I Miss Baseball, Don't You?

It seems like every baseball season is a relationship to me. It starts out exciting, with all the new stories and events to discuss, then during the middle Major League Baseball tries to spice up the relationship(the all star game), then it finishes off with the happiest game of the year (As long as the Red Sox don't win the World Series). Well, now we are broken up, and I want baseball back. Baseball is so fascinating, but I can only go so long with not watching games, and getting back to the game I love.

This upcoming season should boast some powerful, and interesting questions. What will the Diamondbacks do to recreate the 97 win season last year. How will the two-year-removed from-the-World Series San Francisco Giants fare with their top two aces in their contract year.

Well here's the prediction for next years NL breakdown. The Diamondbacks will struggle to compete with the other top teams in the NL next year. Teams figure out how to pitch to the lineup and the San Francisco Giants win the AL West backed by the number one pitching rotation in the National League.

With all the money the Miami Marlins have spent this offseason, many would think to put them up there in contention for the NL Wild Card spot, but with an unhappy Hanley Ramirez and a injury ridden starting rotation, the Miami Marlins finish third behind the 104 win Phillies, and the new look Atlanta Braves.

The NL Central will once again be the biggest question mark in the National League. St. Louis loses it's best player, Milwaukee loses it's number four hitter, and the Reds have trouble realizing that they won't be able to keep Joey Votto. With all these question marks, the Pittsburgh Pirates will make a late season push and finish first in the NL Central, followed by the Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Cubs, and Astros.

With all these changes happening in the National League, various teams must adapt to the recent shift in power, thus making elite teams stronger, and the weaker teams weaker. We still don't know where Prince Fielder is going to end up, but unless he goes back to the Brewers, it seems like their time is up. It's time for a new era, and it starts with the revamped Pittsburgh Pirates.