When you've won five straight division titles, it's easy to assume the role as the favorite. It’s expected even. So you can forgive the Phillies if they've been through all of this before. Their run began in 2007, when they won 89 games, and it stretched through 2011, when they won 102. Ho hum.
But the competition is tougher this year. Washington, Miami and Atlanta are all primed to challenge Philly - this might even be the most balanced division in the league when it's all said and done. So, let’s examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the 2012 season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy of Pinnaclesports.com):
Philadelphia Phillies
Last year's record: 102-60
This year's season win total: 93
Odds to win the NL East: -130
WHO'S IN: Jonathan Papelbon, Chad Qualls, Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix, Juan Pierre, Joel Pineiro
WHO'S OUT: Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Madson, Ben Francisco, Wilson Valdez
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. Oswalt is gone and so is all of the talk about the "Four Aces," but Philadelphia retains the best trio of starters in the league, still. And Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will limit damage and give the Phillies' new-look bullpen, highlighted by Papelbon, a chance to save many games.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Infield. And isn’t that hard to believe? But the Phillies’ staples in the infield have questions aplenty alongside all of them. First baseman Ryan Howard will start the season on the disabled list. Second baseman Chase Utley will likely join him. And third baseman Placido Polanco is always a threat to land on the shelf. That leaves shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who may regret re-signing with Philadelphia this offseason. Not good.
Atlanta Braves
Last year's record: 89-73
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL East: +500
WHO'S IN: Tyler Pastornicky
WHO'S OUT: Derek Lowe, Alex Gonzalez, Nate McLouth, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill
TEAM STRENGTH: Youth. Pastornicky, a touted shortstop prospect, can lean on the likes of first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward, who have recently been through the ups and downs of a rookie season. Freeman (21 homers, 76 RBIs last season) and Heyward (14 and 42) also left plenty of hits out there last season, especially as the unseasoned Braves collapsed in September. So, not only do they need to produce, they must lead by example, as well.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Distraction. The Braves proved at the end of 2011 that they’re not mentally stable to withstand the pitfalls of a marathon season, and this year, they will have to cope with the Chipper Jones Farewell Tour. Everywhere they go, there will be ceremonies for Jones and the subsequent delays and dilemmas that go with them. Jones can still play -- he hit .275 last season with 70 RBIs -- but he could provide just enough of a commotion to slow this train down.
Washington Nationals
Last year's record: 80-81
This year's season win total: 84
Odds to win the NL East: +750
WHO'S IN: Edwin Jackson, Gio Gonzalez, Brad Lidge, Mark DeRosa, Chad Durbin
WHO'S OUT: Livan Hernandez, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. There has to eventually be some proof to go with the promise and potential. But the firepower is there and it's led by Stephen Strasburg, who is 6-4 with a 2.54 ERA in his brief career. Gonzalez will be a key, as well, especially after he went 16-12 last season in Oakland. But there might be a bit of a transition period for him, as he switches leagues. So, be careful.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Hitting. The Nats finished 27th in batting average and 25th in on-base percentage last season. Michael Morse did his part last season, posting a surprising .303 average with 31 homers and 95 RBIs, but there wasn’t much production elsewhere in the lineup. Danny Espinosa (.236 BA) and Jayson Werth (.232) are due for breakouts after slump-ridden seasons, but you have to ask yourself in this pitching-rich division, can you trust them to bounce back?
New York Mets
Last year's record: 77-85
This year's season win total: 73.5
Odds to win the NL East: +5000
WHO'S IN: Andres Torres, Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Ronny Cedeno,
WHO'S OUT: Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, Chris Capuano, Ronny Paulino, Jason Isringhausen, Chris Young
TEAM STRENGTH: Financial freedom. The Mets received some good news in March regarding the Bernie Madoff scandal, and will soon have some money to spend on the open market. That might not mean much this season, but know this: If they make a few runs, and are in some semblance of contention come July, the Mets might be able to add some payroll to help the cause. They may even be able to keep David Wright in town for good.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Outfield hitters. Some many places to pick. The hometown fences have been moved in, and that might help, but how much? Jason Bay hit 36 homers in his final season in Boston, and in the two years since -- with the Mets -- he has just 18. And though Torres will track down many a flyball in Citi Field, he hit just .224 last season, and is just a .244 career hitter. Not exactly Murderer’s Row out there as the Mets look to win back some fans.
Miami Marlins
Last year's record: 72-90
This year's season win total: 85.5
Odds to win the NL East: +500
WHO'S IN: Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Carlos Zambrano, Heath Bell, Wade LeBlanc, Chad Gaudin, Aaron Rowand, Austin Kearns
WHO'S OUT: Chris Volstad, Clay Hensley, Burke Badenhop, John Baker
TEAM STRENGTH: New attitude. This club has a new manager, new stadium, new name and a boatload of new talent. It’d be foolish to assume they’re going to draw like the Red Sox do in Boston but Ozzie Guillen’s boys should be playing home games with a few more butts in the seats this season. Got to be nice to be noticed which hasn’t been the case for the Marlins in a long, long time.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Pressure. The remodeled club must live up to the hype now. There is plenty of talent there -- probably enough to win the division -- but the Phillies and Braves, surely, are not buying these Johnny Come Latelys, and that’s a stigma only the Marlins can undo with their efforts on the field. One thing is for sure: New manager Ozzie Guillen won’t settle for slumps. He will not take long to shake things up if he needs to.
But the competition is tougher this year. Washington, Miami and Atlanta are all primed to challenge Philly - this might even be the most balanced division in the league when it's all said and done. So, let’s examine all five teams, and their strengths and weaknesses as we wait for the 2012 season to begin in earnest. (Odds courtesy of Pinnaclesports.com):
Philadelphia Phillies
Last year's record: 102-60
This year's season win total: 93
Odds to win the NL East: -130
WHO'S IN: Jonathan Papelbon, Chad Qualls, Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix, Juan Pierre, Joel Pineiro
WHO'S OUT: Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Madson, Ben Francisco, Wilson Valdez
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. Oswalt is gone and so is all of the talk about the "Four Aces," but Philadelphia retains the best trio of starters in the league, still. And Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will limit damage and give the Phillies' new-look bullpen, highlighted by Papelbon, a chance to save many games.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Infield. And isn’t that hard to believe? But the Phillies’ staples in the infield have questions aplenty alongside all of them. First baseman Ryan Howard will start the season on the disabled list. Second baseman Chase Utley will likely join him. And third baseman Placido Polanco is always a threat to land on the shelf. That leaves shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who may regret re-signing with Philadelphia this offseason. Not good.
Atlanta Braves
Last year's record: 89-73
This year's season win total: 87.5
Odds to win the NL East: +500
WHO'S IN: Tyler Pastornicky
WHO'S OUT: Derek Lowe, Alex Gonzalez, Nate McLouth, Scott Linebrink, George Sherrill
TEAM STRENGTH: Youth. Pastornicky, a touted shortstop prospect, can lean on the likes of first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward, who have recently been through the ups and downs of a rookie season. Freeman (21 homers, 76 RBIs last season) and Heyward (14 and 42) also left plenty of hits out there last season, especially as the unseasoned Braves collapsed in September. So, not only do they need to produce, they must lead by example, as well.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Distraction. The Braves proved at the end of 2011 that they’re not mentally stable to withstand the pitfalls of a marathon season, and this year, they will have to cope with the Chipper Jones Farewell Tour. Everywhere they go, there will be ceremonies for Jones and the subsequent delays and dilemmas that go with them. Jones can still play -- he hit .275 last season with 70 RBIs -- but he could provide just enough of a commotion to slow this train down.
Washington Nationals
Last year's record: 80-81
This year's season win total: 84
Odds to win the NL East: +750
WHO'S IN: Edwin Jackson, Gio Gonzalez, Brad Lidge, Mark DeRosa, Chad Durbin
WHO'S OUT: Livan Hernandez, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix
TEAM STRENGTH: Starting pitching. There has to eventually be some proof to go with the promise and potential. But the firepower is there and it's led by Stephen Strasburg, who is 6-4 with a 2.54 ERA in his brief career. Gonzalez will be a key, as well, especially after he went 16-12 last season in Oakland. But there might be a bit of a transition period for him, as he switches leagues. So, be careful.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Hitting. The Nats finished 27th in batting average and 25th in on-base percentage last season. Michael Morse did his part last season, posting a surprising .303 average with 31 homers and 95 RBIs, but there wasn’t much production elsewhere in the lineup. Danny Espinosa (.236 BA) and Jayson Werth (.232) are due for breakouts after slump-ridden seasons, but you have to ask yourself in this pitching-rich division, can you trust them to bounce back?
New York Mets
Last year's record: 77-85
This year's season win total: 73.5
Odds to win the NL East: +5000
WHO'S IN: Andres Torres, Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Ronny Cedeno,
WHO'S OUT: Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, Chris Capuano, Ronny Paulino, Jason Isringhausen, Chris Young
TEAM STRENGTH: Financial freedom. The Mets received some good news in March regarding the Bernie Madoff scandal, and will soon have some money to spend on the open market. That might not mean much this season, but know this: If they make a few runs, and are in some semblance of contention come July, the Mets might be able to add some payroll to help the cause. They may even be able to keep David Wright in town for good.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Outfield hitters. Some many places to pick. The hometown fences have been moved in, and that might help, but how much? Jason Bay hit 36 homers in his final season in Boston, and in the two years since -- with the Mets -- he has just 18. And though Torres will track down many a flyball in Citi Field, he hit just .224 last season, and is just a .244 career hitter. Not exactly Murderer’s Row out there as the Mets look to win back some fans.
Miami Marlins
Last year's record: 72-90
This year's season win total: 85.5
Odds to win the NL East: +500
WHO'S IN: Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Carlos Zambrano, Heath Bell, Wade LeBlanc, Chad Gaudin, Aaron Rowand, Austin Kearns
WHO'S OUT: Chris Volstad, Clay Hensley, Burke Badenhop, John Baker
TEAM STRENGTH: New attitude. This club has a new manager, new stadium, new name and a boatload of new talent. It’d be foolish to assume they’re going to draw like the Red Sox do in Boston but Ozzie Guillen’s boys should be playing home games with a few more butts in the seats this season. Got to be nice to be noticed which hasn’t been the case for the Marlins in a long, long time.
TEAM WEAKNESS: Pressure. The remodeled club must live up to the hype now. There is plenty of talent there -- probably enough to win the division -- but the Phillies and Braves, surely, are not buying these Johnny Come Latelys, and that’s a stigma only the Marlins can undo with their efforts on the field. One thing is for sure: New manager Ozzie Guillen won’t settle for slumps. He will not take long to shake things up if he needs to.
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