MAJOR LEAGUE PREVIEW | National League Central

Pittsburgh Pirates
2003: 75-87, 4th place.
Manager: Lloyd McClendon (fourth season).
He's Here: OF Raul Mondesi, OF Ruben Mateo, OF-1B Orlando Merced, 1B Randall Simon, 3B Chris Stynes, OF Daryle Ward, RHP Juan Acevedo, RHP Jose Mesa, RHP Rick Reed, INF Chris Truby.
He's Outta Here: OF Reggie Sanders, OF Matt Stairs, LHP Jeff D'Amico, RHP Pat Mahomes, RHP Julian Tavarez, 2B Pokey Reese, RHP Mike Lincoln, OF Adam Hyzdu, INF Jeff Reboulet.
Projected Lineup: CF Tike Redman (.330, 3, 19), C Jason Kendall (.325, 6, 58, 25 HBPs), LF-RF Raul Mondesi (.272, 24, 71, 22 SBs with Yankees and Diamondbacks), 1B Randall Simon (.276, 16, 72 with Pirates and Cubs), LF Jason Bay (.287, 4, 14 with Padres and Pirates) or RF Craig Wilson (.262, 18, 48), 3B Chris Stynes (.255, 11, 73, only one HR on road with Rockies), 2B Bobby Hill (.276, 0, 0 in 7 ABs with Cubs and Pirates), SS Jack Wilson (.256, 9, 62).
Rotation: RH Kip Wells (10-9, 3.28), RH Kris Benson (5-9, 4.97), RH Josh Fogg (10-9, 5.26), LH Oliver Perez (4-10, 5.51), RH Rick Reed (6-12, 5.07 with Twins) or RHP Ryan Vogelsong (2-2, 6.55).
Key Relievers: RH Jose Mesa (5-7, 6.52, 24/28 with Phillies), LH Joe Beimel (1-3, 5.05), RH Brian Boehringer (5-4, 5.49, 11 HRs allowed in 62 innings), RH Salomon Torres (7-5, 4.76), RH Juan Acevedo (1-5, 6.57, 6 with Yankees and Jays), LH Mark Guthrie (2-3, 2.74 ERA with Cubs).
Hot Spot: Pirates' bullpen was erratic all season a year ago, with closer Mike Williams inconsistent until being traded to Phillies and setup man Brian Boehringer susceptible to allowing homers. Offseason additions -- Mesa, Acevedo -- add even more volatility to a relief corps that will likely be a work in progress once season starts, especially if lefty setup man Beimel struggles like last season.
Stat Sheet: Pirates were unsuccessful in dealing Kendall during offseason so he now starts making huge money ($8 million) for a singles-doubles hitter (his 535 singles since 2000 are third in majors behind only Luis Castillo and Derek Jeter). Kendall is a high-salaried anomaly on a team that has pared payroll from low $50 million range a year ago to mid $30 million range. Pirates so watched their dollars during offseason, they allowed productive OF Matt Stairs (.292, 20, 57) to sign with Kansas City for only a $100,000 raise.
Bottom Line: Pirates are working on franchise-record streak of 11 consecutive losing seasons, and nothing suggests this won't be the 12th. They achieved modest victory gains under fourth-year manager Lloyd McClendon (62 wins in 2001; 72 in '02; 75 in '03), but appear to have fallen even further behind upgraded division rivals Houston, Chicago and St. Louis. With Mondesi the only significant offseason pickup, the best Pirates probably can expect is another fourth-place finish.
Chicago Cubs
2003: 88-74, 1st place.
Manager: Dusty Baker (second season).
He's Here: RHP Greg Maddux, 1B Derrek Lee, RHP LaTroy Hawkins, 2B Todd Walker, C Michael Barrett, LHP Kent Mercker, OF Todd Hollandsworth.
He's Outta Here: OF Kenny Lofton, 1B Eric Karros, 1B Hee Seop Choi, C Damian Miller, RHP Antonio Alfonseca, LHP Shawn Estes, LHP Mark Guthrie, RHP Dave Veres, 1B Randall Simon, OF Troy O'Leary.
Projected Lineup: 2B Mark Grudzielanek (.314, 3, 38, .366 OBP, 38 2Bs), CF Corey Patterson (.298, 13, 55 in 83 games), RF Sammy Sosa (.279, 40, 103, .553 SLG, 143 Ks), LF Moises Alou (.280, 22, 91), 3B Aramis Ramirez (.274, 27, 106, 33 Es -- but only 10 after joining Cubs on July 22), 1B Derrek Lee (.271, 31, 92, 21 SBs), SS Alex Gonzalez (.228, 20, 59, 123 Ks), C Michael Barrett (.208, 10, 30 in 70 games).
Rotation: RHP Kerry Wood (14-11, 3.20, major league-high 266 Ks, 21 HBPs), RHP Greg Maddux (16-11, 3.96, 33 BBs), RHP Mark Prior (18-6, 2.43, 245 Ks), RHP Matt Clement (14-12, 4.11), RHP Carlos Zambrano (13-11, 3.11).
Key Relievers: RHP Joe Borowski (2-2, 2.63, 33/37 saves), RHP LaTroy Hawkins (9-3, 1.86 with Minnesota), RHP Kyle Farnsworth (3-2, 3.30, 92 Ks in 76 1-3 IPs), LHP Mike Remlinger (6-5, 3.65), LHP Kent Mercker (0-2, 1.95 with Cincinnati and Atlanta).
Hot Spot: After so many years as baseball's "lovable losers," Cubs find themselves in unusual role of favorites. Handling increased expectations -- and accompanying attention -- could be a challenge, especially with so many newcomers. Cubs have one of the best rotations around and solid game-enders in Hawkins and Borowski, but someone has to pitch those middle innings. Patterson's surgically repaired left knee bears watching.
Stat Sheet: Not many teams will be able to match up against Chicago's starting rotation. All five won 13 or more games last year and pitched at least 200 innings, and only Clement had an ERA over 3.96. Wood and Prior led majors in strikeouts, and Clement and Zambrano each topped 165. Maddux may have had an "off" year last season, but he's still the master of control and precision. He issued just 33 walks in 218 innings last year.
Bottom Line: Cubs made huge strides last year, winning division and coming within five outs of first World Series since 1945. OK, so they collapsed in Games 6 and 7 of NLCS. But don't forget, this was a team that won 67 games in 2002 and got not one, but two managers fired. Now Cubs have to win on a consistent basis. No small feat, considering they haven't had back-to-back winning seasons since 1972. But if their powerhouse rotation can stay healthy, Baker and the Cubs should make a run at another division title.
Cincinnati Reds
2003: 69-93, 5th place.
Manager: Dave Miley (first full season).
He's Here: RHP Cory Lidle, LHP Brandon Claussen, RHP Aaron Harang.
He's Outta Here: RHP Ryan Dempster, 3B Russell Branyan.
Projected Lineup: 2B D'Angelo Jimenez (.290, 7, 31), SS Barry Larkin (.282, 2, 18), CF Ken Griffey Jr. (.247, 13, 26), RF Austin Kearns (.264, 15, 58), LF Adam Dunn (.215, 27, 57), 1B Sean Casey (.291, 14, 80), C Jason LaRue (.230, 16, 50), 3B Brandon Larson (.101, 1, 9).
Rotation: RH Cory Lidle (12-15, 5.75), RHP Paul Wilson (8-10, 4.64), RH Jimmy Haynes (2-12, 6.30), RH Aaron Harang (4-3, 5.28), LH Brandon Claussen (1-0, 1.42).
Key Relievers: RH Danny Graves (4-15, 5.33, 2), RH Ryan Wagner (2-0, 1.66), RH Chris Reitsma (9-5, 4.29, 12).
Hot Spot: The rotation. Reds have been trying for years to develop young starters, without success. They'll probably let some of the young starters acquired in trades last season get a chance.
Stat Sheet: Reds set franchise record by using 17 different starters last season; also set club marks for highest earned run average (5.09) and most homers allowed (209).
Bottom Line: All three starting outfielders were injured last season, robbing lineup of its punch and setting up Reds' midseason rush to slash payroll. Reds will probably try to trade Griffey if he proves he has fully recovered from ankle and shoulder operations. The rotation is once again a work in progress, dooming team to also-ran status.
Houston Astros
2003: 87-75, 2nd place.
Manager: Jimy Williams (third season).
He's Here: LHP Andy Pettitte, RHP Roger Clemens, OF Orlando Palmeiro.
He's Outta Here: LHP Billy Wagner, 3B Geoff Blum, OF Orlando Merced, LHP Ron Villone.
Projected Lineup: CF Craig Biggio (.264, 15, 62, 44 2Bs, 102 runs), SS Adam Everett (.256, 8, 51), 1B Jeff Bagwell (.278, 39, 100), LF Lance Berkman (.288, 25, 93, 107 BBs), 2B Jeff Kent (.297, 22, 93), RF Richard Hidalgo (.309, 28, 88, 43 2Bs), 3B Morgan Ensberg (.291, 25, 60), C Brad Ausmus (.229, 4, 47).
Rotation: RH Roy Oswalt (10-5, 2.97), LH Andy Pettitte (21-8, 4.02 for Yankees), RH Roger Clemens (17-9, 3.91 for Yankees), RH Wade Miller (14-13, 4.13), RH Tim Redding (10-14, 3.68).
Key Relievers: RH Octavio Dotel (6-4, 2.48, 4), RH Brad Lidge (6-3, 3.60), RH Dan Miceli (1-1, 2.10).
Hot Spot: Focus will be on star-laden rotation led by emerging star Oswalt. If Pettitte and Clemens successfully adjust to NL and Miller and Redding pitch to their potential, few teams should be able to match their starting five. Dotel's numbers indicate he has the stuff to replace Wagner -- traded to Phillies in offseason -- but only time will tell.
Stat Sheet: Biggio, 38, was one of baseball's top leadoff men in his prime during the 1990s, mixing hitting acumen, speed and power to become a star. He's not at that level anymore and his on-base percentages the last two years have been lowest since 1990, his second full big league season. The slugging Astros don't really have a prototypical leadoff hitter anywhere else on roster.
Bottom Line: Pettitte and Clemens are expected to give a huge boost to a team that finished just a game behind Cubs. But Astros' position players are same as last September, except for Ensberg taking over third base job full time with Blum's trade to Tampa Bay. That lineup was fourth in NL in scoring and should put up plenty of runs again if everyone stays healthy. If not -- Biggio, Bagwell, Kent and Ausmus all are 35 or older -- there's not much help ready in Triple-A.
Milwaukee Brewers
2003: 68-94, 6th place.
Manager: Ned Yost (second season).
He's Here: 2B Junior Spivey, SS Craig Counsell, 1B Lyle Overbay, RF Ben Grieve, C Chad Moeller, LHP Chris Capuano, RH Adrian Hernandez, OF Chris Magruder, C Gary Bennett.
He's Outta Here: 1B Richie Sexson, RHP Shane Nance, LHP Glendon Rusch, SS Royce Clayton, C Eddie Perez, OF John Vander Wal, C Keith Osik, RHP Todd Ritchie.
Projected Lineup: CF Scott Podsednik (.314, 9, 58, 100 runs, 43 SBs), 2B Junior Spivey (.255, 13, 50 for Arizona), 1B Lyle Overbay (.276, 3, 28), LF Geoff Jenkins (.296, 28, 95, 0 Es in 124 Gs), RF Ben Grieve (.230, 4, 17), 3B Wes Helms (.261, 23, 67, 131 Ks) SS Craig Counsell (.234, 3, 21 for Arizona), C Chad Moeller (.268, 7, 29).
Rotation: RH Ben Sheets (11-13, 4.45), LH Doug Davis (7-8, 4.03), RH Matt Kinney (10-13, 5.19), LH Chris Capuano (2-4, 4.64), LH Wayne Franklin (10-13, 5.50, 116 Ks).
Key Relievers: RH Dan Kolb (1-2, 1.96, 21), RH Leo Estrella (7-3, 4.36), LH Brooks Kieschnick (1-1, 5.26), RH Luis Vizcaino (4-3, 6.39).
Hot Spot: For first time in years, Brewers had competition for spots at spring training thanks to their trade of All-Star Sexson to Arizona that brought six players in return -- Overbay, Counsell, Spivey, Moeller, Capuano and pitcher Jorge De La Rosa. Spivey and Keith Ginter battled for second base job. Also, RHs Adrian Hernandez and Wes Obermueller pushed for a spot in the rotation.
Stat Sheet: Podsednik wasn't the only wildly successful reclamation project GM Doug Melvin produced from his days at Texas. He also grabbed Kolb, who salvaged his career in Milwaukee. Kolb joined the Brewers in June and became club's closer after Mike DeJean was traded to St. Louis. Kolb converted his first 19 save opportunities and had a 1.27 ERA after All-Star break.
Bottom Line: Low-budget Brewers couldn't wait for season to start, and not just so they could try to end 11-year skid without a winning record. They had a tumultuous winter with popular team president resigning over plans to cut player payroll to around $30 million, traded their best player and agreed to an outside review of finances to satisfy a public angered by broken promises to field better teams in Miller Park, which opened in 2001. They have an eye on future thanks to stocked farm system that could begin producing prospects by midseason.
St. Louis Cardinals
2003: 85-77, 3rd place.
Manager: Tony La Russa (ninth season).
He's Here: OF Reggie Sanders, RHP Jeff Suppan, RHP Julian Tavarez, RHP Mike Lincoln, 2B Marlon Anderson, RHP Jason Marquis, RHP Chris Carpenter, LHP Ray King, OF Ray Lankford.
He's Outta Here: OF J.D. Drew, 1B Tino Martinez, 2B Fernando Vina, OF-C Eli Marrero, RHP Brett Tomko, LHP Sterling Hitchcock, LHP Jeff Fassero, OF Orlando Palmeiro, OF Eduardo Perez, INF-OF Miguel Cairo, RHP Mike DeJean, RHP Esteban Yan, LHP Lance Painter, RHP Russ Springer, RHP Garrett Stephenson.
Projected Lineup: LF Kerry Robinson (.250 in 208 at-bats), RF Reggie Sanders (.285, 31, 87), 1B Albert Pujols (.359, 43, 124), CF Jim Edmonds (.275, 39, 89), 3B Scott Rolen (.286, 28, 104), SS Edgar Renteria (.330, 13, 100, 34 SBs), C Mike Matheny (.252, 8, 47), 2B Bo Hart (.277, 4, 28).
Rotation: RH Matt Morris (11-8, 3.76), RH Woody Williams (18-9, 3.87), RH Chris Carpenter (0-0, coming off shoulder surgery), RH Jeff Suppan (13-11, 4.19), RH Jason Marquis (0-0, 5.53, 8 wins at Triple-A).
Key Relievers: RH Jason Isringhausen (0-1, 2.36, 22), RH Julian Tavarez (3-3, 3.66, 11), LH Steve Kline (5-5, 3.82, 3), LH Ray King (3-4, 3.51), RH Cal Eldred (7-4, 3.74, 8), RH Mike Lincoln (3-4, 5.20, 5).
Hot Spots: LF and 2B were up for grabs at start of spring training. Robinson figures to beat out a host of candidates at LF because team also lacks a leadoff hitter and he's got good speed. Hart is better defensively than Marlon Anderson, an offseason pickup; neither draws many walks.
Stat Sheet: Rotation totaled only 42 victories last year, getting zero from Marquis and Carpenter, and appears rather vanilla compared to Cubs plus Greg Maddux and Astros with Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. But there are high hopes for Carpenter, who totaled 21 victories in 2001-02 for Blue Jays before shoulder troubles and was impressive all spring. A change of scenery could be good for Marquis, who foundered with Braves and spent much of last season in minors.
Bottom Line: A healthy Isringhausen, who missed much of first half of last season, and a revamped bullpen should help. Last year, they blew 31 save chances. St. Louis has one of the best lineups in NL despite trades of Drew and Martinez, and has four Gold Glove winners on defense. Only area where Cardinals appear lacking is in the rotation.
XFriday: National League East
-- Associated Press