NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW

In predicted order of finish, with last year’s records:

WEST

1. Colorado (90-73)

Best record of any

NL team within its division last season: Rockies, 43-30 vs.

NL West.

2. Arizona (90-72)

Nine players hit 10 homers last year, plus pitcher Micah Owings had a higher slugging percentage than A-Rod.

3. Dodgers (82-80)

Hiroki Kuroda’s

strikeout-to-walk

ratio for 2006

Hiroshima Carp:

7-1.

4. Padres (89-74)

Center fielder

Jim Edmonds’

OPS, starting

in 2004: 1.061, .918,

.821, .728.

5. Giants (71-91)

Goal within reach: Giants never have lost more than 100

games since their founding in 1883.

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In predicted order of finish, with last year’s records:

CENTRAL

1. Chicago (85-77)

Tinker to Evers to Chance for last World Series title 100 years ago; Theriot to DeRosa to Lee for victory?

2. Cincinnati (72-90)

Home runs since

2004 for Adam Dunn, who could be marquee free agent this fall:

46, 40, 40, 40.

3. Milwaukee (83-79)

Strikeouts per

nine innings for oft-injured ace Ben Sheets, since 2004: 10.0, 8.1,

9.9, 6.8.

4. Pittsburgh (68-94)

Opening-day right fielder last time

Pirates had winning season: Kirk Gibson,

in 1992.

5. Houston (73-89)

Please welcome your new shortstop, under federal investigation for perjury: Miguel Tejada!

6. St. Louis (78-84)

Rick Ankiel has yet to play two full months in majors as hitter; six pitchers already on disabled list.

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EAST

1. New York (88-74)

Could Cy Santana get even better in New York? Career record against NL teams:

10-3, 2.16.

2. Atlanta (84-78)

Nice start: Mark

Teixeira had 17 homers

and 56 RBIs in 54 games with the Braves last season.

3. Philadelphia (89-73)

Ryan Howard’s totals the last two years: 105 home runs, 285 RBIs, 198 runs, 215 walks,

380 strikeouts.

4. Florida (71-91)

Your opening-

day starter, in this crummy football

stadium: Mark

Hendrickson!

5. Washington (73-89)

Your opening-day starter, in

this beautiful new ballpark: Odalis Perez!