National League Central Preview

The National League Central is an interesting division. It has the most teams of any division in Major League Baseball. It also is a division that any number of teams can claim the top spot. In previous years, the division was dominated by the St. Louis Cardinals, The Chicago Cubs, and the Houston Astros. Now, you throw in the Milwaukee Brewers into the mix, and there's a four-team fight on your hands. Last year, the Brewers looked like they'd be making a post season appearance, but the Cubs were able to hold them off. But that was last year, this is now, and here's how I see the NL Central playing out for 2008:

1. Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers made themselves relevant last season. They played great baseball under Ned Yost and nearly made the playoffs. This season, Milwaukee will get over the hump and join baseball's elite for October baseball. They have a great group of young, extremely talented players who all have the making of star power in the league for years to come. Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy, Ryan Braun, Rickie Weekes are all players on the rise. They have extreme versatility as well, with players like Bill Hall and Craig Counsell that can play basically anywhere on the diamond.

Milwaukee added players this winter as well including Mike Cameron who is suspended for the first 25 games for substance use. Also welcome in a new closer; Eric Gagne. Gagne can't possibly be worse than his brief tenure with Boston, so that's good news for Brewers fans. In case Gagne does continue to pitch bad, they have Derrek Turnbow as the setup man. Gagne will get plenty of chances too, especially with the top two in the rotation; Ben Sheets and Dave Bush. The team is not an overpowering team on paper or to the average fan, but the Brew-Crew WILL end up on top of the NL Central.