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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 8th and 9th, 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.
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 2nd 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.
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