Soft Pick: Nationals in NL East

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Picked with little conviction!

The National League East is ripe for the Nationals to pluck, though most Eastern sportswriters like this team more than I do. Harper looks to be a very good player, though he’s no Mike Trout. He may not even be Ryan Zimmerman. I do like Harper and Zimmerman, though, plus Desmond, Rendon, and Ramos. As for Werth, LaRoche, and Span–not so much. Who knows what Strasburg will bring, Cy Young or DL? But his star has been eclipsed by Jordan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez, who are very good. Fister will help too.  Storen and Soriano shut it down in the 8^th and 9^th, though middle relief looks shaky.

The Braves won the East last year the way the Braves always win: pitching. But is Medlen an ace? And which Gavin Floyd did they acquire, Jekyll or Hyde? Minor, Tehrén, Beachy… all solid guys, though not the sort that make hitters quake. Closer Kimbrel does, though. The everyday lineup is proletarian. Can Chris “Don’t call me Chipper” Johnson duplicate 2013? Freeman and Uggla are fine and Justin Upton is steady. B.J. Upton should be dumped for a rosin bag, and Heyward just can’t seem to find consistency. Catching looks good defensively, but not there's much power. Speaking of defense–is Simmons the next coming of Ozzie Smith?

UPDATE: Since this was first posted Medlen has been scheduled for Tommy John surgery and is out for the season. The Braves signed E. Santana for insurance. There's a reason he was the last high profile free agent pitcher- he's maddeningly inconsistent and isn't all that good when he's "on." I'd say the Braves chances just dipped considerably.

The Phillies aged faster than a lab mouse, and I just don’t see things getting better soon. Howard, Utley, and Rollins are “A” contracts with “C+” returns. For the Phillies to be decent, Brown and Bryd have to duplicate 2013, which I find unlikely. Hamels has had a sore arm, which leaves the Phils with declining Cliff Lee, what-the-hell-happened to Kendrick, and two guys who I wouldn’t like to depend upon: Hernando (aka/ Fausto Carmona) and A. J. Burnett. Papelbon is the heart attack closer. Could be a long year.

The Mets are quietly assembling respectability. Nice lineup with Davis, Daniel Murphy, Young, and the wonderful David Wright. Curtis Granderson? Vastly, vastly overrated. Gee, Niese, Wheeler, and Colon are probably better than the Phillies’ staff. But the Mets aren’t ready to contend yet, and they should make Matt Harvey sit out until he’s 100% healthy. He could be the key to their future.

Breaking news: Niese has experienced shoulder tightness. I’d go slowly on his as well.

The Marlins are my least favorite team in baseball and I want to see them scaled and gutted until Jeff Loria sells the team and it gets moved to a legitimate MLB city. You’ve heard of Saltamacchia and Hechavarria (injured), but no one else except Stanton, whom they’ll probably trade. His .249 led the team in hitting last year, by the way. Pitchers? Marmol is the closer and that’s all you need to know. The roster is irrelevant, as Loria will sell anyone who shows promise.

Predictions:

1. Nationals: A soft pick and I’d not be surprised if they finish 2^nd again.

2. Braves: This team is good. It doesn’t overwhelm but could win MLB’s weakest division.

3. Mets: A hunch on this one. Quiet improvement leads to exceeded expectations.

4. Phillies: And age + albatross contracts brings discontent to America’s grumpiest city.

5. Marlins: Screw ‘em.