Arizona Diamondbacks
Manager: Bob Melvin
2007: 90-72, first, lost in NLCS
Projected lineup: CF Chris Young, 2B Orlando Hudson, 1B Conor Jackson, LF Eric Byrnes, 3B Mark Reynolds (Virginia), C Chris Snyder, RF Justin Upton (Cheapeake), SS Stephen Drew
Projected rotation: RH Brandon Webb, LH Randy Johnson, RH Dan Haren, LH Doug Davis, RH Micah Owings
Closer: RH Brandon Lyon
Outlook: With the addition of Haren, and if Johnson stays healthy, Arizona will have one of the game's best rotations. The bullpen also looks deep, though it lacks an experienced closer. The question is the offense. The Diamondbacks batted just .250 and were outscored by 20 runs and still finished 18 games above .500 last season. That won't happen again. The team needs its youngsters - Young, Jackson, Reynolds, Upton and Drew - to improve their offensive production. Upton, just 20, should benefit from his time in the majors last season.

Colorado Rockies
Manager: Clint Hurdle
2 007: 90-73, second, lost in World Series
Projected lineup: CF Willy Taveras, SS Troy Tulowitzki, 1B Todd Helton, LF Matt Holliday, 3B Garrett Atkins, RF Brad Hawpe, C Yorvit Torrealba, 2B Jayson Nix
Projected rotation: LH Jeff Francis, RH Aaron Cook, RH Ubaldo Jimenez, LH Franklin Morales, LH Mark Redman
Closer: RH Manny Corpas
Outlook: After their remarkable run to the World Series last year, the Rockies opened up the checkbook to secure their young nucleus, signing Tulowitzki, Hawpe, Corpas and Cook, plus locking up Holliday, who led the NL in batting average and RBI last year, with a two-year deal. The team is hoping to show that last season's incredible run wasn't a fluke. Tulowitzki, the runner-up in last year's NL rookie-of-the year race, led all shortstops in chances (834), putouts (262), assists (561) and double plays (114). Francis is an ace who seems unfazed pitching in Coors Field.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Manager: Joe Torre
2007: 82-80, fourth
Projected lineup: LF Juan Pierre, SS Rafael Furcal, C Russell Martin, CF Andruw Jones, 2B Jeff Kent, 1B James Loney, RF Matt Kemp, 3B Tony Abreu
Projected rotation: RH Brad Penny, RH Derek Lowe, RH Chad Billingsley, RH Hiroki Kuroda, RH Esteban Loaiza
Closer: RH Takashi Saito
Outlook: The Dodgers had the NL's best record in mid-July last year and were still in contention until losing 11 of their last 14 games. The hiring of Torre should help bring peace to a clubhouse where friction arose between youngsters and veterans. Furcal is healthy after being slowed by a sprained ankle last season. The addition of Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, figures to add much-needed power and improved defense, and the experience gained by Martin, Loney and Kemp should help as well. Third base could be a problem, as the two players competing for the job, Nomar Garciaparra and top prospect Andy LaRoche, are injured. The rotation figures to be better with the signing of Kuroda, although RHP Jason Schmidt (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready for a while.

San Diego Padres
Manager: Bud Black
Projected lineup: RF Brian Giles, 2B Tadahito Iguchi, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, CF Jim Edmonds, SS Khalil Greene, C Michael Barrett, LF Scott Hairston
Projected rotation: RH Jake Peavy, RH Chris Young, RH Greg Maddux, LH Randy Wolf
Closer: RH Trevor Hoffman
Outlook: The Padres have one of the best pitching staffs in the majors, but the big question will be whether their popgun offense can keep them in contention again. Peavy was the unanimous NL Cy Young Award, which is the good news. On the flip side, Giles is coming off microfracture surgery on his right knee, and many question how many games the injury-prone Edmonds is going to be able to play. The Padres had a veritable rehab row at spring training, including Mark Prior (shoulder), who's not expected to pitch until around June 1 and Wolf, who's coming off shoulder surgery.

San Francisco Giants
Manager: Bruce Bochy
2007: 71-91, last
Projected lineup: LF Dave Roberts, SS Omar Vizquel, RF Randy Winn, C Bengie Molina, CF Aaron Rowand, 2B Ray Durham, 1B Rich Aurilia, 3B Jose Castillo SS Brian Bocock
Projected rotation: LH Barry Zito, RH Matt Cain, RH Tim Lincecum, LH Noah Lowry, RH Kevin Correia
Closer: RH Brian Wilson
Outlook: The post-Barry Bonds era in San Francisco is going to be ugly. With the team's only proven power hitter gone, the Giants' focus now is on pitching and defense. Cain and Lincecum are two of the best young pitchers in the game, but they could have Cy Young-caliber seasons and be lucky to win 10 games apiece. Barry Zito, the recipient of a $126 million contract before the season, posted the worst ERA of his career last year. The offense has the potential to be the game's worst - a group of over-the-hill veterans with little help on the way in the farm system. This was a 90-loss team before losing one of the most-feared hitters in history.