Sports Lynx Blog

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Well now that we finished the American League, let’s preview the NL races. I find it funny how the media continues to portray the NL as a “minor league” to the American League, however, the NL has won 3 of the last 8 World Series thus it is not as though they haven’t been competitive. I know the imbalance of late in inter-league play and I do recognize that the AL is somewhat more talented but the young talent is in the National League thus I would expect a shift of power over the next three years that will last about a decade. 

Did any team in recent memory choke like the Mets? Oh my God, watching the Mets down the stretch last year was pitiful, especially, when one considers that they were passed out by a Phillies team that has horrific pitching. I don’t see the Phillies competing with the Mets this year. I believe New York will play with a chip on its shoulder from beginning to end. The only things that can do in the Mets are injuries to their team which is very old in some spots.

Projected NL East Finish

1. NY Mets- projected record- 94-68

After adding Johan Santana this team has all the making of the NL East Champions. I love John Maine in the #2 spot and anything they get out of Pedro Martinez only makes them better. Admittedly, I think their starting pitching is a bit thin after this but they should score runs in bunches. Billy Wagner scares me a tad as the closer, in that he isn’t what he used to be but this team should win more than enough games with Carlos Beltran, Joses Reyes and David Wright swinging the lumber for them. I will say this, Delgado, Alou and Martinez are very injury prone right now and that could derail this celebration if the injury bug begins to bite.

2. Atlanta Braves- projected record- 91-71

Everyone is talking about the Mets and Phillies, how about a Braves team with the best manager in the division and a starting rotation that includes Tim Hudson, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Glavine is 42 so I don’t expect him to be the Glavine of 10 yrs ago but is 12-14 wins out of the question? The Braves really need Mike Hampton to be something for them to be able to compete for the division title but I do think this team will be on the Mets heels all year long. Kelly Johnson, Brian McCann and Jeff Francour form a very formidable trio of young talent for the next generation of Braves and who doesn’t like a line-up that includes Chipper Jones and Mark Texeria. Everyone loves the Phillies and Mets infield well let me tell you, this team is just as talented in many ways.

3. Philadelphia Phillies- projected record 85-77

The Phillies won the NL East last year because they outscored everyone. It’s easy to see how they do this with a line-up that includes Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, however, the rest of this line-up isn’t that good. Burrell is a joke in pressure situations and the team’s pitching is abysmal. Seriously look at Brett Myers, the guy can’t get past the 6th inning. Cole Hamels has two pitchs, fastball and change-up; he can’t throw a curveball for a strike. Hamels also has a bad attitude, he thinks he’s Sandy Koufax when in fact he’s more like Steve Avery. The Phillies bullpen is so bad that they just signed Rudy Seanez who the Dodgers cut. If not for the trio of sluggers I named above, I could see this team finishing 4th but they will score far too many runs to do that. They’ll need a flashlight to find the Mets come September.

4. Washington Nationals- projected record- 75-87

This team will be more competitive than many think because they have some pieces like Ryan Zimmerman, Austin Kearns and Nick Johnson, however, don’t get too excited by their 2-0 start. The Nationals have bad starting pitching, you know this when Odalis Perez is your opening day starter. Perez couldn’t stick around in Kansas City and he’s pitching the first game for Washington, this is all you need to know about this team’s pitching and their prospects of doing anything significant in 2008.

5. Florida Marlins- projected record- 67-95

The Marlins have some young talent like Hanley Ramirez and Andrew Miller who came over in the Miguel Cabrera trade. But, any team that trades Cabrera for a bunch of minor league players shouldn’t be expecting big things in 2008. Also, Dodger cast-off Mark Hendrickson, was the Marlins opening day starter. Come on, this team will be pitiful in 2008!

Well, there you have the NL East, it’s the Mets to lose in my mind. Next up, the NL Central.