The Arizona Daily Wildcat's American League Staff Picks will appear next Thursday.
Ryan Finley, sports editor
National League East Champions:
Here's my dark horse for the year: the Florida Marlins. If it's true that pitching wins championships, the Fish should be in great shape. Youngsters like AJ Burnett, Antonio Alfonseca, Brad Penny, Ryan Dempster and Matt Clement have better stuff than the ancient Braves' staff, which may still have Doyle Alexander as the fifth starter. Add in powerful bats in Preston Wilson, Derek Lee and Eric Owens, and the Marlins could surprise some people.
National League West Champions:
Born and raised a Padres fan, it pains me to say the purple and teal Diamondbacks will win the NL West this season. Sacrilege! The D-Backs have great pitching, consistent bats and the veteran leadership to win it all. Arizona added Mark Grace and Reggie Sanders for the stretch run. Add Randy Johnson, Curt Shilling and Matt Mantei to the mix and you've got a team that can bring home the hardware.
National League Central Champions:
The St. Louis Cardinals should have won the National League last year, so they'll definitely be back in the mix this season. Dustin Hermanson, one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball, has been added to a staff that already features Andy Benes, Darryl Kile, Garrett Stevenson and Rick "Wild Thing" Ankiel. If the Redbirds' bats can stay consistent, they'll be in business.
National League Wildcard Champions:
M-E-T-S, Mets Mets Mets! No matter how you say it, the team without a color or set uniform style will find its way into the postseason again. Mike Piazza, one of the game's best players, will find a way to win despite playing on a team devoid of any talented outfielders. My crappy intramural team could knock off Jay Payton, Timo Perez and Daryl Hamilton. And we suck!
National League MVP:
Vladimir Guerrero is the best player that nobody has ever heard of. He plays on a team that won't broadcast games in English. Could he be playing for the Northern Virginia Expos next year? With all the uncertainty surrounding the franchise's future, Guerrero is the only beacon of hope. I salute you, comrade Vladimir.
Kamy Shaygan, assistant sports editor
National League East Champions:
Atlanta Braves - No matter how much hitting you have, nothing is better than a solid pitching staff. Greg Maddux, Tommy Glavine and Johnny Smoltz are all former Cy Young winners. These three guys know how to get a win, especially when playoffs roll around. You mix in a deadly hitting lineup of Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Javy Lopez, and you've got yourself a winner.
National League West Champions:
Colorado Rockies - The Rockies made the best offseason move in the big leagues by signing marquee left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton to a monster deal. This guy is going to own the National League this year, despite playing in that Mickey Mouse of a ball park. The Rocks also went out and signed Denny Neagle and locked up arguably the best hitter in the game, Todd Helton.
National League Central Champions:
St. Louis Cardinals - Jim Edmonds and Mark McGwire are the deadliest one-two offensive punch in baseball. If both Edmonds and Big Mac can stay healthy all season, they will combine for 100 home runs. Along with their scary hitting lineup, the Cards have a deadly pitching staff, led by 20-game winner Darryl Kile. Rick Ankiel is also expected to live up to his expectations this season.
National League Wildcard:
New York Mets - The Mets have the greatest hitting catcher of all time in Mike 'Pepperoni' Piazza. Mix in arguably the best second baseman in baseball, Edgardo Alfonzo, and you have a hitting lineup that can create some damage in the postseason. Losing Mike Hampton in the offseason has created a void in the pitching staff, but Al Leiter has the skills and intensity to lead this team into the playoffs.
NL MVP:
Todd Helton - This guy is coming off his best season in the majors, hitting .372, 42 homers and 147 RBIs. Now that he has the winning pitching staff and that fat contract to sit on, his numbers are only going to get better. There is no question in my mind that this guy will get the MVP for the 2001 season.
Connor Doyle, Columnist
National League East Champions:
The day of reckoning has come - the Mets will win the NL East. There's too much talent on that team, with Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo, the two best players in the NL in their respective positions, and Robin Ventura having a comeback year. Pitchers Al Leiter and Armando Benitez highlight one of the most underrated and clutch staffs in the game.
National League West Champions:
Picking a winner in this league is almost impossible because the top four teams are all within the top six in the NL, but I think having Dusty "The Lizard" Baker back in the dugout will push the San Francisco Giants to the top. Jeff Kent and Barry Bonds may hate each other, but then again everyone hates Barry Bonds. Look for Livan Hernandez to be in the thick of the Cy Young race.
National Central Champions:
The Cardinals, without a doubt, will take the central. Even without Mark McGwire, I think this team is the class of the central, but having Big Mac behind Jim Edmonds is going to secure the centerfielder his first MVP award. Darryl Kile, along with Hernandez, is in a prime position to sneak into the Cy Young race. However, there's a strong chance that Rick Ankiel might kill someone at the plate this year, or at least knock out a mascot a l‡ "Nuke" in Bull Durham.
National League Wildcard:
Here comes the pick I'm going to get the most crap over - I think the Marlins will be the NL Wild Card this year. They may be the best team in the NL talent-wise, and I think they'll put it together this season. Looking down the roster of the Marlins, I see no less than six guys who are going to be superstars in baseball for quite a while. Ryan Dempster, in a huge upset, will actually win the Cy Young.
NL MVP:
Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals should have won the damn thing last year, but the man held him down, along with his numbers plummeting when Big Mac was out of the lineup. But a healthy McGwire equals MVP for Edmonds. However, Vladimir Guerrero is going to make a run at it, with his triple-crown-ish numbers. But as long as he's with the Frenchies in Quebec, Edmonds is safely in the lead.
David Stevenson, Staff Writer
National League East Champions:
The New York Mets added Kevin Appier while shortstop Rey Ordonez is healthy and back again. "Hawaiian Punch," outfielder Benny Agbayani, adds the needed "in-your-face" attitude. The loud music, hysteric fans and the constant airplanes flying overhead at Shea Stadium are too much for the senior citizen Braves.
NL West Champion:
San Francisco has fire this year and will have to rely on its pitching staff, which features Opening-Day starter Livan Hernandez and closer extraordinaire Rob Nen. Second baseman Jeff Kent will again hit over .330 and drive in 120 runs. Look for Barry Bonds to hit homers into McCovey Cove and steal bases late in the game when it's out of reach, just to pad his stats.
NL Central Champion:
St. Louis has the pitching, but youngster Rick Ankiel is still learning how to hit the catchers mitt on the fly. Mark McGwire, outfielders Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew provide the power for the Birds to make it deep into the playoffs. They will blow away this pitiful excuse for a division and bring much-needed joy to Budweiser town again.
NL Wildcard:
Colorado now has the pitching by picking up two of the league's most sought-after free agents, Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. Neifi Perez, the team's starting shortstop, wins points with me based on his great name. The power lineup - which features outfielder Larry Walker, first baseman Todd Helton and third baseman Jeff Cirillo - will provide long offensive innings.
NL MVP:
Montreal's Vladimir Guerrero. He once got a single off a pitch that bounced in front of the plate. No batting gloves, a shin guard, a thick muscular neck and a sweet swing resulted in these 2000 stats: .345 avg, 44 hrs, 123 RBIs. No English radio contracts, no problem.
