Our 2010 MLB Preview continues with a look at the National League East division, where the Philadelphia Phillies are the favorites to win their fourth straight division title.
Will the Atlanta Braves pitching staff be able to over take the Phillies by the end of the season?
Or will an over achieving Florida Marlins team find a way to keep it together and make an improbable run to the playoffs?
If the injury bug steers clear of New York, will the team find more success in 2009?
Will the Nationals find a way to avoid losing 100 games for the third straight season and when will fans get to see rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg?
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies made a big splash during the off-season when they completed a trade that send Cliff Lee to Seattle and brought perennial Cy Young favorite Roy Halladay to Philadelphia. Although Lee became a fan favorite after he helped carry the Phillies to the World Series, Halladay should make them forget if he repeats his performance from the past few seasons.
The presence of Halladay should take some pressure off of Cole Hamels, who struggled last year with 10 wins and a 4.32 ERA in 193.2 innings of work. If he can return to his 2008 form, the Phillies will have the top 1-2 punch in the National League.
The presence of Placido Polanco will help solidify their third base position while placing the finishing touches on one of the more potent offenses in the majors. The Phillies will win another NL East title and have a chance to become the first team to win three straight NL pennants since 1944.
Atlanta Braves
The strength of the 2010 Braves is still their pitching staff, despite the loss of Javier Vasquez and Rafael Soriano during the off-season. The Braves will be expecting big things from Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, and Jari Jurrijens, who developed into a quality starter last season.
The Braves’ offense is fueled by the best catcher in the game not named Joe Mauer. Brian McCann has averaged 22 home runs and 92 RBI’s during the first four seasons of his career. While age is catching up to Chipper Jones, he should be able to provide some power and improve upon his .269 batting average from last season.
Atlanta doesn’t have enough offense to compete with Philadelphia for the NL East title unless younger players like rookie Jason Heyward prove his minor league performance was not a fluke. The Braves may actually have a better chance at earning the NL wildcard than they do the division.
Florida Marlins
The Marlins are the little engine that could and there’s no reason to expect anything but a 110% effort from this team even when they have one of the lowest payroll’s in Major League Baseball. Potential MVP candidate Hanley Ramirez helped keep the Marlins ranked among the NL’s top five offenses in terms of runs, batting average, and on-base percentage in 2009.
The Marlins will produce runs, but there are some questions about how well their pitching staff will hold up. Josh Johnson has delivered for the Marlins but will need another arm to give them a solid second option.
Florida may not have a team filled with big name talent but they find a way to win and compete. It’s doubtful the Marlins will work their way into a playoff spot in 2010, but they will make life difficult for the rest of the division.
New York Mets
To say the New York Mets lacked offensive firepower last year would be an understatement. The team averaged just over four runs per game while Daniel Murphy led the team with 12 home runs. Whether it was due to injuries or lack of pop, players like David Wright and Jose Reyes had less than stellar seasons.
The Mets spent money in the off-season to correct this and brought in outfielder Jason Bay. The Mets are hoping Bay can produce similar numbers from his 2009 season where he had 36 home runs and 119 RBI’s.
New York should have a healthy offense this season, but the pitching staff looks like Swiss cheese after you get past their ace Johan Santana. The lack of a solid pitching staff is going to be a big reason why the Mets will finish in the bottom half of the NL East.
Washington Nationals
After the Nationals lost 100 games or more over the last two seasons, they made the decision to spend some money during the free agency period this year. Washington brought in veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez to help mentor their young pitching staff and pitcher Chien-Ming Wang in hopes that he can return to his form when he won 19 games for the Yankees.
The Nationals have some pop in their offense, led by Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman. Last year, this duo hit 71 home runs and drove in 211 runs. If they can continue to produce, it should help the younger hitters see better pitches.
The story of the year for the Nationals will be rookie Stephen Strasburg and what kind of impact he will make this season. While some media experts say the Nationals will come away with 70 wins this season, 65 is a more realistic goal for a team that will bring up the rear in the NL East.
