djohn14
02-21-2009, 10:47 PM
NL East. Not gonna get real in depth into it....but...
3 and 1/2 teams are in it IMO. Mets, Phillies, Braves, and maybe the Marlins.
Nationals-They signed Adam Dunn, still got Christian Guzman, and Dimitri Young/Nick Johnson. Not much else to say. My X-Factor---Wily Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes....they have talent in the outfield.
Marlins-Hanley Ramirez is a great player, and Dan Uggla can hold his own. I feel their young rotation will keep them in it for a while, but I just dont know if I can see them in it all season. My X-Factor---Unkown. They are going to need one or two more players to step up on offense...who will it be?
Phillies-The defending world champions are going to be right there again, but expect competition from the Mets and Braves. They lost Burrell, but gained Raul Ibanez. Rollins, Utley, and Howard....Victorino...that offense can get it done. Brad Lidge will close out the games, and should do a good job of it. Cole Hammels is great, and having Joe Blanton for the whole season will help. Can Jamie Moyer possibly hold up the entire season? I dont know. My X-Factor---The starting rotation, more specifically Jamie Moyer. Can the crafty old vet hold up? If not, will someone step up in his place?
Mets-They are such a great team, and so great at failing when it matters. Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran will provide the offense. Carlos Delgado got off to a bad start last season but finished strong. Which Delgado shows up? Can Luis Castillo get on track? They added K-Rod and JJ Putz and they will have a great duo. My X-Factor---Back end of the rotation and middle relief. Who will step up at that back end of the rotation? They need someone to bring them to Putz and K-Rod, and if they dont get any help there, they will fail again.
Braves---Beware this may be a little biased, as I am a massive Braves fan, but I will try to keep this as far from biased as I can. Chipper Jones is getting up there, but is still one of the best in the game. Brian McCann is one of the best catchers in the game. Jeff Francouer had an awful season last year, but he did develope a batters eye. He worked all winter, and showed up to spring training early. He has changed his batting stance, and I truely expect Frenchy to have a great/possibly all star caliber season. Thats already a good offense, not to mention Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, and Kasey Kotchman. The rotation might be their streangth once again as they have signed Derek lowe, Kenshin Kawakami (a great Japanese pitcher), and traded for Javier Vasquez. Not to mention they have the 23 year old sensation Jair Jurrjens returning as well as Tom Glavine, and top prospect Tommy Hanson knocking on the door, and Tim Hudson returning from surgery around the All star break. At the back end of the bullpen is a healthy Mike Gonzalez and a healthy Rafael Soriano, who can both be great. My X-Factor---Middle of the rotation and outfield. I feel their middle of the rotation is better than the Mets. Manny Acosta, Peter Moylan, Boone Logan, Blaine Boyer, a lot of young guns that can pitch, but some one...at least one of them will need to step up. As far as outfield goes, If Jordan Schafer, a top prospect, can earn the center field, then I think they can do fine. Matt Diaz is a quality player, but qualitfy players dont always make quality plays. If one of prospects Gregor Blanco, Josh Anderson, or Brandon Jones, can step up, this will be a fine team.
My Predictions
1. Atlanta Braves
2. New York Mets
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals
3 and 1/2 teams are in it IMO. Mets, Phillies, Braves, and maybe the Marlins.
Nationals-They signed Adam Dunn, still got Christian Guzman, and Dimitri Young/Nick Johnson. Not much else to say. My X-Factor---Wily Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes....they have talent in the outfield.
Marlins-Hanley Ramirez is a great player, and Dan Uggla can hold his own. I feel their young rotation will keep them in it for a while, but I just dont know if I can see them in it all season. My X-Factor---Unkown. They are going to need one or two more players to step up on offense...who will it be?
Phillies-The defending world champions are going to be right there again, but expect competition from the Mets and Braves. They lost Burrell, but gained Raul Ibanez. Rollins, Utley, and Howard....Victorino...that offense can get it done. Brad Lidge will close out the games, and should do a good job of it. Cole Hammels is great, and having Joe Blanton for the whole season will help. Can Jamie Moyer possibly hold up the entire season? I dont know. My X-Factor---The starting rotation, more specifically Jamie Moyer. Can the crafty old vet hold up? If not, will someone step up in his place?
Mets-They are such a great team, and so great at failing when it matters. Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran will provide the offense. Carlos Delgado got off to a bad start last season but finished strong. Which Delgado shows up? Can Luis Castillo get on track? They added K-Rod and JJ Putz and they will have a great duo. My X-Factor---Back end of the rotation and middle relief. Who will step up at that back end of the rotation? They need someone to bring them to Putz and K-Rod, and if they dont get any help there, they will fail again.
Braves---Beware this may be a little biased, as I am a massive Braves fan, but I will try to keep this as far from biased as I can. Chipper Jones is getting up there, but is still one of the best in the game. Brian McCann is one of the best catchers in the game. Jeff Francouer had an awful season last year, but he did develope a batters eye. He worked all winter, and showed up to spring training early. He has changed his batting stance, and I truely expect Frenchy to have a great/possibly all star caliber season. Thats already a good offense, not to mention Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, and Kasey Kotchman. The rotation might be their streangth once again as they have signed Derek lowe, Kenshin Kawakami (a great Japanese pitcher), and traded for Javier Vasquez. Not to mention they have the 23 year old sensation Jair Jurrjens returning as well as Tom Glavine, and top prospect Tommy Hanson knocking on the door, and Tim Hudson returning from surgery around the All star break. At the back end of the bullpen is a healthy Mike Gonzalez and a healthy Rafael Soriano, who can both be great. My X-Factor---Middle of the rotation and outfield. I feel their middle of the rotation is better than the Mets. Manny Acosta, Peter Moylan, Boone Logan, Blaine Boyer, a lot of young guns that can pitch, but some one...at least one of them will need to step up. As far as outfield goes, If Jordan Schafer, a top prospect, can earn the center field, then I think they can do fine. Matt Diaz is a quality player, but qualitfy players dont always make quality plays. If one of prospects Gregor Blanco, Josh Anderson, or Brandon Jones, can step up, this will be a fine team.
My Predictions
1. Atlanta Braves
2. New York Mets
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals