NL East Preview

March 2, 2007 | By Chris White | Discuss

The sting of the Eagles' post-season failure is just now starting to subside. It’s amazing how long the Philadelphia faithful will keep talking about their Eagles, long after the final snap has taken place. That, coupled with both the Sixers' and Flyers' dismal seasons that never got off the ground, are great reasons to be excited about the boys of summer once again. So screw Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, and everything coming out of our nation’s capitol. Baseball is back baby!

In the first of my three part pre-season series, I’ll contemplate the fates of the home division, the National League East.

New York Mets (94)
Last year everything went right for the Mets. Beltran stayed healthy, Chavez emerged as a quality-starting outfielder, the young left side of the infield continued to progress, the right side veterans held up their end.

While I don’t think things will be as rosey in 2007, I do think they have the ability to repeat as the NL East champs, and will once again vie for the top spot in the National League.

The starting eight only underwent one off-season change, but in doing so increased the team average age about ten years. Moises Alou, roughly five months younger then Julio Franco will start in left field. He is still a professional hitter, but with he and Old Man Green in right field, I don’t have a great feel for New York’s outfield. There’s no way Beltran duplicates 2006 either. Not with that haircut at least.

If Aaron Sele makes more than 5 starts for the Mets this year, they are in trouble. Any time you invite him and Chan Ho Park to spring training, you have to wonder. Glavine and El Duke are in their forties, Pedro Martinez may not be of any use until August at best. And yet, I like the rotation. It reminds me a lot of what the Phillies started 2006 with. Some vets, and some unproven arms. There is always a ton of upside with those guys. I think Maine, Pelfrey, Humber, and Perez all have the talent to make the opening day rotation. I’d rather see them start then either of the two above.

The Mets also look to have another solid bullpen. As good as last year? Probably not, but good enough and deep enough to let the young kids go five and out. At least until a big game, when Billy “I Suck In A Big Spot” Wagner implodes. Am I still bitter? Nah.

Perhaps the biggest plus for New York this season will be their opening day game. At St. Louis, watching the Cardinals raise the banner. That may be enough fuel to keep the Mets fire burning all summer.

Possible Lineup:
Jose Reyes SS
Paul Lo Duca C
Carlos Beltran CF
Carlos Delgado 1B
David Wright 3B
Moises Alou LF
Shawn Green RF
Jose Valentin 2B

Rotation & 2006 Record:
Glavine (15-7)
Perez (3-13)
Maine (6-5)
Pelfrey (2-1)
Humber (DNP)

Pedro Martinez out til mid-summer

Philadelphia Phillies (90)

Year two AW (After Wade) looks to be a promising one. A solid infield coupled with a deep rotation, and this Phillies team is a playoff contender, and an outsider to represent the National League in the World Series.

The key to the 2007 Phillies though may not be one that you’re happy having on your ring. Pat Burrell,
the last of the dead weight (past club members include Lieberthal and Bell) players in my opinion may be the most important bat in the lineup. Rollins, Utley, Howard, and Rowand. You know what you are getting with them. Not a whole lot is to be expected of Victorino, Helms, and Barajas. But that Pat Burrell, though, he’s a big question mark.

IF he can regain some confidence, deliver in the clutch on occasion, and show a little fire, he can make a huge difference. If not, look for the Phillies to eat his salary and find a warm body for left field before the trade deadline.

The starting pitching on this team is going to win them a lot of games in 2007. As I see it, Myers, Hamels, and Garcia all have the stuff to be considered Aces. Moyer and Lieber are professional pitchers. I’ve never been an Adam Eaton fan, and honestly don’t know why they added him to the team. Always better to have more then less I suppose was their thinking (see Ryan Franklin 2006). Is this staff the best starting group in the National League? Could be, and if they are you may want to pencil in Philadelphia as a very solid World Series contender.

Possible Lineup:
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino RF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Pat Burrell LF
Aaron Rowand CF
Wes Helms 3B
Rod Barajas C

Rotation:
Myers (13-7)
Hamels (9-8)
Garcia (17-9)
Moyer (11-14)
Lieber (9-11)

Atlanta Braves (80)
For the first time since Bush I the Braves didn’t win the NL East last year. For those (like me) who said you’d believe when you saw it, well there you go. This year they will try to stay in the mix with a hodge-podge group of guys. They did a nice job in beefing up the bullpen with Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, a guy I’ve liked for a few years in Seattle who throws really hard but is oft injured.

This is a lineup that really doesn’t scare anyone. Unproven on the right side of the infield, solid on the left with Renteria and Jones. Other then Jones in centerfield, I’m not wild about the corner outfielders. Brian McCann behind the plate could be the big X factor in that lineup, if he can build on of the success he had last year, he may make the biggest impact.

The pride of all those winning Braves teams in the 90’s was always in the starting pitching. Other then an aging Smoltz, Hudson and James are average arms, while Mike Hampton looks to come off a long layoff. Their Whitey Numbers are 2-3-4-R-R, not good enough to hold opponents who won’t need much to win a bunch of 7-3 type games.

Possible Lineup:
Kelly Johnson 2B
Edgar Renteria SS
Chipper Jones 3B
Andruw Jones CF
Brian McCann C
Jeff Francoeur RF
Craig A. Wilson LF
Scott Thorman 1B

Rotation & 2006 Record:
Smoltz (16-9)
Hudson (13-12)
James (11-4)
Hampton (DNP)
Davies (3-7)

Florida Marlins (77)
Johnson and Jones, Schottenheimer and AJ Smith, Girardi and Loria. See any similarities? Its when bad things happen to solid programs when egos can’t get along. The Florida Marlins will be hard pressed to measure up to last year’s team, when Joe Girardi was the top dawg in the Fish’s dugout. To let the “Manager of the Year” get away was a dreadful move by Marlins management, even though they are stacked with young talent. With the exception of Sanchez in centerfield, all either are all-star caliber players, or could be someday.

The other bad news in Florida camp is the pitching, or lack thereof. The D-Train is a legitimate top-flight pitcher, and Sanchez and Johnson went a combined 22-10 last year, but both are already nicked up.
The bullpen also looks like a mess coming into the 2007 season, and that’s after the entire staff let six go and brought in four new arms. New skipper Fredi Gonzalez is going to have his hands full with this bunch of youngsters, and big shoes to fill after Girardi.

Possible Lineup:
Hanley Ramirez SS
Dan Uggla 2B
Miguel Cabrera 3B
Mike Jacobs 1B
Josh Willingham LF
Jeremy Hermida RF
Miguel Olivo C
Alex Sanchez CF

Rotation & 2006 Record:
Willis (12-12)
Olsen (12-10)
Sanchez (10-3)
Johnson (12-7)
Mitre (1-5)

Washington Nationals (66)
Well, the good news here is that the Nationals are one year closer to getting into a decent stadium. Other then that, there isn’t much to root for. Nick Johnson is coming off a broken leg in 2006, Christian Guzman didn’t play at all last year, and Austin Kearns will get a full year under his belt in our nation’s capitol. He’s the most accomplished hitter entering that late twenty’s age when lots of guys really break out. He’s a power hitter with power hitting strikeouts, and he has nobody protecting him in the lineup.
The pitching staff may be baseball’s worst. John Patterson is a nice starter, but hasn’t proven he can pitch an entire year. Just look at the 2006 records of this group. If you aren’t doing anything and can make it down to Florida, stop by Viera and see if you can walk on. Chances are, new skipper Manny Acta will be forced to give you a look.

Possible Lineup:
Felipe Lopez 2B
Ryan Church LF
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Nick Johnson 1B
Austin Kearns RF
Brian Schneider C
Cristian Guzman SS
Nook Logan CF

Rotation & 2006 Record:
Patterson (1-2)
Hill (1-3)
Williams (0-2)
Chico (DNP)
Traber (4-3)

So there you have it. The Mets and Phillies will spend the next six months scoreboard watching, and selling out both Citizens Bank and Shea Stadium when they meet throughout the summer.

Next week- Part II: The rest of the National League. The final installment will be Part III: The American League and Early Playoff Predictions.

Now who in the hell was at Anna Nicole’s funeral…

Bored? Stop in for a mental cocktail at Whitey’s Pub!
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