Every team has the potential to do some special things on the offensive side of the ball, but the biggest problem with teams that could have been favorites entering the season is whether or not their team is healthy and can remain healthy throughout the course of the season. The Mets seem to be the kings of bad luck, with 2 perennial all-starts missing the start of the season; The team to watch out for are the Atlanta Braves with the best up and coming prospect they hope will take over in right field; Philadelphia is still the best team in the NL; Players need to play up to expectations in Florida; The nationals are headed in the right direction. Here are my predictions:
Phillies
Braves
Nationals
Mets
Marlins
The Phillies are the team in the East, but their complete success depends on how well their pitching staff performs this year. I'm still not convinced that trading for Halladay for Cliff Lee was a great improvement. Cliff Lee definitely proved he could pitch in the NL and in the very hitter friendly ball park and was doing it as a south paw. Halladay is going to be a contender for the the Cy Young as he is every year, but I don't think he is going to have the success everyone is predicting for him. I think he still comes close to 20 victories, but I think his ERA is going to be in the mid to high 3's. Brad Lidge needs to come back to form because I really don't think they have anyone else who can close effectively on a consistent basis. They could be the Mets of 2 years ago. Of course this line up is going to rake, but can Ibanez produce like he did last season, he is an aging outfielder, and will polanco provide the proper supporting role they are looking for from the 2 hole? Biggest Questions: How well will Halladay pitch and can Lidge regain his form.
Look out for the Braves...if they are healthy. If they all stay healthy; and thats a big IF, they are going to compete for the division. I think their pitching staff is much improved with a healthy Hudson and Billy Wagner is going to have 30+ saves this year with a sub 2.00 ERA. Again, IF Glaus is healthy all season right there with Chipper, they have a formadable middle of the line up to go with McCann. Biggest questions: How good is Heyward at the pro-level, how long will everyone stay healthy.
Meet the Mets! Greet the Mets! Come and watch the bad luck Mets! Seriously, what else can go wrong. Beltran is going to be out til May it looks like, they don't have a proven healthy first basemen, Jeff Franceour MIGHT be happy in New York and Jose Reyes could be out for 2 to 8 weeks with a freakin' thyroid problem?! Come on now. Even I feel kinda bad, and thats from a Pirates fan who has had nothing but losing for 17 years. But, they could have a decent pitching staff and their bullpen is better this year than it has been. Once they get everyone healthy, I think the Mets will also make a run for the wild card spot. Biggest questions: When and Who comes back healthy for the majority of the seaon and for how long.
The Nationals are making good strides. They are coming along faster than the pirates every have, and I think they are only going to get better especially in their pitching. The signing of I-rod I think was phenomenal for this young staff, and will really help in bringing along strasburg during spring training. I think they need to let him pitch in the minors for a little while until he shows he can dominate. They have a decent line up with good veterans with productive pasts: Dunn, I-Rod, Zimmerman, Morgan. Biggest Questions: When will Strasburg help and can I-rod be as influential as everyone thinks.
The Marlins have a lot of players to play up to expectations: Coughlan, Maybin, Bonifacio; and can Josh Johnson have back to back healthy seasons. He could very well be the best pitcher in the NL, but he also needs to stay very healthy. Also, I think Logan Morrison is this years Rookie of the Year. Biggest Questions: Will they continue to surprise and will Josh Johnson stay healthy.
Oh! By the way, did any of you guys hear anything about the Phillies talking internally about a first basemen swap of Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols, I swear I just saw that scroll across the screen on espnews.
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4 comments:
I saw that Buster Olney reported it was a rumor, but that it is merely that. The Phils have not approached the Cardinals about it, even though financially it would make a lot of sense on both sides. The Cardinals will find a way to keep Pujols in St. Louis for his entire career.
And one thing, why would Polanco hit second in the Phillies lineup? They have Rollins and Victorino at the top, just like they've had for the past 2 seasons... I see Polanco hitting 7th or 8th, so not much pressure on him.
If only there would have been a Benson for Howard trade back in the day. Damn you Littlefield for thinking Brad Eldred was the solution...
I don't get how how you say that Halladay will be a contender for a Cy Young, yet he will not have the success...also mid to high 3s is still a pretty good ERA. Cliff Lee has been a good pitcher the last few years, but remember, at one point he was the guy the Pirates declined a trade for Jason Bay. Who knew the next season he would be like 20-1 or something like that. Halladay has been doing the same thing for years and that is be dominant.
Howard is going to make like 20 million a year on his next contract. It's not like the Pirates would have had him for long anyways
true enough, but still fun to think about balls flying into the river on a nightly basis.
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