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Football

Jets star Brandon Marshall wins civil assault suit

Mark Lennihan/AP Brandon Marshall left the courthouse once the case went to the jury and did not return, so he was not in the room when the verdict was read. Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall won the civil suit levied against him by a California woman in Manhattan federal court for assault and battery on Friday. Christin Myles, who accused Marshall of punching her in the face outside the Marquee nightclub on Mar. 11, 2012, sought at least $75,000 in damages for her medical expenses and her pain and suffering. The jury deliberated for just over an hour before

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2016 Baseball Preview: Scouting the National League
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2016 Baseball Preview: Scouting the National League

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JUNE 13, 2015 FILE PHOTOMorry Gash/AP

Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper has the best bat in the NL East.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Best outfield arm – Yoenis Cespedes, Mets

We still can’t get that spinning throw to third base last August out of our minds.

Best defender – Dee Gordon, Miami

The All-Star second baseman and offensive sparkplug committed just six errors last season.

Best hair – Jacob deGrom/Noah Syndergaard, Mets

No haircuts, guys. Mets fans don’t want to find out if that’s where their strengths lie.

Best nickname – Matt Harvey, Mets

The reviews for Ben Affleck in “Batman v. Superman” were mixed, but Gotham still has its repaired Dark Knight on the mound.

Best addition – Dusty Baker, Nationals

Can the three-time Manager of the Year eliminate the dysfunction and help the talented Nats overtake the Mets?

Biggest departure – Andrelton Simmons, Braves

With the two-time Gold Glove shortstop traded to the Angels, Atlanta is in full rebuilding mode.

Breakout player – Steven Matz, Mets

The L.I. lefty needs to stay healthy but offered an impressive nine-start taste in 2015, October included.

Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton

Best bat – Bryce Harper, Nationals

Reigning MVP speaks his mind off the field but lets his play do the talking — leading the NL last year in runs and homers with an obscene 1.109 OPS.

Best power hitter – Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

Only 279 at-bats last season (broken hand). Still had 27 homers and now is learning hitting from Don Mattingly and Barry Bonds.

Best starting pitcher – Take your pick, Mets

Scouts are split whether deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard or Matz will have the best career. Nice problem to have.

Best reliever – Jeurys Familia, Mets

What, you thought we were going with Papelbon here? The Mets’ terrific young arms extend to the back of the pen, too.

“Somos Familia!”

Best catcher – Travis d’Arnaud, Mets

Kind of by default since d’Arnaud has been unable to stay healthy, but not much competition (A.J. Pierzynski, Wilson Ramos?) in division.

Best manager – Terry Collins, Mets

Newcomers Baker and Mattingly might change things, but Collins was the right man to guide the Mets back into October.

Best ballpark – Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

Home runs, authentic cheesesteak stands, and for perfectly selfish reasons, multiple flavors of Turkey Hill ice cream in the press box.

Best Twitter account – Chipper Jones, Braves (retired)

Sure, this is really a copout, but our old friend “Larry” kills in 140 characters (@RealCJ10) like he did against the Mets.

No more than 7 images from any single MLB game, workout, activity or event may be used (including online and on apps) while that game, activity or event is in progressJared Wickerham/Getty Images

The Cubs’ Jake Arrieta gets the nod for best starting pitcher in the NL Central.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Best outfield arm – Starling Marte, Pirates

Led NL with 16 assists in 2015 and posted a league-high 6.5 ARM rating.

Best defender – Jason Heyward, Cubs

A difference maker defensively moves from right in St. Louis to center field in Chicago.

Best hair – Andrew McCutchen, Pirates

Yes, we know he cut it all off, so don’t email us! But the division’s best overall player needs to be included somewhere.

Best nickname – Kris Bryant, Cubs

In the Twitter age, the nickname #Sparkles is about as good as it gets.

Best addition – Jason Heyward, Cubs

The J-Hey Kid (another good nickname) switching rivals should help shift the balance of power.

Biggest departure – Aroldis Chapman, Reds

It’s impossible to replace 105 mph — considering no one else throws 105 mph.

Breakout player – Randal Grichuk, Cardinals

The rookie outfielder had 17 homers and an .877 OPS in just 350 plate appearances.

Best bat – Joey Votto, Reds

A career OPS of .957 (behind only Pujols and Miggy among active players) has earned him the nickname Vottomatic.

Best power hitter – Anthony Rizzo, Cubs

Back-to-back 30-homer seasons are only the start for the 26-year-old slugger.

Best starting pitcher – Jake Arrieta, Cubs

Do you know what kind of season you have to have to win the Cy Young Award over a guy with a 1.66 ERA?

Best reliever – Mark Melancon, Pirates

Two-time All-Star since Yanks traded him in Lance Berkman deal, converted 51 of 53 save chances with 0.93 WHIP last year.

Best catcher – Yadier Molina, Cardinals

Turns 34 this year, but has made the last seven All-Star Games and has won eight straight Gold Gloves.

Best manager – Joe Maddon, Cubs

A master of player relations and thinking outside the box, it will be fascinating to see if he can get the talented Cubs over the top.

Best ballpark – Wrigley Field, Cubs

The only team in this division without a sparkly and relatively new ballpark. Everyone should get to the Friendly Confines once in their lives.

Best Twitter account – Adam Wainwright, Cardinals

Bio (@UncleCharlie50) says he’s an “outdoor lovin, sweet tea drinkin, Chick-fil-A eatin, barbecue smashin, fantasy football dominatin, STL pitchin, Georgia boy.”

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

Best outfield arm – Yasiel Puig, Dodgers

Two of the top arms in the NL belong to Cuban outfielders. Can he finally put it all together?

Best defender – Nolan Arenado, Rockies

Acrobatic third baseman is just 24 and already has won three Gold Gloves.

Best hair – Johnny Cueto, Giants

San Fran is hoping Cueto’s majestic dreads flow into the World Series for a second straight year.

Best nickname – Brandon Belt, Giants

He’s embraced the “Baby Giraffe” moniker, dubbed a few years ago because of his awkwardness in the field.

Best additions – Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, Giants

It’s an even year, so San Fran could be back in the World Series after adding these proven arms to bolster ace Madison Bumgarner.

Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt

Biggest departure – Zack Greinke, Dodgers

The 1-2 punch with Clayton Kershaw has been broken up, but the quirky NL ERA leader stays within the division in Arizona.

Breakout player – Matt Duffy, Giants

As Pablo Sandoval’s 3B replacement, batted .295 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

Best bat – Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona

Not much exposure, but finished second in 2015 MVP race after posting 33 homers and a stellar .321/.435/.570 slash line.

Best power hitter – Nolan Arenado, Rockies

Combined with teammate Carlos Gonzalez to belt 82 homers last year; he clubbed an NL-leading 42, and added 43 doubles.

Best starting pitcher – Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles

Five straight top-3 finishes in Cy Young voting (three first-place finishes). Also had career highs in strikeouts (301) and innings (232.2) last year.

Best reliever – Kenley Jansen, Dodgers

With Craig Kimbrel in Boston, this is the heir apparent with 36 of 38 converted saves and 80 Ks (with eight walks) in 52 innings.

Best catcher – Buster Posey, San Francisco

The 2010 MVP sees some time at first base now, too, but his .859 career OPS is tops among active catchers.

Best manager – Bruce Bochy, San Francisco

The future Hall of Famer (if you still don’t think so, look again) is seeking his fourth World Series title (as many as Joe Torre) as a manager.

Best ballpark – AT&T Stadium, San Francisco

People in boats beyond the right-field wall grabbing home-run balls. Enough said.

Best Twitter account – Brandon McCarthy, Dodgers

Starting on the DL only gives the open-book pitcher more time to entertain us on social media (@BMcCarthy32).

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