1) New York Mets2007: 88-74 (2nd in NL East) Manager: Willie Randolph (4th Season) New Additions: LHP Johan Santana, OF Ryan Church, C Brian Schneider, OF Angel Pagan, RHP Brian Stokes, RHP Matt Wise, LHP Ricardo Rincon, RHP Ruddy Lugo, RHP Steven Register Key Losses: LHP Tom Glavine, C Paul Lo Duca, RF Shawn Green, RHP Guillermo Mota, OF Lastings Milledge, RHP Aaron Sele, OF Carlos Gomez, RHP Philip Humber, OF-IF David Newhan, C Sandy Alomar Jr, 1B-OF Jeff Conine, C Mike DiFelice, LHP Dave Williams Outlook: The Mets were on the verge of back-to-back division titles for the first time in franchise history when an epic collapse brought the 2007 season to a bitter end. Normally with those sort of collapses, much like the Yankees in the '04 ALCS, the story the following spring will be how the team bounces back emotionally, but you can forget that because the addition of the best pitcher in baseball will help the Mets quickly turn the page. Johan Santana gives New York exactly what it needs, a legit number one pitcher who slides everyone else down into a more comfortable role, as well as an innings eater which will take some of the strain off of a Mets bullpen which burned out in '07 (much like the rest of team). A healthy Duaner Sanchez would be a huge boost to a bullpen anchored by flamethrower Billy Wagner, and the Mets have three of the game's best young position players with David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and Jose Reyes. New York is easily the most complete team in the National League, with no major holes. The only question mark will be whether or not they can keep their veteran players fresh and healthy for the stretch run. This includes Carlos Delgado, Moises Alou, Luis Castillo as well as pitchers Pedro Martinez and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. If Delgado returns healthy and bounces back into '06 form the Mets will once again have a dominant AL-like offense, and if Pedro returns to '05/early '06 form the Mets will have the most feared one-two punch in the league. If these two things happen the Phillies and Braves will be playing for second place as the Mets will win around 100 games. 2) Atlanta Braves2007 Record: 84-78 (3rd in NL East) Manager: Bobby Cox (19th Season) New Additions: LHP Tom Glavine, CF Mark Kotsay, RHP Jair Jurrjens, LHP Will Ohman, OF Josh Anderson, C Javy Lopez, IF Omar Infante Key Losses: CF Andruw Jones, SS Edgar Renteria, IF Willy Aybar, 2B-OF Willy Harris, RHP Jose Ascanio, RHP Lance Cormier, IF Pete Orr, RHP Oscar Villarreal, RHP Chad Paronto Outlook: If you had told me the Mets collapse had come to fruition last season, I'd have predicted to Braves would take advantage and win the NL East. This looked to be the case as the Braves got off to a terrific start only to falter as they saw the back end of their rotation and bullpen fall apart. Atlanta adds 42 year old Tom Glavine as well as hard throwing Jair Jurrjens to their staff, reuniting Glavine with his good buddy Smoltz. If Mike Hampton can return healthy (a big if coming off multiple seasons on the shelf) the Braves could potentially have a rotation nearly as deep as the Mets. Still, there are huge question marks about the bullpen such as the 8th inning, and as to whether or not the talented yet erratic Rafael Soriano can step up us a full-time closer. Offensively the Braves are very talented. Look for Mark Teixeira to have a huge year and approach 50 home runs in the walk year of his contract. Mark Kotsay and Yunel Escobar have the ability to fill the void of the departed Andruw Jones and Edgar Renteria respectively, but there will some drop-off, both offensively and defensively. All in all, the Braves need their veteran leaders Chipper Jones and John Smoltz to stay healthy and reliable to compete for a playoff spot. Atlanta plays the game the right way under the league's longest tenured manager Bobby Cox, and will finish ahead of Philly but will fall short of New York. 3) Philadelphia Phillies2007: 89-73 (1st in NL East, lost in NLDS) Manager: Charlie Manuel (4th Season) New Additions: RHP Brad Lidge, 3B Pedro Feliz, OF Geoff Jenkins, OF So Taguchi, IF Eric Bruntlett, RHP Chad Durbin Key Losses: CF Aaron Rowand, OF Michael Bourne, 2B Tadahito Iguchi, RHP Geoff Geary, IF Abraham Nunez, RHP John Lieber, RHP Freddy Garcia Outlook: The Phils seemed to be on magic carpet ride from May 1 en route to an improbable division title until Colorado forced the Philly bandwagon to come crashing back down to Earth. Similarly, after going 12-6 head-to-head (including the last 8 in a row) against the Mets, Johan Santana and a healthy Pedro Martinez will quickly bring balance back to the universe. Adding Brad Lidge allows Brett Myers to slide back into the rotation, giving the Phillies a one-two punch to match both the Mets and Braves. Still, the back end of rotation is suspect with Kyle Kendrick hoping to avoid the sophomore slump, Adam Eaton coming off of a horrendous season, and Jamie Moyer who broke into baseball during the Kennedy administration. The Phillies will need J.C. Romero to pitch as he did in the second half last year and Tom Gordon to stay healthy. Lidge will be the key to the staff, but I'd be concerned about his mental toughness pitching in media crazy Northeast. Lidge has not been the same relief pitcher since Albert Pujols hit the "shot heard round the world" in the 2005 NLCS. The Phillies have the best offense in the league led by Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins taking aim at opposing pitchers in the frighteningly small Citizens Bank Park. Feliz and Jenkins are nice additions, but Philadelphia will miss Aaron Rowand's production, defense, leadership, and toughness. The Phillies offense will keep them in the hunt until September, but they will ultimately fall to the Mets. 4) Washington Nationals2007: 73-89 (4th in NL East) Manager: Manny Acta New Additions: C Paul Lo Duca, C Johnny Estrada, OF Lastings Milledge, OF Elijah, IF Aaron Boone, OF Rob Mackowiak, OF Willie Harris, RHP Tyler Clippard Key Losses: C Brian Schneider, OF Ryan Church, 1B-OF Robert Fick, OF Nook Logan, IF Tony Bautista, IF D'Angelo Jimenez, RHP Jason Simontacchi, RHP Jonathan Albaladejo Outlook: Manny Acta deserved Manager of the Year honor for the job he did with an overachieving group of no-names and misfits, ala Lou Brown in "Major League." GM Jim Bowden is a big fan of acquiring talented young outfielders with some baggage as he brings in Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes. The Nats gain some experience with the new Lo Duca/Estrada catching tandem as well as Nick Johnson's return from injury. Washington plays hard and is fundamentally sound, and has a respectable back end of the bullpen with Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, and Luis Ayala. In the end, the dearth of quality starting pitching will leave Washington around the 70 win mark once again. 5) Florida Marlins2007 Record: 71-91 (5th in NL East) Manager: Freddi Gonzalez (2nd Season) New Additions: LHP Andrew Miller, OF Cameron Maybin, OF Luis Gonzalez, C Mike Rabelo, LHP Mark Hendrickson, IF Dallas McPherson, IF Jorge Cantu, IF Jose Castillo Key Losses: 3B Miguel Cabrera, LHP Dontrelle Willis, IF Aaron Boone, RHP Armando Benitez, OF Joe Borchard, OF Reggie Abercrombie Outlook: The Marlins are back to square one once again after unloading Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for Miller, Maybin, and four prospects. These youngsters join Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, and Jeremy Hermida as the Fish hope to build a solid young core. The Marlins young pitchers like Anibal Sanchez, Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, and Ricky Nolasco all pitched well in 2006, but struggled mightily in 2007. With a weak bullpen, Florida's young starters will need to avoid injuries and return to '06 form or else the Marlins won't have a shot at winning 70 games. |