Inside Pitch

The Cubs begin their second hundred years in search of that elusive World Series title. They should be in contention again but it would be nice for them just to get to the Fall Classic first, since they've been waiting for 54 years. The Cubs have won back-to-back division titles but got swept in the division series both times (by the Diamondbacks and Dodgers).

I still wonder some about the offense in the wake of the loss of Mark DeRosa to Cleveland and I wonder how Lou Piniella (right) will work with fellow powderkeg Milton Bradley. That could be one combustible relationship. But there's just too much pitching in house for the Cubbies to fall apart and the duo of Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol should make up for the loss of Kerry Wood.

Who can beat the Cubs? The Brewers think so but I'm skeptical without CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets. The Cardinals think so, especially with Chris Carpenter back after two years of battling shoulder trouble. The young-and-coming Reds have a lot of young talent and old friend Brandon Phillips should finally get his well-deserved call to the All-Star Game this year.

The Astros went 0-16-3 in one stretch this spring and the Pirates haven't had a winning season since 1992. Should we really bother even mentioning them?

So my picks are: 1-Cubs; 2-Cardinals; 3-Brewers; 4-Reds; 5-Pirates; 6-Astros.

Choose your NL Central winner below. Next: AL West

---Mike Harrington