2k9 divisiOnal preview - NL East
Here is straight dope on NL East, son.
ATLANTA BRAVES: Best 2008 rotation ever -- on paper -- turned out to be a bust. Now they've got a whole new cast of characters in the rote led by serviceable pickups Derrick Lowe and Javier Vasquez. But the offense just doesn't look like it's got the talent to hang with the big boys in the division. Is starting RHP Jair Francoise Jurrjens the real deal? He put up a 13-10 with a 3.68 for the struggling squad last year. SUPERPALOOKA PREDICTO BONUS: If Yankee disarray at third base continues late in 2009 with A-Rod hip struggles, you might see Chipper Jones manning the hot corner in the Bronx by late July.
FLORIDA MARLINS: Last year we wrote 'em off and they won 86 games, finishing in third place. This year we see 'em wining 86 games and finishing in third place -- again -- behind Mets and Phils. What are the notoriously cheap Marlins going to do about signing Dan Uggla and will they hold onto Hanley Ramirez as his backloaded contract starts to kick in with big dollars?
NEW YORK METS: Wayward O thinks David Wright is on his way to an NL MVP award this year. But Johan Santana's arm is tenderer than the chipped beef at Katz's deli and John Maine is stinking it up this spring. What's going on with the starting rotation? If the Santana injury is minor and the slow starts are just that, then you'll be seeing the Mets in the playoffs ... after two years of hideous September chokage. If they get there the Mets are set for a World Series berth behind Johan, Wright and K-Rod and set-up man J.J. Putz.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: The champs are bringing back their team except for Pat Burrell, who has adequately been replaced by Raul Ibanez. But their big-game pitcher, Cole Hamels, appears to be hurt, getting shots in his elbow and whatnot. How hurt is he? As goes Cole, so go their hopes for another October run. Meanwhile Jamie Moyer inches ever-closer to punching his HoF ticket, quite possibly on the first ballot.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS: After a hideous offseason for former GM and some weirdish offseason moves, the Nats actually seem to have a decent offense taking the field. The defense is a mystery. But it's just going to be a long, walk-filled season because of their listless starting rotation, which includes the nigh-on-unwatchable Big Bird, aka Daniel Cabrera. I'd take John Lannan on almost any rotation but not sure he's a No. 1 starter except for Narts. Can they stay out of the basement? They have a shot at 4th or even 3rd place if Marlins have fire sale and/or Braves go in tank.
Predicted Order of Finish
Mets Phillies * Marlins Braves Nationals
* wild card contenders
ATLANTA BRAVES: Best 2008 rotation ever -- on paper -- turned out to be a bust. Now they've got a whole new cast of characters in the rote led by serviceable pickups Derrick Lowe and Javier Vasquez. But the offense just doesn't look like it's got the talent to hang with the big boys in the division. Is starting RHP Jair Francoise Jurrjens the real deal? He put up a 13-10 with a 3.68 for the struggling squad last year. SUPERPALOOKA PREDICTO BONUS: If Yankee disarray at third base continues late in 2009 with A-Rod hip struggles, you might see Chipper Jones manning the hot corner in the Bronx by late July.
FLORIDA MARLINS: Last year we wrote 'em off and they won 86 games, finishing in third place. This year we see 'em wining 86 games and finishing in third place -- again -- behind Mets and Phils. What are the notoriously cheap Marlins going to do about signing Dan Uggla and will they hold onto Hanley Ramirez as his backloaded contract starts to kick in with big dollars?
NEW YORK METS: Wayward O thinks David Wright is on his way to an NL MVP award this year. But Johan Santana's arm is tenderer than the chipped beef at Katz's deli and John Maine is stinking it up this spring. What's going on with the starting rotation? If the Santana injury is minor and the slow starts are just that, then you'll be seeing the Mets in the playoffs ... after two years of hideous September chokage. If they get there the Mets are set for a World Series berth behind Johan, Wright and K-Rod and set-up man J.J. Putz.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: The champs are bringing back their team except for Pat Burrell, who has adequately been replaced by Raul Ibanez. But their big-game pitcher, Cole Hamels, appears to be hurt, getting shots in his elbow and whatnot. How hurt is he? As goes Cole, so go their hopes for another October run. Meanwhile Jamie Moyer inches ever-closer to punching his HoF ticket, quite possibly on the first ballot.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS: After a hideous offseason for former GM and some weirdish offseason moves, the Nats actually seem to have a decent offense taking the field. The defense is a mystery. But it's just going to be a long, walk-filled season because of their listless starting rotation, which includes the nigh-on-unwatchable Big Bird, aka Daniel Cabrera. I'd take John Lannan on almost any rotation but not sure he's a No. 1 starter except for Narts. Can they stay out of the basement? They have a shot at 4th or even 3rd place if Marlins have fire sale and/or Braves go in tank.
Mets
* wild card contenders
Labels: 2009 predictiOns
posted by the wayward o at
7:25 PM
1 Comments:
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