Post by Rockies GM (Alex) on Feb 4, 2013 20:41:53 GMT -5
2013 National League East Preview
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2012 Record: 14-5
The Phillies discovered the extreme difficulty of repeating as league champions last season. However, after a rough start, they rebounded through a plethora of injuries to not only make the playoffs, but repeat as NL East Division Champions. The Phillies couldn't finish in the post-season, and it was apparent that the problem then and during the regular season was depth. But hey, what can you expect from a star-studded lineup? It's the offense that has teams trembling the most when teams match up against Philadelphia. The triple crown winner, Miguel Cabrera, is a monster in the middle of the lineup. Surrounding Cabrera is a duo of outfielders, Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Kemp. Both are young and possible the number 1 and 2 best outfielders in the game... oh wait... isn't there a guy with the name of a fish or something? Back to the Phillies, after Miggy, Cargo, and Kemp, a handful of all-stars fil out the lineup with Troy Tulowitski, Brian McCann, Kevin Youkilis, and Ryan Zimmerman. Starting games the mound, the Phillies rely on ace Gio Gonzalez who shone greatly last year in his new Phillies uniform. After him, Yovani Gallardo, Jeremy Hellickson, and Paul Maholm are all top of the line pitchers. Does it drop off at the bullpen? The Mets and Nationals wish it did. Andrew Bailey and Kenley Jansen are shutout closers who rarely blow games. All in all, the Phillies easily have the most raw talent of any team in the league. A lack of depth proved to be their only Achilles heel last season. Can the stars stay healthy enough for Philly to capture a second title in three years? We'll find out.
Grade: A+
2. Washington Nationals
2012 Record: 13-6
How does that work? The Nationals scored nearly 1,000 more points on the season, but were snubbed from the post-season in 2012 by division rival New York. Frustrated, Washington was sent packing in after finishing top 10 in the power rankings. They were the only team to not make the post-season from the top ten last year. The Nationals are still a very talented team, and should again be vying for one of the wild card spots in 2013. The Nats do it with a great balance on offense and pitching. Leading the lineup, Josh Hamilton (657 points), the superhuman, mashed home runs in over one fourth of his games played last season. After Hamilton, the league's best catcher, Buster Posey (563 points), put in an MVP like season for Washington. Adam LaRoche (558 points) broke out last season at first base, and Danny Espinosa (439 points) is an up-and-coming second baseman. The Nationals big hope is that Jacoby Ellsbury can rebound after a failed season and look like the incredible hitter he was in 2011. His success this season should determine if the Nats re-sign him. On the rotation, Time Lincecum (377 points) is set to make twenty-six million in 2012 and thirty-two in 2013, yet he hasn't shown he's worth such a big contract. The Nationals real star is Madison Bumgarner (514 points) who pitched like the ace LIncecum wasn't in 2012. Along with Bumgarner, Josh Johnson (388 points) will be looking to perform at a high level in the last year of his contract. The Nats dug deep in the pockets during free agency to bring in Ervin Santana at twenty-one million dollars. Hopefully he lives up to the hype of his contract. The bullpen is the weak point on this team. There hasn't been a true closer sign Drew Storen was traded to L.A. in 2011, and the team will need to address that issue. Virtually, this is the same team with the addition of Santana as last year. If the Nationals play like they did the season prior, bad luck shouldn't strike twice.
Grade: B+
3. New York Mets
2012 Record: 14-5
Few could have predicted that the Mets would be competitive in 2012. Few could have predicted the Mets could have been leading the division mid-way through the season. Few could have predicted that the Mets would beat the odds and make the playoffs in 2012. And few could have predicted that the Mets, the New York Mets, would be the team that took down the defending champs, the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of the playoffs. And while it didn't end the way everyone hoped in New York after a Round 2 loss to eventually NL champ Cincy, it was a major step forward for a team that had been at the bottom of the totem poll in Base Knock Dynasty baseball. Unlike most top teams in the league, the Mets don't win games with eye-popping talent like most teams do. They win games with a total team effort and incredible depth at all positions. The one player you could call a star in the big apple would be third baseman Aramis Ramirez (624 points). He led the team in nearly all offensive categories last year, and figures to be a big part of the offense again in 2013. There is a hole at first since the team traded Ike Davis (463 points) midway through the off-season, so the GM will need to address that hole. In the outfield, the team is the "proud" owner of vastly overpaid Jason Bay (117 points). Playing with bay, the team gets decent production from Lucas Duda (290 points) and Andy Dirks (277 points). A strength for this team is their depth in the pitching rotation. R.A. Dickey (643 points), the league's Cy Young winner, is the definite ace of the rotation and hopes to continue off of his breakout season in 2012. Johan Santana (236 points) struggled last year, but can be a big difference maker when at the top of his game. Chris Capuano (440 points) also broke out last season to give the Mets a strong one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Outside of these three, the team will rely on veteran Josh Beckett (315 points) and an assortment of other pitchers to get the job done. Finishing off games, the door is wide open as the team has a group of relievers that could all contend for the closing job. Some say the Mets 2012 season was a fluke, but the pitching is really strong New York. We'll see if the Mets are here to stay in 2013.
Grade: B-
4. Atlanta Braves
2012 Record: 6-13
It was another difficult season for the Atlanta Braves. The team started off decent with a 3-3 record after Week 6, but couldn't keep the success going through the rest of the season. Thankfully, we all could have expected this and so could Braves management as well, so it shouldn't have been too much of a disappointment for the fans. In 2013, the Braves will look to increase their win total and slowly inch their way to a playoff birth in the future. The problems with this team in the majors are all over the place. The vastly overpaid Vernon Wells (195 points) didn't live up to his worth in dollars in the outfield in 2012. Young third baseman, Matt Dominguez, played fairly well in his rookie season and could improve in his sophomore year. Jordan Pacheco (350 points), another rookie last season, was the Braves leading hitter and showed he could hold his own at either first, third, or occasionally behind the plate. On a positive note, Brian Roberts is set to return this season after missing most of last year with injuries. In pitching, the Braves don't get that much better. Roy Oswalt remains unsigned in the MLB, but could prove to be a valuable veteran on a young staff if he's signed. Daniel Hudson is out with tommy john surgery for most of the season, so that leaves a group of young guys to fill out the rest of the staff: Pat Corbin, Randy Wells, Tyson Ross, and Esmil Rogers. The bullpen is a mess and lacks a true closer to lead the group. The real hope for this team is in the farm system. Talented players like Archie Bradley, Stetson Allie, Trevor Story, and Bryce Benz could force their way into the majors soon if the starters aren't producing like they should be. All in all, the Braves are slowly climbing up the ladder of success. It probably won't happen this year, but with the young talent in the minors, they'll get there eventually.
Grade: D+
5. Miami Marlins
2012 Record: 4-15
Let's look at this on the bright side: the team is getting another top pick in the amateur draft this coming June. The Marlins were dreadful in 2012 under shaky ownership, but a new GM has come to Miami to take on a very difficult job. The team lacked a spark in any area of the major league roster, and a dismal season ended with a 4-15 record. The looming problem for this team is the offense. It's hard to find anything worthy of pointing out in the lineup. Consequently, we'll look at the minors and the future for this team. Dan Vogelbach and Matt Olsen are a pair of young first basemen that are racing to hit the majors. The first one there could hold down the spot for good. Along with them, the team has two superstar prospects in third baseman Miguel Sano and shortstop Carlos Correa. Both are a few years away, but scream with potential. In the rotation, the Marlins didn't actually have that bad of a season. Breakout pitcher Lance Lynn (485 points) had a brilliant season. It has been rumored recently that he will be traded for young minor league talent, however. Along with him, Ryan Vogelsong (460 points) had a terrific year that was also a surprise. If both pitchers stick around, they could be solid building blocks for the future in the rotation. The bulllpen is barren and really needs a quality closer. The team has collected pitching prospects over time though, and a few (Banuelos, Sampson, and Cole) could help out sometime in 2013. There's not much now in Miami, but hopefully the new GM can turn this team around in the tough NL East.
Grade: D
Final 2013 NL East Projections:
1. Phillies
2. Nationals
3. Mets
4. Braves
5. Marlins
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2012 Record: 14-5
The Phillies discovered the extreme difficulty of repeating as league champions last season. However, after a rough start, they rebounded through a plethora of injuries to not only make the playoffs, but repeat as NL East Division Champions. The Phillies couldn't finish in the post-season, and it was apparent that the problem then and during the regular season was depth. But hey, what can you expect from a star-studded lineup? It's the offense that has teams trembling the most when teams match up against Philadelphia. The triple crown winner, Miguel Cabrera, is a monster in the middle of the lineup. Surrounding Cabrera is a duo of outfielders, Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Kemp. Both are young and possible the number 1 and 2 best outfielders in the game... oh wait... isn't there a guy with the name of a fish or something? Back to the Phillies, after Miggy, Cargo, and Kemp, a handful of all-stars fil out the lineup with Troy Tulowitski, Brian McCann, Kevin Youkilis, and Ryan Zimmerman. Starting games the mound, the Phillies rely on ace Gio Gonzalez who shone greatly last year in his new Phillies uniform. After him, Yovani Gallardo, Jeremy Hellickson, and Paul Maholm are all top of the line pitchers. Does it drop off at the bullpen? The Mets and Nationals wish it did. Andrew Bailey and Kenley Jansen are shutout closers who rarely blow games. All in all, the Phillies easily have the most raw talent of any team in the league. A lack of depth proved to be their only Achilles heel last season. Can the stars stay healthy enough for Philly to capture a second title in three years? We'll find out.
Grade: A+
2. Washington Nationals
2012 Record: 13-6
How does that work? The Nationals scored nearly 1,000 more points on the season, but were snubbed from the post-season in 2012 by division rival New York. Frustrated, Washington was sent packing in after finishing top 10 in the power rankings. They were the only team to not make the post-season from the top ten last year. The Nationals are still a very talented team, and should again be vying for one of the wild card spots in 2013. The Nats do it with a great balance on offense and pitching. Leading the lineup, Josh Hamilton (657 points), the superhuman, mashed home runs in over one fourth of his games played last season. After Hamilton, the league's best catcher, Buster Posey (563 points), put in an MVP like season for Washington. Adam LaRoche (558 points) broke out last season at first base, and Danny Espinosa (439 points) is an up-and-coming second baseman. The Nationals big hope is that Jacoby Ellsbury can rebound after a failed season and look like the incredible hitter he was in 2011. His success this season should determine if the Nats re-sign him. On the rotation, Time Lincecum (377 points) is set to make twenty-six million in 2012 and thirty-two in 2013, yet he hasn't shown he's worth such a big contract. The Nationals real star is Madison Bumgarner (514 points) who pitched like the ace LIncecum wasn't in 2012. Along with Bumgarner, Josh Johnson (388 points) will be looking to perform at a high level in the last year of his contract. The Nats dug deep in the pockets during free agency to bring in Ervin Santana at twenty-one million dollars. Hopefully he lives up to the hype of his contract. The bullpen is the weak point on this team. There hasn't been a true closer sign Drew Storen was traded to L.A. in 2011, and the team will need to address that issue. Virtually, this is the same team with the addition of Santana as last year. If the Nationals play like they did the season prior, bad luck shouldn't strike twice.
Grade: B+
3. New York Mets
2012 Record: 14-5
Few could have predicted that the Mets would be competitive in 2012. Few could have predicted the Mets could have been leading the division mid-way through the season. Few could have predicted that the Mets would beat the odds and make the playoffs in 2012. And few could have predicted that the Mets, the New York Mets, would be the team that took down the defending champs, the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of the playoffs. And while it didn't end the way everyone hoped in New York after a Round 2 loss to eventually NL champ Cincy, it was a major step forward for a team that had been at the bottom of the totem poll in Base Knock Dynasty baseball. Unlike most top teams in the league, the Mets don't win games with eye-popping talent like most teams do. They win games with a total team effort and incredible depth at all positions. The one player you could call a star in the big apple would be third baseman Aramis Ramirez (624 points). He led the team in nearly all offensive categories last year, and figures to be a big part of the offense again in 2013. There is a hole at first since the team traded Ike Davis (463 points) midway through the off-season, so the GM will need to address that hole. In the outfield, the team is the "proud" owner of vastly overpaid Jason Bay (117 points). Playing with bay, the team gets decent production from Lucas Duda (290 points) and Andy Dirks (277 points). A strength for this team is their depth in the pitching rotation. R.A. Dickey (643 points), the league's Cy Young winner, is the definite ace of the rotation and hopes to continue off of his breakout season in 2012. Johan Santana (236 points) struggled last year, but can be a big difference maker when at the top of his game. Chris Capuano (440 points) also broke out last season to give the Mets a strong one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Outside of these three, the team will rely on veteran Josh Beckett (315 points) and an assortment of other pitchers to get the job done. Finishing off games, the door is wide open as the team has a group of relievers that could all contend for the closing job. Some say the Mets 2012 season was a fluke, but the pitching is really strong New York. We'll see if the Mets are here to stay in 2013.
Grade: B-
4. Atlanta Braves
2012 Record: 6-13
It was another difficult season for the Atlanta Braves. The team started off decent with a 3-3 record after Week 6, but couldn't keep the success going through the rest of the season. Thankfully, we all could have expected this and so could Braves management as well, so it shouldn't have been too much of a disappointment for the fans. In 2013, the Braves will look to increase their win total and slowly inch their way to a playoff birth in the future. The problems with this team in the majors are all over the place. The vastly overpaid Vernon Wells (195 points) didn't live up to his worth in dollars in the outfield in 2012. Young third baseman, Matt Dominguez, played fairly well in his rookie season and could improve in his sophomore year. Jordan Pacheco (350 points), another rookie last season, was the Braves leading hitter and showed he could hold his own at either first, third, or occasionally behind the plate. On a positive note, Brian Roberts is set to return this season after missing most of last year with injuries. In pitching, the Braves don't get that much better. Roy Oswalt remains unsigned in the MLB, but could prove to be a valuable veteran on a young staff if he's signed. Daniel Hudson is out with tommy john surgery for most of the season, so that leaves a group of young guys to fill out the rest of the staff: Pat Corbin, Randy Wells, Tyson Ross, and Esmil Rogers. The bullpen is a mess and lacks a true closer to lead the group. The real hope for this team is in the farm system. Talented players like Archie Bradley, Stetson Allie, Trevor Story, and Bryce Benz could force their way into the majors soon if the starters aren't producing like they should be. All in all, the Braves are slowly climbing up the ladder of success. It probably won't happen this year, but with the young talent in the minors, they'll get there eventually.
Grade: D+
5. Miami Marlins
2012 Record: 4-15
Let's look at this on the bright side: the team is getting another top pick in the amateur draft this coming June. The Marlins were dreadful in 2012 under shaky ownership, but a new GM has come to Miami to take on a very difficult job. The team lacked a spark in any area of the major league roster, and a dismal season ended with a 4-15 record. The looming problem for this team is the offense. It's hard to find anything worthy of pointing out in the lineup. Consequently, we'll look at the minors and the future for this team. Dan Vogelbach and Matt Olsen are a pair of young first basemen that are racing to hit the majors. The first one there could hold down the spot for good. Along with them, the team has two superstar prospects in third baseman Miguel Sano and shortstop Carlos Correa. Both are a few years away, but scream with potential. In the rotation, the Marlins didn't actually have that bad of a season. Breakout pitcher Lance Lynn (485 points) had a brilliant season. It has been rumored recently that he will be traded for young minor league talent, however. Along with him, Ryan Vogelsong (460 points) had a terrific year that was also a surprise. If both pitchers stick around, they could be solid building blocks for the future in the rotation. The bulllpen is barren and really needs a quality closer. The team has collected pitching prospects over time though, and a few (Banuelos, Sampson, and Cole) could help out sometime in 2013. There's not much now in Miami, but hopefully the new GM can turn this team around in the tough NL East.
Grade: D
Final 2013 NL East Projections:
1. Phillies
2. Nationals
3. Mets
4. Braves
5. Marlins