LOS ANGELES DODGERS
2003: 85-77, 2nd place, 15 1/2 GB

Manager: Jim Tracy, 4th season

Key newcomers: OF Juan Encarnacion, OF Bubba Trammell, RHP Jeff Weaver

Key departures: RHP Kevin Brown, OF Daryle Ward, RHP Paul Quantrill, 1B Fred McGriff, OF Jeromy Burnitz, OF Brian Jordan, OF Rickey Henderson

Possible batting order
CF.....Dave Roberts (.250, 2, 16)

C.....Paul Lo Duca (.273, 7, 52)

RF.....Shawn Green (.280, 19, 85)

LF.....Juan Encarnacion (.270, 19, 94)

3B.....Adrian Beltre (.240, 23, 80)

1B.....Robin Ventura (.220, 5, 13)

2B.....Jolbert Cabrera (.282, 6, 37)

SS.....Cesar Izturis (.251, 1, 40)

Rotation
LHP.....Kazuhisa Ishii (9-7, 3.86)

RHP.....Hideo Nomo (16-13, 3.09)

LHP.....Wilson Alvarez (6-2, 2.37)

LHP.....Odalis Perez (12-12, 4.52)

RHP.....Jeff Weaver (7-9, 5.99)

Closer
RHP.....Eric Gagne (55 saves, 1.20)

Should finish: 1st. New ownership seems committed to winning. Remember when it seemed the Dodgers played in October almost every season? The Dodgers haven't played a meaningful October series since 1995. ... Tracy's job security isn't real solid, especially after the Dodgers dropped to 85 wins in 2003 from 92 in 2002. However, the division winner this season won't need 100 victories as the Giants put up last year. ... Dodgers, who had the worst offense in the league last season, still are offensively challenged, but they have the best starting rotation in the division. And they have Gagne, who has 107 saves the past two seasons. He likely won't go 55 for 55 this year, though. ... Rotation will be strengthened greatly if Weaver can get New York out of his system. ... Dodgers were shut out in 17 games in 2003 and scored just one run in 25 others. They were 1-41 in those 42 games.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
2003: 100-61, 1st place, 15 1/2 games ahead, lost to Florida in four games in a NL Division Series

Manager: Felipe Alou, 2nd season

Key newcomers: C A.J. Pierzynski, OF Michael Tucker, RHP Brett Tomko

Key departures: RHP Sidney Ponson, SS Rich Aurilia, RHP Tim Worrell, C Benito Santiago, RHP Joe Nathan, OF Jose Cruz Jr., 1B Andres Galarraga

Possible batting order
2B.....Ray Durham (.285, 8, 33)

1B.....J.T. Snow (.273, 8, 51)

LF.....Barry Bonds (.341, 45, 90)

3B.....Edgardo Alfonzo (.259, 13, 81)

RF.....Michael Tucker (.262, 13, 55)

CF.....Marquis Grissom (.300, 20, 79)

C.....A.J. Pierzynski (.312, 11, 74)

SS.....Neifi Perez (.256, 1, 31)

Rotation
RHP.....Jason Schmidt (17-5, 2.34)

LHP.....Kirk Rueter (10-5, 4.53)

RHP.....Dustin Hermanson (3-3, 4.06)

RHP.....Brett Tomko (13-9, 5.29)

RHP.....Jerome Williams (7-5, 3.30)

Closer
Robb Nen (injured)

Should finish: 2nd. Starting rotation doesn't have much sizzle except for Schmidt, who's coming off a great season and elbow surgery. If Schmidt falters, there's not a No. 1 starter here. Bad omen? Late in spring training, Schmidt had some tightness in his right shoulder. ... Nen, who missed last season because of an injury, also began having arm trouble late in spring training. ... Losing Santiago will hurt the staff more than it weakens the offense. ... Bonds, who turns 40 July 24, has to fall off offensively sooner or later, and it might be sooner. There isn't much protection behind him and he'd rather walk than go outside the strike zone. ... Giants were 28-11 in one-run games in 2003. That was the best one-run record in the major leagues -- and one not likely to be duplicated by them this season.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
2003: 84-78, 3rd place, 16 1/2 GB

Manager: Bob Brenly, 4th season

Key newcomers: 2B Roberto Alomar, 1B Richie Sexson, INF Greg Colbrunn, RHP Shane Reynolds, LHP Casey Fossum, RHP Brandon Lyon, RHP Steve Sparks

Key departures: RHP Curt Schilling, 1B Lyle Overbay, OF Raul Mondesi, RHP Miguel Batista, INF Craig Counsell, 1B Mark Grace, C Chad Moeller, INF Junior Spivey

Possible batting order
CF.....Steve Finley (.287, 22, 70)

2B.....Roberto Alomar (.262, 2, 22)

LF.....Luis Gonzalez (.304, 26, 104)

1B.....Richie Sexson (.272, 45, 124)

3B.....Shea Hillenbrand (.267, 17, 59)

SS.....Alex Cintron (.317, 13, 51)

RF.....Danny Bautista (.275, 4, 36)

C.....Robby Hammock (.282, 8, 28)

Rotation
LHP.....Randy Johnson (6-8, 4.26)

RHP.....Brandon Webb (10-9, 2.84)

RHP.....Elmer Dessens (8-8, 5.07)

RHP.....Shane Reynolds (11-9, 5.43)

RHP.....Steve Sparks (0-6, 4.88)

Closer
RHP.....Matt Mantei (29 saves, 2.62)

Should finish: 3rd. Diamondbacks had 14 fewer wins in 2003 than in 2002 and now they don't have Curt Schilling. This is a team wilting in the desert. ... Randy Johnson, 40, made only 18 starts last season. ... Sexson's addition adds some pop to a lineup that finished 12th in home runs in 2003. ... Renting Alomar for a season adds some professionalism to the roster and could improve a double play combination that turned the fewest in the NL last season. ... Used 146 different lineups. ...Webb was a standout on a 2003 team that produced 39 victories by rookie pitchers, most in the majors. ... Webb made 28 starts. The Diamondbacks scored two runs or less in 12 of them, a large reason he had only 10 wins despite a 2.84 ERA that was fourth-lowest in the league.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
2003: 64-98, 5th place, 36 1/2 GB

Manager: Bruce Bochy, 10th season

Key newcomers: LHP David Wells, RHP Ismael Valdez, C Ramon Hernandez, LHP Sterling Hitchcock, OF Terrence Long, INF Jeff Cirillo, OF Jay Payton, Petco Park

Key departures: RHP Kevin Jarvis, C Wiki Gonzalez, OF Mark Kotsay, INF Keith Lockhart

Possible batting order
3B.....Sean Burroughs (.286, 7, 58)

2B.....Mark Loretta (.314, 13, 72)

RF.....Brian Giles (.299, 20, 88)

1B.....Phil Nevin (.279, 13, 46)

LF.....Ryan Klesko (.252, 21, 67)

CF.....Jay Payton (.302, 28, 89)

C.....Ramon Hernandez (.273, 21, 78)

SS.....Khalil Greene (.215, 2, 6)

Rotation
LHP.....David Wells (15-7, 4.14)

RHP.....Adam Eaton (9-12, 4.08)

RHP.....Jake Peavy (12-11, 4.11)

RHP.....Brian Lawrence (10-15, 4.19)

LHP.....Sterling Hitchcock (5-1, 3.79)

Closer
RHP.....Trevor Hoffman (0 saves, 2.00)

Should finish: 4th -- familiar territory for the Padres, who have finished fourth or fifth in the division in each of the past five seasons. ... Giles will add some punch to an offense that produced only 128 home runs, 14th in the league. ... A healthy Hoffman will bolster a bullpen that had to rely on ageless Rod Beck as its closer in 2003. ... Wells provides a veteran arm in a fairly young rotation that should improve. ... Burroughs, a rookie of the year candidate in 2002, could be ready to establish himself as an above-average third baseman. ... Klesko moves back to the outfield with Nevin healthy. ... Padres hit 257 doubles in 2003. Only Cincinnati (239) had fewer in the NL. ... Could make another try at trading for Jason Kendall. GM Manager Kevin Towers loves Kendall's ability and drive.

COLORADO ROCKIES
2003: 74-88, 4th place, 26 1/2 GB

Manager: Clint Hurdle, 3rd season

Key newcomers: 3B Vinny Castilla, OF Jeromy Burnitz, C Todd Greene, SS Royce Clayton, LHP Joe Kennedy

Key departures: 3B Chris Stynes, OF Jay Payton, SS Juan Uribe, RHP Jose Jimenez, INF Ronnie Belliard, RHP Justin Speier

Possible batting order
2B.....Aaron Miles (.304, 11, 50 at AAA)

SS.....Royce Clayton (.228, 11, 39)

1B.....Todd Helton (.358, 33, 117)

CF.....Preston Wilson (.282, 36, 141)

RF.....Larry Walker (.284, 16, 79)

3B.....Vinny Castilla (.277, 22, 76)

LF.....Jeromy Burnitz (.231, 31, 77)

C .....Charles Johnson (.230, 20, 61)

Rotation
RHP.....Jason Jennings (12-13, 5.11)

RHP.....Denny Stark (3-3, 5.83)

LHP.....Joe Kennedy (3-12, 6.13)

RHP.....Scott Elarton (4-4, 6.27)

RHP.....Aaron Cook (4-6, 6.02)

Closer
RHP.....Shawn Chacon (11-8, 0 saves, 4.60)

Should finish: 5th. Rockies still haven't figured out how to win. They've tried offense because of Coors Field. That didn't work too well. They tried pitching -- Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle -- and that didn't work at all. Now they're back to trying to outscore opponents. Good luck. Neagle's out because of elbow surgery. Chacon, arguably their best starter last season, moves into the closer role. ... Team has stagnated. It had 73 wins in 2001, 73 in 2002 and 74 in 2003. ... Helton is one of six players in history who has had five-plus consecutive seasons in which he batted .300 with 30 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 RBIs. ... Miles, 27, spent nine seasons in the minor leagues before getting a real chance this year. ... Play 19 of 25 games at home immediately following the All-Star break.