2004 division previews: the Phillies, Astros and Giants are our pre-season picks to win division titles with the Cubs, Braves and Dodgers among clubs vying for the wild card slot.(National League)

BY SOARING THROUGH IN THE National League playoffs and surprising the Yankees in the World Series, the Florida Marlins proved that small-market teams can successfully chase big dreams.

After bringing in ageless manager Jack McKeon, the Marlins came from the back of the pack in late May to post the best record in the major leagues. That set the stage for a surprising playoff trifecta

After beating the Giants in a best of five-game divisional playoff thriller, the Marlins came back from a 3-1 deficit to wrestle the N.L. pennant from the Cubs. That, of course, was followed by another comeback performance in the World Series punctuated by Josh Beckett's decisive Game 6 five-hit shutout.

No sooner had the last drop of champagne been poured in Miami than other small-market teams began to wonder if they could duplicate the Marlins' success. If the Marlins, with their limited resources, could scale the top of the baseball ladder, why couldn't they?

And so it is that, entering the 2004 season, several teams that usually fall under the radar are gearing up for what they hope can be a memorable season. The Padres, despite finishing with the league's worst record, have retooled their roster with a series of trades and free-agent signings. The Expos, a franchise without a permanent home, also actively restocked their lineup in spite of limited resources. Even the Marlins, with a somewhat reconfigured team, have reasons to think they won't be a one-hit wonder.

The 2004 season could finally bring an end to the Braves' dominance in the East and the emergence of the Phillies as a bona fide power. The Marlins and Expos also could have a say in determining the division champ, while the Mets are content to prove their two consecutive losing seasons were a fluke.

In the Central, expect to see the usual suspects--Cubs, Astros and Cardinals--contending for the division title, with the Pirates, Brewers and Reds competing again for fourth place.