MLB - National League - Projections of 2006 Season Final Team Standings
N.L. East ·
N.L. West ·
N.L. Central ·
American League
National League Overview
(2005: Home games: .536; Away games: .456; and the N.L. was 116-136 vs A.L.)
Original posting: February 16, 2006 (added some statistics on 3/28/06)
National League East
1. Philadelphia Phillies Charlie Manuel
2006 Picks: 93 [SI= 3; Y!= 3(84); TSN= 3; USAT= 3(12)]
2005 Record: 88-74
2004 Record: 86-76
2003 Record: 86-76
Key Players: Rollins, Abreu, Burrell, Utley, Myers, Madson, Fultz
Problems: Fighting the demons.
Recap: The Braves run ends this year. The Phillies have all the right pieces and the timing is right. They just might be the best team in the NL.
2. New York Mets Willie Randolph
2006 Picks: 88 [SI= 2(wc); Y!= 2(88); TSN= 1; USAT= 2(10)]
2005 Record: 83-79
2004 Record: 71-91
2003 Record: 66-95
Key Players: Wright, Delgado, Floyd, P.Martinez, Wagner
Problems: It won't be easy holding off the Braves for 2nd. And despite the improvements, #2 in the Central will probably get the wild card.
Recap: The Mets added several important players and their record should once again improve this season.
3. Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox
2006 Picks: 85 [SI= 1; Y!= 1(94); TSN= 2; USAT= 1(7)]
2005 Record: 90-72
2004 Record: 96-66
2003 Record: 101-61
Key Players: M.Giles, Smoltz, Foster
Problems: Its simple: the Mets and Phillies balked up in the off season. The Braves didn't.
Recap: The Braves will remain competitive, but don't look like they have enough this year to win the division.. again.
4. Washington Nationals Frank Robinson
2006 Picks: 77 [SI= 4; Y!= 4(68); TSN= 4; USAT= 4(27)]
2005 Record:
2004 Record: 67-95
2003 Record: 83-79
Key Players: Johnson, Patterson
Problems: Last year the Nationals over delivered. This year, reality may set in.
Recap: RFK proved to be a unique home field with distinct advantages, but the Nationals didn't have the pieces last year to exploit them. And it looks the same again.
5. Florida Marlins Joe Girardi
2006 Picks: 72 [SI= 5; Y!= 5(56); TSN= 5; USAT= 5(29)]
2005 Record: 83-79
2004 Record: 83-79
2003 Record: 91-71
Key Players: Willis, Vargas
Problems: Ownership gutted the roster asking for no names in return.
Recap: Their new manager, Joe Girardi, has his hands full picking among a cast of young players surrounded by a couple superstars, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.
National League West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers Grady Little
2006 Picks: 85 [SI= 1; Y!= 1(88); TSN= 3; USAT= 2(15)]
2005 Record: 71-91
2004 Record: 93-69
2003 Record: 85-77
Key Players: Furcal, Kent, Mueller, Seo, Gagne, Baez
Problems: The Dodgers usually find ways to not live up to expectations.
Recap: The Dodgers also have a new manager, Grady Little, who must find a way to give the team a winning spark. If he does, don't expect a run away. The N.L. West should be a mess to the end.
2. San Diego Padres Bruce Bochy
2006 Picks: 81 [SI= 3; Y!= 3(80); TSN= 2; USAT= 3(19)]
2005 Record: 82-80
2004 Record: 87-75
2003 Record: 64-98
Key Players: B.Giles, Peavy, Young, Hoffman, Linebrink
Problems: Don't forget, the Padres were struggling to be a .500 team last year right until the end. This isn't your typical division defending champ.
Recap: The pieces are basically in place for the Padres to repeat. And, really, anything can happen in the West. But we have to put them somewhere, and so far, this is where we just think the Padres end up.
3. San Francisco Giants Felipe Alou
2006 Picks: 80 [SI= 2; Y!= 2(86); TSN= 1; USAT= 1(13)]
2005 Record: 75-87
2004 Record: 91-71
2003 Record: 100-61
Key Players: Bonds, Morris, Lowry
Problems: Will need some offensive production from somewhere in the bottom half of the line-up to win.
Recap: The X-Factor is no longer everyone around Bonds-- it is now Barry himself. If Bonds is Bonds the Giants are a playoff team, otherwise they probably won't even hold back Arizona.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks Bob Melvin
2006 Picks: 79 [SI= 4; Y!= 4(75); TSN= 4; USAT= 4(23)]
2005 Record: 77-85
2004 Record: 51-111
2003 Record: 84-78
Key Players: L.Gonzalez, Tracy, T.Clark
Problems: Need production from the top of the order, Counsell and Hudson. And, in the rotation, Russ Ortiz would need to come through.
Recap: For an N.L. West team the Diamondbacks are competitive. Just a handful of key wins can flip the order of just about any of the teams above them..
5. Colorado Rockies Clint Hurdle
2006 Picks: 69 [SI= 5; Y!= 5(70); TSN= 5; USAT= 5(24)]
2005 Record: 67-95
2004 Record: 68-94
2003 Record: 74-88
Key Players: Holliday, Helton
Problems: The Rockies have literally no one but Holliday and Helton.
Recap: For Rockies fans its time to start searching and hoping the next big thing is around the corner.
National League Central
1. Houston Astros Phil Garner
2006 Picks: 91 [SI= 3; Y!= 1(94); TSN= 2; USAT= 2(9)]
2005 Record: 89-73
2004 Record: 92-70
2003 Record: 87-75
Key Players: Berkman, Ensberg, Oswalt, Clemens, Pettitte, Lidge, Wheeler
Problems: Even if they keep Clemens it won't be until June.
Recap: It's all about the pitching because, honestly, the offense isn't as great as the hype. Still may have enough for the division.
2. St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa
2006 Picks: 89 [SI= 1; Y!= 2(91); TSN= 1; USAT= 1(3)]
2005 Record: 100-62
2004 Record: 105-57
2003 Record: 85-77
Key Players: Eckstein, Pujols, Edmonds, Carpenter
Problems: The offense is just a little bit weaker this season.
Recap: The Cardinals may be a bit of a wild card this season. Are the best days behind them for the time being?
3. Chicago Cubs Dusty Baker
2006 Picks: 87 [SI= 4; Y!= 4(81); TSN= 3; USAT= 4(18)]
2005 Record: 79-83
2004 Record: 89-73
2003 Record: 88-74
Key Players: Pierre, Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Zambrano
Problems: A healthy pitching staff could deliver a spot in the playoffs.
Recap: The team has improved, especially by adding Pierre. The Cubs should bounce back to compete with the Cardinals and Astros this year.
4. Milwaukee Brewers Ned Yost
2006 Picks: 85 [SI= 2; Y!= 3(89); TSN= 4; USAT= 3(17)]
2005 Record: 81-81
2004 Record: 67-94
2003 Record: 68-94
Key Players: B.Clark, Hardy, Sheets, D.Davis, Helling, Turnbow, Wise
Problems: They need runners on base.
Recap: Actually managed to finish with a .500 record. There is something clicking in Milwaukee and its called pitching. If the Brewers were in the West they would be fighting for first.
5. Cincinnati Reds Jerry Narron
2006 Picks: 70 [SI= 6; Y!= 6(66); TSN= 6; USAT= 6(28)]
2005 Record: 73-89
2004 Record: 76-86
2003 Record: 69-93
Key Players: Lopez, Griffey Jr.
Problems: The starting rotation defines bad.
Recap: The Reds finished the 2005 season 46-45 under Narron which could bode well for 2006, but with bad pitching, 5th will be their home.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates Jim Tracy
2006 Picks: 65 [SI= 5; Y!= 5(75); TSN= 5; USAT= 5(20)]
2005 Record: 67-95
2004 Record: 72-89
2003 Record: 75-87
Key Players: Bay, Randa, Duke, Maholm
Problems: The Central division is just too tough, which means lots of losses for Pittsburgh.
Recap: Jim Tracy comes in from L.A. to manage what might end up being the worst team in the N.L. this year.
2006 picks
Fanbay.net Sports projected 2006 wins are in bold
USAT = USA Today predictions (USAT used their preseason power rankings to pick the division. Power rankings are based on panel of 12 writers and editors). We added the overall power ranking number in parenthesis.
SI = CNN/Sports Illustrated division pick (wild card in parenthesis 'wc') (CNN/SI picks here).
Y! = Yahoo! Sports pick in the division by analyst Jeff Passan (and projected wins) (Yahoo! Sports picks here)
TSN = Sporting News pick in the division (Sporting News picks according to magazine)
Key Players are the best in their division compared across the board on our NL Cheat Sheet. For example, #3 pitcher compared vs. other #3 pitchers, and #6 in the batting order compared against all other #6 in batting order in the division.
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