Welcome to Part 5 of the NL East Overview. In the Grand Finale, you?ll get a summary of each team?s individual parts, a few comments on the team itself, and a total team grade. At the end you?ll see predictions for how the division will end, and what the record of each team will be.

 

Atlanta Braves- Come on, just try and dethrone us

Hitting- B+

Starting Pitching- A

Bullpen- A-

Bench/Defense/Intangibles- A+

 

Hard to argue with what the Braves will be putting on the field to start the 2005 campaign. The offense took a major hit, yes, and Atlanta is counting on two washed up has-beens to account for the best bat in their lineup last season and a young up and comer. However, the Front Office went out and got one of the winningest pitchers of all time who happens to be in his 20?s, brought back a former Cy Young winner into their rotation, and added an above average closer to replace the one that the starting staff stole away. Combine this all with the top coaching staff in baseball, and you have a team that will be difficult to dethrone. If the long predicted fall happens this season, it will most likely be on the shoulders of the offense (injury not included). However, several other ?washed up? players have found the Fountain of Youth in Atlanta, so who is to say that it?s run out of water?

 

Projected Record

99-63

 

Grade: A

 

Florida Marlins- We do our best work as a Wild Card anyways

Hitting- A

Starting Staff- A-

Bullpen- B-

Bench/Defense/Intangibles- A

 

For the first time in a long, long time, offense more than likely won?t be the problem for this Marlin team. Miguel Cabrera is a year older, Juan Pierre has decided he is going to walk more as has Juan Encarnacion, and of course there is the now looming presence of Carlos Delgado in the cleanup spot. However, also for the first time in a long time, the pitching is suspect. Potential has always been the word with the Fish, but this year is the last chance this staff has to prove itself. If AJ doesn?t get his act together, he won?t get paid. If Josh doesn?t get his act together, the Front Office could lose faith in him. Dontrelle, one must remember, is only 23, but he would be well off to become a tad more consistent. Guillermo Mota needs to prove himself as a closer, if not the starter?s job might be washed out. Too many people need to prove themselves for the Marlins to dethrone the Braves, but if they do come through Florida will run away with this division. However, the chances of those four breaking out simultaneously aren?t enough to bet on it. The Marlins should keep the division close, with or without AJ and Josh breaking out, but they?ll need them big time to win.

 

Projected Record

95-67

 

Grade: A-

 

New York Mets- We?re baaaaaaaaack, or at least we hope so

Hitting- B+

Starting Staff- B+

Bullpen- B

Bench/Defense/Intangibles- B+

 

This has become the hot team to jump on the bandwagon on and see what?s in store. This is at least a half-fair assessment, since the Braves have weakened according to the talking heads of the media and the Mets pored money into turning this club from the laughingstock of the division to full blown contenders. Now, most people close to the game see this as a two-three year thing; the Mets aren?t ready to overtake the Braves or the Phillies and Marlins for that matter yet, but they are on their way to getting on the same playing field as the three beasts of the East. The signings of Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez mean so much to this team it?s incredible, but should one or both them falter this team is in serious trouble. I hate to bring history into this, but the National League New York baseball club has had some big time issues with players they signed to ginormous contracts in the past, and both Beltran and Martinez fit that big deal stereotype. If they can avoid flopping like other Met free agents have done, their club will be successful this season in keeping up with the Fish, Bravos, and Phils deep into the season. But if something goes wrong, expect early grunts from the Met faithful.

 

Projected Record

83-79

 

Grade: B

 

Philadelphia Phillies- The Quietest Club in the offseason, and damn proud!

Hitting- A+

Starting Staff- C-

Bullpen- B+

Bench/Defense/Intangibles- B

 

The ever-dangerous Philadelphia Phillies. Pride might be their downfall, as they thought enough of themselves to not make much of a splash in the offseason while the other 3 contenders in the division were doing flips into the deep side of the pool, and even the victims of circumstance, the Nationals, did a sexy cannonball to please their fans. However, after the water stops moving the Phils are still among the best in the league. They have a top tier bullpen barring everyone is healthy and doesn?t give into their age, their offense can hit with anyone, and their defense isn?t too shabby. The Starting Pitching is a big question mark, but if they can get serviceable performances out of their arms they could be a serious force to be reckoned with. If you?re scoring 7 runs a night anyways, you only need your pitching staff to make they give up 6 or less. That won?t fly when the Cardinals, Marlins, and Giants come to town, but it?ll get them 90 wins. And in this day of late season pennant chases up until the final day, a late hot streak could sneak them into the playoffs, pitching or no pitching.

 

Projected Record

92-70

 

Grade: B+

 

Washington Nationals- We don?t suckthat much!

Hitting- C+

Starting Staff- B-

Bullpen- B+

Bench/Defense/Intangibles- B-

 

Honestly, this team isn?t that bad. Their pen is stellar if used properly this season, their starting staff has a lot of promise, and their defense isn?t too shabby by any means. The problem is, the Nationals are sympathetic to the struggle of the Blue Jays, Devil Rays, and Orioles; like those three, they have absolutely zero chance in this division while they could at least contend in a couple other divisions. They have the worst O in the division, least starting, and middle of the pack pen. Not saying all of these elements of their game are lacking, but compared to the others they can?t keep up. Expect the Nats to be a spoiler and maybe even make a few runs that scare people now that they are settled in one home, but this is the baseball equivalent of a dead man walking.

 

Projected Record

74-88

 

Grade: C+

 

Overall Division Wrap

In short words, this will be the best division in baseball in 2005. The Atlanta Braves have gotten stronger, as have the Mets, Marlins, and to a smaller extent the Phillies. The Nationals, though not having a great chance of winning the whole shebang, can be a force for quite a while. The Marlins have arguably the most balanced team in the National League if their pen performs well. The Phillies still have one of the best lineups in baseball and their pen is good enough to cover for the starters more often than not. The Mets have made giant strides and are going to scare some people. However, as has been the case for the past 13 seasons, this division is Atlanta?s until someone says otherwise. No fear for the others, the Wild Card will be coming out of the East this season.

 

Projected 2005 Standings:

1- Atlanta Braves

2- Florida Marlins

3- Philadelphia Phillies

4- New York Mets

5- Washington Nationals

 

Day 1: Lineups

Day 2: Starting Pitching

Day 3: Bullpens

Day 4: Defense, Bench, and Intangibles

 

Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed the pieces.

Projected Record

84-80

 

 

Those Mets are rolling on those extra games huh?

I don't think the Braves have it in them to win 99 games. It takes a special season and a special team to reach 100 wins... you have them one game short. I can see them winning the division... perhaps repeating their record from last year... like 96 wins or so. But 99 is pushing it.

 

I think this will be the year of the Marlin. 98 wins. Book it.

Good read. Thanks J.

For the record, the team win-loss records were a shot in the dark and just done to amuse myself. Those aren't the chief part of the outlooks at all.

I don't think the Braves have it in them to win 99 games. It takes a special season and a special team to reach 100 wins... you have them one game short. I can see them winning the division... perhaps repeating their record from last year... like 96 wins or so. But 99 is pushing it.

 

I think this will be the year of the Marlin. 98 wins. Book it.

722959[/snapback]

 

I think the Braves are too much of a gamble to predict 99 wins. EVERYTHING would have to go right in order for that to happen. I mean, that just doesn't happen in baseball. You will ALWAYS find a bump in the road. Whether that's the offensive production dropping due to those corner outfielders, Chippers age, and Andruw's decline, the rotation suffering due to Smoltz's lack of stamina, or the bullpen suffering because it lost Smoltz altogether, mixed in with many other questions...

 

If I were a gambling man, I'd stay away from the Braves. If I got 100:1 odds on the Braves winning 99 games, I woudn't even put $1 on it, because it'd be a waste of a dollar.

However, the chances of those four breaking out simultaneously aren?t enough to bet on it.

722946[/snapback]

 

 

Breaking out is perhaps the wrong term here.... I mean, its not like any of those 4 guys has been BAD during his career. Mota just needs to be the same, only in a different role -- not much of a "breakout" needed there. And D-Train only needs to keep his ERA in the 3.6-3.8 range to make most of us happy -- also hardly a breakout, considering he had a 3.30 in his rookie season.

 

The real breakout would be for Beckett and Burnett to get 30 starts each. And that is pretty much the only question for those 2 guys.

 

So, in a way, while its no surefire thing that all 4 will come through, its not really THAT improbable.

I really enjoyed these pieces. Whether or not I agree with all your points, I think they're very interesting and well written. Good work, Juanky.

I really enjoyed these pieces. Whether or not I agree with all your points, I think they're very interesting and well written. Good work, Juanky.

723390[/snapback]

 

Totally agree with that, this has been a very good preview...that's the same predicted finish I'd have for the NL East as well. At the same time, I'd fully expect Josh and AJ to have breakout years, considering health has been their main problem, and D-Train to continue his development. Mota worries me a bit because I can't help but think of Dotel, but I guess we'll see.