A preview of the National League East (in order of projected finish).
Philadelphia Phillies
It has been a few months since Brad Lidge’s overpowering slider stuck out Eric Hinske to win the 2008 World Series, but the euphoria that swept through Philadelphia remains. Remember, it had been 25 years since a professional team in Philadelphia won a championship. With four professional teams, that was a 100 season drought (including some work stoppages).
As the 2009 season begins, the Phillies are favored to win the NL East for the third straight year as they retain the same core that won them a World Series last October. Pat Burrell has departed for Tampa, but the Phillies brought in Raul Ibanez to take his place. Ibanez will be less of a liability in the outfield and on the base paths than Burrell, and his power numbers should get a nice boost as he moves from spacious Safeco Field to Citizens Bank Park.
National League Championship Series and World Series MVP Cole Hamels will make his first Opening Day start on April 5 as the Phillies take on the Atlanta Braves before a national audience. Hamels leads a rotation of Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton and a fifth starter to be named later. Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, JA Happ and Chan Ho Park will fight for the job in Clearwater throughout spring training.
Despite JC Romero’s 50-game suspension to start the 2009 season, the bullpen should be a strength for the Phillies with Ryan Madson again acting as the Bridge to Lidge. Brad Lidge, who signed a three-year contract extension, was perfect in save opportunities in 2008.
The Phillies, once again, are the team to beat in the NL East.
New York Mets
After two straight September collapses, the Mets are ready to start fresh in 2009 with the comforts of a new, state of the art stadium and a revitalized bullpen.
When the Mets move into Citi Field in April, they will bring two new back of the bullpen arms with them. Francisco Rodriguez, who set a single-season save record last year for the Angels, and J.J. Putz, from Seattle, will be called upon to solidify the Mets’ most glaring problem of the last two years – the last three innings. A rotation led by Johan Santana will be called upon to give the Mets enough innings to get the back end of the bullpen.
Manager Jerry Manuel may move shortstop Jose Reyes from his traditional leadoff spot to get more out of an offense that under produced late in games last year.
The Mets and Phillies should go down to the wire in September for the third straight year.
Atlanta Braves
After averaging only 78 wins over the past two years, the Braves did not do enough to find their way out of third place for the 2009 season. After failing to land Rafael Furcal, the Braves landed his former teammate, Derek Lowe to head up a questionable rotation.
Lowe, who will turn 36 during the season, has averaged 13.5 wins over his last four seasons with the Dodgers. The Braves also added starter Javier Vazquez, who will turn 33 this year, but their rotation will not be able to compete with the Phillies or Mets.
The question marks continue for the Braves in the outfield. Jeff Francoeur is coming off of a terrible season where he hit .239 with 11 home runs.
The Braves will need another remarkable year from Chipper Jones, who will turn 37 in the first month of the season, to make any kind of run towards the postseason.
Florida Marlins
In typical Marlins fashion, the Marlins lost two of their best players due to salary considerations. The departures of Scott Olson and Josh Willingham, now with the Washington Nationals, will leave the Marlins without a shot at the postseason in 2009 despite a good, young rotation and a powerful middle infield.
Hanley Ramirez, the best shortstop in baseball, and Dan Uggla give the Marlins a bona fide middle infield and middle of the lineup.
The Marlins most glaring need is in the bullpen. With the loss of Kevin Gregg, who self destructed last year, the Marlins do not have a lock down back end of the bullpen necessary to compete for the postseason.
Washington Nationals
Despite a good core of position players including Ryan Zimmerman, Josh Willingham, Lastings Milledge and catcher Jesus Flores, the Nationals simply don’t have good pitching.
The Nationals acquired Scott Olson, who will lead a shaky rotation, from the Marlins. Their number two starter, Daniel Cabrera, has a career 5.05 ERA. John Lannan and Shawn Hill have both only started 37 games in his career, and in 15 career starts, Colin Balester has an ERA of 5.51. In addition to their rotation woes, the Nationals lack any semblance of a solid bullpen.
Pitching wins. The Nationals will not win.
