NL overview: Phillies looking like a dynasty

The National League is supposed to be baseball's democracy, a place where baseball's tired, poor and huddled masses - yearning to breathe the stenches of cigar smoke and champagne-drenched clothes - begin each season with renewed hope.

Well, besides the Pirates, of course.

But if the NL isn't careful, it's going to lose its reputation as an open field. The Phillies, two-time defending league champs, are turning this league into a monarchy.

They've got boppers and power arms, and they at least give off the perception that they perform even greater than the sum of their parts, with people person Charlie Manuel managing those parts gracefully. In the offseason, they picked up perhaps the game's best starting pitcher in Roy Halladay, who engineered his trade from Toronto.

Hope looms for the other 15 clubs, however, partly because of the Phillies' questionable offseason decision. They could've entered this season with both Halladay and Cliff Lee, dominant co-aces, with Cole Hamels trailing as the third starter. Philadelphia opted, oddly, to trade Lee to Seattle, thereby making a race out of it.

The Phillies still are the best bet of all 30 teams to win their division, yet behind them, the field should be wide open. Expect only the Nationals, Reds, Pirates, Giants and Padres to not be within shouting distance of a playoff spot by the July 31 non-waivers trade deadline.

This looks to be a season in which, say, 90 victories could suffice in capturing the NL Central, NL West and NL wild-card spot. And the bet here is that the Cardinals, Dodgers and Rockies will join the Phillies in the playoffs.

SEE PHOTOSWorld Series Game 1: Phillies 6, Yankees 1

St. Louis has Matt Holliday, Albert Pujols' expensive partner in crime, ready to go for the whole season. It has Brad Penny as masterful pitching coach Dave Duncan's new reclamation project. And, again, it has the benefit of knowing that no one else in the Central is very good.

The Dodgers face a chaotic ownership situation that must have Joe Torre yearning for a reunion with the Steinbrenners. With the McCourts getting divorced, the team cut its payroll this season. Nevertheless, there's still enough talent here to get back into the postseason.

The same goes for Colorado; 11th-year general manager Dan O'Dowd has put together a talented, balanced group. It's maybe good enough to keep those pesky Phillies out of the Fall Classic. Or maybe the Phillies will start making even the Yankees jealous with consistent excellence.

Ken Davidoff's Best of the National League
(with considerable help from a scout from an NL team)

BEST PLAYER
1. Albert Pujols, St. Louis
2. Hanley Ramirez, Florida
3. Chase Utley, Philadelphia

BEST HITTER
1. Albert Pujols, St. Louis
2. Hanley Ramirez, Florida
3. Chase Utley, Philadelphia

BEST POWER
1. Adam Dunn, Washington
2. Prince Fielder, Milwaukee
3. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia

BEST INFIELDER
1. Albert Pujols, St. Louis
2. Ryan Zimmerman, Washington
3. Chase Utley, Philadelphia

BEST INFIELD ARM
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
2. Yunel Escobar, Atlanta
3. Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles

BEST OUTFIELDER
1. Shane Victorino, Philadelphia
2. Matt Holliday, St. Louis
3. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles

BEST OUTFIELD ARM
1. Jeff Francoeur, Mets
2. Shane Victorino, Philadelphia
3. Cody Ross, Florida

BEST CATCHER
1. Brian McCann, Atlanta
2. Yadier Molina, St. Louis
3. Russell Martin, Los Angeles

BEST STARTER
1. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia
2. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco
3. Johan Santana, Mets

BEST CLOSER
1. Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee
2. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles
3. Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati

BEST FASTBALL
1. Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado
2. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles
3. Josh Johnson, Florida

BEST CURVEBALL
1. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco
2. Roy Oswalt, Houston
3. Tommy Hanson, Atlanta

BEST MANAGER
1. Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia
2. Bobby Cox, Atanta
3. Jim Tracy, Colorado