Monday, April 02, 2007
NL East Preview
The Clarion thinks the NL East is the home of the eventual NL champion. Of course, in the tradition of the new post modern baseball, it won’t be the team that ends the season with the best record. Who needs to anymore?
The Clarion thinks the Philadelphia Phillies have enough to win the best division in the National League. This year’s second best NL shortstop Jimmy Rollins was right, they are the team to beat. In addition to All-Star Rollins, the Phils have MVP Ryan Howard and All-Star Chase Utley. We also love the gritty Aaron Rowand. For all the talk about last year’s Mets offense, the Phillies outscored the Metropolitans by 21 runs. Their pitching looks like just enough, though the bullpen could prove their Achilles heel.
It is not like the Mets are loaded with pitching. Tom Glavine and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez are a combined 103 years of age. Which would be less of a big deal if they were New York’s number three and four starters as opposed to the numbers one and two. Pete Martinez, on the DL until August, will be missed. John Maine and Oliver Perez will be solid number three and four starters. It is not like the Mets pitching is totally lousy, there just is no top end of the rotation. Plus the Clarion feels the bigger the spot, the more likely Billy “hint: I perfectly straight fastball.” Wagner is to melt down. Fortunately they have the Clarion's pick for 2007 NL MVP, Jose Reyes and the classy Carlos Delgado.
The Marlins should be contracted. They are an abomination. Their World Series wins contrasted with their subsequent seasons depict everything that is wrong with the game. Way to screw your fans, once, twice, three times. Oh, wait, you have no fans left. Good job. Nice follow up, by self-serving jerk Jeffrey Loria fire the manager of the year, Joe Giradi. Smooth move Ex-Lax. Support the Clarion’s campaign to free Dontrelle Willis.
The Washington Nationals would be under .500 in the AAA International League. Their opening day starting rotation had made a combined 36 starts in the majors. Sweet, way to give your fans hope. Just pay for the tickets suckers. Try to ignore the fact that we’ll be forty under by mid-July. Surely there will be lots of other good news emanating from Washington. Why there's the Caps. And look at the way le Bullet's season is ending. Some good news, 3rd baseman, Ryan Zimmerman is a bonafide major leaguer.
The Atlanta Braves are perhaps the most interesting team in the NL East. They have established stars like the Jones boys, Andruw (not yet on the downside-still the best shallow centerfield defense in the game) and Chipper (on the downside-hasn’t played in 150 games since 2003) They have emerging stars like Jeff Francoeur and catcher Brian McCann. They have an ace in John Smoltz. They have serviceable parts like SS Edgar Renteria, #2 starter Tim Hudson and the outfield platoon of Ryan Langerhans and Mike Diaz. They have a Hall of Fame manager in Bobby Cox. But this somehow doesn’t feel like their year. The back half of the rotation is a mess. The bullpen is going to lean on the aging Bob Wickman to close. They have yet to win without Cox confidant and pitching guru Leo Mazzone. (in Baltimore with his old friend Ray Miller.)
Phils win the division, Mets win in the National League Playoffs.
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
over/under 89 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
2. The New York Mets
over/under 90.5 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
3. Atlanta Braves
over/under 85 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
4. Florida Marlins
over/under 77.5 wins
The Clarion takes the under.
5. Washington Nationals
over/under 64 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
The Clarion thinks the Philadelphia Phillies have enough to win the best division in the National League. This year’s second best NL shortstop Jimmy Rollins was right, they are the team to beat. In addition to All-Star Rollins, the Phils have MVP Ryan Howard and All-Star Chase Utley. We also love the gritty Aaron Rowand. For all the talk about last year’s Mets offense, the Phillies outscored the Metropolitans by 21 runs. Their pitching looks like just enough, though the bullpen could prove their Achilles heel.
It is not like the Mets are loaded with pitching. Tom Glavine and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez are a combined 103 years of age. Which would be less of a big deal if they were New York’s number three and four starters as opposed to the numbers one and two. Pete Martinez, on the DL until August, will be missed. John Maine and Oliver Perez will be solid number three and four starters. It is not like the Mets pitching is totally lousy, there just is no top end of the rotation. Plus the Clarion feels the bigger the spot, the more likely Billy “hint: I perfectly straight fastball.” Wagner is to melt down. Fortunately they have the Clarion's pick for 2007 NL MVP, Jose Reyes and the classy Carlos Delgado.
The Marlins should be contracted. They are an abomination. Their World Series wins contrasted with their subsequent seasons depict everything that is wrong with the game. Way to screw your fans, once, twice, three times. Oh, wait, you have no fans left. Good job. Nice follow up, by self-serving jerk Jeffrey Loria fire the manager of the year, Joe Giradi. Smooth move Ex-Lax. Support the Clarion’s campaign to free Dontrelle Willis.
The Washington Nationals would be under .500 in the AAA International League. Their opening day starting rotation had made a combined 36 starts in the majors. Sweet, way to give your fans hope. Just pay for the tickets suckers. Try to ignore the fact that we’ll be forty under by mid-July. Surely there will be lots of other good news emanating from Washington. Why there's the Caps. And look at the way le Bullet's season is ending. Some good news, 3rd baseman, Ryan Zimmerman is a bonafide major leaguer.
The Atlanta Braves are perhaps the most interesting team in the NL East. They have established stars like the Jones boys, Andruw (not yet on the downside-still the best shallow centerfield defense in the game) and Chipper (on the downside-hasn’t played in 150 games since 2003) They have emerging stars like Jeff Francoeur and catcher Brian McCann. They have an ace in John Smoltz. They have serviceable parts like SS Edgar Renteria, #2 starter Tim Hudson and the outfield platoon of Ryan Langerhans and Mike Diaz. They have a Hall of Fame manager in Bobby Cox. But this somehow doesn’t feel like their year. The back half of the rotation is a mess. The bullpen is going to lean on the aging Bob Wickman to close. They have yet to win without Cox confidant and pitching guru Leo Mazzone. (in Baltimore with his old friend Ray Miller.)
Phils win the division, Mets win in the National League Playoffs.
NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
over/under 89 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
2. The New York Mets
over/under 90.5 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
3. Atlanta Braves
over/under 85 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
4. Florida Marlins
over/under 77.5 wins
The Clarion takes the under.
5. Washington Nationals
over/under 64 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
Labels: baseball, Predictions, sports
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