MLB preview: NL Central

Remember the days when the National League was dominated by its oldest franchises? There was a time when St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were league powerhouses.
Then, one day, you wake up and realize the only NL franchises to win the World Series since 1996 are the 13-year-old Florida Marlins (1997 and 2003) and the eight-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks (2001).
St. Louis is still up there, but Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have faded into small-market oblivion. How times have changed.

Teams listed in projected order of finish

1. St. Louis Cardinals
These guys are probably the best team in the league, but they aren't world-beaters.
The pitching staff is rock-solid, anchored by Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder. The offense has who I think is the best hitter in the NL in Albert Pujols.
The Cards can win another pennant, maybe a World Series, in 2006, but the clock is ticking. Jim Edmonds is aging and Scott Rolen has suddenly hit the downhill side of his career. The Cards have enough money to go out and add some free agents each off-season. I think Mulder, in his contract year, will re-sign. But this will be a team in need of retooling as early as 2007.

2. Houston Astros
The Astros get my vote for most downgraded team in 2006. Jeff Bagwell made a token appearance in the '05 World Series, and now his career might be over. Roger Clemens has kept Houston on pins and needles with regard to his future.
Lance Berkman can still put up strong numbers, but he can't do it alone. The rest of the offense falls to an aging Craig Biggio, Preston Wilson, Orlando Palmeiro and Adam Everett.
Even without Clemens, the Astros starting rotation has some of the best in pieces in baseball, fronted by Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte. Brad Lidge is one of the best young closers in baseball. But it all might not be enough to overcome the decaying areas of the team.

3. Milwaukee Brewers
Look out, Milwaukee is coming on strong. But will they be able to keep their cache of young talent together long enough to develop a winner?
This year is still a formative year for the Brewers. The playoffs aren't likely. But when you take a look at their impressive list of prospects -- led by Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks -- you can't help but wonder how good they can be if their small-market finances can front the money to make additions.
Ben Sheets will start the season on the disabled list. Hopefully he isn't out for long. That's a loss the Brewers can't withstand for a month or more.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates
If they had a starting pitcher you have ever heard of in your life, the Pirates might be a pretty pesky team.
As it stands, the pitching staff is populated by the injury-plagued and unproven. But the offense has a bit of a kick.
Sean Casey was acquired from Cincinnati in the offseason. Like third baseman Joe Randa, he has a history of quietly putting together productive seasons.
Young outfielder Jason Bay is one of the NL's "it" players after hitting .306 last year and finishing fourth in the league in runs scored. The off-season acquisition of Jeromy Burnitz adds some pop, if not much else.
A .500 record might be a bit of a stretch. But it could happen.

5. Chicago Cubs
The Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. The White Sox in 2005.
The baseball gods appear to be in a curse-purging mode. Does that mean 2006 is the year of the Cubs?
Uh, no. Especially after ace pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood were marched off to the disabled list yet again.
The pitching staff is freakin' old. Maybe not in age, but the arms they have are arms with mileage on them: Greg Maddux (who actually is old at 39), Glendon Rusch, Scott Eyre, Scott Williamson and Bob Howry. If they can keep the majority of those guys from joining Prior and Wood on the DL, they'll be doing well.
The offense has Derrek Lee, who is a fantasy superstar after hitting .335 with 46 homers and 107 RBI last year. Beyond that are some decent bats like Aramis Ramirez, Juan Pierre and the newly-acquired Jacque Jones. But not enough to mash their way to wins on a regular basis, certainly not in pitcher-friendly Wrigley Field.
The title drought will likely reach a century on Chicago's north side.

6. Cincinnati Reds
I went to school at Bowling Green, where I shared space with Reds and Tigers fans. And this time of year, Reds fans were always so adorable. And I don't mean that in a condescending way.
They'd be flush with springtime hope, telling everyone that this would be the year Ken Griffey Jr. would stay healthy and re-emerge as an all-star. They would wax poetic on the power potential of Adam Dunn. They'd give analytical breakdowns of some Reds pitching prospect you never heard of, and how he was going to emerge as the staff ace.
You didn't have the heart to tear down their hopes. You just couldn't. And, come September, when the Reds were hurtling toward another 90-loss season, they kept their hopes up for next year.
Man, I wish Cleveland fans could be that way during the lean times.

Up next: the NL East