February 24, 200521 yr This is their projected finish: 1. Braves 2. Phillies 3. Marlins 4. Mets 5. Nationals http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...view/index.html
February 24, 200521 yr Author omg like how could they do that omg what morans! omgomgom 693933[/snapback] Who called them morons? Just curious to know what you're refering to.
February 24, 200521 yr omg like how could they do that omg what morans! omgomgom 693933[/snapback] Who called them morons? Just curious to know what you're refering to. 693938[/snapback] Im waiting for the onslaught by the site on SI
February 24, 200521 yr this is still a familiar preview. This year we're the poplular semi-sleeper-but-not-really-because-they-might-be-really-good pick.
February 24, 200521 yr It's better this way. Just like when none of the "experts" at ESPN said the Marlins would get farther than the NLDS in 2003. 693957[/snapback] Yet they nailed us last year didn't they. :mischief Shame ESPN you are not right 100% of the time! I am pretty sure a lot of people on here were po'ed when ESPN didn't pick the Marlins to win the division last year, guess who won that fight. The Marlins have to have a lot go right for them is basically what SI is saying. Mota needs to pan out, Josh can't go on the dl for 2 or more times again for the 3rd year in a row. Juan E and Alex can't both be in the bottom 5 players in the league in OBP again. And Lowell and Lo Duca need to realize there are 2 halfs to the baseball year. Oh yeah and that Al might average more than 6 innings a start.
February 24, 200521 yr Author A lot of clubs have those question marks, too. It's not like the Braves and Phillies have less question marks than the Marlins. I think the evaluation is fair (but wrong). It's quite possible that we'll get the same standings as last year. All things being equal (meaning injuries, etc.), I think the Marlins have the best team in the NL East.
February 24, 200521 yr It's not like this wasn't expected. 694005[/snapback] but being 3rd, behind the phillies, after getting delgado is a shocker to me
February 24, 200521 yr It's not like this wasn't expected. 694005[/snapback] but being 3rd, behind the phillies, after getting delgado is a shocker to me 694044[/snapback] Yeah, especially when you take into account the Phillies finished ahead of the Marlins last year, 2 of their starters missed a combined 4 months. They picked up the most effective Yankee pitcher. Jettisoned a distraction coach, and the Marlins as well as anyone should know what getting rid of a bad coach can do. The Phils also seemed to figure out the Marlins equation at the end of last year. Wagner and Worrell are healthy. Thome was hurt last year and still had 100+ RBIs. Madson is a year older for them. Yeah I can't believe anyone would figure them to win more than 20 games.
February 24, 200521 yr Haven't seen that order before. Seems the 'experts' are thrown for a loop when it comes to the NL East. It will be a dog fight. The team that avoids major injuries and fills the gaps with midseason call-ups and acquisitions is going to be the team heads to the playoffs. There's little chance the runner-ups have a shot at the wild card unless they destroy the out-of-division competition.
February 24, 200521 yr I never really take these predictions seriously. I love reading them cause I find it interesting... to see how non-biased baseball writers view the Marlins, and the Giants for that matter. How many times are they actually right though?
February 24, 200521 yr Author I never really take these predictions seriously. I love reading them cause I find it interesting... to see how non-biased baseball writers view the Marlins, and the Giants for that matter. How many times are they actually right though? 694086[/snapback] They always pick the Yankees to win the AL East. :plain
February 24, 200521 yr I never really take these predictions seriously. I love reading them cause I find it interesting... to see how non-biased baseball writers view the Marlins, and the Giants for that matter. How many times are they actually right though? 694086[/snapback] They always pick the Yankees to win the AL East. :plain 694088[/snapback] LOL - Well, I guess there are some very safe predictions... Like picking Atlanta to win the NL East as well... Again, I find it interesting to see how others view the teams, but there are surprises every year. Hopefully, the big surprise this year is the Marlins dethroning Atlanta.
February 24, 200521 yr Author Haven't seen that order before. Seems the 'experts' are thrown for a loop when it comes to the NL East. It will be a dog fight. The team that avoids major injuries and fills the gaps with midseason call-ups and acquisitions is going to be the team heads to the playoffs. There's little chance the runner-ups have a shot at the wild card unless they destroy the out-of-division competition. 694064[/snapback] I am not sure about this, but in 2003 didn't the NL East have four teams finishing at or above .500? And the Marlins still got the Wild Card. If the division race is legitimately between 3-4 teams the entire season then I think you're right... second place probably won't be good enough for the Wild Card.
February 24, 200521 yr Haven't seen that order before. Seems the 'experts' are thrown for a loop when it comes to the NL East. It will be a dog fight. The team that avoids major injuries and fills the gaps with midseason call-ups and acquisitions is going to be the team heads to the playoffs. There's little chance the runner-ups have a shot at the wild card unless they destroy the out-of-division competition. 694064[/snapback] I am not sure about this, but in 2003 didn't the NL East have four teams finishing at or above .500? And the Marlins still got the Wild Card. If the division race is legitimately between 3-4 teams the entire season then I think you're right... second place probably won't be good enough for the Wild Card. 694091[/snapback] Yes 4 teams in the NL east finished over .500 that year. Then again 10 out of the 16 teams in the NL did. Don't forget how mediocore of records the NL central had that year. Only 3 teams out of the 10 who finished over 500 had more than 90 wins. The Bravos, Giants and Marlins. The Braves and Giants each had at least 100.
February 24, 200521 yr The NL East dominated the other divisions in 2003. I think they had a .667 winning percentage against the NL Central.
February 24, 200521 yr Author That's what I thought. I guess if one of the other divisions is very mediocre we could have a 4 team dogfight in the NL East with the second place team taking the Wild Card. If the Cardinals have a down year, the Central could once again be that division. Besides the Cardinals, I don't think the Central has any other potential 95+ win teams.
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