NL Central

With slugging first baseman Lance Berkman sidelined until at least Opening Day, the Houston Astros are in serious danger of a second straight anemic season at the plate.

In 2009, the Astros finished 14th in the National League in runs scored, 12th in home runs, and 15th in walks.

Much of the problem stemmed from Berkman's inability to stay healthy. In 136 games (his fewest since 2005), Berkman had only 562 plate appearances (his fewest since 2000).

The Milwaukee Brewers have had a lack of top prospects at several positions in the organization over the last few years for a variety of reasons.

Through trading away a couple of upper-echelon players (i.e. 1B Matt LaPorta and OF Michael Brantley), having a few guys rise quickly through the system (i.e. Ryan Braun, Alcides Escobar, etc.) or just some late-round draft choices proving why they were late-round draft choices, the Brewers haven't had many true roadblocks set up at the big league level.

No player on the Brewers' roster had more of a breakout season in 2009 than Casey McGehee.

He went from a completely unknown commodity in spring training to finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

McGehee finished the year with a .301 average, 16 home runs, and 66 RBI while playing in only 116 games. In fact, he only started two games in the first six weeks of the season. Prior to May 19, he had only 16 at-bats.

On May 19, McGehee started for the injured Rickie Weeks at second base, and his remarkable season began.

When Richard Henry "Dick" Pole was sacked from his post as the Cincinnati Reds' pitching coach and Bryan Price was brought in to replace him, it easily ranked as the team's biggest offseason move—well, maybe besides that signing of some 6'4" lefty kid from Cuba. 

It's a fine trait to be loyal.  But Reds' manager Dusty Baker has proven more than a few times of being loyal to a fault. 

This article was originally published at TheDailyCub.com , my blog covering all things Chicago Cubs.

Let’s take a look at an alternate universe, one where nobody ever has to take accountability, then gets to do an interview on a major network without being asked about your play.

It’s a world where, if you screw up, the world is just against you. It’s not your fault. Why should you take the blame when people are trying to hold you down?

No player in recent memory for the Brewers has come under more fire and criticism than Jeff Suppan.

After he signed a four-year, $42 million deal in December 2006, expectations from most fans were for Suppan to become a very good No. 2 starter behind Ben Sheets.

He was the hot name in free agency, winning the NLCS MVP award for the Cardinals.

Barring an injury that keeps Albert Pujols out of the line-up for any significant amount of time, the St. Louis Cardinals are the prohibited favorites to win the NL Central again this year.

Entering the 2010 season, the Cardinals top the division in several important factors. They have the best player (Pujols), the best catcher (Yadier Molina), the best manager (Tony LaRussa), the best starting rotation, and the best fans.

2009 was a tale of two seasons for Dave Bush. Prior to June 4, he was a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. After June 4, he spent the remainder of the season injured and quite ineffective on the mound.

On that fateful early June day, Bush took a line drive off his pitching arm from Marlins' star Hanley Ramirez.

Although he made his next three starts, it was quite clear that there was something not right with his arm. An MRI on his arm revealed a micro-tear in his right triceps, and Bush spent the next two months on the disabled list.

For anyone who enjoys watching young players develop and stars bloom in the majors, Pittsburgh is the place to be the next few years. An organization that seemed hell bent on losing and destroying talent for almost two decades now has something it has not had in many years.

Young talent...and lots of it.

From Low A to the Majors, the Pirates have young players worth watching.

Let's meet five of those players and take a look at what we can expect from them in 2010.

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Ryan Braun is good.

While that is hardly breaking news to hardcore, or even casual, baseball fans, what may surprise most people is just how good Braun is.

The 26-year-old Braun is already historically good. He is all-time great good. With the power stats he's posted in his first three seasons in the majors, his name easily sits next to others like Pujols, Mathews, Kiner, and DiMaggio.