1st—Milwaukee Brewers: This could be the year where the Brewers become legitimate contenders. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun will both be 27 this year, which is an age when players traditionally fulfill their potential. This means that the “Brew Crew” could have two MVP candidates on the same team. Milwaukee also upgraded their rotation by trading for Cy Young winner Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum. These two pitchers will join the always-improving Yovani Gallardo to form one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. The Brewers have as much talent as anyone and if the stars align this season, look for them to be a dark horse World Series contender.
2nd—Cincinnati Reds: These Reds will look to repeat as division champions after they unexpectedly won the NL Central last year. Last season they led the league in runs and their offence should be equally impressive this year. MVP Joey Votto will continue to develop into one of baseball’s best hitters, Brandon Phillips is amazing at second base, and young outfielders Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs will continue to improve. The rotation is shaky, however, as Edison Volquez, Travis Wood, and Mike Leake are the only reliable pitchers the Reds have. Still, Cincinnati are the defending division champs and will be tough to dethrone as they improve.
3rd—St. Louis Cardinals: It was not a good summer for the Cardinals. The best player in baseball, Albert Pujols, ended contract negotiations with the team meaning that this may be his final season in St. Louis. Also, ace Adam Wainwright needed Tommy-John surgery and will be out for the season. Still the Cardinals will contend for the division title as Matt Holliday, Colby Rasmus, Lance Berkman, and Pujols will combine to create one of the MLB’s most formidable lineups. Coupled with a solid and deep pitching staff led by Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals will look to make a playoff run in what could be Pujols final season for the Cards.
4th—Chicago Cubs: It has been a well-documented 102 years since the Cubs last won the World Series. By the end of 2011 the streak will reach 103, as the Cubs do not have the depth to compete for a playoff spot. Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza form a reliable one-two punch atop the Chicago rotation but other than that the Cubs’ pitching is suspect. Scoring could also prove to be a problem as Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano continue to decline as they age. 21-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro will be a joy to watch develop into a star but the Cubs will not score enough runs to make up for their suspect pitching.
5th—Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pittsburgh Pirates are arguably the worst franchise in professional sports. With 18 straight losing seasons there is less hope surrounding this Pirates team than there is for Tiger Woods’ golf career. They do have an incredible talent in 24-year-old Andrew McCutchen and he will be a superstar for the next decade. Jose Tabata, 22, and Pedro Alvarez, 24, are promising prospects as well. While this season is sure to be their 19th straight losing campaign, there might finally be hope for the Pirates’ future with this trio of young talent.
6th—Houston Astros: The Astros struggled to field a competitive team last year even with Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. After trading them both, making the playoffs in 2011 is a hopeless endeavor. When Hunter Pence and Wandy Rodriguez are the faces of the franchise you know the team is rebuilding. The Astros, however, will be in one competitive race: they will seriously challenge the Pirates for last place in the NL Central.
