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Three-year Shea Stadium Indexes: Runs 96; HR 89
2004 Runs Allowed: 731, eighth in NL
Outlook: Moving to the NL East is going to feel like a vacation for Martinez after seven seasons of facing stacked AL lineups. Expect him to plow through the weaker lineups and give this rotation a significant boost -- Mets starters ranked eighth in the NL in ERA last season. Center fielder Mike Cameron caught a lot of flak for making egregious errors last year, but he had more than a little to do with the Mets' top three starters -- Leiter, Glavine and Trachsel -- posting ERAs well below what their DIPS indicated. Cameron moving to right field and Carlos Beltran taking over center should help even more.

Three-year Minute Maid Park Indexes: Runs 103; HR 103
2004 Runs Allowed: 698, fifth in NL
Outlook: With much cajoling -- and an $18 million paycheck -- Clemens returns for a 22nd season. Medical science has come a long way in treating elbow injuries, which is good news for Pettitte. The former Yankees left-hander should be a solid contributor. Oswalt rounds out a very formidable Big Three. As for the last two spots, would it be asking too much of rubber-armed closer Brad Lidge to take care of them? Defense will be a concern as well, with Beltran not around to cover that huge center field at Minute Maid Park and no suitable replacement found as of yet.

Three-year Busch Stadium Indexes: Runs 93; HR 85
2004 Runs Allowed: 659, first in NL
Outlook: St. Louis featured a steady, balanced rotation last season and looks to do the same in '05. Woody Williams is gone to San Diego and Morris won't be available to start the season, but the Cards added Mulder and should get a follow-up to Carpenter's breakthough 2004 campaign. Marquis made tremendous progress after washing out as a Braves prospect. The Cardinals lose considerable range in the middle infield, though, with David Eckstein and Mark Grudzielanek replacing free agents Edgar Renteria and Tony Womack. That drops them down a notch.

Three-year Dodger Stadium Indexes: Runs 84; HR 105
2004 Runs Allowed: 684, fourth in NL
Outlook: The Dodgers are moving the dugouts 20 feet closer to the lines, dramatically reducing the massive foul territory that has helped make this such a pitchers' haven for decades. That means that runs index will rise considerably from 84 next season. There has been plenty of crying about the overhaul of the Dodgers' roster, but no tears should be shed for making changes to a rotation that ranked 11th in the NL last year in ERA (4.53). Lowe's shocking contract (4 years, $36 million) aside, at least DIPS shaves more than a run off his ERA. The last time we saw Penny, he left the mound writhing in pain. That's never good. The sooner young right-hander Edwin Jackson takes over for Ishii, the better. Much like the Astros, downgrades on defense (Alex Cora to Jeff Kent at second base; Adrian Beltre to Jose Valentin at third) will hurt.

Three-year SBC Park Indexes: Runs 96; HR 74
2004 Runs Allowed: 770, 12th in NL
Outlook: Unless your name is Barry Bonds, chances are you aren't going deep at SBC Park. Look at what the spacious park did for the left-handed Lowry last season: 5-0, 3.10 ERA. On the road, he was 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in the same number of starts (seven). Somehow, the recycled Tomko put together a terrific second half, posting a 3.15 ERA in 100 innings after the break. The staff should benefit from signing Omar Vizquel, provided the 37-year-old shortstop hasn't lost another step, and bringing in a defensive catcher in Mike Matheny. Schmidt's availability is always the key, however.

2004 PETCO Park Index: Runs 82; HR 66
2004 Runs Allowed: 705, seventh in NL
Outlook: The much-maligned David Wells will be missed, if for no other reason than his impeccable control. DIPS shows Peavy's remarkable season had a bit to do with luck, but at least you can't dismiss it as a PETCO-aided fluke. Peavy's home ERA was 2.21 compared to 2.33 on the road. The most intriguing pickup might be May. The former Royals left-hander has a problem with the home run ball, giving up 69 the past two seasons. But May won't have to worry about that as much in this park, making him a solid sleeper candidate.

2004 Citizens Bank Park Index: Runs 109; HR 123
2004 Runs Allowed: 781, 13th in NL
Outlook: Generally speaking, building a bandbox stadium isn't conducive to good pitching. That HR index makes Citizens Bank Park play more like Coors Field than the Vet. Lieber, another Tommy John survivor, appears to have regained his old form. Wolf, Padilla and Lidle have the stuff to be successful, but we just haven't seen it yet from Myers. Look for prospect Gavin Floyd to step in when one of them goes down or struggles.