HMLB NL East
For the first time since 1933, a baseball team from
our nationís capital will be headed to the playoffs. Ironically, Ryan Zimmerman
is the starter in the lineup and John Lannan is the only starter in the rotation
that were drafted by the Nats. The rest are products of the Montreal Expos.
Rosters
BRAVES
1. Rafael Furcal- SS
2. Brian
McCann- C
3. Jermaine Dye- LF
4. Chipper Jones- 3b
5. Jeff Francouer-
RF
6. Andruw Jones- CF
7. Adam Laroche- 1b
8. Kelly Johnson- 2b
Bench:
Wes Helms, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Wilson Betemit, Tony Pena, Mark
Derosa
Rotation:
1. Adam Wainwright
2. Tom Glavine
3. Kevin
Millwood
4. Jason Marquis
5. Jason Schmidt
Closer: Jorge Campillo
RH:
Andrew Brown, Joey Devine, Matt Belisle, Zach Minor
LH: Jo-Jo Reyes, Kent
Mercker
MARLINS
1. Edgar Rentaria- SS
2. Mark Kotsay- CF
3.
Adrian Gonzalez- 1b
4. Miguel Cabrera- 3b
5. Josh Willingham- LF
6.
Jeremy Hermida- RF
7. Matt Traenor- C
8. Luis Castillo- 2b
Bench: Randy
Winn, Ross Gload, Kevin Millar, Mike Redmond, Alex Gonzalez, Robert
Andino
Rotation:
1. Josh Beckett
2. Scott Olsen
3. Livan
Hernandez
4. Nate Robertson
5. Josh Johnson
Closer: Chris Resop
RH:
Denny Bautista, Harvey Garcia, Logan Kensing, Claudio Vargas
LH: Taylor
Tankersley
METS
1. Jose Reyes- SS
2. Carlos Gomez- RF
3.
Lastings Milledge- CF
4. David Wright- 3b
5. Mike Jacobs- 1b
6. Ty
Wigginton- 2b
7. Jay Payton- LF
8. Jesus Flores- C
Bench: Vance Wilson,
Justin Huber, Angel Pagan, Endy Chavez
Rotation
1. Scott Kazmir
2.
A.J. Burnett
3. Brian Bannister
4. Mike Pelfrey
5. Aaron
Heilman
Closer: Jason Isringhausen
RH: Octavio Dotel, Joe Smith, Matt
Lindstrom, Guillermo Mota, Heath Bell, Tyler Walker
LH: Jon
Niese
NATIONALS
1. Grady Sizemore- CF
2. Orlando Cabrera-
SS
3. Ryan Zimmerman- 3b
4. Vladimir Guerrero- RF
5. Jason Bay- LF
6.
Brandon Phillips- 2b
7. Mark Grudzielanek- 1b
8. Brian Schneider-
C
Bench: Jamey Carroll, Maicer Izturis, Michael Barrett, Cliff Floyd, Milton
Bradley
Rotation:
1. Cliff Lee
2. Javier Vazquez
3. Miguel
Batista
4. John Lannan
5. Randy Johnson
Closer: Chad Cordero
RH:
Al Reyes, Darrell Rasner, Armando Galarraga, Jason Bergman, Shawn Hill
LH: Bill
Bray
PHILLIES
1. Jimmy Rollins- SS
2. Michael Bourn- CF
3.
Chase Utley- 2b
4. Ryan Howard- 1b
5. Pat Burrell- LF
6. Scott Rolen-
3b
7. Marlon Byrd- RF
8. Carlos Ruiz- C
Bench: Marlon Anderson, Johnny
Estrada, Jason Michaels, Nick Punto, Jason Jaramillo
Rotation
1. Cole
Hamels
2. Brett Myers
3. Randy Wolf
4. Carlos Silva
5. Gavin
Floyd
Closer: Ryan Madsen
RH: Adam Eaton, Kyle Kendrick, Geoff Geary, Scott
Mathieson
LH: Mike Zagurski, J.A.
Happ
LINEUP
Speed
1. Mets
2. Phillies
3.
Nationals
4. Braves
5. Marlins
Power
1. Nationals
2.
Braves
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Mets
Depth
1.
Braves
2. Marlins
3. Nationals
4. Phillies
5.
Mets
Bench
1. Braves
2. Marlins
3. Nationals
4.
Phillies
5. Mets
Fielding
1. Nationals
2. Mets
3.
Braves
4. Phillies
5. Marlins
Overall Lineup
1.
Nationals
2. Braves
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5.
Mets
PITCHING
Rotation 1-3
1. Marlins
2.
Nationals
3. Mets
4. Phillies
5. Braves
Rotation 1-5
1.
Nationals
2. Phillies
3. Marlins
4. Braves
5.
Mets
Closer
1. Nationals
2. Mets
3. Phillies
4.
Marlins
5. Braves
Bullpen
1. Mets
2. Nationals
3.
Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Braves
Depth
1. Nationals
2.
Marlins
3. Mets
4. Phillies
5. Braves
Overall
Pitching
1. Nationals
2. Marlins
3. Mets
4. Phillies
5.
Braves
PROJECTED STANDINGS
1. Nationals - Yes,
the Nationals would win the division. Overall, the Nats have the best pitching and
hitting in the division, so this is their division to lose. The lineup has a
great mix of rising stars and veterans that make this team very scary, but how
does the pitching hold up against the rest of the NL when October comes
around?
2. Marlins ñ The Marlins have very good depth, but what worries me is
the starting rotation. There is too much inconsistency. On any given day this
could be the best rotation in baseball, but it could also be among the worst.
This will hurt the Marlins come September, but how will it affect the teamís Wild
Card chances.
3. Phillies ñ When I look at the Phillies, I see a good team.
This team has a chance at the Wild Card, but I just see this squad being very
disappointing in the end. The bullpen will lose a lot of games for this team, and
although the top of the lineup is great, the bottom is not the lineup of a
division winner.
4. Braves ñ The Braves are the Blue Jays of the National
League. A few years ago, this team would be on top of the division easily. Now,
the team would be counting on too many veterans that are past their prime,
especially in the rotation.
5. Mets ñ Now you see why the real Mets really
have to count on free agency to win. Except for Reyes, Wright, Kazmir, and
Burnett, the team will fear more than it will be
feared.
Share Your Thoughts
Eugene
Karlik | May 27, 2008, 6:13pm
Good
work. But, I have a few nitpicks... Not to be a homer, but the
Braves lineup is easily better than the National's lineup. First,
Andruw has obviously been quite awful this season, as well as
last. While I'm not confident that he won't rebound, I'd like
to replace him in this line-up. There are two options that I see:
1. Gregor Blanco- a very solid young player who'll get on base a
ton, steal bases, and play good defense. 2. Be a little creative.
Furcal to CF-with his speed he can definitely handle it. Esco to
SS--even without Furcal moving, Esco should at least be on the
bench. Although he is Cuban, he was a 2nd round pick of the
Braves. So he should be eligible. If you take care of the Andruw
problem, you end up with either Adam LaRoche or Frenchy as
probably your worst hitter. Now, in my opinion, that's damn
impressive. You're talking Chipper, Furcal, McCann--three guys
whose OPS is at or above 1.000. Then there's Dye, who is a very
good hitter. If you do put Furcal in CF and get Esco in there, you
have another near All-Star level SS, and in Kelly, you have a guy
who not many people recognize to be, but nevertheless is, a top 5
2b in the game. On the balance, I think that lineup would be
better than the current Braves lineup, which is pretty awesome. It
would definitely be better than the Nats-- Vlad is a substantial
upgrade over Frenchy. Bay is an upgrade over Dye. Furcal of this
year is better than Sizemore, but overall I'd call it a wash. If
we have to go with Blanco, then Sizemore takes this. Phillips and
KJ are close, but I favor KJ. Phillips is helped tremendously by
playing in Cincy's bandbox. I suppose LaRoche and Grudz are
roughly a wash, though LaRoche is usually better. Everywhere else
the Braves are better. Chipper is way better than Zimm. Either
Furcal or Esco are way better than Cabrera, and of course the
difference between McCann and Schneider is like the difference
between VBR and Slope Radio. So I'd have to say the Braves lineup
is overall better, and I would say the same of the Phils' lineup,
which is already one of the best in baseball, and is just
augmented by Rolen, who's an upgrade over what they have
now.
Also, Boyer for the Braves pen!
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