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The National League Central has produced a team that has been very difficult to beat in the post-season. This has been true, especially the last three seasons, since the Cardinals and Astros have made the World Series. The Cardinals even won the World Series last year in a dominating way. They were a bit of a darkhorse going into the post-season, since they limped into it. They lost a double-digit game lead in the NL Central and ended up clinching the division on the last day of the season. St. Louis won the division by being only a few games over .500, the Phillies actually had a better record and didn't end up making the playoffs due to the Mets winning the NL East and the Dodgers winning the Wild Card spot. I don't see the winner of the NL Central with a record of 83-78. Here is the order of which the teams will end up by the end of the 2007 season.

Chicago Cubs I know the Yankees have shown that you can't buy a pennant, but somehow the Cubs seemed to have bought enough to at least win the NL Central crown. The hiring of manager Lou Pinella, he will demand order in the clubhouse and respect on the field. He should improve the Cubs win total by at least 10 games, just with him being the manager. The additions of Alfonso Soriano, Cliff Floyd, Ted Lilly, and Jason Marquis will add at least another 5-10 games with their play. A healthy Mark Prior and Derrek Lee would be like having new players on the team, since they were inactive most of last season, due to injury. The Cubs could flirt around with home-field advantage in the National league playoffs. If they stay injury-free the Cubs could end up with the record of 101-61.

St. Louis Cardinals When a team has a player like Albert Pujols, they should always be in the conversation when contenders are involved. Starting pitching is the Achilles' heel of St. Louis, since they lost most of the rotation from the World Series team from last season. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright should end up being the aces on this staff, but the rest of the rotation is a liability. Healthy players are needed, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, and Jason Isringhausen all missed considerable amount of time last year, they need productive years to be successful. This team should contend for the Wild Card spot and finish with a record of 88-74.

Milwaukee Brewers After some hype going into last season, they showed that they were a much better team by playing some of them gems from their farm system. Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, and Rickie Weeks

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