlos Gonzales in new uniforms by the trading deadline.
Don't expect too much from him:
Carlos Gonzalez caught fire in the second half of the 2010 season and finished the season with a .336 average.  Imagine what that season could have been like for te Rockies if Gonzalez's amazing second half could have been timed with Ubaldo Jimenez's amazing first hhalf.  At any rate, it wasn't and the Rockies had a bad year but Gonzalez was anointed by some as the best hitter in the game and the best hitter for the next era. He has followed up that season with a .295 and a .303 average  Gonzlaez is a great player and if he were playing in a lineup with some better protction he might see some better pitches.  Gonzalez will be a near .300 hitter but don't expect him to be the greatest hitter of the era.
Expect great things from:
Troy Tulowitski was a big reason the team reached the World Series in 2007.  He has been the clear star and fan favorite of the team since then.  Tulowitski is healthy again and should be back to his best after a few down seasons.
Time for him to step up:
Jeff Francis was one of the pitching stars (17-6) of the 2007 World Series team and was expected to continue his excellence  for many years.  Since then he has gone 4-10 (2008), 4-6 (2010), 6-16 (2011 in Kansas City) and 6-7 (2012).  Francis needs to recapture the magic that took the rockies to a surprise World Series appearance.
Is this his Last Chance?:
Todd Helton has been the team's most identifiable player over the history of the franchise.  He is likeTony Gwynn in San Diego, Ken Griffey Jr in Seattle or George Brett in Kansas City.  Helton is the Rockies.  h\He has been their best player but he is now almost 40 and his average dropped to .238 as he played in less than 70 games.  Helton will continue to represent the team with class but he will not likely be hitting .350 any more.  A playoff contending team looking for a strong veteran addition to get over the hump (read Padres, Pirates or A's) may make an offer for Helton at the trade deadline.  It may be his only chance to win.
Prediction: 5th Place in NL West

*-All roster changes are based on active rosters at the end of 2012 and active rosters as of the week of 3/3.  Teams may have non-roster invitees in camp who are not listed in the "Who's New?" category.

2013 National League Central Preview

***The Division Preview that follows is not betting advice in any way shape or form.  Please do not bet any money based in any part on these predictions.***

Don't forget to also check out the AL East,  AL Central, AL West  and NL East previews from the past three weeks.  Check back next week for the NL Central preview.

This is a division in transition. The Reds are clearly on the incline while Milwaukee and St.Louis are falling towards the middle or bottom.  The Cubs are greatly improved and the Pirates (the only team in the division not to make the playoffs since the league moved to the three division format) are actually expected to compete for a playoff spot.  The division has changed since last season as the Astros have now moved to the American League West.

This division has provided fewer World Series participants than any other National League division.  The division did not produce a league Champion until the 2004 Cardinals.  Since then the division has only sent three more participants (2005 Astros, 2006 Cardinals and 2011 Cardinals).

Obviously the Cardinals have dominated the division for most of the NL Central's existence.  The Cardinals have won the division seven times (1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009).  The Reds have won three division titles (1995, 2010 and 2012). The Cubs have won three division titles (2003, 2007 and 2008).  The Astros won four division titles before moving to the American League West (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001). The Brewers have won the division one time (2011) and the Pirates have never won the division. 

Although the Reds are clearly the best in the division, the other four teams could land in any of the other four spots.  Here is how I see it playing out:


Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds logo Courtesy of Sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
97-65 (1st Place in NL Central)
Lost to Giants 3-2 in NLDS.
Who's new?*:
Carlos Contreras (P) promoted from minors, Daniel Corcino (P) promoted from minors, Ismael Guillion (P) promoted from minors, Kyle Lotzkar (P) promoted from minors, Nick Massett (P) return from injury , Manny Parra (P) free agent from Brewers , Curtis Partch (P) promoted from minors, Josh Ravin (P) promoted from minors, Jason Donald (3B) trade from Indians, Jack Hannahan (3B) free agent from Indians, Donald Lutz (1B) promoted from minors, Neftali Soto (1B) promoted from minors, Shin-Soo Choo (OF) trade from Indians, Yoman Rodriguez (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Bill Bray (P) free agent to Nationals, Todd Redmond (P) waiver claim by Orioles, Dioner Navarro (C) free agent to Cubs, Scott Rolen (3B) unsigned free agent, Miguel Cairo (SS) unsigned free agent, Wilson Valdez (SS) free agent to Giants , Didi Gregorious (SS) trade to Indians , Drew Stubbs (OF) trade to Indians, Willie Harris (UT) unsigned free agent, Mike Constanzo (UT) free agent to Nationals.
What to expect: 
The Reds have some unfinished business.  They had the best record in the NL for a good part of last season and Johnny Cueto was truly great last season.  The last month of the season was tough.  There was a controversy over whether the team was better with Todd Frazier or Scott Rolen in the everyday lineup.  Dusty Baker suffered a stroke and Johnny Cueto suffered an arm injury in the first playoff game. The Reds were the favorites going into the playoffs last year and had Cueto been healthy and Buster Posey not crushed their dream with one swing in game 5 of the NLDS things might have gone different.  Expect the Reds to be angry about the way last season ended and enter this year with a determination to correct it.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Reds are the original franchise.  Literally. The Cincinnati Redstockings way back in 1869 paid the first ever professional players.  Since then they have gone through waves of spectacular achievements (1919, 1940, 1975-1976, 1990 World Series Champions) as well as unspeakable lows (Pete Rose's scandal, Marge Schott's controversy, the controversy of the 1981 split season).  The league is always better when the original teams are competitive.  In addition, Dusty Baker is one of the most underrated managers in history.  He led the Giants to Game 7 in 2002 before being beaten by the Angels.  He led the Cubs to within a few innings of their first World Series since 1945.  Since taking over the Reds he has led them to two playoff appearances in the last three years, their first appearances in 15 years.  Baker has been questioned by the fans over whether he is the right man for the job and deserves nothing less than the hardware to prove that he is.
Why might this season not turn out like Reds fans want?: 
There are still plenty of questions for this team that have taken up nearly all of the off season.  Is Todd Frazier as good as he played in his rookie year?  Will Aroldis Chapman be a starter despite Baker's wishes that he still close?  Will Broxton be the Broxton of 2008 or the Broxton of 2010? Will Shin Soo Choo be the lead off hitter that Cincinnati thought Drew Stubbs would be? Luckily the Reds will have Baker to lead them and find the right answers to these questions and any others that might pop up.  Baker has already answered one question.,  Chapman will be the closer but now the question is what will happen to Broxton?
Don't expect too much from him: 
Todd Frazier started the year as a utility player off the bench filling in wherever the Reds needed him and pinch hitting.  By late July it was clear that he was having a great rookie season and needed to play everyday.  When Scott Rolen suffered through injuries Frazier forced Baker to decide between an unproven hot bat and an aching, recovering veteran.  Rolen went 4-16 in the NLDS.  Frazier went 1-6.  Frazier will get a full season to prove that he is the third baseman of the future.  Don't expect him to put up the numbers that earned Rolen his reputation but do expect him to be a key role player in the Reds drive for a pennant.
Expect great things from:
Brandon Phillips is hands down the best second baseman in the National League.  With Chase Utley suffering through several injury filled seasons Phillips has become the best at the position.  It is almost impossible to believe some of the plays he makes and what is even more impossible to believe is that there was no room for him on the All Star team last year.  Phillips not only shines in the field, he is a big piece of the Reds offensive attack and has good speed, great knowledge and great leadership skills.  When Votto went down with injuries last year Phillips caught fire until he also went down with injuries.  If he has a full season, look for Phillips to become the first Reds second baseman to win an MVP since Joe Morgan (who ironically will have his statue unveiled outside the stadium this year).
Time for him to step up:
Mike Leake started off the 2010 season on an unbelievable streak.  He was one of the big reasons for the Reds first playoff appearance since 1995.  He went 12-9 in 2011 and only 8-9 in 2012.  The Reds will need Leake to step up and show that he is the pitcher he was in the first half of 2010.
Is this his last chance?:
Johnathon Broxton was the Dodgers closer when they made playoff runs in 2008 and 2009.  The 2010 and 2011 seasons were disasters for Broxton.  He somehow lost his ability to shut other teams down.  Joe Torre stuck with him as long as he could but the fans turned on him and it was bad enough that the Dodgers had to change their billboard ads to remove Broxton.  Broxton moved the Royals as a free agent for 2012 and moved to the Reds in a trading deadline deal.  If Broxton does not force the Reds to keep Chapman in the rotation he may not find many more opportunities to close.
Prediction:
1st Place in NL Central

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates Logo Courtesy of Sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
79-83 (4th Place in NL Central)
Who's new?*:
Vic Black (P) promoted from minors, Jeanmar Gomez (P) trade from Indians, Phil Irwin (P) promoted from minors, Francisco Liriano (P) free agent from White Sox , Mark Melancon (P) trade from Red Sox, Andy Oliver (P) trade from Tigers, Stolmy  Pimentel (P) trade from Red Sox, Hunter Strickland (P) free agent from minors, Duke Welker (P) promoted from minors, Russell Martin (C) free agent from Yankees, Tony Sanchez (C) promoted from minors, Jerry Sands (OF)trade from Red Sox, Brandon Inge (3B)  free agent from Athletics.
Who left?*:
Kevin Correia (P) free agent to Twins, Joel Hanrahan (P) trade to Red Sox,  Daniel McCutchen (P) free agent to Orioles, Evan Meek (P) free agent to Rangers, Chad Qualls (P) free agent to Marlins, Chris Resop (P) trade to Athletics,  Doug Slaten (P) unsigned free agent, Hisanori Takahashi (P) free agent to Cubs , Rick Van den Hurk (P) unsigned free agent, Rod Barajas (C) free agent to Diamondbacks, Jeff Clement (1B) free agent to Twins, Brock Holt  (2B) trade to Red Sox, Gorkys Hernandez (OF) , Eric fryer (OF) free agent to Twins , Drew Sutton (OF) free agent to Red Sox, Yamaico Navarro (UT) trade to Orioles.
What to expect: 
Pirates fans are frustrated, and rightfully so.  After two straight seasons of teasing the fans, the Pirates have fallen off late in the year.  Pirates fans will likely benefit from the second wild card position and Pirates fans can look forward to a competitive season and hopefully the first winning season in a very long time.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
Just like the Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates have a long history of winning, although you wouldn't be able to tell from the last 20 years.  When the modern era began in 1900 the Pirates were the absolute dominant team led by Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke and Tommy Leach.  The Pirates lost the first World Series to the Red Sox in 1903 and won their first World Series in 1909 in the first ever 7 Game World Series.  Since then the Pirates have won the World Seres in 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979 and reached the World Series but lost in 1927.  The Pirates also dominated the National League East in the 1970's and early 1990's winning the division in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1991 and 1992.  Every era of the Pirates' success has produced some of the most recognizable names in the history of the game: Honus Wagner, Lloyd Waner, Paul Waner, Pie Traynor, Roberto Clemente, Dick Groat, Bill Mazeroski, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonillia, Andy Van Slyke.  Also similar to the Reds, the league is better when they are competitive.
Why might this season not turn out like Pirates fans want?: 
It is unbelievably difficult, in any sport, to overcome a culture of losing in an organization.   You can imagine going to work at your own job everyday with the feeling of dread that before you get there it is already a bad day.  The Pirates have had that losing culture since 1993.  Clint Hurdle, one of the most underrated managers in baseball, has worked hard to instill a positive attitude in the clubhouse but late collapses in both of the last two years could lead the Pirates to dread August and September this year.
Don't expect too much from him: 
James McDonald  came to the Pirates from the Dodgers in a trade deadline deal in 2010 for Octavio Dotel.  The Pirates have clearly gotten the better of the deal as McDonald has shown stretches of great promise.  McDonald had a first half that had many asking why he did not pitch on the All Star team.  His second half was almost the exact opposite.  McDonald finished the season 12-8 with a 4.41 ERA.  The true James McDonald is probably somewhere between the great 9-3 first half and the dismal 4-5 second half.  You can expect McDonald to improve this year but don't expect 20 wins.
Expect great things from:
Andrew McCutcheon had a break out year in 2012.  At least that's what most people believed.  The truth is he just improved on his break out season of 2011 and with an increased confidence (and a hell of a work ethic) McCutcheon will likely improve on last season.  McCutcheon is the leader of this team and will need some support from other players but if the Pirates make the playoffs you can expect McCutcheon to be a strong MVP candidate.
Time for him to step up:
Russell Martin started his career as an All Star Catcher (converted from Third Base) for the Dodgers.  The Dodgers had Dionner Navarro set to be the Catcher of the future with high expectations before Martin made it clear that he was the better option.  Martin was one of the top Catchers in the league until a single misstep in 2010 separated his hip.  The uncertainty of his health led the Dodgers to allow him to move on to the Yankees where he had average numbers.  Martin had a strong late August and September last year and showed signs of being the same Russell Martin that Dodgers fans fell in love with in Los Angeles.  The Pirates will not only need Martin to return to his All Star form and continue his success of late 2012, they will need him to bring the winning attitude he experienced in Los Angeles and New York.
Is this his last chance?:
Wandy Rodriguez pitched well for the Houston Astros 2005 World Series team but when the starting rotation includes Roy Oswalt, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite it is easy to get overlooked.  Rodriguez pitched in two games in that World Series, showing enough promise to be considered the future ace of the team.  His 2005 10-10 season was followed up by 9-10, 9-13 and 9-7 seasons.  He finally seemed to get on track in 2009 with a 14-12 season but he again disappointed the Astros in 2010 (11-12) and 2011 (11-11) leading them to trade him to Pittsburgh in a deadline deal in 2012.  Rodriguez no longer has the pressure of being the ace of the staff and the fresh start in the excited Pittsburgh environment may give his career the jump start he needs.  If not he may be moved to a long relief position instead of a starter.
Prediction:
2nd Place in NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
88-74 (2nd Place in NL Central, Second Wild Card)
Defeated Braves in Wild Card Game
Defeated Nationals 3-2 in NLDS
Lost to Giants 4-3 in NLCS
Who's new?*:
Michael Blazek (P) promoted from minors, Keith Butler (P) promoted from minors, Randy Choate (P) free agent from Dodgers , Eric Fornataro (P) promoted from minors , Jorge Rondon (P) promoted from minors, Kevin Siegrist (P) promoted from minors, Ronny Cedeno (SS) free agent from Mets, Ty Wigginton (3B) free agent from Phillies.
Who left?*:
Brian Fuentes (P) unsigned free agent, Chris Carpenter (P) injury, Kyle Lohse (P) unsigned free agent , Kyle McClellan (P) free agent to Rangers, Lance Berkman (1B) free agent to Rangers,Skip Schumaker (2B) trade to Dodgers, Rafael Furcal (SS) injury, Bryan Anderson (UT) free agent to White Sox.
What to expect: 
The Cardinals lost their leader in Albert Pujols in 2012 but they managed to get a great season out of Carlos Beltran to minimize the damage.  The Cardinals may have over achieved in 2012, riding the emotion of an unbelievable 2011 World Series win and coming within one victory of reaching the World Series.  This off season is the exact opposite.  They will have to recover from the devastating end to the 2012 season as well as the loss for the season of two of their great team leaders, Chris Carpenter and Rafael Furcal, to injuries.  Add to that the losses of Kyle Lohse and Lance Berkman to free agency and Skip Schumaker in a trade with few additions to offset the losses and you have the potential for a big drop off in St. Louis. 
Why should you root for these guys?: 
I don't mean to sound repetitive but the Cardinals have a tradition of being one of the most successful teams in the history of the game.  They did not win their first World Series until 1926 but since then they have had very few periods where they were not competitive.  Only the Yankees (27) have more World Series wins than the Cardinals, who also claim the best fan base in baseball.  For anyone who longs for some team to catch the Yankees as the winningest franchise, the Cardinals are your best bet (just have some patience because it could take a long time).
Why might this season not turn out like Cardinals fans want?: 
Similar to the Phillies, this could be a defining year for the Cardinals.  The organization could go one of two ways:  they could get angry over the way last year ended and fight the world to prove they were the better team or the end of last season could lead to a negative outlook in the clubhouse.  The Cardinals had two players on the 2012 roster who could help prevent the latter:  Rafael Furcal and Chris Carpenter.  Both men will be out for the year.  Carpenter's career might be in jeopardy.  Last year Carpenter missed most of the season but the team could track his progress knowing that if they could just make the playoffs their ace would be there with his winning aura.  This year they know that he won't be there.  It is a huge psychological swing.  Add to that the loss of Furcal for the year.  Any fan in Los Angeles or St.Louis will tell you that Furcal brings more to the team than just the numbers on the back of his baseball card.  Furcal was a "motor guy", he was the spark plug that started everything and brought the energy to the lineup.  When the 2011 Cardinals fought their way to a World Series win Furcal was usually the one who was making things happen.  The loss of the leadership of these two players could not have come at a worse possible time.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Pete Kozma has an opportunity to prove he can be a major league Shortstop.  He played in 26 games last year and hit .333 with 24 hits, 10 of them for extra bases.  Kozma has some big shoes to fill in taking over for Rafael Furcal.  Kozma will probably not be an all star or rookie of the year candidate but he does have a chance to contribute to the Cardinals season.
Expect great things from:
Adam Wainwright missed the entire 2011 World Series Championship season but returned last season to win 14 games.  While the Cardinals would have loved to have their 1-2 punch of Wainwright and Carpenter they will have to settle for just Wainwright.  Expect Wainwright to continue his excellent career and possibly be a 20 game winner.
Time for Him to Step Up:
Matt Holliday has been an All Star and considered one of the best players in the game.  He has one big flaw: his fielding.  Cardinals fans have been patient, even giving him a standing ovation after his failed catch allowed the Dodgers to win a 2009 playoff game the Cardinals should have won.  The Cardinals need Holliday to improve his fielding as well as bringing his average above .300, where it has been his entire career, except for 2011 and 2012.  With the loss of Berkman and Furcal Holliday will need to work with Beltran to lead this team.
Is this his last chance?:
Rafael Furcal will miss this entire season.  His season last year ended early for the same elbow issues.  While playing with the Dodgers he had major problems because of his back and missed parts of nearly every season in Los Angeles.  Furcal hopes to be back next season but it may not be with the Cardinals.  His contract expires at the end of the season.
Prediction:
3rd Place in NL Central

Chicago Cubs

Classic Chicago Cubs Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
61-101 (5th in NL Central)
Who's new?*:
Scott Baker (P) free agent from Twins , Scott Feldman (P) free agent from Rangers, Kyuji Fujikawa (P) free agent from Japan, Edwin Jackson (P) free agent from Nationals, Trey McNutt (P) promoted from minors, Hector Rondon (P) Rule 5 draft pick from Indians, Carlos Villanueva (P) free agent from Blue Jays , Arodys Vizcaino (P) trade from Braves, Robert Whitenack (P) promoted from minors, Dioner Navarro (C) free agent from Reds, Junior Lake(SS) promoted from minors, Christian Villanueva (3B) free agent from minors , Logan Watkins (2B) free agent from minors ,Scott Hairston (OF) free agent from Mets, Nate Schierholtz (OF) free agent from Phillies, Jorge Soler (OF) free agent from Cuba, Matt Szczur (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Jeff Beliveu (P) waiver claim by Rangers, Manuel Corpas (P) free agent to Rockies, Justin Germano (P) , Alex Hinshaw (P) free agent to Blue Jays, Rodrigo Lopez (P) free agent to Phillies, Paul Maholm (P) trade to Braves, Miguel Socolovich (P) unsigned free agent, Chris Volstad (P) waiver claim by Royals, Randy Wells (P) free agent to Rangers, Tony Campana (OF) trade to Diamondbacks, Reed Johnson (OF) trade to Braves, Bryan LaHair (UT) unsigned free agent,  Anthony Recker (UT) waiver claim by Mets, Blake DeWitt (3B) free agents to Braves, Adrian Cardenas (IF)unsigned free agent , Joe Mather (P) ,free agent to Phillies.
What to expect: 
Cubs fans can be excited for the future but this season is not likely going to be a good one.  The team is definitely moving in the right direction and building the team from the ground up and are timing their climb to the top while the Cardinals and Brewers are starting to lose some of the players that helped them become the leaders in the division.  The Cubs are probably a few years away from competing but they are certainly back on the right track.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Cubs have won two World Series in their history and had one of the best teams not to win a World Series when they lost to their crosstown rivals, the White Sox. All three of those seasons happened between 1906-1908.  Since then the Cubs have lost the World Series in 1910, 1918, 1931, 1932, 1935, 1938 and 1945.  They have not been back since. Winning a World Series for Cubs fans would be similar to the Red Sox ending their 80+ year drought.
Why might this season not turn out like Cubs fans want?: 
The Cubs are building a team but they still have some serious holes in their lineup, most notably in Centerfield, Catcher and depth of the pitching rotation.  If they make a few smart moves this season and upgrade at those key positions they will go a long way to getting into the playoff race.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Jeff Smardzija is officially a losing pitcher.  His career record is 21-22.  Smardzija is much better than his record shows but his losses have been a product of the weak lineup that has been behind him.  As the Cubs improve expect his record to improve with it.  Just don't expect him to be a 20 game winner just yet.
Expect great things from:
Darwin Barney won a Gold Glove last year though few would have guessed he was that good.  Barney quietly won the award and improved at the plate in the same season.  Barney will be a big part of the Cubs future and could develop into their marquee player. 
Time for Him to Step Up:
Matt Garza helped the Rays become a consistent playoff contender in the American League.  Since joining the Cubs he has finished with a 10-10 record in 2011 and 5-7 in 2012.  The Cubs signed Garza to be their ace but he has struggled adjusting to the National League.  If the Cubs expect to make a surprise run at the playoffs Garza will need to be what the Cubs expected.
Is this is last chance?:
Alfonso Soriano was a big star in New York when the Yankees won the 2000 World Series.  He was looked at as the future organization.  He was happy in New York.  Then came February of 2004 when the Yankees saw an opportunity to get Alex Rodriguez and Soriano was traded to the Rangers.  He was not happy about the trade and after two years got himself moved to a worse situation:  the Nationals.  Not only was he sent to a team that was not competitive, he was told he was no longer an infielder, he was now a Leftfielder and he was not happy.  He got his opportunity to choose his next stop, Chicago, but he has not lived up to expectations and has long been part of trade rumors.  Soriano will need to put up some tremendous numbers if he wants to stick around to see the Cubs rebuilding  through to the final success.
Prediction:
4th Place in NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
83-79 (3rd Place in NL Central)
Who's new?*:
Burke Badenhop (P) free agent from Rays, Nick Bucci (P) free agent from minors, Hiram Burgos (P) promoted from minors, Miguel De Los Santos (P) promoted from minors, Michael Gonzalez (P) free agent from Nationals, Tom Gorzelany (P) free agent from Nationals , Johnny Hellweg (P) promoted from minors , Santo Manzanillo (P) promoted from minors, Michael Olmstead (P) promoted from minors, Ariel Pena (P) promoted from minors, Jesus Sanchez (P) promoted from minors, Scooter Gennett (2B) promoted from minors  , Khristopher Davis (OF) promoted from minors, Kaleb Gindi (OF) promote from minors, Josh Prince (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Vinnie Chulk (P) unsigned free agent, Tim Dillard (P) unsigned free agent, Livan Hernandez (P) unsigned free agent, Shaun Marcum (P) free agent to Mets, Mike McClendon (P) free agent to Rockies, Manny Parra (P) free agent to Reds, Juan Perez (P) free agent to Blue Jays, Francisco Rodriguez (P)unsigned free agent , Jose Veras (P) free agent to Astros, Yorvit Torrealba (C) free agent to Rockies , Travis Ishikawa (1B) free agent to Orioles, Edwin Maysonet (IF) free agent to Cubs, Nyjer Morgan (OF) unsigned free agent.
What to expect: 
The Brewers are clearly moving backwards.  The team is continuously losing strong players, they lost Shawn Marcum, Manny Parra and Nyjer Morgan this season and lost Prince Fielder last off season while trading Zack Greinke in mid season.  Though they lost all these players they have not replaced them with quality players.  Ryan Braun is still a star but is under even more scrutiny than he was last season.  The pitching rotation is thin and John Axford has struggled.  The Brewers have been competitive since 2007 but this year the bottom may fall out.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Brewers have had a tough existence.  They began as the Seattle Pilots for one season then moved to Milwaukee.  They came into existence at the beginning of division play and were dumped into a division with dominant Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles and Tigers teams.  When the league moved to a three division format the Brewers were put in a division with strong Indians and White Sox teams.  When the league expanded to include Tampa Bay and Arizona the Brewers were moved to a division with strong Cardinals, Reds, Cubs and Astros teams.  They were finally able to build a strong team on a budget but have been unable to retain the key components, who got big contracts elsewhere.  The city of Milwaukee has always supported the team but have not always gotten their money's worth in return.  It would be nice to see the faith of the fans rewarded.
Why might this season not turn out like Brewers fans want?: 
This team is clearly on the decline.  The key pieces have started to move on and are not being replaced.  The team will need to rebuild the minor league system and hope to be able to do it quickly.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Ryan Braun has been the Brewers marquee player during their current run of success and when his career is over he will be spoken of along with the greats of Brewers history like Yount, Molitor, Gantner and Higuera.  Braun was the MVP in 2011 based on leading the Brewers to the division title, although Matt Kemp had near triple crown numbers.  In the offsesaon between 2011 and 2012 it was revealed that Braun tested positive for PED's although he won an appeal on a technicality.  His numbers in 2012 were actually better than his 2011 season.  Although his average dropped from .332 to .319 his Home Runs increased from 33 to 41, his hits increased from 187 to 191 and his RBI increased by 1.  Braun does not have the protection in the lineup that he has had over the past few years an the Brewers do not seem to be interested (or capable) of spending the money to get him help.  Other than Aramis Ramirez there is little help available.  You can expect Braun to be an All Star but don't expect his numbers to go up again or for Braun to be an MVP candidate.
Expect great things from:
Aramis Ramirez has quietly been one of the best third basemen in the league for over a decade.  He had one of the best years of his great career in 2012 but did not make the All Star team (4 other third basemen did). Ramirez hit .300, scored 92 runs (eight more than 2011), drove in 105 (12 more than 2011), 50 doubles (15 more than 2011) and 27 HR (1 more than 2011).  Ramirez entered the league in 1998 (2000 as a full time player) but appears to be a long way for being done with his career.
Time for him to step up:
Marco Estrada is a young pitcher with a ton of talent.  As the Brewers entered the 2012 season their pitching staff appeared to be a strength with Greinke, Marcum, Gallardo and Estrada as their four main starters. Estrada struggled and ended with a 5-7 record, though a respectable 3.67 ERA (although he allowed 18 HR in 138 1/3 Innings).  With Marcum in New York and Greinke in LA, Estrada is now the number two pitcher in the rotation.  If the Brewers want to avoid falling to the bottom they will need a lot of help from their pitching staff, starting with Estrada.
Is this his last chance?:
John Axford had a rough 2012.  He saved 35 games but he also had 9 blown saves.  Closers do not usually last more than a few seasons in this league (closers like Rivera and Trevor Hoffman can be considered freaks in their lines of business) because it is such a difficult job to do.  The margin of error for a relief pitcher is so minuscule, and the attention given to any failure is so large, that it is nearly impossible to remain a closer for more than a few years.  With a weaker starting rotation and less offensive weapons, Axford may need to wait longer in between save opportunities.  Axford will need to make the most of his save opportunities if he wants to remain the closer.
Prediction:
5th Place in NL Central

*-All roster changes are based on active rosters at the end of 2012 and active rosters as of the week of 3/3.  Teams may have non-roster invitees in camp who are not listed in the "Who's New?" category.

2013 National League East Preview

***The Division Preview that follows is not betting advice in any way shape or form.  Please do not bet any money based in any part on these predictions.***

Don't forget to also check out the AL East,  AL Central and AL West previews from the past three weeks.  Check back next week for the NL Central preview.

This division has seen two teams experience their golden ages as well as one team come within one out of reaching the World Series and come up short.  When the first season of three division play ended in 1994 the Expos had a six game lead over the Braves. Had the season not ended in August the Expos may have been the first National League East division champions under the new format.  As it ended up, the Braves won the division (and the World Series) in 1995.  They went on to absolutely dominate the division.  Beginning in 1995 straight through 2005 the Braves won the division every year and rarely had anything close to a challenge.  In fact from 1995 through 1999 no team finished the season closer than six and a half games behind the Braves.  It wasn't until the Mets finished one game behind in 2000 and the Phillies finished two games behind in 2001 that the Braves had serious competition.  Despite the Braves dominance at the top of the division they reached the World Series in only three of those years while the division produced three Wild Card World Series appearances (1997 Marlins, 2000 Mets and 2003 Marlins). 

The 2006 Mets finally toppled the Braves dynasty in 2006 and beat out the Phillies by twelve games and the Braves by eighteen.  In a classic seven game NLCS against the Cardinals they appeared to be headed for the World Series until Yadier Molina of the Cardinals launched a two run Home Run in the top of the 9th and then Carlos Beltran struck out looking with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.  The 2007 Mets had a big lead in August but were overtaken by a reborn Phillies team in the last weekend of the season.

The Phillies have never had a run of success this good in the history of their team (although the 1976-1983 teams come a very close second).  They won the division in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, reaching the World Series in 2008 and 2009.  Despite this success they are considered underachievers because of the amount of talent they have on their roster should be winning the World Series every year.

The Marlins have only been around for 20 years but have managed to produce two great World Series teams, one of the most disappointing teams in history and had some of the worst teams ever.  This division, unlike the American League East, has a clear delineation between the top three teams and the bottom two.  Here's how I see it playing out:


Washington Nationals

Photo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
98-64 (1st Place in NL East)
Lost to St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in ALDS
Who's new?*:
Erik Davis (P) promoted from minors , Dan Haren (P) free agent from Angels, Nathan Karns (P) promoted from minors, Cole Kimball (P) promoted from minors, Yunesky Maya (P) promoted from minors, Matt Purke (P) promoted from minors, Rafael Soriano(P) free agent from Yankees, Anthony Rendon (3B) promoted from minors , Carlos Rivero (3B) promoted from minors, Denard Span (OF) trade from Twins.
Who left?*:
Sean Burnett (P) free agent to Angels, Mike Gonzalez (P) free agent to Brewers, Tom Gorzelanny (P) free agent to Brewers,  Edwin Jackson (P) free agent to Cubs, John Lannan (P) free agent to Phillies, Chien-Ming Wang (P) unsigned free agent, Jesus Flores (C) free agent to Dodgers , Cesar Izturis (SS) free agent to Reds, Michael Morse (OF) trade to Mariners , Mark de Rosa (UT) free agent with Blue Jays.
What to expect: 
Washington baseball fans have high expectations this season for the first time since, well, likely since 1925 when the Senators won their second consecutive American League pennant.  After coming so close to advancing to the NLCS before falling to the ever unpredictable Cardinals, Nationals fans can look forward to an improved team.  The Nationals will have Strasburg for a full season with no innings limitations,  a set infield for the whole season and they added speed at the top of the lineup with Denard Span. The way to win a championship is with strong pitching and strong defense up the middle.  The Nationals have a great double play combination with Espinoza and Desmond, a strong defensive Centerfielder in Span and a great signal caller in Kurt Suzuki.  The pitching?  They have two of the best pitchers in the game with Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, two more great young arms in Jordan Zimmerman (although he has struggled some this spring) and Ross Detwiler and have added Dan Haren who can dominate batters when he is healthy.  The big problem last season was at closer where Drew Storen struggled in the postseason after having a strong regular season.  The Nationals added the most sought after free agent closer, Soriano, which should give them the lift they need to advance farther in the playoffs.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
This organization has had a tough history.  They started as the Montreal Expos who often produced great talent but could not quite get enough fans interested to keep the talent they developed.  The Expos then had two seasons where they split home games between Montreal and San Juan, Puerto Rico making them a franchise without a true home, almost a vagabond, drifter organization.  When they finally got authorization to play in Washington (Baltimore's owner Peter Angelos was not happy about the competition in the area) they were considered a joke.  It seemed that the Expos had taken the bit about the nation wanting the "tired, poor and huddled masses" a bit too seriously and several baseball fans in Washington probably would have liked to tell the organization to keep looking for a home.  At the start of this organization's Washington existence they were operated by Major League Baseball's corporate offices until they could find an owner who wanted to buy the orphaned organization.  After building this team from the ground up the Nationals appear to be set to become a future dominant team with a lot of young talent.
Why might this season not turn out like Nationals fans want?: 
The Nationals are in a tough division, despite the Mets and Marlins at the bottom of it.  Atlanta has improved greatly and the Phillies are, for the most part, healthy again.  The Nationals appear to have a great all around team with a strong bench that will benefit from players like Steve Lombardozzi and Wilson Ramos.   It will depend on the players actually performing to their capabilities to get over last year's devastating playoff loss.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Ryan Zimmerman is Mr. National.  After roaming from Montreal to San Juan and landing in Washington the Nationals had a great young, talented Thirdbaseman.  With the Nationals being considered a baseball graveyard at the time it was said how sad it was that his great talent would be lost in Washington.  Zimmerman continued to play well and is one of the best players in the league.  Zimmerman suffered through a lot of injuries over the last few years and his defense occasionally suffered from these.  You can expect Zimmerman to be the consistently strong player he has always been.  You can expect him to be the leader of this team in the club house and the community and you can expect him to be a great guy on and off the field.  Just don't expect him to put up record breaking numbers.
Expect great things from:
Stephen Strasburg was confused at the end of last season.  He kept telling the Nationals his arm was fine.  He had no pain, no issues and his doctors were telling the team he was healthy.  Yet the Nationals were insistent that they shut him down when he reached his innings limit.  There is no limit this year.  There is no restrictions on his innings pitched and Strasburg can relax, go out to the mound every fifth day and dominate with the natural talent that comes along once in a generation.
Time for him to step up:
Jayson Werth signed a huge contract before the 2011 season and people thought the Nationals were insane.  People in Philadelphia knew what the Nationals had gotten.  Werth is a special talent with the ability to field and hit but his best attribute is his baseball knowledge.  Werth has a habit of making the right play at the right time.  He is a smart base runner, often getting an extra base.  He is a smart fielder, rarely taking a poor route to a ball.  He is a smart hitter.  Werth suffered through injuries last year with a horrific wrist injury but managed to hit a huge playoff home run that gave the Nationals their first iconic playoff moment.  Werth will need to step up and be the player that the Nationals signed for the big dollars and be the player he was when he was healthy with Philadelphia.
Is this his last chance?:
This team does not seem to have anyone on their  last chance.  It appears that everyone here still has a lot of baseball left in their career.
Prediction:
1st Place in  NL East

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
94-68 (2nd place in NL East.  First Wild Card)
Lost to St. Louis Cardinals in Wild Card Game
Who's new?*:
David Carpenter (P) waiver claim from Red Sox, David Hale (P) promoted from minors, Juan Jaime (P) promoted from minors, Aaron Northcraft (P)promoted from minors , Cory Rasmus (P) promoted from minors, Jordan Walden (P) trade from Angels, Christian Bethancourt (C) promoted from minors, Gerald Laird (C) free agent Tigers , Chris Johnson (3B) trade from Diamondbacks, Ernesto Mejia (1B) promoted from minors, B.J. Upton (OF) free agent from Rays, Justin Upton (OF) trade from Diamondbacks.
Who left?*:
Miguel Batista (P) free agent to Rockies, Randall Delgado (P) trade to Diamondbacks, Chad Durbin (P) free agent to Phillies, Tommy Hanson (P) trade to Angels, Jair Jurrjens (P) free agent to Orioles, Peter Moylan (P) free agent to Dodgers, Ben Sheets (P) unsigned free agent, David Ross (C) free agent to Red Sox , J.C. Boscan (C) free agent to Cubs, Lyle Overbay (1B) free agent to Red Sox, Chipper Jones (3B/OF) retired, Martin Prado (OF) trade to Diamondbacks, Matt Diaz (OF) free agent to Yankees, Michael Bourn (OF) free agent to Indians, Erik Hinske (OF) free agent to Diamondbacks, Jeff Baker (OF) free agent to Rangers.
What to expect: 
The Braves have made some tremendous upgrades to their team this off season, most notably adding the Upton brothers.  They did not upgrade their starting rotation and lost two big leaders in the clubhouse.  The loss to the Cardinals left a bad taste in the mouth of the Braves but they may not have enough pitching to get a chance to avenge what they think was a stolen victory. 
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Braves fought to reach the playoffs last year and hosted the first ever Wild Card playoff game in National League (and since it started early that afternoon, the first in Major League history).  They were looking to get Chipper Jones a World Series win as a retirement present.  It looked like they were set to move ahead of the Cardinals until a controversial infield fly call that went the other way.  They may not be able to win one for the Chipper but they would certainly like to win one for themselves.
Why might this season not turn out like Braves fans want?: 
The offense is great with quite possibly the best outfield in baseball (B.J.Upton, Justin Upton and a healthy Justin Heyward) as well as Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman.  The problem is pitching.  Kris Medlen had a great year and Tim Hudson is the clear ace but the reminder of the rotation is in question and the middle relievers do not inspire confidence.  Craig Kimbrel is a great closer but holding a lead until his time to come in may be a daily adventure.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Kris Medlen finished the 2012 season with a 10-1 record.  Prior to 2012 he had a total of 9 wins over three major league seasons.  Medlen may have a good season but it is not likely he will be able to turn in a winning percentage like that again.  If he can win somewhere between 10 and 15 games the Braves should be able to reach a Wild Card.
Expect great things from:
Justin Upton is a great player and when a great player has something to prove the rest of the league needs to look out.  For some reason no one can seem to understand, the Diamondbacks started looking to trade Justin Upton around the midpoint of last summer.  There was no explanaton but Upton became an unexpected distraction.  The Diamondbacks traded Upton over the winter and Upton will now have to prove that Arizona made a mistake.  With the support he has in the lineup it shouldn't take long.
Time for him to step up:
Dan Uggla was an All Star with the Marlins when the Braves signed him for big dollars.  He started very slow in 2011 then went on a 33 game hitting streak and again fell into a slump.  In his two years in Atlanta Uggla has hit .233 and .220.  He has improved on the fielding problems that plagued him in Miami but he has not improved enough to justify keeping his weak bat in the lineup.  The Braves will need improved offensive numbers from Uggla if they plan to take down Washington.
Is this his last chance?:
Jordan Walden was expected to be the closer in Anaheim for the Angels.  He had trouble holding leads in 2011 and 2012 and his failures played a large role in the Angels failure to meet expectations in both of those years.  Walden is slated to be a set up man in Atlanta but if he fails to help hold a lead until Kimbrel is ready he may be out of chances.
Prediction:
2nd Place in NL East (First Wild Card)

Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies Logo Courtesy of Sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
81-81.  3rd Place in NL East
Who's new?*:
Mike Adams (P) free agent from Rangers, Chad Durbin (P) free agent from Braves, John Lannan (P) free agent from Nationals , Ethan Martin (P) trade from Dodgers, Jonathan Pettibone (P) promoted from minors, Mauricio Robles (P) waiver claim from Mariners, Sebastian Valle (C) ,promoted from minors, Cesar Hernandez (2B) promoted from minors, Michael Young (1B/2B/3B) trade from Rangers, Zach Collier (OF) promoted from minors, Tyson Gillies (OF) promoted from minors, Ender Inciarte (OF) Rule 5 Draft Pick from Diamondbacks, Ben Revere (OF) trade from Twins, Delmon Young (OF) free agent from Tigers.
Who left?*: Tyson Brummett (P) waiver claim by Blue Jays, Jose Contreras (P) free agent to Pirates, David Herndon (P) waiver claim by Blue Jays , Josh Lindblom (P) trade to Rangers, Michael Schwimer (P) trade to Blue Jays, Vance Worley (P) trade to Twins, Brian Schneider (C) unsigned free agent, Placido Polanco (3B) free agent to Marlins, Ty Wigginton (3B) free agent to Cardinals, Juan Pierre (OF) free agent to Marlins, Nate Schierholtz (OF) free agent to Cubs, Jason Pridie (OF) free agent to Orioles.
What to expect: 
This is an important season for the Phillies.  It could define how this era of Phillies baseball is perceived in the coming generations.  Were they a good team that managed to win a World Series in 2008 but failed to live up to expectations in every other year?  Or were they the greatest collection of talent in the long history of the Phillies organization?  With a healthy Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and (maybe) Roy Halladay and new offensive weapons in Michael Young and Delmon Young there are no more excuses for this team.  they need to win early and win often.  If they struggle early the pieces of this team may be scattered to the far reaches of the major leagues.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
The Phillies organization has had very few long runs of success.  The team  reached the World Series in 1915 but lost 4-1 to the Red Sox.  They did not reach the World Series again until 1950 when they were swept out by the Yankees.  They nearly got back there in 1964 but a historic collapse sent them home for an early vacation.  The next playoff appearance was not until 1976.  In between those seasons there was little to cheer about. From 1976-1983 the Phillies were in the playoffs nearly every year.  Then there were dark years until 1993 and more dark year after that.  This playoff run from 2007 through 2011 is likely the best collection they have ever team but they need another World Series win to truly claim their place in Phillies history.
Why might this season not turn out like Phillies fans want?: 
The Phillies team that won the World Series in 2008 did not win with the bat, they won with pitching.  As hard as that may be to believe with a lineup including Utley, Howard, Rollins, Werth, Victorino and Rollins, it is absolutely true.  The Phillies had difficulty scoring against Tampa Bay and were constantly leaving runners on base.  They won with their bullpen of J.C. Romero (7th innings), Ryan Madson (8th innings) and Brad Lidge (9th innings).  The bullpen since then has not been the same.  Jonathan Papelbon is a good closer but the bridge between the great starting pitchers and the good closer is not as strong as that 2008 team.  Adding Mike Adams and Chad Durbin was a good start but they will need Antonio Bastardo and Mike Stutes to improve.  If the middle relief fails it will be a long season in Philadelphia.  The Phillies also need to be very concerned about how the pitching staff will handle the first 50 games of the season.  Carlos Ruiz is one of the best Catchers in the league at handling a pitching staff but with his suspension for the first 50 games the Phillies pitching staff will need to rely on an unproven Catcher and need to quickly get on the same page.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Jimmy Rollins is an MVP, World Series Champion, four time Gold Glove winner and three time All Star. When he chooses to retire his number will undoubtedly be retired by the Phillies and he will likely be enshrined in Cooperstown.  He is one of the best Shortstops in baseball but he has been playing for well over a decade and  his average has dropped over the last few years.  Expectations for Jimmy should be that he will continue leading this team and being the embodiment of the team's spirit.  Just don't expect him to be the J-Roll of 2007.
Expect great things from:
Ryan Howard had a miserable 2009 World Series. After being red hot in the NLDS and NLCS, Howard hit only .174 and struck out 13 times.  2010 saw a drop in his strikeouts but also a drop in his Home Runs and RBI.  Howard struggled again in the 2010 NLCS.  He hit .318 but had no Home Runs, no RBI and struck out 12 times.  2011 was about the same as 2010 and his playoff performance ended with him tearing his ACL and being carried off he field.  Howard missed nearly all of 2012 and when he did play he did not have the same power and comfort in his swing that he used to have.  Howard is now well rested, healthy  and determined to make up for lost time.  The pattern of Howard's career has been a slow spring, an even slower first month and a half and when the weather heats up so does Ryan Howard.  Howard has already hit four spring home runs and appears to be determined to recover the form that made him a superstar.
Time for him to step up:
Domonic Brown was thought to be the replacement for Jayson Werth when he left for Washington.  According to the Phillies at that time, everything was alright when Werth left because Brown would step in and be an improvement.  He apparently had more speed and a better bat.  For whatever reason Brown failed to live up to expectations and  John Mayberry, Jr stepped up.  The stories out of spring training have been that Brown has been working diligently on his fielding and has dedicated himself to improving his hitting.  He will need to reach his potential if the Phillies are going to stay in the playoff hunt.
Is this his last chance?:
Charlie Manuel took over as Phillies manager in 2005.  Since that time the Phillies missed the playoffs by small margins in 2005, 2006 and 2012 and reached the NLDS in 2007 and 2011, the NLCS in 2010 and the World Series in 2008 and 2009.  No manager has been this successful in the history of the organization and he is loved by the players.  With the large payroll, an aging team, three straight seasons of underachieving and a highly sought after managerial prospect in Ryne Sandberg sitting on the bench the Phillies may need to make a change if the team gets off to a slow start.
Prediction:
3rd place in NL East

New York Mets

New York Mets Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
74-88 (4th Place in NL East)
Who's new?*:
Greg Burke (P) promoted from minors, Gonzalez German (P) promoted from minors, Darin Gorski (P) promoted from minors, Brandon Lyon (P) free agent from Blue Jays, Shawn Marcum (P) free agent from Brewers, Hansel Robles (P) promoted from minors, Zack Wheeler (P) promoted from minors, John Buck (C) trade from Blue Jays,  Travis D'Anard (C) trade from Blue Jays, Anthony Recker (C) waiver claim from Cubs , Wilmer Flores (SS) promoted from minors, Reese Havens (2B) promoted from minors, Brandon Hicks (SS) contract purchased from Athletics, Wilfredo Tovar (SS) promoted from minors, Collin Cowgill (OF) trade with Athletics, Juan Lagares (OF) promoted from minors, Cesar Puello (OF) promoted from minors.
Who left?*:
Manny Acosta (P) unsigned free agent, R.A. Dickey (P) trade to Blue Jays, Jack Egbert (P) unsigned free agent, Rob Johnson (C) free agent to Cardinals, Garrett Olson (P) free agent to Mariners, Mike Pelfrey (P) free agent to Twins, Ramon Ramirez (P) free agent to Giants , Jon Rauch (P) free agent to Marlins,  Chris Young (P) free agent to Nationals,  Josh Thole (C) trade to Blue Jays, Kelly Shoppach (C) free agent to Mariners, Mike Nickeas (C) trade to Blue Jays, Ronny Cedeno (IF) free agent to Cardinals , Jason Bay (OF) free agent to Mariners, Andres Torres (OF) free agent to Giants. Fred Lewis (OF) unsigned free agent, Scott Hairston (OF) free agent to Cubs.
What to expect: 
Expectations should be low in New York.  This team is clearly in a rebuilding phase and although they have some talent in the lineup it would be more likely that this team finishes in last than finishes in a playoff spot. The Mets have steadily lost their stars over the past three seasons as Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and R.A. Dickey departed.  Johan Santana has had a rough few years with many arm problems but he is still listed as the team ace on the depth chart.  The Mets may have a rough future ahead and a long way to go before they are a competitive team.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
Considering the large market this team plays in they are in serious financial trouble.  They were greatly damaged by the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme and the owners finances have a long way to go to recover.  The farm system does have some potential but they are a few years away from seeing the fruit of the farm.  With classy players like David Wright and Johann Santana it would be nice to see some good guys win for once.
Why might this season not turn out like Mets fans want?: 
The farm system is still a few years away from producing any real talent and the team does not have the money to buy the talent it needs to compete.  There are definite bright spots in the lineup like David Wright, Lucas Duda and Ike Davis, the pitching staff is no where near good enough to compete with the top three in this division.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Shaun Marcum played a big role in increasing the expectations in Toronto in 2010.  He then moved onto Milwaukee where he helped the Brewers reach the NLCS for the first time since 1982.  The expectations for Marcum have been grand but the reality has been that he is a slightly above average pitcher (never winning more than 13 games) who is capable of showing flashes of better quality.  You can expect him to help the Mets and be a strong part of their rotation but don't expect an R. A. Dickey type performance from him.
Expect great things from:
David Wright arrived on the Mets roster in 2005 as the team had a high payroll and high expectations.  2005 was not their year.  The 2006 Mets thought it was their year and used an All Star studded line up to get within a game of the World Series before being knocked off by the Cardinals.  All of the pieces of that 2006 team are gone with the exception of Wright.  The Mets have something special in Wright:  a player that will represent their team with class and will constantly give his all every game regardless of the score or the team's place in the standings.  Wright takes the game of baseball seriously and treats it with respect.  Wright may not be leading the Mets to a World Series but the organization couldn't ask for a better leader.
Time for him to step up:
Dillon Gee has been up and down, to the minors and back, since 2010.  He finished 2-2 in 2010, 13-6 in 2011 and 6-7 in 2012.  With Santana still having arm problems and R.A. Dickey trying to repeat his career year in another uniform, the Mets need someone to be the ace.  Gee has potential, as shown by his 13 win season but the Mets need him to win between 15 and 20 and need him to pitch deep into games.
Is this his last chance?:
Johan Santana was the best pitcher in the American League from 2003-2007 winning two Cy Young Awards for the Twins and leading them to the playoffs several times in the early 2000's.  He came to the Mets after their historic 2007 collapse and had a good 16-7 season.  Unfortunately from that point on Santana has had health issues that have kept him from repeating the success he had in the American League.  It looked like he might have gotten past the issues last season when he pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history.   Almost immediately his arm troubles reappeared.  Santana will need to complete a full season if he is going to remain in the Mets plans as they start to rebuild.
Prediction:
4th Place in National League East

Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins Logo Courtesy of sportslogos.net

Last Year's Record:
69-93 5th place (last) in NL East
Who's new?*:
Henderson Alvarez (P) trade from Blue Jays, Arquimedes Caminero (P) promoted from minors, Jose Ceda (P) return from injury, Sam Dyson (P) waiver claim from Blue Jays,  Braulio Lara (P) promoted from minors, Scott Maine (P) waiver claim from Blue Jays,  Edgar Olmos (P) promoted from minors,  Jon Rauch (P) free agent from Mets, Evan Reed (P) promoted from minors, Alex Sanabia (P) promoted from minors , Jeff Mathis (C) trade from Blue Jays,  Kyle Skipworth (C) promoted from minors, Zack Cox (3B) trade from Cardinals, Adeiny Hechevarria (3B) trade from Blue Jays , Joe Mahoney (1B) waiver claim form Orioles , Placido Polanco (3B) free agent from Phillies, Kyle Jensen (OF) promoted from minors, Marcell Ozuna (OF) promoted from minors, Juan Pierre (OF) free agent from Phillies, Alfredo Silverio (OF) Rule 5 Draft pick from Dodgers.
Who left?*:
Heath Bell (P) free agent to Diamondbacks, Mark Buehrle (P) trade to Blue Jays, Chad Gaudin (P) free agent to Giants, Josh Johnson (P) trade to Blue Jays, Carlos Zambrano (P) unsigned free agent, John Buck (C) trade to Blue Jays, Brett Hays (C) claimed off waivers by Royals, Carlos Lee (1B) unsigned free agent , Gil Velazquez (3B) free agent to Yankees,  Jose Reyes (SS) trade to Blue Jays, Donnie Murphy (IF) free agent to Brewers , Emilio Bonifacio (OF/2B) trade to Blue Jays , Scott Cousins (OF)waiver claim by Blue Jays, Adam Greenberg (OF) free agent to Orioles.
What to expect: 
Marlins fans need to prepare for rock bottom.  Some people suggested last year was rock bottom but this year will certainly be worse.  The Marlins ownership has explained to fans that they don't need to pay huge amounts of money to supposedly superior players to finish last, they can do that with a small budget.  They may prove it this year having lost nearly their entire 2012 starting lineup.
Why should you root for these guys?: 
You don't necessarily need to root for the team, as the ownership has repeatedly dumped all the talent they have for magic beans only to promise the fans (and the players) the world while delivering the worst.  You should root for Marlins fans who have suffered the ups and downs of this team since 1993.  The Marlins were impatient to let their  farm system develop so they spent a ton of money to build the 1997 World Champions.  They immediately dumped the entire team.  They rebuilt a strong young team and surprised everyone by beating the Yankees in 2003.  They again dumped everyone.  The team then spent a fortune signing Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle, Carlos Zambrano and Ozzie Guillien and believed they would work well with Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson and Giancarlo Stanton.  The season was a disaster from the change of uniforms (which made them look like they were on an employe softball team) to Ozzie Guillen offending the fans, the players and the owners by mid April to the mid season talent dump. The loyal Miami fans deserve a break.
Why might this season not turn out like Marlins fans want?: 
The high expectations of last year are gone and with it the talent that created the expectations.  The Marlins have completely retooled leaving many to speculate that the team only spent the money last year to get the funding for the new stadium.  The Marlins did sign several new players including Placido Polanco and Juan Pierre but the lineup is not nearly strong enough to compete with the top three in this division and the rotation is not tremendously talented.
Don't expect too much from him: 
Placido Polanco was a great player for the Detroit Tigers in their playoff run from 2006 until he left for Philadelphia in 2009.  Phillies fans had high expectations for Polanco but by the beginning of his second year there were some who questioned whether Pedro Feliz was the better option.  That is probably an unfair assessment since Polanco has suffered greatly from various injuries but he clearly is not the same player he was seven years ago.  Expect Polanco to do what he can to instill a fighting spirit in the fish but don't expect an All Star performance.
Expect great things from:
Giancarlo Stanton was the one big piece from last year's Marlins that has remained.  He will be the future of the franchise one way or the other.  Either the team will build a winning team around him or Stanton's numbers will be so good that a team will overwhelm the Marlins with a package of prospects they can use to build a winning team.  Stanton has denied that he demanded to be traded but given the feeling of doom surrounding the team this winter it would be hard to blame him for wanting to leave.  Marlins fans should appreciate what they have in Stanton because talent like his is hard to find.
Time for him to step up:
Nathan Eovaldi was a big prospect for the Dodgers and one that they were not excited about giving up in the deal to get Hanley Ramirez.  Eovaldi had a 1-6 record when he left the Dodgers but his record did not necessarily reflect his efforts.  He often started the games strong but was hit hard the second time through the lineup.  Eovaldi will need to focus his talents and go deep into games if he is to establish himself as the strong starter the Marlins thought they traded for.
Is this his last chance?:
Juan Pierre is back where he played his best baseball.  With Juan Pierre on the base paths the Marlins had a constant threat in 2003.  He was seemingly always causing havoc by either distracting the pitcher with his lead,stealing a base or creating panic in the outfielders who were trying to get the ball quickly before Pierre took off for the next base.  Pierre had some success in Chicago with the White Sox but his stops in Los Angeles and Philadelphia were not up to his usual caliber (although his time as Manny Ramirez's replacement while Manny served his drug suspension was spectacular).  Pierre would like nothing better than to win another World Series in Miami but he may have to settle for reminding the fans of the glory days.
Prediction:
5th Place in NL East

*-All roster changes are based on active rosters at the end of 2012 and active rosters as of the week of 3/3.  Teams may have non-roster invitees in camp who are not listed in the "Who's New?" category.