Baseball Previews : National League

Teams in order of predicted finish.

WEST

Dodgers

WHO’S NEW: P Hideo Nomo, SS Dick Schofield, P Rob Murphy.

WHO’S GONE: P Orel Hershiser, P Kevin Gross, CF Brett Butler, P Roger McDowell, P Jim Gott.

STRENGTHS: There’s the potential for an abundance of power, with at least five players capable of hitting at least 25 homers: C Mike Piazza, CF Raul Mondesi, LF Bill Ashley, 3B Tim Wallach, 1B Eric Karros.

WEAKNESSES: This is the most inexperienced outfield in the league, and there are scouts who believe the Dodgers are making a grave mistake by moving Mondesi, the National League’s rookie of the year, from right field to center. Mondesi has been in the big leagues only one year and 14 days, RF Henry Rodriguez has never been a full time starter, and Ashley has played in only 45 games--16 since 1992. They also added no veteran depth to a bullpen that was ranked worst in the majors last season.

OUTLOOK: This is a team that has finished a combined 34 games below .500 the last three years. They have an inexperienced bullpen. The last two starters in the rotation have combined for one major league start. And their big free-agent acquisition was Schofield, a backup shortstop. This team still should finish a few games above .500, which will be good enough to win the division title.

Colorado Rockies

WHO’S NEW: RF Larry Walker, P Billy Swift, P Omar Olivares, 2B Harold Reynolds.

WHO’S GONE: 3B Charlie Hayes, OF Howard Johnson, P Mike Harkey, P Greg Harris.

STRENGTHS: How would you like to be guaranteed a sellout every game of the season? The fan base enabled the Rockies to be the most aggressive team in the division, and they’re committed to becoming the most financially successful franchise in baseball history. The middle of their lineup, Dante Bichette, Andres Galarraga and Walker, is one of the most formidable in the league. The three players combined for 77 homers and 266 runs batted in last season.

WEAKNESSES: OK, so after having the league’s worst pitching staff the last two seasons, they still have to find someone who can pitch in this thin air. A rotation of Swift, Marvin Freeman, David Nied, Olivares and Armando Reynoso isn’t too shabby. The tourble is all have a history of injury problems.

OUTLOOK: The Rockies already are making plans for playing in October. They’re convinced they have the best team on paper. Certainly, they’ve created the most interest. If this team gains an early lead, and established confidence, watch out.

San Diego Padres

WHO’S NEW: 3B Ken Caminiti, SS Andujar Cedeno, CF Steve Finley, P Brian Williams, P Fernando Valenzuela, P Teddy Higuera, 2B Jody Reed, Owner Bill Moores, President Larry Lucchino, Manager Bruce Bochy.

WHO’S GONE: OF Derek Bell, OF Phil Plantier, P Pedro Martinez, P Doug Brocail, 3B Craig Shipley, Manager Jim Riggleman.

STRENGTHS: The laughingstock of the league the last two years has found credibility. A 12-player trade with the Houston Astros has helped leave it with the finest pitching staff in the division and a solid lineup. The rotation of Andy Benes, Joey Hamilton, Scott Sanders, Andy Ashby and Williams, Higuera or Valenzuela is capable of doing a lot of damage.

WEAKNESSES: Must learn how to win again. The fire sale by former majority owner Tom Werner was devastating, and a good start is essential. Lack of power is a problem.

OUTLOOK: This team is reminding folks of the 1992 Atlanta Braves. It has the makings of a great, young pitching staff, and Caminiti might do what Terry Pendleton did for the Braves. The chic pick to win the division title must respond well to pressure. One break: Five games against the Braves were canceled because of the strike.

San Francisco Giants

WHO’S NEW: P Terry Mulholland, P Jose Bautista, P Trevor Wilson, P Mark Leiter, OF Glenallen Hill.

WHO’S GONE: OF Darryl Strawberry, P Billy Swift, P John Burkett, P Bud Black, OF Willie McGee, OF Dave Martinez, P Mike Jackson, P Bryan Hickerson, P Rich Monteleone.

STRENGTHS: Barry Bonds and Matt Williams, the most devastating 3-4 punch in the game, remain, as does closer Rod Beck, who has successfully saved 40 games in a row.

WEAKNESSES: An overhauled rotation with Mulholland, Bautista, Wilson and Leiter. They combined for 14 victories last season. Mark Portugal and William Van Landingham, two holdovers from last year’s rotation, won’t be enough to save it.

OUTLOOK: This may be the best defensive team in the league, with a gold Glove incumbent or candidate at every position but first base and right field. Unfortunately, it’s illegal to play defense behind the outfield fence, and their woeful pitching should push the Giants into the cellar.

CENTRAL

Cincinnati Reds

WHO’S NEW: C Benito Santiago, P Xavier Hernandez, P Mike Jackson, OF Eric Anthony, P Pete Smith, IF Mark Lewis.

WHO’S GONE: OF Kevin Mitchell, P Rob Dibble, P Tom Browning, C Joe Oliver.

STRENGTHS: No one in the division has a stronger lineup, no one in the league had a stronger bench, and perhaps no one in baseball has a stronger bullpen. Who else has a bullpen as versatile as this: Jeff Brantley, Hernandez, Jackson, Chuck McElroy, Hector Carrasco and Johnny Ruffin?

WEAKNESSES: The rotation is suspect after Jose Rijo and John Smiley with John Roper, Pete Schourek and Smith, who combined for only 17 victories last season.

OUTLOOK: The Reds could clinch this division title by Labor Day. No one has their talent, and although they lost Mitchell to Japan, Ron Gant is back and sound.

St. Louis Cardinals

WHO’S NEW: P Ken Hill, P Tom Henke, P Danny Jackson, 3B Scott Cooper, IF Darnell Coles, P Cris Carpenter, P Jeff Parrett, P Rich DeLucia, General Manager Walt Jocketty.

WHO’S GONE: 1B Gregg Jefferies, OF Mark Whiten, 2B Luis Alicea, P Bob Tewksbury, P Omar Olivares, P Mike Perez.

STRENGTHS: In Jackson and Hill, the Cardinals have two of the four leading winners in the league. The rotation of Hill, Jackson, Donovan Osborne and Allen Watson should be much improved over last year’s staff that failed to last more than five innings in 43 of 115 games. Henke, who planned to retire, should bolster the bullpen.

WEAKNESSES: Todd Zeile has been moved from catcher to third base and now to first, where he has struggled this spring. Manager Joe Torre went through the same transition in his career. “The only things he has to do now are lose his hair and manage,” Torre said.

OUTLOOK: The Cardinals must win to save Torre’s job. If Jackson and Hill stay inury free, memories of the Cardinals’ glory years could be resurrected. The outfield of Ray Lankford, Bernard Gilkey and Brian Jordan is the fastest in baseball. This is an unpredictable team that could be the surprise of the league.

Houston Astros

WHO’S NEW: OF Derek Bell, OF Phil Plantier, SS Ricky Gutierrez, 3B Craig Shipley, P Doug Brocail, P Pedro Martinez.

WHO’S GONE: 3B Ken Caminiti, SS Andujar Cedeno, CF Steve Finley, P Brian Williams, OF Kevin Bass, 1B Sid Bream.

STRENGTHS: This could be the most underrated lineup in the league. First baseman Jeff Bagwell, second baseman Craig Biggio, Bell and Plantier are capable of embarrassing any pitching staff. Also, keep an eye on center fielder Brian Hunter. Their bullpen also is deep with All-Star closer John Hudek, and relievers Todd Jones, Martinez and Rick Huisman.

WEAKNESSES: They will sorely miss Caminiti. The signing of Dave Magadan probably means rookie third baseman Phil Nevin is not ready. They still must find a way to unload Plantier or Luis Gonzalez.

OUTLOOK: This may be the biggest mystery team in the league. The left side of the infield is too inexperienced for a championship team, but it could challenge the Reds and Cardinals.

Chicago Cubs

WHO’S NEW: President Andy MacPhail, General Manager Ed Lynch, Manager Jim Riggleman, CF Brian McRae, OF Howard Johnson, P Chris Nabholz, P Jaime Navarro, P Mike Perez, P Ted Power.

WHO’S GONE: President Larry Himes, Manager Tom Trebelhorn, OF Derrick May, OF Glenallen Hill.

STRENGTHS: The acquisition of McRae should be a huge defensive boost to the pitching staff. The cubs have been after him since Jerome Walton fizzled after winning the rookie-of-the-year award in 1989. Closer Randy Myers is solid but might have few games to close.

WEAKNESSES: They still are feeling the effects of the Himes regime. They have $17.7 million committed to Jose Guzman, Mike Morgan, Shawon Dunston, Myers and Steve Buechele. It cost $4.05 million to bring back first baseman Mark Grace, McRae gets $3 million and outfielder Sammy Sosa should receive $4 million in arbitration. So the Cubs have almost $29 million tied up in eight players. That leaves $7 million for the other 17.

OUTLOOK: MacPhail won two World Series in five years with the Minnesota Twins, but it will take years before he can rescue this franchise. Morgan typified what kind of season this will be when he cracked a rib and split his lip in March playing football at poolside of his Las Vegas home. Their opening-day starter is Jim Bullinger.

Pittsburgh Pirates

WHO’S NEW: P Jim Gott, P Dan Plesac, P Mike Maddux.

WHO’S GONE: OF Andy Van Slyke, P Randy Tomlin, P Zane Smith, P Alejandro Pena.

STRENGTHS: Jim Leyland. Jim Leyland. Jim Leyland. But even the Natinal League’s finest manager can’t save this team.

WEAKNESSES: Leyland has decided to go with a four-man rotation--Paul Wagner, Esteban Loaiza, Denny Neagle and Jon Lieber. They combined for 22 victories last season. They’re so disappointed in Steve Cooke that they have banished him to the bullpen after going 4-11 with a 5.02 ERA last season, yielding a whopping 21 homers in 131 1/3 innings.

OUTLOOK: Three years ago, the Pirates had an outfield of Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla. This year, it’s Midre Cummings, Jacob Brumfield and Al Martin. The only returning player who hit more than 10 homers last season is outfielder Dave Clark (11), and he’ll be on the bench.

EAST

Atlanta Braves

WHO’S NEW: CF Marquis Grissim.

WHO’S GONE: 3B Terry Pendleton. CF Roberto Kelly, OF Tony Tarasco.

STRENGTHS: The star-studded lineup: CF Grissom, SS Jeff Blauser, 3B Chipper Jones, 1B Fred McGriff, RF David Justice, LF Ryan Klesko, C Javier Lopez and 2B Mark Lemke. Any other questions?

WEAKNESSES: The bullpen remains a problem. Rookie Brad Clontz will be the latest to inherit the closer’s role. He’ll be supported by Mark Wohlers, Mike Stanton, Steve Bedrosian and Greg McMichael.

OUTLOOK: Montreal Expo General Manager Kevin Malone predicted the Braves would win the World Series after the Grissom trade. No one’s arguing.

Montreal Expos

WHO’S NEW: CF Roberto Kelly, LF Tony Tarasco, P Luis Aquino.

WHO’S GONE: CF Marquis Grissom, RF Larry Walker, P John Wetteland.

STRENGTHS: The Expos’ scouting and farm system continue to pump out players at an amazing rate, and fans will soon learn the names of Rondell White and Mark Grudzielanek. Mel Rojas will replace Wetteland as the stopper and is capable of saving at least 30 games. Grudzielanek is making the jump from double A and will play third base, and the Expos say he’s a legitimate rookie- of- the- year candidate. Kelly and Tarasco, received in the Grissom trade, give them one of the league’s finest outfields with right fielder Moises Alou and left fielder White.

WEAKNESSES: Financial concerns forced the Expos to disband what perhaps was the league’s finest team last season. Gone are 16 victories, 26 saves, and 172 runs, 30 homers, 131 RBIs and 51 stolen bases.

OUTLOOK: The Expos may have unloaded their nucleus, but they retained their most valuable player--Manager Felipe Alou. The Expos have enough young talent to compete this season and should be in contention for a wild card.

Florida Marlins

WHO’S NEW: 3B Terry Pendleton, OF Andre Dawson, P Bobby Witt, P John Burkett.

WHO’S GONE: P Charlie Hough, C Benito Santiago, IF Dave Magadan, P Luis Aquino, IF Bret Barberie, OF Carl Everett.

STRENGTHS: The Marlins could have one of the best bullpens in the game with closers Bryan Harvey and Robb Nen. Yet, if Harvey is sound, look for him to be quickly traded. They will also have an abundance of veteran leadership with the acquisitions of Pendleton and Dawson.

WEAKNESSES: There are still too many holes for them to be considered a serious contender. There’s a huge dropoff in the rotation after Witt and Burkett, and there may not be enough leads for Nen and Harvey to protect.

OUTLOOK: This could have been a phenomenal team if the owners’ implemented system had stayed in effect. They had offer sheets to center fielder Marquis Grissom and starter Ken Hill. Instead, they had to settle for an aging Dawson and starters Witt and Burkett.

New York Mets

WHO’S NEW: CF Brett Butler, P Pete Harnisch, OF Carl Everett.

WHO’S GONE: P Dwight Gooden, LF Kevin McReynolds.

STRENGTHS: The Mets have an untriguing lineup with the acquisition of Butler. His 27 stolen bases for the Dodgers last season were two more than the entire Mets team. They’ll match their middle of the order with anyone in the division, with the exception of Atlanta. First baseman Rico Brogna hit .351 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 39 games, second baseman Jeff Kent batterd .292 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs, and third baseman Bobby Bonilla hit .290 with 20 homers and 67 RBIs. They also re-signed John Franco, who remains one of the league’s premier closers.

WEAKNESSES: They have Bret Saberhagen (14-4,2.74 ERA) as their ace, followed by Harnisch (8-5, 5.40 ERA), but then there are real problems. Bobby Jones, Jason Jacome and Dave Mlicki combined for 16 victories last season.

OUTLOOK: The Mets have high hopes since acquiring Butler, but they will have to wait at least another year before they can even think about the playoffs.

Philadelphia Phillies

WHO’S NEW: 3B Charlie Hayes, OF Gregg Jefferies, P Jim Deshaies.

WHO’S GONE: P Danny Jackson, 1B John Kruk, P Doug Jones, 1B Ricky Jordan, P Fernando Valenzuela, OF Billy Hatcher.

STRENGTHS: The Phillies still have a dangerous lineup with center fielder Lenny Dykstra, Jefferies, first baseman Dave Hollins and catcher Darren Daulton. Although each of their starters can be erratic, they have the potential for a good rotation with Curt Schilling, Tommy Greene, Bobby Munoz and David West.

WEAKNESSES: The potential for a good rotation took a disastrous turn when Greene and Munoz showed signs of arm problems. With the departure of Doug Jones, the Phillies don’t have anyone who saved more than one game last season.

OUTLOOK: Perhaps they could compete in the National League West, but not in this division.