2010 National League Predictions

Yesterday, I made my predictions for how the American League would shake out in 2010, where picked the Yankees to get back to the World Series. Now, it's time to take a look at the NL and see who they will face in the World Series. Can the Phillies get there for a third straight time?

NL East
1. Phillies
As Phillies fans, we follow this team every day and make a big deal out of all the little things that go wrong. Sure, the Phils have some issues in the back end of the rotation and their bullpen isn't quite where it should be, but you do realize how insanely good the lineup is, right? How this lineup goes 1-7 like an American League team and even the 8th hitter is known to swing a clutch bat? And, you do understand they have the best pitcher in baseball and he's licking his chops about facing NL lineups? Make no mistake about it, despite their minor flaws, this Phillies team is loaded and ready to get back to the World Series.

2. Braves
While I'm not going to enjoy seeing Jason Heyward destroying Phillies pitching in the years to come, let's hold off placing the crown on the kid just yet. The Braves do have a good rotation and some great hitters in the middle of the lineup but you have to be a fool to think Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus are going to give Atlanta 162 games this season. This is a team on the rise, not a team that has arrived.

3. Marlins
Florida seems locked into the middle of the NL East. They don't quite have the pitching or the hitting to keep up with the big boys but they certainly aren't going to fall back to the bottom. The jury is still out as to whether their latest crop of young guys can be counted on.

4. Mets
Remember when these guys used to be a threat? Before I regret my words, the Mets could still make some noise if they somehow avoided the injury bug, something they have already succumbed to this season. Their pitching is a joke, though, with their bottom three of Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese being abysmal. It's going to be another long year for the Mets and I wouldn't be surprised so see them compete with the Nats for last place.

5. Nationals
Why do the Nationals keep bringing in useless veterans? What do Adam Kennedy, Matt Capps and Tyler Walker bring to the team that someone from Triple A can't? Bring on Stephen Strasburg already and sell some tickets.

NL Central
1. Cardinals
It's hard to pick against the Cardinals given the weakness of the rest of the division. They lost a whole lot more than they gained this offseason, though signing Matt Holliday was huge. The rotation doesn't look great with Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse in there but the Cardinals always seem better on the field than they are on paper.

2. Reds
This pick might be a bit of a reach but Cincinnati looks like they are poised to make a move. They have four guys coming off 20 homer seasons (Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Jonny Gomes) and have some good young pitchers that are coming along nicely. Them finishing second might tell you more about the rest of the Central.

3. Brewers
The Brewers never seem to quite get over the hump. We are now entering the years where their young guys like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are supposed to be carrying the team to multiple division titles. Unfortunately, neither Braun nor Fielder can pitch, so while the Brewers will score a lot of runs, their aging, mediocre pitching staff is going to give up more than their fair share.

4. Cubs
On paper, the Cubs should be better than 4th in the division. When you look a little deeper and realize that they are counting on Marlon Byrd to be a big part of the offense and that Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukodome are pretty awful, you realize that this team just isn't that good.

5. Astros
The team where former Phillies go to die is going to be a joke this year with only the perennially awful Pirates keeping them out of the cellar. With Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence in the middle of the lineup, why are they so bad? Take a look at their starting rotation. Bud Norris? Brian Moehler? Brett Myers as the number three? Yikes.

6. Pirates
Do I have to give a reason why I picked them for last place?

NL West
1. Rockies
The Rockies have become the trendy pick to make the World Series by industry experts who are desperately trying to pick someone besides the Phillies. While I agree that the Dodgers have fallen off and that has allowed the Rockies to take over the division, I don't take them seriously as World Series contenders. They are pretty solid all-around, with an always dangerous lineup, a reliable bullpen and a deep rotation, but they don't do any one thing that separates them from the rest of the NL, especially the Phillies.

2. Dodgers (Wild Card)
An offseason of no moves has kept this team stagnant. They are still a good team with the bats but I really don't see how their rotation is going to hold up the whole year. When Vicente Padilla is your Opening Day starter, it's hard to pick them to go far.

3. Giants
New year, same old Giants. They still have a great rotation but their lineup just has nothing going for it. The Giants are perennially a bat or two away from contention and this year won't be any different.

4. Diamondbacks
Another team with major rotation questions starting at the top, where Brandon Webb looks like he can't be counted on to pitch this year. While they still have Dan Haren, Arizona really has no one else they can count on. Oh, and Adam LaRoche is their clean-up hitter.

5. Padres
Poor Adrian Gonzalez, he has to play for a team that has Jon Garland on the mound on Opening Day. Expect Gonzalez to account for like half of the teams runs on offense and for the Padres to be out of contention by June.

NLDS:
Phillies over Dodgers
Cardinals over Rockies

NLCS:
Phillies over Cardinals

World Series:
Phillies over Yankees
Revenge made sweet with the help of Doc Halladay.

MVP: Albert Pujols
The award is his as long as he stays healthy. I would love to see Chase Utley finally put together a full season of great numbers and steal it away.

CY Young: Roy Halladay
Brace yourselves, NL, Halladay has been freed from the AL East and is ready to mow down all in his path.

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back tomorrow for my Phillies individual player predictions.

2009 National League Predictions

Yesterday, I made my predictions for the American League, where I predicted that the Red Sox would make it to the World Series. Now we have the National League predictions where we find out just who Boston will be facing. Can the Phillies defy the odds and repeat as World Series Champions?

NL East
1. Phillies
Make it three NL East crowns in a row. The Phillies were smart to bring everyone back with the only big move being the swap of Pat Burrell for Raul Ibanez, which looks at worst to be a wash. While there are some concerns over the lefty-heavy lineup, this group will still mash with the best of them. Add in the fact that the core of this team, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, are all still in their primes and you have the recipe for a successful team this year and for the foreseeable future. The bullpen will likely come back to Earth a bit and the 7-8-9 hitters will still be a black hole but this Phillies team looks poised to repeat as National League Champions.

2. Mets (Wild Card)
The Mets biggest weakness last year, the bullpen, all of the sudden becomes a strength with the additions of J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. It's been well documented that if they had even an average bullpen last season they would have easily won the NL East, so you can be the Mets will be a dangerous team this season. Their main concern now is a weak rotation that starts with Johan Santana and follows with a whole lot of question marks. If Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey find some consistency, the Mets could win 95 games. Unfortunately for Mets fans, it's an unlikely scenario.

3. Braves
The Braves should be much better this year but they still have too many holes to seriously compete. Their outfield corner spots are a mess with an ancient Garret Anderson and Jeff Francoeur coming off an awful season. Francoeur is still young enough to rebound but he has a long way to go to become even an average major leaguer. The Braves rotation looks better with the additions of Derek Lowe and Javy Vazquez, but they still have Tom Glavine penciled in as the 5th starter and he hasn't been effective or healthy for years. Atlanta is still an impact player or two away from contending.

4. Marlins
The Fish were a surprise last year as they won 84 games and finished 3rd in the division. The uptick in wins can be attributed to the power-laden lineup and the arrival of Hanley Ramirez as an elite player. They didn't add any free agents in the offseason so they will continue to rely on their minor league system to fill any holes. The Marlins will continue to improve as these rookies develop.

5. Nationals
The Nats and the Pirates will compete for the worst record in baseball. I don't like anything about this team at all, from their signing of a useless defensive player in Adam Dunn to their abysmal rotation and bullpen. About the only thing this team has going for them are the Zimmerman's: third baseman Ryan and rookie phenom Jordan. If Jordan Zimmerman were on any other team, he would be in contention for Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately he's going to get about three wins pitching for this crappy team.

NL Central
1. Cubs
I have a feeling the Cubs are going to fall back a bit this year but I don't see anyone else in the Central strong enough to catch them. Their big offseason move was to bring in Milton Bradley to hit cleanup and that could be a solid move for the 100 games or so where he is actually healthy. The rotation remains a plus for the Cubbies but I don't see them getting over the hump in the playoffs. I picked the Cubs to finally break their curse and win it all last year but I don't see them making any kind of run this season. Sorry Cubs fans, your wait continues.

2. Brewers
If the Brewers had any semblance of a pitching staff I would put them above the Cubs. Besides Yovani Gallardo, I don't see any other pitcher worth getting excited about on this team. The bullpen will also be a mess, which is too bad because it looks like another year the talents of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and the rest of this young lineup will be wasted. It really is an amazing lineup when you consider every regular position player, with the exception of Jason Kendall, has a legitimate shot at hitting 20 homers this year.

3. Reds
I like the Reds to make a big leap this year. They have always had a strong lineup that has only gotten better with the emergence of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, but now they have some pitching to even out this team. With youngsters Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, who only figure to get better, and the pickup of a decent 5th starter in Micah Owings, the Reds can finally feel good about who they send to the mound every day. Add in an elite closer in Francisco Cordero and you have a team that is nearly ready to compete.

4. Cardinals
Thanks to Tony La Russa, the Cardinals always play better than they look on paper. With the way the roster looks this year, if they want to break .500, it's going to some of La Russa's best work. While they still have the best hitter in baseball in Albert Pujols, there isn't another hitter in the lineup that really instills fear in the opposing pitcher. Ryan Ludwick had a great season last year but it's too early to tell if it was a fluke. Their biggest offseason acquisition was Khalil Greene, whose best years are behind him. Unless Chris Carpenter can return to form, the pitching staff also looks weak.

5. Astros
This team deserves to suck since they were dumb enough to hire Ed Wade. While they made a remarkable run last year to stay in contention, Houston has only one way to go: down. Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt still anchor the team, but both have problems putting together a full season. The Astros also still feature former Phillie Michael Bourn near the top of the lineup, but his .229 batting average shows that isn't a good thing. Their biggest offseason move was bringing in Mike Hampton, and knowing that he will be their #3 starter tells you everything you need to know about the Astros.

6. Pirates
Officially the worst team in baseball, they will be fortunate to win 65 games this year. With the trading of Jason Bay, very few people living outside of the state of Pennsylvania can even name more than four Pirates. Haven't they had a top pick in the draft for like 15 years in a row now? Shouldn't they have more talent than this?

NL West
1. Dodgers
If they hadn't re-signed Manny, this team was going to be in trouble. As it is, they aren't a lock to win the division because of their suddenly thin pitching staff and weak bench. Are they really going to rely on Jason Schmidt to take the ball every 5th day? And, while I like Randy Wolf, he shouldn't be near the top of any rotation. Luckily, the NL West only takes like 85 wins to be the champ, so Manny's typical 35 homers and 130 RBI should carry them to the playoffs. The continued emergence of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier won't hurt, either.

2. Diamondbacks
With Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Jon Garland and Max Scherzer, the rotation is probably the best in the National League. Unfortunately, there is another part of baseball called hitting where the D-backs aren't quite up to par. They have some great young hitters in Stephen Drew and Conor Jackson who can really slug the ball, but the lineup may not have a .300 hitter in it. The best power hitter of all on the team is Mark Reynolds but his 204 strikeouts and .239 batting average are a testament to his all-or-nothing swinging style. Arizona won't score enough runs to keep up with the Dodgers but their pitching will keep it close.

3. Giants
This team is on the upswing. Their pitching, with the exception of Barry Zito and Randy Johnson, is young and only going to get better. The lineup doesn't look great but it could be much improved if Pablo Sandoval lives up to even half of the hype. I'm not sure what they were thinking when they signed Edgar Renteria to a big contract but at least he gives them a veteran presence to mix in with all of the kids.

4. Rockies
How was this team in the World Series two years ago? This team destroyed the Phillies on the way to getting destroyed by the Red Sox in the World Series and since that time the Rockies have been a shell of their former selves. They spent the offseason unloading players like Matt Holliday, rather than building the roster, so expectations are low in Colorado. They still have some guys that can mash, like Braw Hawpe and Garrett Atkins, but their rotation isn't going to cut it.

5. Padres
The pitchers are still there for the Padres but the lineup is still weak. Petco Park saps runs but this group wouldn't score any no matter where they played. Jake Peavy and Chris Young can't pitch every day so the Padres will find themselves in the cellar in a hurry this year.

NLDS:
Phillies over Dodgers
Cubs over Mets

NLCS:
Phillies over Cubs

World Series:
Red Sox over Phillies
They get back to the series but they are World F'n Champs no more.

MVP: Chase Utley
I picked him last year and he was well on his way before he got injured. If he stays healthy this year he will finally put it all together.

CY Young: Johan Santana
He will make it a New York sweep for both Cy Young awards.

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back later for my Phillies individual player predictions.

National League Predictions

Earlier today, I made my American League predictions, where I predicted the Indians would make the World Series. Now it's time to find out who I think they will be playing in my National League Predictions. Can the Phillies overcome their pitching and be a serious threat?

NL East
1. Mets
As much as I don't want to pick them, the addition of Johan Santana puts them over the top. Santana is the best pitcher in baseball, and he posted an ERA of 3.33 last year in the AL. That may dip below 3 now that he gets to face pitchers instead of DH's. The Mets lineup is also one of the best in the NL, although they have weaknesses at catcher and at the corner outfield positions. Jose Reyes is overrated, but he will still steal 70 bases and score a bunch of runs. David Wright is only going to get better, and their bullpen is adequate. It pains me to pick the Mets, but they won't win the division by much.

2. Phillies (Wild Card)
The best lineup in the National League will only be held back by suspect pitching. The rotation has too many question marks to be counted on: Will Jamie Moyer be able to keep it up at age 70? Is Kyle Kendrick going to have a sophomore slump? And, are they really going to pitch Adam Eaton every fifth day? If everyone is healthy, then the bullpen appears to be set. But, at what point will the bullpen be healthy? Brad Lidge is hurt, and Tom Gordon is one sneeze away from landing on the DL. At least we know the bats will produce. There are potentially 5 players that can hit 30 home runs in Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Pedro Feliz. Four of them could reach 100 RBI's. Rollins and Shane Victorino could each steal 40 bases. The only negative is there are too many outs at the bottom of the order. Of the players that will play most days, none of them hitting in the 5-8 spots in the lineup hit above .260 last year. The lineup will score a ton of runs, but there are too many all-or-nothing hitters. The Phillies will remain in contention all year, but finish a couple of games behind the Mets.

3. Braves
Everyone's favorite sleeper pick for the East is the Braves. Their offense should be good, with possibly the best 3-4-5 combination of hitters in the league with Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira and Jeff Francoeur, all potentially 30 homer/100 RBI guys in the middle of the order. But, like the Phillies, their pitching is suspect. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson are a great 1-2 punch, but after that there are a ton of question marks that are similar to the Phillies' issues. Will Tom Glavine be able to keep it up at age 60? Can Mike Hampton bounce back from injuries to be effective? And, who the heck is Jair Jurrjens and can he really be counted on as the 5th starter? In the bullpen, they will be turning the closer duties over to Rafael Soriano, and he should be effective in that role. On the offensive side, they will be relying on Mark Kotsay to stay off the disabled list and play center field every day. Good luck with that. The Braves are good, but they will finish a few games behind the Phillies and out of the playoffs.

4. Nationals
It was tough to pick who will come in 4th in this division, as neither Washington or Florida looks to be any good. I'll go with the Nationals in 4th because at least they have a semblance of a pitching staff. Odalis Perez will be the Opening Day starter, which is a little scary, but they have some quality young pitchers after him, including Jason Bergmann and Shawn Hill. They even have an actual quality closer in Chad Cordero, although he should have been traded for prospects long ago. They don't have much offensively, although Ryan Zimmerman is a future star and Lastings Milledge should be fun to watch. They won't lose 100 games, but they won't come close to .500 either.

5. Marlins
Coming in last by only a few games will be the Marlins. They simply don't have the pitching to be a competitive team. Mark Hendrickson, who won all of 4 games last year, will be the Opening Day starter. Scott Olsen is the only name anyone recognizes from the rotation, and even he will be hard pressed to win 10 games. In the bullpen, Kevin Gregg will once again be the closer, but beyond him there isn't much. Offensively, it will revolve around the top of the order, Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Uggla amazingly hit 31 home runs last year, but his average dipped all the way down to .245. Ramirez is the real deal, and will be the best shortstop in the division this year. He can hit for power and average and steal a ton of bases. Look for him to carry the offense on most nights. He may be the only bright spot in a long year for Florida fans.

NL Central
1. Cubs
The Cubs are well-rounded, with solid hitting and pitching. Their rotation goes 6 deep, with Jon Leiber starting the year in the pen. Phillies fans will remember how good Leiber did in that role last year, but the Cubs rotation will nevertheless be good. When Rich Hill is the 4th starter, you know your team is going to contend. In the bullpen, they will hope that Kerry Wood can stay healthy enough to close a few games, but look for Carlos Marmol to get his chance as soon as Wood lands on the DL. The offense is good, but not great. Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez make a potent middle of the order, but they are relying on a number of unproven players at the bottom. Who knows what they will get from Kosuke Fukodome, Geovany Soto has promise but is unproven and Felix Pie is nothing worth getting excited about. The Cubs will win the Central because they have the best balance of offense and defense.

2. Brewers
The Brewers have so much young talent, they are a lock to be Central division contenders for the next decade. Rickie Weeks has a surprising amount of pop and tremendous speed and if he can improve his average he will be a star. Prince Fielder is another Ryan Howard, a huge lefty with tremendous power. Ryan Braun, while he is terrible in the field, put together an amazing rookie season, belting 34 homers and hitting .324. Corey Hart, Bill Hall and J.J. Hardy are all young up and comers who have the potential to hit 20 home runs. So why won't they win the division? Pitching. Besides Ben Sheets and Yovani Gallardo, the Brewers lack the starters to compete with the Cubs. They will need to win games 10-9 when guys like Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush are on the mound. And, are they really counting on Eric Gagne to close out games? Did they not watch him implode in Boston last year? With their young offensive firepower, the Brewers could win the NL Central for about a decade straight, but they need just one more year of seasoning.

3. Reds
Another popular sleeper pick to win the division, another team with too many holes to compete. Aaron Harang is the definition of underrated, and Johnny Cueto looks special, but the rest of their pitching staff is too inexperienced or ineffective to get the job done. Offensively, they feature the lousy Corey Patterson in the lead-off role, and continue to employ offensive stalwart Dave Ross. The middle of the order has a ton of power, with Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips all capable of hitting another 30+ homers this year. Their bullpen was also solidified with the acquisition of Francisco Cordero, so while I do think this team is improving, they just won't challenge for the division title.

4. Astros
What were they thinking hiring Ed Wade? Did they watch him destroy the Phillies with a series of boneheaded moves? He certainly made a ton of moves this offseason, including bringing in a cleaned up Miguel Tejada and former Phillie Michael Bourn, but the Astros will be lucky to sniff .500. The fact that they have Bourn penciled in at the leadoff spot is evidence enough that this team isn't any good. They have some serious power with Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada, but those three are not getting any younger. Hunter Pence should be fun to watch, and he should score a ton of runs hitting ahead of the big boppers. Ed Wade completely re-worked the Astros bullpen, jettisoning long-time closer Brad Lidge and replacing him with Jose Valverde, but he did nothing to improve their weak rotation. Roy Oswalt is a force, but the rest of the starters are below average. Of course, Wade's dumbest move of all could have been signing Kazuo Matsui to a 16.5 million dollar contract.

5. Cardinals
Someone has to come in 5th place, so I guess the Cardinals will avoid the cellar. The Cardinals look shockingly bad on paper, with nothing on offense besides Albert Pujols, and no star pitchers besides Jason Isringhausen. Everyone else on the team is mediocre at best. Only three hitters hit as many as 20 home runs last year (Pujols, Troy Glaus, Chris Duncan), and they return only one pitcher with an ERA below 4.33, Adam Wainright. Their offense will feature Rick Ankiel hitting cleanup, and the always dangerous Skip Schumaker leading off. And can someone tell me how trading Scott Rolen for Troy Glaus straight-up is a smart move? I know they had to get rid of Rolen, but Glaus is a stiff at this point in his career. I feel bad for Cardinals fans, probably the best there are, that they have to watch this team all summer. Pujols should be furious that the team is wasting one of his prime years.

6. Pirates
We know they are awful, but how could they make no roster changes after winning 68 games last year? They didn't even try to bring anyone in or make any significant moves? Are they just hoping the team will get magically better? The sad thing is, the only reason this team has a chance to win 70 games is because they are in such a bad division. Imagine if they were in the AL East, they would be lucky to win 40 games. Jason Bay is their whole offense, and he hit .247 last year. They do have some interesting young pitchers, but few of them would make the rotation of any other team. Steelers season will come sooner than you think, Pirates fans.

NL West
1. Diamondbacks
This division was the toughest to predict, but Arizona will edge out the rest with their tremendous rotation. They feature the best 1-2 punch in the majors with Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, and at the back end they have the ancient Randy Johnson who still can bring the heat and has something to prove. They have a strange offense; their lead-off hitter led the teams in homers (Chris Young, 32), while their cleanup hitter led the team in stolen bases (Eric Byrnes, 50), but they have just enough firepower to win a bunch of 3-2 games. Look for Conor Jackson to break out and raise his average above .300 and hit 20+ bombs. The D'backs will win the division on the basis of their stud arms, but only by a small margin.

2. Rockies
Don't expect another miracle out of the Rockies. This is a team on the rise, but last seasons run to the World Series was more a mirage than a trend. Their lineup remains potent, with MVP candidate Matt Holliday leading the way. The club has a good mix of players, with young stars Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitzki countered by grizzled veterans like Todd Helton. Their pitching is underrated, with a number of quality young arms carrying the load. Jeff Francis will continue to anchor the staff, and he should once again be a threat to win 20 games. They do have questions at closer, but between Manny Corpas and Brian Fuentes, they should be fine. The Rockies are a solid up-and-coming team, but they are a few pieces away from being a perennial favorite.

3. Padres
Just like Arizona, the Padres feature a stellar one-two punch in their rotation, with Jake Peavy and Chris Young coming off great years. From there, though, there is a big drop-off. Greg Maddux is the third starter, and he is solid but unspectacular. Two former Phillies, Randy Wolf and Justin Germano round out the rotation, but neither is anything to get excited about. Offensively, the Padres don't put up a ton of runs, not that it's possible in their park anyway. Adrian Gonzalez might be the only guy to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs that no one has ever heard of, and Khalil Greene also had a strong, under-the-radar year. They feature another former Phillie at second base, Tadahito Iguchi, who should continue to be an average player. Their outfield is weak, with two aging stars, Brian Giles and Jim Edmonds, attempting to avoid injuries and father time. With their pitching, they will finish slightly above .500, but they won't be a serious threat to win the division.

4. Dodgers
What are they thinking giving Andruw Jones that huge salary? Do they realize he hit .222 last year and covers about half the ground in the outfield that he used to? The Dodgers don't have any major weaknesses, unless you count the fact they have no third baseman, but there really isn't anything special about this team either. Their pitching seems good enough, with Brad Penny and Derek Lowe, but are they really counting on Esteban Loaiza? Offensively, Russell Martin could be the best catcher of our time, but what are they thinking keeping Juan Pierre playing every day? They are an average team, and should finish around .500.

5. Giants
If not for the Orioles, this would be the worst team in baseball. Why in the world did Aaron Rowand actually choose to play for this team? Oh, right, they offered him a ton of money. I like Rowand and all, but when he is being counted on to be your cleanup hitter, you aren't a very good team. The team still features a cast of players that should have retired long ago dragging them down. Seriously, Rich Aurilia is going to play every day? At least they have some amazing young pitchers, like Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, otherwise this team would be a total waste. Kind of like all the money they gave to Barry Zito.

NLDS:
Cubs over Phillies
Mets over Diamonbacks

NLCS:
Cubs over Mets

World Series:
Cubs over Indians
The Curse is finally over for the Cubs.

MVP: Chase Utley
He will continue the streak of Phillie MVP's.

CY Young: Johan Santana
Will find the NL much easier and dominate the league.

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back tomorrow for my Phillies individual player projections.