MLB Preview of the NL East

The NL East is still a decent division, though the league's worst team usually sits in its cellar. The other four teams all won pennants in the last decade, with the Marlins and Phillies each winning a World Series championship. One of those teams is the clear favorite to win the first pennant of the new decade. Here is a preview of the NL East clubs in the predicted order of finish.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phils should win their third consecutive pennant this season. The powerful lineup features all-stars or MVPs at three infield positions. 1B Ryan Howard is one of the biggest sluggers in the game and, like SS Jimmy Rollins, is a former MVP. 2B Chase Utley is also an outstanding hitter who staged his own personal home run derby against the Yankees in last year's series. They replaced free agent 3B Pedro Feliz with Placido Polanco, who is a superb defenseman as well as a career .300 hitter.

The outfield may be less heralded than the infield, but it is just as talented. LF Raul Ibanez has averaged over 100 RBI and nearly 30 home runs for the last four seasons. RF Jayson Werth had even better numbers than Ibanez last year, and CF Shane Victorino provides speed (100 steals over the last three seasons) near the top of the batting order. Catcher Carlos Ruiz can't match the offensive numbers of his teammates, but he is a very dependable backstop.

The biggest improvement for the Phillies will be on the mound. The club traded for Toronto All-Star Roy Halladay, who is probably the best arm in the game. There's no telling how many more games he'll win in the pitching- friendly senior circuit, especially with that powerful lineup behind him. Lefthanders Cole Hamels and 12-game winner J.A. Happ will make a good southpaw complement to Halladay and veteran righty Joe Blanton. The only concern for the reigning NL champs is the bullpen, where closer Brad Lidge came very close to losing his job late in 2009. He seemed to have regained his dominating form in the post-season, but the club has no experienced stopper should he falter early on.

Atlanta Braves

Bobby Cox winds down his career with a team capable of making the playoffs as a wild card. The Braves have little chance of overtaking the Phillies atop the division, but they do have a solid club. All-Star and former MVP Chipper Jones will continue to be the face of the organization at third, and veteran Troy Glaus will join him across the diamond at first. The middle of the infield features young star Yuniesky Escobar at shortstop and career .307 hitter Mark Prado at second.

The outfield will be anchored by 20-20 man Nate McLouth, acquired late last season from the Pirates. LF Melkey Cabrera will have to put up better numbers than he did with the Yankees if Atlanta is going to contend. His .250 average and 10 homers could be overcome by the All-Stars in New York's lineup, but he is being counted on to be a top run producer for Bobby Cox's group. RF Matt Diaz's power numbers were similar to Cabrera's, but he hit .310. The Braves have the NL's best catcher, Brian McCann, who has averaged 20 homers and close to a .300 batting average over the past four seasons.

Atlanta's pitching is among the best in the league. Veterans Derrick Lowe and Tim Hudson are reliable, and Jair Jurrjens has won 27 games over the last two years. Young Tommy Hanson's 11 wins and 2.86 ERA indicate he might be poised for stardom in 2009. The biggest question marl for the staff is the bullpen. The closer is Billy Wagner, who has been marred by inconsistency and injuries the last few seasons.

Florida Marlins:

Miami's baseball club always seems to surprise its fans. The last few years the Marlins have exceeded expectations, so this year may finally get some respect. The middle infield includes two of the biggest stars in the game. SS Hanley Ramirez is the reigning batting champ and the best all-around player in the game. 2B Dan Uggla boasts more power than any of his peers, though rumors persist that he will be traded before opening day. 3B Jorge Cantu is very underrated, but his 29 home runs and 95 RBI might be shifted across the diamond if rookie 1B Gaby Sanchez falters. In that case, Florida would have to rely on veteran Wes Helms or Emilio Bonifacio to assume the hot corner.

The outfield is young, but it is filled with talent. Rookie of the Year Chris Coughlin will be in left, and exciting ex-Tiger prospect Cameron Maybin will cover center. RF Cody Ross has hit over 20 homers the last two years, and his average has rose ten points in 2009. Youngster John Baker and veteran Ronnie Paulino will share the catching duties.

Once again Florida will have great pitching prospects. Josh Johnson won 15 games last year, Ricky Nolasco won 13, and Anibal Sanchez has a no-hitter among his career stats. The bullpen is a mess, and closer Leo Nunez will have to be much more consistent. He saved 33 games last year, but he blew nearly ten leads and ended up with a losing record.

New York Mets:

The Mets may finally exceed their expectations this year. They have been underachievers the past three seasons, not even reaching the playoffs in 2008 or 2009. After 2007 the team addressed its biggest weakness, starting pitching, by signing the game's best lefthander, Johann Santana. They still didn't win, so they brought in one of the game's best closers in 2009. They ended up finishing even worse than they had in 2008.

The club has much lower expectations this year, even though they have some of the best players in the game. 3B David Wright is a consistent source of power and solid hitting, and SS Jose Reyes is an excellent base runner who has the potential to contend for a batting title. CF Carlos Beltran has all the tools a player could want, but his tendency to underachieve matches that of his club. The club won't be as dependent on Beltran this year, since they won the Jason Bay sweepstakes. Bay brings power, a solid bat, a good glove, and a professional approach that the club has been lacking.

The rest of the lineup is less impressive. 2B Luis Castillo's legs have worn down to the point where he is no longer effective in the field or at the plate. Former LF Daniel Murphy's 12 home runs and .260 batting average make him a very below average choice at first base, especially one who is expected to replace Carlos Delgado. RF Jeff Francouer has yet to rediscover the magic he briefly displayed in Atlanta a few years ago. If he doesn't, he could be replaced by Veteran Garry Matthews. Josh Thole and veteran Henry Blanco will battle 27 year old sophomore Omir Santos for time behind the plate.

Santana of course will lead the pitching rotation. In spite of the Mets' woes the last two years, the former Cy Young winner has been outstanding. Mainstays Mike Pelfrey and Jamie Maine should be adequate starters, but which Oliver Perez will pitch this season? The enigmatic lefthander sometimes shows the stuff of a Cy Young candidate, but more often he just makes his manager sigh. Francisco Rodriguez will again be the closer, but he was not nearly as reliable last year as he was as an Angel in 2008. His ERA was nearly two runs higher, he lost twice as many games, and he blew seven saves.

Washington Nationals:

The fans in the nation's capitol had a new ball park to look forward in 2009. This year they have nothing on which to build anticipation for the season, unless it's to see if 1B Adam Dunn becomes the first slugger ever whose home run totals are higher than his team's victory totals.

Across the diamond from Dunn will be All-Star 3B Ryan Zimmerman, one of the few bright spots for the Nationals. Cristian Guzman will shift to second to make room for young SS Ian Desmond to round out the infield. LF Josh Willingham's limited power (24 homers) will provide some protection for Dunn, but the other outfielders both have question marks. CF Nyjer Morgan is inexperienced, but his 42 steals and .307 batting average made him an exciting player to watch last year. RF Elijah Dukes has had off-field issues in the past, making his mediocre stats (8 homers, 242 BA) even less endurable. The catching duties will be shared by Wil Nieves and year old Ivan Rodriguez.

The biggest problem for the Nats is the pitching staff. Signing Jason Marquis, who won 15 games for Colorado last year, will help a little. He will be joined in the rotation by Scott Olsen and lefty John Lannan. The club brought in former Pirate Matt Capps to close games, apparently undeterred by his 5.80 ERA. The fact that he is closing with those numbers emphasizes just how bad the rest of the bullpen is.