National League East Preview
1. New York Mets
Meet the Mets! Meet the Mets! Step Right Up and Greet the Mets!
The Mets should still have the strongest lineup in the National League. Wright and Reyes are only going to get better. Beltran booms with the best when healthy. Delgado may be on the decline, and one has to question why they picked up two Nationals regulars – Ryan Church and Brian Schneider. But, they should still prove potent, particularly if they can add a corner outfield bat.
Johan Santana ups the ante, which he should for $137.5 million. If they get something out of Pedro and replicate the 30 wins from Maine and Oliver Perez, they can be quite good. Though that is a substantial “if.”
As long as Wagner withstands the ravages of age, the bullpen should be fine from the sixth inning onward. Before that, we may begin to see a steroid-less Schoenweis, not pretty.
Santana’s acquisition should push them up over 90 wins.
2. Atlanta Braves
The Braves could have a killer lineup with McCann, Teixiera, Francoeur and Chipper Jones, the quiet hall of famer. They also have deceptively decent depth despite losing Andruw Jones and Edgar Renteria.
The rotation is either “experienced” or “old,” depending on your taste for euphemisms. Tim Hudson is the spring chicken, at 32 years old. However, if Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine and Hampton stay healthy they have a solid veteran rotation to keep them in games.
The bullpen has depth, though one wonders about Soriano’s ability to hold the closing role, having never done so before.
Atlanta finished five games behind last season, but they had the best expected W-L in the division. They should be better this year.
3. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are the poor man’s Mets. They have a young heart of the lineup with Howard and Utley. Burrell provides unappreciated pop, and Pedro Feliz could hit 25-30 HR in Philadelphia (He hit 20 in S.F.). Jimmy Rollins will probably fall back to earth, however.
Their rotation’s potential is positive. The have two hot young arms with Hamels and Kendrick. Myers may be productive, if he keeps his mitts off his wife. But, it is downhill from there. Moyer is 45 years old, non-roid aided and Adam Eaton is just terrible.
Their bullpen is scary, and not in the good way. Brad Lidge’s stability lives on the Ledge. Tom Gordon has 40 years and miles galore. J.C. Romero was great last year, but had a 6.70 ERA the year before. This may be the killer in crunch time.
The Phils survived on a boost and blind luck last season – lightning is infrequent.
4. Florida Marlins
Florida has a good lineup, centered around the double-play combo of Ramirez and Uggla. Unfortunately for them, so does the rest of the division. The Marlins have some holes, particularly an unprepared Cameron Maybin starting in Center-Field, that may take a few years to fill.
They have two types of starters, young and not very good, having unloaded their bevy of young arms in recent seasons. The bullpen should not be bad, but they may be overworked.
The Marlins do not yet have the experience level or the talent to compete in this division.
5. Washington Nationals
The Nationals are inexplicable. They have unusable depth at first base and catcher. Lo Duca is coming off the roids. Dimitri Young is listed at 220lb on MLB, 245 on ESPN, and is probably close to 300. Having him and Elijah Dukes should be a clubhouse apocalypse.
For pitching, the “Ace” is Odalis Perez who had a 5.57 ERA last season and a 6.20 ERA before that. The rest of the rotation can be average at best if healthy.
Their bullpen is actually quite good, with Cordero closing and Ayala and Rauch to set him up. Too bad their starters may not be able to get them there.
Not now and not for a few years yet.
