* – indicates new to team
AVG – Batting Average
ERA – Earned Run Average
HR – Home Runs
RBI – Runs Batted In
SV – Saves
1. Philadelphia Phillies
They are the clear favorites to not only win the East, but the NL Pennant to.
2. Atlanta Braves
The Bobby Cox era has ended, but the winning ways should continue.
3. Florida Marlins
They made some key additions now they need a big season from Hanley.
4. New York Mets
They’ve reshaped the front office which will result in a lot of growing pains.
5. Washington Nationals
Signing Jayson Werth shows they want to win, but where’s the pitching?
Players to Watch: P Roy Halladay, P Cliff Lee, P Roy Oswalt, P Cole Hamels Philadelphia Phillies
Not since the Baltimore Orioles rotation of Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson has a team had four starters each win at least 20 games. That was back in 1971. I am in no way saying that it will happen with these four in Philadelphia, but as fans we can still dream big right? Halladay is a sure thing to get 20 wins. He proved it last year and with another Cy Young award to his credit. Lee can win 20 games, but I don’t think that was his motivation for coming back to the Phillies. Oswalt was stellar in his half a season with the Phillies last year. In a full season he can easily repeat that performance. Hamels was the future ace after their World Series title in 2008. And that was without Halladay, Lee and Oswalt. Now he’s the best fourth starter in baseball. The defending champion Giants still have the best overall pitching, but the Phillies have matched them on paper and figure they will meet again on the way to the World Series.
Best Acquisition: 2B Dan Uggla Atlanta Braves
Obviously Cliff Lee signing with Philadelphia was the talk of the free agency period, but the best move via trade was in Atlanta. Uggla is one of the best hitting second baseman in baseball. Not the greatest fielder, but it isn’t a great concern for the Braves. They acquired him for his bat. It was surprising to see the Florida Marlins deal one of their best hitters to a division rival, but Florida was put in a no-win situation. He wasn’t going to sign an extension with them and they had to act. Atlanta gets a good hitter who has tremendous power to all fields. Atlanta was able to sign him to an extension after they acquired him. They hope that now that he is set financially that he will continue to produce on the field. A change of scenery might be just what Uggla needed.
New Kids on the Block: 1B Freddie Freeman & P Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves
Besides getting a good hitter in Uggla, the Braves have two new rookies ready to make the leap to the majors. Freeman is good friends with last years rookie sensation Jason Heyward. Both have stormed through the Braves minor league system and are the new faces of the franchise going forward. Freeman is a good fielder, but his bat is what intrigues the Braves the most. The Braves haven’t had a top notch hitting first baseman since Fred McGriff in the mid 90s. He should fit the bill going forward along with Heyward in the middle of their lineup. Kimbrel is poised to be the future for the Braves closer position. He will probably be in a platoon role this with Jonny Venters being the lefthanded option, but make no mistake that Kimbrel has the stuff to be the everyday closer. The hope is that giving him a year to get comfortable won’t affect his psyche, but rather help him be the full-time closer going forward. The Braves have always had great arms come through their system and they hope it continues with Kimbrel.
Phillies Lineup
1. SS Jimmy Rollins
.243 AVG 8 HR 41 RBI
2. 3B Placido Polanco
.298 AVG 6 HR 52 RBI
3. LF Raul Ibanez
.275 AVG 16 HR 83 RBI
4. 1B Ryan Howard
.276 AVG 31 HR 108 RBI
5. RF Ben Francisco
.268 AVG 6 HR 28 RBI
6. CF Shane Victorino
.259 AVG 18 HR 69 RBI
7. C Carlos Ruiz
.302 AVG 8 HR 53 RBI
8. 2B Wilson Valdez
.258 AVG 4 HR 35 RBI
A lot is riding on the Phillies lineup with the expected success of their pitching staff this season. Rollins doesn’t have to play up to his MVP year of 2007, but the Phillies would like to see his average at or near the .300 mark this year. Polanco was the Phillies most consistent hitter last year and that doesn’t bode well for them this year. He is a sound defender, but the Phillies will have trouble winning if Polanco doesn’t continue his production. Ibanez will be tasked with trying to replace what Jayson Werth brought to the Phillies lineup. After a career year in 2009, Ibanez fell off quite a bit last year. He is still a good hitter, but realistically the Phillies would like to see his run production increase. Howard has a tough task this year. With Werth gone and Chase Utley out for at least half the season, Howard has to get off to a good start. He like Rollins doesn’t have to play at a MVP level, but he has to do better than his 31 HR 108 RBI 2010 season. Francisco is charged with replacing Werth in right field. He is a better defender than Werth and can potentially produce at the level Werth was with the Phillies. Victorino would be batting higher in the lineup if he was a more consistent hitter. He is a good run producer at the bottom of the order and that’s where manager Charlie Manuel feels he’s at his best. Ruiz is a good game manager and isn’t too bad a hitter as well. He is one of, if not the best clutch hitter in the Phillies lineup. Valdez is a solid defender and will be given the first chance to play for the injured Chase Utley. No one expects a lot from Valdez, but he could have a good year.
Bench
1B/OF Ross Gload
.281 AVG 6 HR 22 RBI
OF John Mayberry
.267 AVG 15 HR 65 RBI (AAA stats)
OF Domonic Brown
.327 AVG 20 HR 68 RBI (AA and AAA stats)
The bench is a little thin with the injury to Utley and the departure of Werth. Gload is still a capable pinch hitter and fill in at certain spots in the lineup. Mayberry had a good spring and earned a spot on the roster. He could see playing time if Francisco falters early in right, but Mayberry’s bat will be a plus off the bench. Brown will miss the first part of the season, but he is the heir apparent in right field. When he’s healthy that’s where he will see the majority of his playing time. He’s a potential five tool player for the Phillies future.
Rotation
1. Roy Halladay
21-11 2.44 ERA
2. Cliff Lee*
12-9 3.18 ERA
3. Roy Oswalt
13-13 2.76 ERA
4. Cole Hamels
12-11 3.06 ERA
5. Joe Blanton
9-6 4.82 ERA
There isn’t any weaknesses in this rotation. None whatsoever. Halladay coming off his second Cy Young season and first with Philadelphia in which he pitched a perfect game during the regular season and a no-hitter in his first postseason start. Not a bad year at all. Lee is the most consistent strike thrower in the game today. The Phillies bullpen will take comfort knowing that Halladay and Lee will go at least 7 innings for most of their starts. Oswalt was fantastic in his two month stint with the Phillies. They hope over a full season he can continue to play up to that standard like he did so many years with Houston. Hamels is still considered a top notch starter by many, but being the fourth starter isn’t a bad thing when you follow three Cy Young contenders. Hamels is still a workhorse and if he stays healthy they will be hard to beat if they should make the playoffs. Blanton is a good option at the back end. He has struggled to keep his ERA low since being acquired from Oakland, but he does go at least 6 innings almost every start for the Phillies.
Setup
Ryan Madson
6-2 2.55 ERA
Closer
Brad Lidge
27 SV 2.96 ERA
More bad news came down for Philadelphia when it was announced that Brad Lidge was also going to start the season on the DL with the likes of Chase Utley. On paper it’s a good thing since they have such a deep rotation, but it doesn’t looks so good if they need someone to close out a one run game. Madson is capable to fill in for Lidge. He’s done it before, but the Phillies don’t want to overwork him like in years past. Their depth isn’t as good in the bullpen as in other areas of the roster, but the Phillies are hoping that Lidge won’t be down for long and be fully healthy for the stretch run.
Braves Lineup
1. LF Martin Prado
.307 AVG 15 HR 66 RBI
2. CF Nate McLouth
.190 AVG 6 HR 24 RBI
3. 3B Chipper Jones
.265 AVG 10 HR 46 RBI
4. C Brain McCann
.269 AVG 21 HR 77 RBI
5. RF Jason Heyward
.277 AVG 18 HR 72 RBI
6. 2B Dan Uggla*
.287 AVG 33 HR 105 RBI
7. 1B Freddie Freeman
.319 AVG 18 HR 87 RBI (AAA stats)
8. SS Alex Gonzalez
.250 AVG 23 HR 88 RBI
Atlanta would love to get another career year out of Prado. Was the everyday second baseman until Chipper Jones went out with a knee injury. He was moved over to third base and now this year is the starting left fielder. The Braves have a keeper in the consistent Prado. McLouth is still an elite fielder, but there are some concerns with his bat. Injuries slowed him down last year, but the Braves won’t have much success if McLouth isn’t productive and healthy. Amazingly Jones has fully recovered from his knee injury and Atlanta hopes that he can continue to produce at a high level. He didn’t want to go out that way and will have a chance to go on his terms. McCann is an elite hitter and a good defensive catcher. He has a good feel for the pitching staff and is their best hitter right now. Heyward was off to a fast start last year, but a hand injury slowed him down during the summer. It was hard for him to get back on track, but his talent still hasn’t been reached yet and that’s a scary thought. Uggla provides much needed protection from the right side. He’s a competitor and will light a fire for the Braves in their quest to get past the Phillies. Freeman was an elite hitter in the minors and will be given a chance to show it this year in the majors. He and Heyward are the future of the Braves lineup and they both must live up to those expectations. Gonzalez can still field his position as good as any. Once he was acquired last year his production at the plate dropped a little, but he can still hit for power. Deceptive for being the eighth hitter.
Bench
INF/OF Eric Hinske
.256 AVG 11 HR 51 RBI
INF/OF Brooks Conrad
.250 AVG 8 HR 33 RBI
C David Ross
.289 AVG 2 HR 28 RBI
Atlanta has a winner in Hinske. He goes about his business knowing that at some point he will play in the game. Either as a pinch hitter, defensive replacement or the spot start to give a regular a day off. Conrad was given an opportunity to play and didn’t disappoint for the Braves last year. His defensive mistakes against the Giants in the playoffs will be hard to live down, but Conrad hasn’t backed away from that experience. Ross is a good backup to McCann. Injuries are constantly creeping up, but when he plays the Braves don’t lose a lot both offensively and defensively.
Rotation
1. Tim Hudson
17-9 2.83 ERA
2. Derek Lowe
16-12 4.00 ERA
3. Tommy Hanson
10-11 3.33 ERA
4. Jair Jurrjens
7-6 4.64 ERA
5. Brandon Beachy
5-1 1.73 ERA (AA and AAA stats)
Hudson had a great bounce back year. It reminded folks of why he was considered one of the best pitchers in the game with his near unhittable splitter. Lowe is a gamer and wasn’t outmatched in most of his starts. He got better as the season progressed and was great in the postseason for the Braves. Hanson needs to have a bounce back year like Hudson did. He is still considered the future ace of the staff, but he has to stop giving up the big home run. Jurrjens was roughed up last year and injuries didn’t help either. He’s a top of the rotation type of pitcher and the Braves will need him to compete for a playoff spot. Beachy had a good spring and will be given the fifth spot in the rotation. He has good stuff, but isn’t considered to be higher than a third starter. Atlanta is counting on two veterans and two young guns to get them back into the playoffs.
Setup
Jonny Venters
4-4 1.95 ERA
Closer
Craig Kimbrel
1 SV 0.44 ERA
Bill Wagner decided to retire and that leaves the Braves with a lefthanded and righthanded duo to fill the void. Venters is the lefthanded option who will probably be given most of the opportunities at the beginning of the season. Kimbrel will eventually be the full time closer, but the Braves want to ease him along. Atlanta has a good future in place for the bullpen, but it might hurt them in the long run if they continue with the closer committee during the stretch run.
Marlins Lineup
1. CF Chris Coghlan
.268 AVG 5 HR 28 RBI
2. 2B Omar Infante*
.321 AVG 8 HR 47 RBI
3. SS Hanley Ramirez
.300 AVG 21 HR 76 RBI
4. RF Mike Stanton
.259 AVG 22 HR 59 RBI
5. 1B Gaby Sanchez
.273 AVG 19 HR 85 RBI
6. LF Logan Morrison
.283 AVG 2 HR 18 RBI
7. C John Buck*
.281 AVG 20 HR 66 RBI
8. 3B Wes Helms
.220 AVG 4 HR 39 RBI
A lot of shuffling, but the lineup will stay intact for the most part. Coghlan is the now playing center field and will be the leadoff hitter as well. He suffered through a sophomore slump last year and a freak injury ended his season prematurely. Florida needs the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year to play up to those standards. Infante isn’t expected to replace Uggla’s bat, but he will provide needed versatility for the Marlins. He was a big part of the Braves success last year and Florida hopes they can achieve the same with him this year. Ramirez is being tasked as “the guy” for the Marlins. The face of the franchise. He has to start playing and acting like it more often. He is far too talented to let it slip away. Stanton is another in a long line of players to come through their system and have instant success. His power is unmatched and his defensive skills are starting to come around. Sanchez was a contender for the NL Rookie of the Year award last year. Easily was the Marlins most consistent hitter and should continue his rise with Morrison and Buck behind him. Morrison can really hit the ball. His defense is at a high level, but the Marlins want to see him be more agressive at the plate. Buck had a career year at the plate. They signed him to a three year deal with hopes that it won’t be a one year wonder. Helms will hold down the third base job until top prospect Matt Dominguez is ready. Helms is better as a pinch hitter at this point in his career, but he should keep the job warm for Dominguez.
Bench
INF/OF Emilio Bonifacio
.261 AVG 0 HR 10 RBI
INF Greg Dobbs*
.196 AVG 5 HR 15 RBI
OF Dewayne Wise*
.250 AVG 3 HR 14 RBI
Bonifacio is their super utility player, but doesn’t offer a lot of options with his bat. His speed is good, but he has struggled since his career year in 2009. Dobbs is another pinch hitter for the Marlins. Not an everyday player by any means, but can play in a pinch if need be. Wise has had trouble staying with one team for very long, but the Marlins have had players like him have good years with a one year tryout in Florida.
Rotation
1. Josh Johnson
11-6 2.30 ERA
2. Ricky Nolasco
14-9 4.51 ERA
3. Javier Vazquez*
10-10 5.32 ERA
4. Anibal Sanchez
13-12 3.55 ERA
5. Chris Volstad
12-9 4.58 ERA
With more wins and if he didn’t get hurt in September, Johnson probably would’ve been a strong contender for the NL Cy Young award. Florida has a legitimate ace in Johnson and it would be easy to pencil him in for the ERA title or pretty close to it. Nolasco had a nice year and is finally living up to his potential as a top of the rotation pitcher. Vazquez once again did not make it in New York with the Yankees and will try to get back on track in the National League. The Marlins are banking on him to be a stable force in the middle of the rotation. Sanchez has struggled with control and injuries for most of his career. He still is a talented pitcher, but time is running out for him to put it all together. Volstad is getting closer to getting a higher spot in the rotation. He is still too inconsistent between starts to be given that chance, but the Marlins know they have another talented righthander in Volstad.
Setup
Clay Hensley
3-4 2.16 ERA
Closer
Leo Nunez
30 SV 3.46 ERA
They might have to find a replacement during the season if Nunez falters. He wasn’t the same as the year before. His velocity was going down and his control was in flux. Hensley was doing a great job setting up Nunez, but the ninth inning was turning into a problem fast. The Marlins know what they have with these two, but they might have to find a new one if they are still in the playoff race at the trade deadline.
Mets Lineup
1. SS Jose Reyes
.282 AVG 11 HR 54 RBI
2. CF Angel Pagan
.290 AVG 11 HR 69 RBI
3. 3B David Wright
.283 AVG 29 HR 103 RBI
4. RF Carlos Beltran
.255 AVG 7 HR 27 RBI
5. LF Jason Bay
.259 AVG 6 HR 47 RBI
6. 1B Ike Davis
.264 AVG 19 HR 71 RBI
7. 2B Brad Emaus
.290 AVG 15 HR 75 RBI (AA and AAA stats)
8. C Josh Thole
.277 AVG 3 HR 17 RBI
The Mets have a lot of players that need to live up to their potential this year for them to get back into contention. Reyes is getting back to that potential after a strong 2010 campaign. Health is always a concern with him, but playing in the spacious confines of Citi Field will only help Reyes’ production. Pagan was put into a tough spot last year with Beltran out, but he responded well and will be the full time center fielder this year. Wright continues to produce with an outmatched lineup around him, but if Beltran and Bay can stay healthy this year then Wright should continue to put up All-Star numbers. Beltran started out his stint in New York as well as anyone thought he would, but injuries have started the whispers of “bust” in the Big Apple. If he can have a relatively productive year those whispers will subside. Bay on the other hand might be hearing it more if he has another 2010 season. The injury bug did get to him, but he didn’t adjust well to the new ballpark and his defensive skills seemed to have diminished as well. Davis was the lone bright spot in the Mets lineup. They’ve been searching for a replacement for Carlos Delgado and they believe they have in Davis. He showed surprising power and his defensive skills could get him some votes for a Gold Glove or two. Emaus was chosen to replace the disappointing Luis Castillo at second. Rather than go through one more year of a slumping veteran the Mets want to see what they have in Emaus. The time is now for the youth movement to take shape. The same goes for Thole being the new catcher. He has shown potential for handling a pitching staff. The Mets don’t expect another Mike Piazza at the plate, but they want to see him produce at a high level.
Bench
C Ronny Paulino*
.259 AVG 4 HR 37 RBI
INF/OF Scott Hairston*
.210 AVG 10 HR 36 RBI
INF Luis Hernandez
.250 AVG 2 HR 6 RBI
Paulino is a viable backup to the youngster Thole. He has decent pop and is a plus defender behind the plate. Hairston is one of the best utility players in the game. He will see the majority of his playing time in the outfield, but with the question mark at second base he could see time there also. Hernandez is a speed option off the bench. A good defender though he does struggle to produce at the plate.
Rotation
1. Mike Pelfrey
15-9 3.66 ERA
2. Jonathon Niese
9-10 4.20 ERA
3. R.A. Dickey
11-9 2.84 ERA
4. Chris Capuano*
4-4 3.95 ERA
5. Chris Young*
2-0 0.90 ERA
The big name missing is Johan Santana. The Mets hope he can recover from his shoulder surgery by the All-Star break. They don’t want to rush him, but a lot will be riding on his arm for their future success. Pelfrey finally showed the potential that everyone in the organization knew he had. What remains to be seen is if he can handle the staff ace position until Santana can return. Niese is a good complement to Pelfrey. The tall lefthander has good stuff, but is prone to giving up a lot of runs during crucial points in the game. Dickey was the best kept secret in baseball last year. He’s mastered the knuckleball and was the Mets best chance of winning a game last year. Capuano and Young are two veterans who have struggled with injuries all their career. Both don’t have much to lose, but with the lack of depth in the minor leagues, the Mets can afford to give them a chance this year. Young has the best stuff and Capuano is starting to become Tom Glavine like in his approach to pitching. Both should do fine in the pitcher friendly Citi Field.
Setup
Jason Isringhausen*
0-1 2.25 ERA (2009 stats)
Closer
Francisco Rodriguez
25 SV 2.20 ERA
There was a major problem in the Mets bullpen last year. With all the off field distractions from K-Rod, it led to their demise at the end of the season. Rodriguez is still an elite closer, but unfortunately it appears that the bright lights are starting to get to him on and off the field. Isringhausen isn’t going to be counted on to save the bullpen, but the Mets hope that he can stabilize the innings leading up to Rodriguez. It’s a work in progress with the Mets bullpen, but they know they have a closer who can get them the win.
Nationals Lineup
1. SS Ian Desmond
.269 AVG 10 HR 65 RBI
2. RF Jayson Werth*
.296 AVG 27 HR 85 RBI
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman
.307 AVG 25 HR 85 RBI
4. 1B Adam LaRoche*
.261 AVG 25 HR 100 RBI
5. LF Mike Morse
.289 AVG 15 HR 41 RBI
6. CF Rick Ankiel*
.232 AVG 6 HR 24 RBI
7. C Ivan Rodriguez
.266 AVG 4 HR 49 RBI
8. 2B Danny Espinosa
.268 AVG 22 HR 69 RBI (AAA stats)
Desmond is becoming everything the Nationals had hoped for as their shortstop. He is a superb defender and he had a great year at the plate. The hope is him and Espinosa will form a great duo up the middle. Werth is one of the newest 100 million dollar players in baseball. With that comes great expectations. Fair or not the Nationals expect the same production from him as with the Phillies that last few years. Zimmerman is the face of the franchise. Long before Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper he has been the one constant for them. Even without adequate protection Zimmerman has still been able to be one of the best run producers in the game. LaRoche has had trouble finding a home, but make no mistake he is a good hitter. He won’t match what Adam Dunn brought to the lineup, but he is a viable replacement. Morse was great in a bench role last year and was an easy choice to get a starting spot this year. He has tremendous power potential and can sometimes play first base too. Ankiel is an okay hitter, but he will see playing time for his defense. His pitching days are long over, but he still has a great arm for a center fielder. Rodriguez is still able to play catcher at this stage in his career. It’s a good thing for Washington’s relatively young pitching staff. Whether he will continue to play enough to get closer to 3,000 hits is another question. Espinosa is being handed the second baseman position going into the start of the season. He has a lot of potential as an elite hitter. His defense is suspect, but he has room for improvement.
Bench
INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr.*
.244 AVG 10 HR 50 RBI
C Wilson Ramos
.258 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI
OF Roger Bernadina
.246 AVG 11 HR 47 RBI
Hairston will likely be in a platoon with Ankiel in center field. He can play all over the field though. Washington was fortunate to sign someone who can play multiple positions and is a pretty good base stealer also. Ramos is pegged as the catcher of the future after being acquired from Minnesota for closer Matt Capps last season. He should see plenty of playing time, but if Rodriguez’s quest for 3,000 hits gets in the way, it could be a problem. Bernadina was okay as a starter last year. Washington hopes a smaller role will get his confidence back. He can still be a potentially good hitter.
Rotation
1. Livan Hernandez
10-12 3.66 ERA
2. John Lannan
8-8 4.65 ERA
3. Jason Marquis
2-9 6.60 ERA
4. Jordan Zimmerman
1-2 4.94 ERA
5. Tom Gorzelanny*
7-9 4.09 ERA
Hernandez was a stable force at the top of the rotation. The only problem is there wasn’t much else for the rest of the Nationals rotation. He should do well and be a good role model for the youngsters trying to grab a spot. Lannan is the teams best option for the second spot. He doesn’t have top of the rotation stuff, but he is crafty and gets outs. Marquis was a major disappointment. Injuries shortened his season, but when he did play he was all over the place. He should bounce back being that he has done it before. Zimmerman is the second best starter they have. The one problem is that they can’t have Strasburg and Zimmerman together for a full season. Hopefully Zimmerman can stay healthy and when Strasburg returns next year they form a formidable duo for the future. Gorzelanny is a lefthander who has had trouble with the big innings. The Pirates and Cubs were quick to deal him, but Washington thinks with their pitcher friendly ballpark he should have a better chance to succeed.
Setup
Tyler Clippard
11-8 3.07 ERA
Closer
Drew Storen
5 SV 3.58 ERA
The Nationals have a good plan set for the bullpen. Storen should be the closer going forward. He has the stuff and the attitude is there also. Washington just needs to ease him in and not overwork him. Clippard had a career year. He was their best pitcher even when they had Matt Capps as their closer. Clippard should continue to be the setup man to Storen going forward.
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