who are the NL playoff and wildcard contenders this year? opinions please!!!!!?
473871
NL West:  Colorado Rockies (I kid you not.)\nNL Central:  Cincinnati Reds (I kid you not.)\nNL East:  New York Mets\nWildcard:  St. Louis Cardinals\n\nThis is going to be a crazy season.  I can tell already.
631495
Well, I hope so(I am a Mets fan, but live in Atlanta) but I don't think they are ready with the pitching staff they have now, but to make the playoffs they will have to win their division. The player who I hope will contribute the most is David Wright. But if they win I would let any of them be the main contributor.
667091
Wow, I would love for the REDS to win the series this year! But since I know better,I'd say they will be lucky to gain a wild card spot.
52923
Although the NL West remains the weakest division in baseball, I highly doubt Arizona's chances of making the playoffs this year, espeically since only 4 teams from each league can advance to the postseason.\n\nThe Giants look like they are in prime position to win that division, unless the Padres continue to get better.
279593
They were very surprising to me last year. Chad Cordero will convert over 50 saves this year, and if they give Alfonso Soriano what he wants, he will get around his career high last year, 104 RBI's. Their starting pitching lineup is good, but I will just say this. When Livan Hernandez and Russ Ortiz are not pitching, the batting must do the work. My Washington Nationals prediction:3rd in the NL East, with a 87-75 record. Playoff birth will come soon. Please give me more of your team prediction questions. Football, Basketball, and Baseball.
59350
NL East: NEW YORK METS\nNL CENTRAL: ST. louis Cardials\nNL West: SAN Fan Giants\n\nAL East: NEW YORK YANKEES\nAL CENTRAL: Chicago white sox\nAL WEST: LAA Angels\n\nNL WILD CARD: ALTANTA BRAVES\nAL WILD CARD: CEVELAND INDIANS\n\nNLCS: METS over CARDIALS\nALCS: YANKEES OVER INDIANS\n\nWORLD SERIES: METS OVER YANKEES in 7\n\nP.S. What do you expect from a oppertunistic met fan.
523404
Ok.. for whoever said John Papelbon.. go play in traffic.  Relivers don't win Cy Youngs! :D\n\nNL - Pedro (NYM) or Maddux (CHC)\nAL - Mussina (NYY) or Schilling (BOS)
205393
They will go as far as their pitching will take them. If everyone stays healthy, I would have to say they are a favorite, yet again. There's little doubt that they will make the playoffs, so the main question is, will the team be healthy when the postseason rolls around? I think they have a good shot.
483970
Last year they talked about the NL "worst", this year it's starting to look like the AL "worst". Hey I'd like to see the Dodgers and the Angels in the series but I don't think it'll happen this year. I guess it's still early enough in the season that anything could happen. However, in order for the Angels to even get to the playoffs, they'll have to change the way they're playing. Right now I'd put my money on the A's in the AL west and either of the Sox or the Cards to win the Series.
519914
Pretty good. I think A-row being out for a while might hurt but they have a good team offensively and defensively though the pitching isnt that good. but i like floyd and i think that lidle will get better and have in my opion the best chance for the wild card.
78422
Well in response to the guy bringing up the Yankees....They are in the AL and have nothing to do with the Mets making the playoffs. Secondly, you have to remember that chemistry plays a big deal in winning baseball games. Just because you have Carlos Delgado, and Billy Wagner doesn't mean they'll stay healthy either. I think that Mets have a great chance to make it as at least a wildcard, but until they lose the division, you have to go with Atlanta. Best of luck to the Mets though.
1169027
Cardinals.  An offense like that can only be denied for so long.  And our pitching is MUCH better overall this year, which is what we needed.\n\nPlus, they've proven they can win consistantly--even with FOUR frontrunners (Pujols included) currently on the temporary DL.\n~+~+~+~+~+~+~\n\nThey did just lose a couple games pretty badly.  But we all have our bad days, right?  I'm waiting for our starting pitching to be healthy again, and then we'll see what happens.   ;)  White Sox just beat about HALF of the St. Louis Cardinals team, if ya know what I mean...
1046149
Red Sox are a good bet, but don't rule out the White Sox either.  They could move Scott Podsednik to center field and put Lee back in left field, plus they have been known to open their wallets when they see a need.  Can you inmagine a middle lineup of Thome, Konerko, Dye and Lee?
392777
i think they have a shot at coming in 2nd in the division and maybe snagging the Wild Card.  it's really going to depend on how their pitching can hold up.  if halladay and burnett limit their trips to the DL and Ryan can close games effectively, they will do well.
1043155
That would be nice...but I am not going to expect it.\n\nStranger things have happened (the red sox beating the yankees after being down 3 games to none in 2004 comes to mind).\n\nEven if they play .500 ball the rest of the season that would put them at 94 wins....which could very well be a wild card.\n\nWhatever happens I am simply enjoying this.\n\nThey are long overdue.
498118
Shoot since its still May I don't see anyone IN the world series. Baseball is a long season pal.  And the Giants? Honestly?\n\nPS Giants are in LAST PLACE in the NL West.
1056329
Hey BroadwayPhil, tough loss today for the M's losing in x-tra's to the Rockies, so 14-4 is great against the NL.  But the NL West is horrible, but then again the AL West has had it's problems too.  The AL has really been ripping the NL to shreads.  My BoSox just finished 16-2 against the Senior Circuit.  Seattle would be a top 5 team in the NL, but not in the AL.  The Mariners have been playing a lot better as of late, but I guess we will find out soon when the Mariners get back to playing the AL Teams.  The team that they have to worry about most is the A's, Rich Harden is due back soon from injury.  But Joe Blanton and Danny Haren has been very ordinary and very inconsistent.  Zito has been their best pitcher so far.  The Mariners have to hope that they continue to get good performances from Ichiro which is a given, but Lopez and Johjima have been pleasent surprises for them.  Ibanez just very quietly go about his business, he's so underrated, a good steady outfielder.  Gil Meche has been pitching much better this year which is a plus.  Moyer has done very well, isn't he about 50 now?  God bless him, he's still doing it at his age.  They really need Washburn and Pinero to get better consistency.  King Felix can just flat out dominate when he's on.  So are they in it for the long haul?  Could be, but just as you said the AL is murderers row this year with Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, and New York.  You really don't catch a break with teams like that.  Mariners just have to care of business against the under .500 teams and see how it will play out.  They have a chance to win the AL West!!!\n\nPS. - I have Ibanez, Lopez, and Ichiro on my fantasy baseball team, so they are OK by me   :)