NL Central: Maddux is no mascot
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Chicago Cubs (Last season: 88-74, 1st)
Player to watch: Kerry Wood
Everybody knows how good Wood's stuff is. After his postseason success last year, he should be confident. It's time for Wood to win 20 games and become a true ace.
It took Randy Johnson a few years of 12-15 wins before he realized he could, and should, win 20 games each year. It's time for Wood to follow suit.
Burning question: World Series?
The only question for these guys is how far they will go in the postseason. This is too good of a squad to accept anything less than a World Series title.
The Cubs added Greg Maddux to their lights-out starting staff. Anyone who thinks he is done is nuts. It looks like he got out of Atlanta while the getting was good and believe me, his return to the Cubs is not just nostalgic. This guy is an ultimate gamer and just wins ... every year.
If young guns Wood and Mark Prior stay healthy – and continue their upward climb, the Cubbies could cruise. Prior will start the season on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right Achilles' tendon.
Houston Astros (Last season: 87-65, 2nd)
Player to watch: Roger Clemens
Clemens is definitely the wild card for the Astros this year – especially with the Cubs grabbing Maddux late. The Astros need Clemens to be a big winner to keep pace.
The switch to the National League should help Clemens. I've heard so much talk about how Clemens will not be able to rely on intimidation because he'll have to hit. Please!
This guy just wins games. And Clemens will laugh after a few NL starts, in which a third of all jams end with the opposing pitcher making an out.
Burning question: Age
Craig Biggio is 38 years old, Jeff Bagwell is 35, Jeff Kent is 36 and Clemens is 41. These guys are the key contributors to this team and, while they still perform at a higher level, their health is more tenuous as they get older.
The Astros added two aces – Andy Pettitte and Clemens – and just in time. There aren't that many years left for the Biggio-Bagwell-Kent trio to shine. Each of these players needs to have a full, solid season for the Astros to keep pace with the Cubs.
St. Louis Cardinals (Last season: 85-77, 3rd)
Player to watch: Jeff Suppan
Here is a guy who will get you late into the game. Now with a little more offense behind him, Suppan may be in for a big win total. Suppan definitely could be a sleeper in this Cardinal rotation.
Burning question: Starting pitching
We may see pitching coach Dave Duncan a lot this season. The arms are there at the bottom of the rotation with Suppan, Chris Carpenter and former Braves prospect Jason Marquis. Most teams would love to have these as their projected 3-5 starters, and big production out of any of them will be a plus. But I'm not sure there's enough here to hang with the big boys this season.
The Cardinals will have a solid offense led by Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen.
Milwaukee Brewers (Last season: 68-94, 6th)
Player to watch: Ben Sheets
Sheets may be the epitome of my own three-year theory with starting pitchers. Sheets was rushed to the big leagues and has more than held his own while continuing to improve. But this is a guy who is expected to be a true star, and this is his year.
Burning question: Will Geoff Jenkins follow Richie Sexson out the door?
Contract extensions accomplish two things at once for ownership – they fix costs, and make players more easy to trade. Tough to tell where Milwaukee stands on keeping its offensive star.
The Brewers have a couple of young players who would be household names with other clubs, namely Sheets and Jenkins. But there is not enough star power here to carry an otherwise mediocre team.
Cincinnati Reds (Last season: 69-93, 5th)
Player to watch: Ken Griffey Jr.
Burning question: Will Adam Dunn and Sean Casey click to become one of the best one-two punches in the game?
Each has enjoyed brilliant full seasons, and has shown flashes in others. The Reds need to have both of these guys playing well at the same time.
Even if Griffey stays healthy and hits 50 home runs, and Dunn and Casey meet expectations, the Reds really can't compete in this division without any true pitching ace.
They are full of No. 3-5 starters, which could be enough if this were a division loaded with .500 teams. It's not.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Last season: 75-87, 4th)
Player to watch: Kris Benson
Watch him now, because he probably won't be a Pirate for long. If he shows a healthy arm, he may bring a nice package in a trade.
Burning question: Who will be here next year?
The Pirates grabbed some veteran players this offseason whom they're hoping will revive their careers and develop into attractive trade bait. Randall Simon, Jose Mesa, Mark Guthrie and Raul Mondesi all could bring decent players in trades if they perform well.
The Pirates roster is experienced enough to win some games. But this is a top-heavy division with too stiff a door for these guys to push open.
The most interesting story is Kendall. Is he done or can he still be a star?
