MLB National League East – 2008 Predictions
With the season fast approaching, I guess I should get to work here. I’ve really been holding off as I see some of these other teams and how their rosters shape up. 2008 National League East baseball season is going to be tricky this year. I’ve seen a lot of people predicting the New York Mets as winners. I admit I’m a Mets fan, but unfortunately, I’m not so sure they will win the East. So, here are my National League East predictions.
1.) Philadelphia Phillies - I love the batting lineup for this team. It has the power and consistency a team needs to win this division. The only problem is the pitching isn’t as strong as it needs to be to go the distance of a 162 game baseball season. But with the other teams in this division having weaker batting line-up, they get the nod. Keys here are going to be how Ron Howard, Chase Utley, and Pat Burrell solidify the batting order. You have to give the edge to Brad Lidge as the closure and the Phillies.
2.) New York Mets -Yes, a Mets fan is picking them to finish second in the division. I do believe this division will see the wildcard, so the Mets should be in the baseball playoffs. While the Mets have the pitching, I’m not at all hot on the bats. Alou, Delgado, and Beltran are just not the players they were just a few years ago. This will put stress on the remaining hitters to consistently perform. This will prevent the Mets from winning the division and if they are not careful, the playoffs. The pitching up and down is solid with a strong bullpen this year. Santana is a great addition, but the Mets need to obtain some depth in the hitting order.
3.) Atlanta Braves – Here is another team with a holes in it’s batting lineup. If the middle of the lineup wasn’t so good, I would almost have the Nationals ahead of the Braves this year. The starting rotation absolutely has the experience, but then again, maybe to much for the long season. One reason why I choose the Mets over the Braves. Older arms get more tired.
4.) Washington Nationals – The bottom two teams is really a tossup. The Nationals are in a rebuilding phase, again. I heard the farm system is stocked, but that isn’t going to help for this season. They did get one of my hottest prospects, Lastings Milledge, from the Mets. Lastings should make a lasting impression with Washington fans. With playing time, he could become a very exciting up and coming player. Pitching here is going to be really rough in the starting lineup, but with a solid bullpen.
5.) Florida Marlins – A very, very young team. If they can come together and gain experience fast, they could be the Tampa Rays of last year. Goliath beaters. Overall, though it will be tough to make it out of the bottom of this division. Fun to watch, but losing games.
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