The NL East has a personality all on its own. Once proudly owned by the Atlanta Braves year in and year out (come on now, you can't hate the Braves... what else does Atlanta have going for them?), the division has arguably turned into a venue of some of the most fun (and frustrating) baseball teams in the majors. From the split personality of the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, to the pesky Marlins just poking away at that first place lead with their long skinny sword noses and their top-tier young talent, the East will once again go down to the very end of the season to see who will prevail and who will go home. 

But please don't forget the Central. Not only is there an extra team to compete against (yes, the Pirates are still considered a major league "team"), but the Central boasts the top three records in the NL (Chicago, St. Louis, and Milwaukee). Chicago, as we all have come to expect, is playing extraordinary baseball and are getting their fans' hopes up once again. The Cards weren't expected to make much of a splash this year and have found players like Ryan Ludwick to keep them competing. And who can look past the Brewers; with a solid team already on the field, they have made it a point that they intend to compete this year by trading for C.C. Sabathia to bolster a very impressive starting rotation. 

Remember when I reminded you not to forget the NL Central? Well, the NL West is a bit of a different story. Forget about them. The division leading Arizona Diamondbacks (or the D-Backs as the kids are calling them on the streets these days) are an impressive 60-58, and that is an impressive record for them so far this year. Let me emphasize… impressive FOR THEM and THE NL WEST.  

Oh, look out. Still, don't count out the Dodgers who are just 1.5 games back of division leading Arizona. And definitely don't leave out the defending National League champion Colorado Rockies who carry with them the bragging rights to a 53-67 record. With only 20 wins on the road this season, the Rockies lost all hope of making it back to the series when the NL lost home field advantage in the 15th inning of the All-Star game. Because they are definitely... DEFINITELY... going to go on a hot streak and take the West by storm... 

If you are a fan of any team in the NL West, don't be angry when none of those teams are, what you would call "stellar" teams in this weeks...  

NL POWER ALLEY!!!!!

1. Chicago Cubs - Yeah, yeah, the Cubs are in first place and they hold the best record in the National League. Not too long ago, they traded to acquire Rich Harden, probably to counter the Sabathia trade to Milwaukee, who will fill out an unbelievable starting rotation. Five years ago, who knew the Cubs would have the best staff in baseball and it wouldn't include Kerry Wood OR Mark Prior? Then there is also Soriano making his return to the lineup. Will they collapse in the post-season? Who cares at this point if you own any number of Cubbies on your fantasy team.

Offense: B+  

Pitching: A  

2. Philadelphia Phillies - The Phils made a great move in getting Blanton from the trade-happy A's. He gives them a weapon they have been longing to have on their pitching staff; the team didn't have that one solid pitcher in their rotation that opposing players hated having to face. Fantasy value is a bit tough to judge, however, because the NL is not the AL and there have been many pitchers throughout history that couldn’t learn to adapt. As far as the offense… it's pretty good, I'd say.

Offense: A-  

Pitching:B-  

3. Milwaukee Brewers - It took every ounce of me not to put these guys at #2, but they tend to fade off at the end of the season. The offense is solid behind a young core of players including Ryan Braun and Cory Hart. Jason Kendall is a solid defensive catcher-a very underrated yet important part of the National League game. And then there are Ben Sheets, C.C. Sabathia, and Manny Parra, a sleeper candidate for a spot start on your team. Can you imagine having to go into a three game series knowing you will be facing these guys back to back to back?

Offense: A 

Pitching: B+  

4. St. Louis Cardinals - Honestly, who saw these guys coming? Their DL is stock full of pitchers that will only make this team better as they come back (minus Mulder whose career may be in jeopardy). The offense is sick. Their top three homerun hitters have a combined 62 jacks this year... and Pujols isn't even included. Todd Wellemeyer and Ryan Ludwick have stepped up to make this team a contender. However, the Cards are beginning to run out of games and will need to start making a bigger push for post-season if they want this Cinderella season to continue.

Offense: B+  

Pitching: B-  

7. New York Mets - The Mets are struggling to stay afloat at this point. Johan Santana has been a nice addition to the starting rotation but they always seem to find a new way to lose a game. As a fantasy manager, I would stay away from any member of this bullpen. Relief pitching is the most important part of making a playoff push and the Mets are finding that out the hard way.  

Offense: B  

Pitching: C+  

6. Florida Marlins - The Oakland A's of the National League continue to produce/find good talent. This team has stayed competitive with offense. Hanley Ramirez continues to produce as well as Dan Uggla and Mike Jacobs when he's not striking out. The pitching needs a little work as the ERA is a little high but when you can produce runs the way the bats do, there is a little breathing room. The staff still has a huge upside as well.

Offense: B+  

Pitching – C  

7. Arizona Diamondbacks - Finally, the NL West is represented. I don't know what the problem is with this division; there is so much talent but no production. On paper, the top three starters could be the best in the league (including the Padres’ Peavy). Brandon Webb, with his 17 wins, has things going his way again and Haren is winning games as well. In addition, veteran Randy Johnson is still getting whiffs and is nice to have around for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the D-Backs are having a hard time finding runs, whether it's the long ball or driving in runs the good ol' fashioned way. Acquiring Adam Dunn was a great move and will produce huge offensive numbers in Arizona.

Offense: C(+with Dunn)  

Pitching: B-  

8. Atlanta Braves - Speaking of producing home-grown talent, the Braves come to mind whenever the subject is brought up. Jair Jurrjens has stepped up as a solid number two starter behind Tim Hudson, but while Campillo has been a nice stopgap, the rotation is average at best. They are a far cry from the staff glory days of the 90’s. The offense has produced better than average numbers which has kept them in the race for the NL East race. Chipper Jones isn't about to let his All-Star season go to waste, either.

Offense: B  

Pitching: C   

9. Los Angeles Dodgers - The addition of Casey Blake and Manny Ramirez should add some significant power to this lineup. If the pitching can perform half-way decent (Billingsley the exception), the Dodgers are no way out of the race for the NL West title. But key losses to bad teams like the Giants do nothing to help gain any momentum. On offense, the Dodgers are not the place to look for sleeper fantasy help.

Offense: C  

Pitching: C   

10. Houston Astros- For a team that has quite possibly the best fantasy player of this season, the offense on this club really isn’t all that great anymore. Berkman has carried them and they have a few nice hitters but the fall of the surging Carlos lee is a ginormous blow the the lineup. He was what really helped Berkman as well. Lee’s shadow could hit better than Erstad. The rotation is a joke lead by fallen star Roy Oswalt. In the pen, Valverde is having a solid season in saves but his ERA is way too high recently.  

Offense: C+  

Pitching: C-   

11. Colorado Rockies  - I have felt all season this team could turn it around but it is getting pretty late. Unfortunately, besides Mr. Jimenez, their rotation is killing them with huge ERA and WHIP numbers. Adding Livan Hernandez was a great idea though… rrriiigggghttt. I don’t even think their lineup is producing that well for a Rockies team; humidor or not. Their own pitching is demonstrating how good an offense can be there still.

Offense: C+  

Pitching: D+  

12. Pittsburgh Pirates – Poor Nate McLouth. Who is there to help him now? Perhaps a pair of underachieving LaRoche brothers. Still, at the current moment with Freddie Sanchez and Doug “I have no place in fantasy” Mienakedkseskfishlvichz, they are really hurting on the right side of the infield. Still, the offense is light years ahead of the pitching. You know you are in trouble when your supposed to be number one starter has a six for an ERA. On top of that, Capps is injured and Yates just sucks.  

Offense: C  

Pitching: D   

13. San Francisco: On offense I give you two words… where’s Bonds. He carried the team for years. On Pitching I give you two more… Barry Zito. I think they kept the wrong Barry.

Offense: D  

Pitching: D    

14. San Diego Padres: Jake Peavy and everybody else. What a bunch of no names. That isn’t really fair to guys like Kouzmanoff and especially Adrian Gonzalez however. Young Headley is also a bright spot All the injuries haven’t helped. The bullpen is very solid but how much of that is the park? Ask the starters behind Peavy and they’ll tell you it is a hitter’s park in disguise.

Offense: D

Pitching: D-   

15. Cincinnati Reds: When I went to write this I couldn’t think of any stars on this team. Then Phillips came to mind and rightfully so. Bruce of course is a legend in the making but it hasn’t grown to household in most normal-life circles yet. The loss of Dunn takes away their last big name mainstay. With Bruce, Volquez and even Cueto already shining, the movement is on. Still, growing pains will be tough without the old stars around.

Offense: D-  

itching: D   

16. Washington Nationals: As a local, I know this stench down the street. It is those damn Nats again. They reek. The team is too young and injured to do anything right now. Just think if Wily Mo could stay healthy and hit junk, if Dukes could stay straight and healthy and if every other freaking player on this team could stay healthy. Then they might be .500. To really contend, they have a looonnngg way to go. Milledge could lead the charge.

Offense: D-  

Pitching: D-

So there you have it, the National League Power Alley. The next time this bad boy rolls around, we will very close to the end of the season and playoff teams will be separating themselves from the pretenders. Will the Power Alley prove true? The Cardinals sure hope not as they would be out despite where I rank them with two other NL Central teams in the top four. Stay tuned…