Who will win the NL East?

[Mikey]

Who ya got?

[Mikey]

I think the Mets and Phillies will go down to the wire.

[jeffy]

Someone voted for the Nats??? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Clapp]

The Mets probably win the division last year if they have K-Rod and Putz, but I still won't be surprised at all if they find another way to blow it in September. That rotation is far from a sure thing and Oliver Perez looks like shit right now and that's not a good sign. He's either very good or god awful.

The Phillies are the defending world champs and while they lost Burrell, they got a better run producer in Ibanez.

I've learned my lesson with the Mets. Great talent but they find a way to fuck it up, like the Cubs in the playoffs. They've got to go out and prove it. As for the Phillies, I like this team more than last year's. I think Rollins has a much bigger year, Howard gets his batting average up a bit, and Ibanez drives in 115+ runs.

[Destined]

Phillies/Cubs vs. Red Sox/Yankees World Series IMHO

[kbwsb]

What's stunning about the Mets is that they had 4 MVP candidates in their starting lineup, <i>plus</i> the best pitcher in baseball.
Four! That's half their fucking lineup.

Like Clapp, I'm impressed with the Phils, but the Braves also improved a lot over the winter, and the Marlins always seem to be in the mix.
I would guess that starting pitching will be the deciding factor in this race. If either Cole Hamels or Johan Santana succumbs to one of their nagging injuries, it'll be a huge blow to their team, and could decide the race.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=25478:date=Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What's stunning about the Mets is that they had 4 MVP candidates in their starting lineup, <i>plus</i> the best pitcher in baseball.
Four! That's half their fucking lineup.

Like Clapp, I'm impressed with the Phils, but the Braves also improved a lot over the winter, and the Marlins always seem to be in the mix.
I would guess that starting pitching will be the deciding factor in this race. If either Cole Hamels or Johan Santana succumbs to one of their nagging injuries, it'll be a huge blow to their team, and could decide the race.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For sure. Plus this is the best team the Nats have had. Obviously that's not saying anything, but they're improved.

[rok]

I don't expect the Braves to improve much from last season. The Phils probably are due for a subpar season, and their SP could severely underachieve. It pains me to say it, but I think the Mets will get into NLCS and face off against us. Yeah, we'll finally win a playoff series.

[bz]

If the Nationals were in the NL West I could see them easily being a .500 team. But they aren't and they'll get bufued.

I think the obvious choice is the Phillies here. They actually got better offensively IMO and I think their pitching will remain constant. They aren't post WS Marlins so the division is theirs to lose.

[CCwinwssoon]

I'm actually going to say that its going to come down to the Mets and Braves. I think the stability in the Braves rotation will be key to their success.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=25464:date=Mar 27 2009, 07:36 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Mar 27 2009, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->That rotation is far from a sure thing and Oliver Perez looks like shit right now and that's not a good sign. He's either very good or god awful.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Continued, hilarious inning I just watched. 6 runs in 2/3 of an inning and hes gone. Booed like crazy. He was all over the place. Finally he threw a strike after about 8 straight balls and it was a rocket back to him that somehow found his glove. He tried to double Ortiz off at second base and threw it into center field [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]. Then another walk, then a grand slam to Jed Lowrie.

[Gad]

<!--quoteo(post=25478:date=Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What's stunning about the Mets is that they had 4 MVP candidates in their starting lineup, <i>plus</i> the best pitcher in baseball.
Four! That's half their fucking lineup.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah but the problem is the other 4 guys in their lineup are Ryan Church, Daniel Murphy, Luis Castillo/Alex Cora, and Brian Schnieder..

So while they have 4 studs, they balance it out with 4 below average players leading to a lineup that is overall a lot weaker than you would expect given the star power..

I like the Braves to bounce back. They really boosted their SP and I think Kotchman is due for a big year as well..

Phillies are the class of the division until someone knocks them off though.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=26844:date=Apr 4 2009, 12:20 PM:name=Gad)-->QUOTE (Gad @ Apr 4 2009, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25478:date=Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What's stunning about the Mets is that they had 4 MVP candidates in their starting lineup, <i>plus</i> the best pitcher in baseball.
Four! That's half their fucking lineup.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah but the problem is the other 4 guys in their lineup are Ryan Church, Daniel Murphy, Luis Castillo/Alex Cora, and Brian Schnieder..

So while they have 4 studs, they balance it out with 4 below average players leading to a lineup that is overall a lot weaker than you would expect given the star power..

I like the Braves to bounce back. They really boosted their SP and I think Kotchman is due for a big year as well..

Phillies are the class of the division until someone knocks them off though.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's how I feel.

[deputymayor]

<!--quoteo(post=26954:date=Apr 5 2009, 02:25 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 5 2009, 02:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=26844:date=Apr 4 2009, 12:20 PM:name=Gad)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gad @ Apr 4 2009, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25478:date=Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 27 2009, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What's stunning about the Mets is that they had 4 MVP candidates in their starting lineup, <i>plus</i> the best pitcher in baseball.
Four! That's half their fucking lineup.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah but the problem is the other 4 guys in their lineup are Ryan Church, Daniel Murphy, Luis Castillo/Alex Cora, and Brian Schnieder..

So while they have 4 studs, they balance it out with 4 below average players leading to a lineup that is overall a lot weaker than you would expect given the star power..

I like the Braves to bounce back. They really boosted their SP and I think Kotchman is due for a big year as well..

Phillies are the class of the division until someone knocks them off though.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's how I feel.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agree too, but I think Daniel Murphy is gonna have a pretty good year.