Baseball's elder league opens its centennial season with hopes of bringing back World Series honors from the mighty nemesis of the American League, the Oakland As. The National League's western division will hold few surprises for enthusiasts of the grand hole game, but the Swami of Swat predicts weird happenings in the eastern race.
N.L. EAST
1. PHILADELPHIA--This season's cinderella club, the all-new, improved Phillies will capture their first division title in 25 years for the City of Brotherly Love. In a division where convergence to mediocrity reigns king, the Phillies have the best combination of power, pitching and defense to surge to a .548 record and a pennant.
Former Cy Young winner Steve Carlton leads the pitching corps, with Jim Lonborg and Wayne Twitchell in support, comprising a steady starting rotation. The Phillies may receive a needed uplift to their offense if Dick Allen can be procured from Atlanta.
2. ST. LOUIS--Right behind Philadelphia, the Cardinals will make a strong run at the pennant, but will fall short, once again. Reggie Smith's slugging and the combined speed of Lou Brock and Bake McBride will keep the Cards in the thick of the race.
Pitcher Lynn McGlothen will top a very weak staff, the Achilles heel for St. Louis.
3. PITTSBURGH--Laden with statistical leaders in every hitting category, the powerful Pittsburgh Pirates have sent out an S.O.S. to every steady hurler available. Fireman Dave Guisti is a question mark in the bullpen, while the status of a southpaw is even more dubious.
However, a club couldn't win division titles in four of the past five seasons without something going for it, and the heavy slugging of Willie Stargell and Co. will keep the Pirates among the leaders.
4. NEW YORK--The Swami feels sorry for the league's premier starting rotation of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Tom Matlack, who will have to wait for Santa to deliver additional power before they will see another title.
5. MONTREAL--Gene Mauch cannot take the blame for the demise of the Expos, even the Swami couldn't make a winner out of that group.
6. CHICAGO--Lucky Billy Williams.
N.L. WEST
1. LOS ANGELES--Swami says super. With the best personnel in baseball today, the talented Dodgers will capture another divisional title, but this year, not even Charlie Finley's Oakland A's will stop this smooth machine.
One cannot but help being impressed with a roster which boasts Cy Young Award winner Mike Marshall, the N.L.'s MVP Steve Garvey, Jimmy Winn, the Comeback Player of the Year, along with pitchers Don Sutton and Andy Messersmith.
Barring a serious slump after the All-Star break, the Dodgers will ride high in the West.
2. CINCINNATI--Definitely one of the strongest squads in baseball, the Reds will challenge L.A. until the end. The only thing that prevents the Swami from picking the Reds is their inability to capture a series from the Dodgers, otherwise, the Red Machine is strong.
Johnny Bench leads a powerful batting order with Pete Rose, Tony Perez, and Joe Morgan, while hurlers Jack Billingham and Don Gullet top a strong hurling staff.
3. ATLANTA--Just a notch below L.A. and Cincinnati, the Braves have an all-round solid club that could challenge for a title in any other division. Pitchers Phil Niekro and Buzz Capra led the league in lowest ERA, while batting champ Ralph Garr and third baseman Darrell Evans supply the offensive force.
4. HOUSTON--A strong ball club in a stronger division. The Astros will sorely miss the services of pitcher Don Wilson, who died by asphyxiation during the off season. Other than a lack of depth in the pitching department sluggers Cesar Cedeno and last year's Rookie of the Year Greg Gross provide plenty of offensive muscle.
5. SAN FRANCISCO--The Giants will long for the old days when critics dubbed them "bridesmaids."
6. SAN DIEGO--Please.
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Swami of Swat's series pick: Los Angeles over Oakland in six.
