NATIONAL LEAGUE

By JASON REID

April 2, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

CENTRAL

In predicted order of finish

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

WHO’S NEW: P Andy Benes, Pat Hentgen, Darryl Kile, Paul Spoljaric, Dave Veres, Jesse Orosco. OF--Jim Edmonds. C--Mike Matheny. 2B--Fernando Vina.

WHO’S GONE: P--Juan Acevedo, Manny Aybar, Ricky Bottalico, Kent Bottenfield, Rick Croushore, Jose Jimenez, Donovan Osborne, Lance Painter. OF--Darren Bragg, Willie McGee. IF--David Howard, Adam Kennedy, Joe McEwing.

STRENGTHS: The Cardinals were loaded after an impressive off-season makeover, then General Manager Walt Jocketty completed the Jim Edmonds heist. Third baseman Fernando Tatis had a breakthrough 34-homer, 21-stolen base season, stirring 30-30 talk. Second baseman Fernando Vina is eager to rebound for his new team after battling knee injuries last season with Milwaukee. Veres was sensational away from Coors Field in his first full season as a closer.

WEAKNESSES: The bullpen behind Veres isn’t particularly special and catcher Eli Marrero batted only .192 in 314 at-bats. As problems go, though, Manager Tony La Russa couldn’t be happier.

OUTLOOK: The Cardinals should challenge the Braves and Mets for the league championship. The Cardinals have been under .500 the last two seasons, but La Russa might regain his “genius” label with this bunch.

AT DODGER STADIUM: June 16-18.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Fernando Vina

CF Jim Edmonds

1B Mark McGwire

LF Ray Lankford

3B Fernando Tatis

RF J.D. Drew

SS Edgar Renteria

C Eli Marrero

STARTING PITCHERS

Darryl Kile

Pat Hentgen

Andy Benes

Rick Ankiel

Garrett Stephenson

RELIEF PITCHERS

Dave Veres

Heathcliff Slocumb

Scott Radinsky

Paul Spoljaric

Mike Mohler

Jesse Orosco

HOUSTON ASTROS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Roger Cedeno. P--Octavio Dotel.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Derek Bell, Carl Everett, Stan Javier. P--Mike Hampton, Brian Williams. SS--Ricky Gutierrez.

STRENGTHS: First baseman Jeff Bagwell and second baseman Craig Biggio are arguably the league’s best tandem. Right-hander Jose Lima anchors the rotation after winning a career-high 21 games last season. Cedeno and Dotel were acquired in the Hampton trade. Cedeno batted .313 with 66 stolen bases, and Dotel could become a consistent winner. Outfielder Moises Alou had a strong spring after sitting out last season because of injuries.

WEAKNESSES: Hampton’s departure weakens the rotation considerably. Adding to the uncertainty, right-hander Scott Elarton will begin the season on the disabled list after undergoing rotator cuff surgery. Cedeno lacks the instincts to take charge in center, but the Astros are playing him there anyway. Third baseman Ken Caminiti was the Astros’ top player in the postseason but sat out 79 games last season.

OUTLOOK: The Astros, winners of three consecutive Central titles, are still talented and reinforcements will arrive soon, but not in time to help during the first season at Enron Field.

AT DODGER STADIUM: April 17-19, May 5-7.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Craig Biggio

CF Roger Cedeno

1B Jeff Bagwell

3B Ken Caminiti

RF Moises Alou

LF R.Hidalgo/D.Ward

C M. Meluskey/T. Eusebio

SS Tom Bogar

STARTING PITCHERS

Jose Lima

Shane Reynolds

Octavio Dotel

Chris Holt

Dwight Gooden

RELIEF PITCHERS

Billy Wagner

Jay Powell

Doug Henry

Jose Cabrera

Yorkis Perez

Mike Maddux

CINCINNATI REDS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Dante Bichette, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Ochoa.

WHO’S GONE: OF--Greg Vaughn, Mike Cameron, Jeffrey Hammonds, Mark Sweeney. P--Brett Tomko, Stan Belinda, Juan Guzman. C--Brian Johnson.

STRENGTHS: A good lineup became great with the addition of Griffey. General Manager Jim Bowden got it done without destroying the nucleus of last season’s surprising 96-67 club. Pokey Reese, whom the Mariners coveted, won his first Gold Glove and is a developing star. Shortstop Barry Larkin remains an all-around force, and Bichette is a run producer. Right-handers Danny Graves and Scott Williamson--the NL rookie of the year--are part of a formidable bullpen.

WEAKNESSES: The Reds will miss Tomko. No. 1 starter Pete Harnisch pitched with a sore shoulder in the second half, and left-hander Denny Neagle was sidelined about half the season because of a weakened shoulder. He was pounded in exhibition play. The bullpen was overworked last season and it appears will be again.

OUTLOOK: Griffey will keep fans coming to Cinergy Field until the Reds’ new ballpark is ready. This season’s club should contend, but Griffey can’t do anything about the pitching problems.

AT DODGER STADIUM: April 14-16, May 22-24.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Pokey Reese

SS Barry Larkin

CF Ken Griffey Jr.

RF Dante Bichette

1B Sean Casey

LF Dmitri Young

C Eddie Taubensee

3B Aaron Boone

STARTING PITCHERS

Pete Harnisch

Denny Neagle

Steve Parris

Ron Villone

Rob Bell

RELIEF PITCHERS

Danny Graves

Scott Williamson

Scott Sullivan

Dennys Reyes

Gabe White

Hector Mercado

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

WHO’S NEW: OF--Bruce Aven, Wil Cordero.

WHO’S GONE: OF/IF--Brant Brown. P--Pete Schourek, Brad Clontz. C--Joe Oliver. 3B--Ed Sprague.

STRENGTHS: Center fielder Brian Giles became a star with the opportunity to play every day, something he didn’t get in Cleveland. Pittsburgh officials were giddy about acquiring Giles before he batted .315 with 39 homers, 115 RBIs and played Gold Glove-caliber defense. Catcher Jason Kendall’s broken ankle has healed. The horrific injury robbed the Pirates of their second-best all-around player in the second half. Kendall was having a career year, batting .332 with eight homers, 41 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Kendall pushed himself in rehabilitation and should resume his fine work behind the plate. First baseman Kevin Young had a strong season but wore down. Second baseman Warren Morris had a sensational rookie year.

WEAKNESSES: Staff ace Jason Schmidt would be a solid No. 2 on good teams and a No. 3 on great ones. Right-hander Kris Benson has a bright future but isn’t ready for the lead role, and things are bleak after him. The closer situation must be resolved.

OUTLOOK: A new stadium is on the horizon and the Pirates have some good young players to build around. They’re closer, but they’re not where they want to be yet.

AT DODGER STADIUM: July 16-18, Sept. 4-6.

PROJECTED LINEUP

C Jason Kendall

SS Pat Meares

RF Brian Giles

1B Kevin Young

LF Wil Cordero

2B Warren Morris

CF Chad Hermansen

3B Aramis Ramirez

STARTING PITCHERS

Jason Schmidt

Kris Benson

Francisco Cordova

Todd Ritchie

Jimmy Anderson

RELIEF PITCHERS

Mike Williams

Jason Christiansen

Jose Silva

Mike Garcia

Scott Sauerbeck

Jeff Wallace

CHICAGO CUBS

WHO’S NEW: OF--Damon Buford. C--Joe Girardi. SS--Ricky Gutierrez. P--Ismael Valdes, Brian Williams. 2B--Eric Young.

WHO’S GONE: P--Terry Adams, IF--Jeff Blauser. 3B--Gary Gaetti. OF--Lance Johnson. 2B--Mickey Morandini. C--Benito Santiago.

STRENGTHS: The Cubs received a needed infusion of talent after an abysmal 95-loss season. General Manager Ed Lynch and new Manager Don Baylor revamped the club during the winter meetings. Young is a proven leadoff man and Valdes, on the disabled list because of shoulder soreness, improves the rotation. Sammy Sosa continues to push Mark McGwire and Henry Rodriguez provides protection. Steady first baseman Mark Grace hasn’t slowed down, and Girardi knows how to win from his days with the Yankees.

WEAKNESSES: Injuries are still affecting the rotation. The Cubs figured right-hander Kerry Wood wouldn’t be ready until May while recovering from reconstructive surgery, but then Valdes began experiencing shoulder pain.

OUTLOOK: The Cubs will be improved with Baylor in the dugout and more talent on the field, but they don’t have enough pitching to make a playoff run.

AT DODGER STADIUM: Aug. 7-9.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B Eric Young

SS Ricky Gutierrez

RF Sammy Sosa

1B Mark Grace

LF Henry Rodriguez

3B Shane Andrews

CF Damon Buford

C Joe Girardi

STARTING PITCHERS

Jon Lieber

Kyle Farnsworth

Kevin Tapani

Ismael Valdes

Andrew Lorraine

RELIEF PITCHERS

Rick Aguilera

Matt Karchner

Brian Williams

Felix Heredia

Mark Guthrie

Danny Young

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

WHO’S NEW: P--Juan Acevedo, Jimmy Haynes, Jamie Navarro, John Snyder, Jamey Wright. INF--Jose Hernandez. OF--James Mouton, Mark Sweeney. P--Curtis Leskanic. C--Henry Blanco.

WHO’S GONE: 3B--Jeff Cirillo. P--Cal Eldred, Scott Karl, Mike Myers, Hideo Nomo, Eric Plunk. OF--Alex Ochoa. SS--Jose Valentin. 2B--Fernando Vina. C--Dave Nilsson.

STRENGTHS: Corner outfielders Jeromy Burnitz and Geoff Jenkins. Despite missing a month because of a broken hand, Burnitz hit 33 homers with 103 RBIs. Barring injuries, Burnitz figures to hit 40 homers for the first time. Jenkins also has all-star ability. He batted .313 with 21 homers and 82 RBIs in only 135 games during his first full season. He also came through in the clutch, batting .347 with runners in scoring position.

WEAKNESSES: Burnitz and Jenkins are the Brewers’ only big-time run producers. The rotation and bullpen are weak.

OUTLOOK: The Brewers are starting over, making sweeping changes in the front office, dugout--new Manager Davey Lopes--and field. They won’t help this season.

AT DODGER STADIUM: Aug. 4-6.

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Marquis Grissom

SS Mark Loretta

LF Geoff Jenkins

RF Jeromy Burnitz

3B Jose Hernandez

1B Kevin Barker

2B R. Belliard/L. Lopez

C Henry Blanco

STARTING PITCHERS

Steve Woodard