Here is a capsule look at the National League, with teams listed in order of finish last year:
Atlanta Braves
2000: 95-67, lost in division playoffs.
Manager: Bobby Cox (16th season).
Record vs. division: 27-24.
Leading Off: .396 on-base percentage for leadoff hitters; 9 HRs.
He's Here: 1B Rico Brogna, IF Kurt Abbott.
He's Outta Here: 1B Andres Galarraga, OF Reggie Sanders, RHP Andy Ashby, SS Walt Weiss, LHP Terry Mulholland, OF Bobby Bonilla, 1B Wally Joyner, RHP Scott Kamieniecki, RHP Rudy Seanez, RHP Greg McMichael.
Projected lineup: SS Rafael Furcal (.295, 4 HRs, 37 RBIs, 40 SBs), 2B Quilvio Veras (.309, 5, 37, 25 SBs), 3B Chipper Jones (.311, 36, 111), CF Andruw Jones (.303, 36, 104, 21 SBs), RF Brian Jordan (.264, 17, 77), C Javy Lopez (.287, 24, 89), LF B.J. Surhoff (.291, 14, 68), 1B Rico Brogna (.232, 2, 21).
Rotation: RHP Greg Maddux (19-9, 3.00), LHP Tom Glavine (21-9, 3.40), RHP Kevin Millwood (10-13, 4.66, 26 HRs allowed), RHP John Smoltz (missed entire 2000 season), RHP John Burkett (10-6, 4.89).
Bullpen: LHP John Rocker (1-2, 2.89, 24/27 saves), LHP Mike Remlinger (5-3, 3.47, 12/16), RHP Kerry Ligtenberg (2-3, 3.61, 12/14), LHP Odalis Perez (missed entire 2000 season).
Hot Spot: The Braves will open the season with journeyman Paul Bako as the starting catcher. Javy Lopez will miss the first couple of weeks with a broken left ring finger. Eddie Perez, who played only seven games last year before undergoing rotator cuff surgery, will apparently miss the entire season after re-injuring his throwing shoulder.
Stat Sheet: The team ERA of 4.06 was the highest since 1990, but the Braves still led the National league.
Bottom Line: The Braves are counting on several players Smoltz, Veras, Perez and Jordan to bounce back from injuries and play key roles. If not, Atlanta's streak of nine straight postseason appearances could be in danger. Smoltz, out all of last year, expects to start the season on the DL because of inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow.
New York Mets
2000: 94-68, won wild card, lost World Series.
Manager: Bobby Valentine (6th season).
Record vs. division: 27-23.
Leading Off: .341 on-base percentage; 22 HRs.
He's Here: RHP Kevin Appier, RHP Steve Trachsel, RHP Donne Wall, OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo.
He's Outta Here: LHP Mike Hampton, RHP Bobby J. Jones, SS Mike Bordick, OF Derek Bell, OF Bubba Trammell, INF Kurt Abbott.
Projected lineup: RF Timo Perez (.286, 1, 3 in late recall), 2B Edgardo Alfonzo (.324, 25, 94), C Mike Piazza (.324, 38, 113), 3B Robin Ventura (.232, 24, 84), 1B Todd Zeile (.268, 22, 79), CF Jay Payton (.291, 17, 62), LF Benny Agbayani (.289, 15, 60), SS Rey Ordonez (.188, 0, 9 in 45 games).
Rotation: LHP Al Leiter (16-8, 3.20), RHP Kevin Appier (15-11, 4.52), RHP Rick Reed (11-5, 4.11), LHP Glendon Rusch (11-11, 4.01), RHP Steve Trachsel (8-15, 4.80).
Bullpen: RHP Armando Benitez (4-4, 2.61, 41/46 saves, 106 Ks in 76 innings), LHP John Franco (5-4, 3.40), RHP Rick White (5-9, 3.52), RHP Turk Wendell (8-6, 3.59).
Hot Spot: Appier for Hampton. Mets hope the lifelong AL pitcher can adjust to the other league and make up for the wins and innings of the NLCS MVP.
Stat Sheet: Mets' outfielders had only 59 home runs and 231 RBIs, the third-worst mark in the NL. Needing to add pop, they didn't.
Bottom Line: Valentine earned new contract by leading Mets into postseason for consecutive years for first time in team history. But after losing Subway Series in five games, it wasn't a good offseason they lost Hampton and never came close to signing Alex Rodriguez. This year, they play nemesis Atlanta 19 times Mets have lost 20 of their last 23 at Turner Field.
Florida Marlins
2000: 79-82.
Manager: John Boles (3rd season).
Record vs. division: 28-22.
Leading Off: .402 on-base percentage; 6 HRs.
He's Here: C Charles Johnson, OF Jeff Abbott.
He's Outta Here: OF Henry Rodriguez, OF Mark Smith.
Projected lineup: 2B Luis Castillo (.334, 2, 17, 62 SBs), RF Mark Kotsay (.298, 12, 57), LF Cliff Floyd (.300, 22, 91 in 121 games), CF Preston Wilson (.264, 31, 121, 36 SBs, 187 Ks), 3B Mike Lowell (.270, 22, 91), C Charles Johnson (.304, 31, 91), 1B Derrek Lee (.281, 28, 70), SS Alex Gonzalez (.200, 7, 42).
Rotation: RHP Ryan Dempster (14-10, 3.66, 209 Ks), RHP Chuck Smith (6-6, 3.23), RHP Brad Penny (8-7, 4.81), RHP A.J. Burnett (3-7, 4.79), LHP Jesus Sanchez (9-12, 5.34).
Bullpen: RHP Antonio Alfonseca (5-6, 4.24, 45/49 saves), RHP Dan Miceli (6-4, 4.25), LHP Armando Almanza (4-2, 4.86), LHP Vic Darensbourg (5-3, 4.06).
Hot Spot: A decision looms on whether owner John Henry will get a new ballpark. If the project is approved, Henry will likely keep his young, talented team together. If the project is rejected, the Marlins face another round of demoralizing dismantling.
Stat Sheet: Wilson struck out 187 times last year, two behind Bobby Bonds' record, but he was also the majors' lone 30-30 player.
Bottom Line: If the injury-prone Floyd and Castillo stay healthy, this will be the Marlins' best team since they won the 1997 World Series. And if Wilson, Dempster, Penny, Lowell and Lee continue to improve, Florida could find itself in the wild-card race.
Montreal Expos
2000: 67-95.
Manager: Felipe Alou (10th season).
Record vs. division: 21-29.
Leading Off: .306 on-base percentage; 6 HRs.
He's Here: 3B Fernando Tatis, RHP Britt Reames, 3B Ryan Minor.
He's Outta Here: RHP Dustin Hermanson, LHP Steve Kline.
Projected lineup: CF Peter Bergeron (.245, 5, 31), 2B Jose Vidro (.331, 24, 97), RF Vladimir Guerrero (.345, 44, 123), 3B Fernando Tatis (.253, 18, 64), 1B Lee Stevens (.265, 22, 75), LF Milton Bradley (.221, 2, 15) OR Tim Raines (did not play in 2000), C Michael Barrett (.214, 1, 22), SS Orlando Cabrera (.237, 13, 55).
Rotation: RHP Javier Vazquez (11-9, 4.05), RHP Hideki Irabu (2-5, 7.24), RHP Tony Armas Jr. (7-9, 4.36), LHP Scott Downs (4-3, 5.29), LHP Scott Downs (4-3, 5.29).
Bullpen: RHP Ugueth Urbina (0-1, 4.05, 8 saves), LHP Graeme Lloyd (injured in 2000), RHP Britt Reames (2-1, 2.88), RHP Anthony Telford (5-4, 3.79), RHP Mike Johnson (5-6, 6.39).
Hot Spot: Trainer's room. Starters Carl Pavano and Mike Thurman and relievers Urbina and Lloyd all missed a lot of 2000 because of injuries. If they're healthy, the staff could be stable.
Stat Sheet: Guerrero joined Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Jimmie Foxx as the only players with 30 homers, 100 RBIs and .300 average in three straight years before age 25.
Bottom Line: At 41, Raines returns after a year off to the place where he became a star. The Expos have plenty of young talent, but the lack of fans jeopardizes their future in Montreal. At least the team has an English radio contract this year.
Philadelphia Phillies
2000: 65-97.
Manager: Larry Bowa (1st season).
Record vs. division: 23-28.
Leading Off: .326 on-base percentage; 12 HRs.
He's Here: RHP Jose Mesa, RHP Ricky Bottalico, LHP Rheal Cormier, OF Brian L. Hunter
He's Outta Here: RHP Kent Bottenfield, SS Alex Arias, RHP Jeff Brantley, C Tom Prince.
Projected lineup: CF Doug Glanville (.275, 8, 52, 31 SBs), SS Jimmy Rollins (.321, 0, 5 in late recall), RF Bobby Abreu (.316, 25, 79, 28 SBs), 3B Scott Rolen (.298, 26, 89), LF Pat Burrell (.260, 18, 79), 1B Travis Lee (.235, 9, 54), C Mike Lieberthal (.278, 15, 71), 2B Marlon Anderson (.228, 1, 15)
Rotation: LHP Omar Daal (4-19, 6.14), Robert Person (9-7, 3.63), Bruce Chen (7-4, 3.29), Randy Wolf (11-9, 4.36), Cliff Politte (4-3, 3.66)
Bullpen: RHP Jose Mesa (4-6, 5.36), RHP Ricky Bottalico (9-6, 4.83, 16/23 saves), LHP Rheal Cormier (3-3, 4.61).
Hot Spot: Brought in Mesa, Bottalico and Cormier to shore up a bullpen that went 21-37 with a 5.72 ERA last season. No team in baseball had a higher bullpen ERA or more relief losses. Mesa will be the closer.
Stat Sheet: Phils were 24-27 against NL East and Central on the road, but were 3-18 vs. NL West.
Bottom Line: The fiery Bowa has brought a new attitude and new work ethic. He's made it clear he won't accept losing. The underachieving lineup has to improve on last season when the offense was worst in the majors. Rotation could be decent, but the bullpen still is shaky.
St. Louis Cardinals
2000: 97-65, lost NLCS.
Manager: Tony La Russa (6th season).
Record vs. division: 37-25.
Leading Off: .377 on-base percentage; 11 HRs.
He's Here: RHP Dustin Hermanson, LHP Steve Kline, OF Bobby Bonilla, OF Bernard Gilkey, OF Quinton McCracken, OF John Mabry.
He's Outta Here: 3B Fernando Tatis, RHP Pat Hentgen, RHP Britt Reames, 1B Will Clark, OF Eric Davis, INF/OF Shawon Dunston.
Projected lineup: 2B Fernando Vina (.300, 10 SBs), SS Edgar Renteria (.278, 16, 76, 21 SBs), CF Jim Edmonds (.295, 42, 108), 1B Mark McGwire (.305, 32, 73 in 89 games), RF J.D. Drew (.295, 18, 57), LF Ray Lankford (.253, 26, 148 strikeouts in 392 at-bats), 3B Craig Paquette (.245, 15, 61), C Mike Matheny (.261, 6, 47).Rotation: RHP Darryl Kile (20-9, 3.91, 192 Ks); RHP Dustin Hermanson (12-14, 4.77), LHP Rick Ankiel (11-7, 3.50, 194 Ks in 175 innings), RHP Andy Benes (12-9, 4.88), RHP Matt Morris (3-3, 3.57 in relief).
Bullpen: RHP Dave Veres (29/36 saves, 2.85), LHP Steve Kline (3.50, 83 games), RHP Garrett Stephenson (16-9, 4.49).
Hot Spot: Ankiel, 21, threw nine wild pitches in four postseason innings, and was wildly inconsistent this spring. Is the team's only left-handed starter over his control problems? Can McGwire, limited to 89 games by knee injury last year, return to record-threatening form at age 37? This is likely a one-year window of opportunity for 3B Paquette, with 21-year-old prospect Albert Pujols expected to be ready next year.
Stat Sheet: Cardinals have four left-handed bats in the lineup and hit .255 vs. left-handers last year, 21 points lower than their average against righties.
Bottom Line: Cardinals won the Central by 10 games last year with McGwire out half the season and since-traded 3B Fernando Tatis also sidelined for significant period by injuries. Former No. 1 starter Morris is healthy and returns to rotation.
Cincinnati Reds
2000: 85-77.
Manager: Bob Boone (1st season).
Record vs. division: 34-29.
Leading Off: .359 on-base percentage; 17 HRs.
He's Here: C Kelly Stinnett, INF Wilton Guerrero, INF Donnie Sadler.
He's Outta Here: C Eddie Taubensee, C Benito Santiago, RHP Steve Parris, LHP Ron Villone, INF Chris Stynes.
Projected lineup: SS Barry Larkin (.313, 11, 41), LF Dmitri Young (.303, 18, 88), CF Ken Griffey Jr. (.271, 40, 118), 1B Sean Casey (.315, 20, 85), RF Alex Ochoa (.316, 13, 58), 3B Aaron Boone (.285, 12, 43), 2B Pokey Reese (.255, 12, 46), C Jason LaRue (.235, 5, 12).
Rotation: RHP Pete Harnisch (8-6, 4.74), Osvaldo Fernandez (4.3, 3.62), Rob Bell (7-8, 5.00), Elmer Dessens (11-5, 4.28), Scott Williamson (5-8, 3.29).
Bullpen: RHP Danny Graves (10-5, 2.56, 30/35 saves), RHP Scott Sullivan (3-6, 3.47, 3/6 saves), LHP Dennys Reyes (2-1, 4.53).
Hot Spot: The rotation. Harnisch, the only proven starter, has had shoulder problems in the last two seasons. Fernandez, the No. 2 starter, missed the 1998-99 seasons because of elbow operations and developed sore elbow last July. The rest of the rotation is more fit but less proven.
Stat Sheet: The Reds set a major league record with 96 wild pitches. ... They were not shut out in any of their 163 games only the 1932 Yankees went through a season without being blanked.
Bottom Line: The small-market Reds paid big bucks to get Griffey and keep Larkin last year, leaving little money for starting pitching. Griffey should be more comfortable in his second season in the NL, but it won't matter if the patchwork rotation unravels. At least the view will be better, with revamped Cinergy Field.
Milwaukee Brewers
2000: 73-89.
Manager: Davey Lopes (2nd season).
Record vs. division: 33-30.
Leading Off: .323 on-base percentage; 9 HRs.
He's Here: OF Jeffrey Hammonds, INF Tony Fernandez, OF Devon White.
He's Outta Here: 3B Charlie Hayes, OF Marquis Grissom.
Projected lineup: 3B Tony Fernandez (.327, 11, 75 in Japan), 2B Ron Belliard (.263, 8, 54), LF Geoff Jenkins (.303, 34, 94), 1B Richie Sexson (.275, 30, 91), RF Jeromy Burnitz (.232, 31, 98), CF Jeffrey Hammonds (.335, 20, 106), SS Jose Hernandez (.244, 11, 49), C Henry Blanco (.236, 7, 31).
Rotation: RHP Jeff D'Amico (12-7, 2.66), RHP Jamey Wright (7-9, 4.10), RHP Jimmy Haynes (12-13, 5.33), RHP Paul Rigdon (5-5, 5.15), RHP Ben Sheets (8-8, 2.40 at Double-A and Triple-A).
Bullpen: Curtis Leskanic (3-3, 2.56, 12/13 saves), Valerio De Los Santos (1-1, 3.54), Ray King (3-2, 1.26).
Hot Spot: Third base was a three-way fight between Fernandez, Hernandez and Tyler Houston until Mark Loretta was lost for six weeks with a thumb injury. That moved Hernandez to shortstop and gave Fernandez the chance to prove he can still hit at 39 after spending a year in Japan.
Stat Sheet: Leskanic had 11 saves in 12 chances after Bob Wickman was traded to Cleveland ... Blanco threw out 59 percent of runners attempting to steal in his first season as Brewers catcher. He's coming off an injury to his throwing shoulder but said he feels fine now after a winter of rest.
Bottom Line: The Brewers' goals are to attract 3 million fans to new Miller Park and to post a winning record for the first time since 1992. Both are lofty standards.
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