NL East Predictions in 2008

Last year it looked like the New York Mets were going to take the National League East and had an excellent chance to make it to the Fall Classic. However, the stars did not align for them and the Mets suffered a colossal collapse, losing 12 of their last 17 games, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to steal the division.

What is going to happen this year? Will the Phillies retain their title? Are the Mets looking for revenge? What about the rest of the division?

Here is the low down on the National League East going into the 2008 season.

Atlanta Braves

Key Additions:

T. Glavine, P

M. Kotsay, CF

J. Jurrjens, P

Key Losses:

A. Jones, OF

E. Renteria, SS

After a string of a remarkable 14 consecutive division titles, the Braves placed third in the division for the 2^nd straight year. They are looking to replace departed Andruw Jones with free agent signing Mark Kotsay from Oakland. Kotsay has had back problems in the past and even healthy would be hard pressed to replace the 10 time Gold Glove winner.

Glavine will join RHP Tim Hudson and old teammate RHP John Smoltz in the starting rotation giving the Braves a old but formidable 1-2-3. Pitcher Mike Hampton is attempting to come back from injury to join the rotation and the team is high on RHP Jair Jurrjens, acquired from the Tigers in the Renteria deal.

The Braves will be trying out a new closer this year with Rafael Soriano getting the nod. The bullpen should be solid.

One of the reasons the Braves were willing to part with Renteria was SS Yunel Escobar. In half a season with the team last year, he hit .326. The team's chances will hinge on Escobar and the health of the starting staff.

Florida Marlins

Key Additions:

A. Miller, P

Key Losses:

D. Willis, P

M. Cabrera, 3B

During this off season, the Marlins shipped two of their best players in Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Carbrera to the Detroit Tigers for prospects. This has to be extremely disconcerting to Marlins fans (if there are any), considering the fact that Cabrera is only 24 and Willis only 26.

One of the players that the Marlins received in the deal is LHP Andrew Miller. The team is hoping that he will be ready to join the rotation this year.

The team's payroll is between 15 and 20 million. With that type of financial support, it is near impossible to compete. The Marlins will be hard pressed to not languish in last place.

Philadelphia Phillies

Key Additions:

Brad Lidge, P,

Pedro Feliz, 3B

Geoff Jenkins, OF

Key Losses:

Aaron Rowand, OF

The Phillies will feel the loss of Rowand both on and off the field. On the field, the team will be looking to replace his defense along with his .309 average. Management feels that free agents OF Geoff Jenkins and 3B Pedro Feliz will make up the lost production. Off the field, Roward was the heart and soul of the team. It will be interesting to see how his absence plays out.

One of the key questions facing the Phillies is which Brad Lidge will show up. Will it be the pitcher from 2005 that had an ERA of 2.29 along with 42 saves or the pitcher he has been ever since? In 2006 his ERA ballooned over 5 and last year his saves dropped to 19.

With the addition of Lidge, the Phillies will be moving RHP Brett Myers back into the starting rotation, giving them a good 1-2 combination with All-Star Cole Hamels (15-5 3.39 ERA). Myers is slated to pitch the opener.

The Phillies made the playoffs last year, ending a drought of 14 years, only to get swept by the Colorado Rockies. This is sure to leave a bad taste and the Phils will look to get back and avenge themselves. With the exception of Rowand, all of the everyday starters are back.

New York Mets

Key Additions:

J. Santana, P

Key Losses:

T. Glavine, P

P. LoDuca, C

S. Green, RF

As previously mentioned, the New York Mets are coming off a late season collapse that cost them the division title. This year's off season was relatively quite until a major move shook up the entire division.

The Mets scored huge when they traded for perennial All-Star pitcher, Johan Santana, from the Minnesota Twins. Prior to that deal, the Mets off season was far from spectacular. Santana has been a constant ace in the American League and will be even tougher in a new league where the hitters will be unfamiliar with him.

The Mets will be looking for better production from Carlos Delgado after the first baseman missed time last year with an injured wrist. Delgado, Carlos Beltran and 3B David Wright will give the Mets good power. Wright, along with SS Jose Reyes, make up the best left infield in the National League.

The Santana trade bolsters a starting lineup that was hurt by the loss of Glavine. Santana over Glavine is a huge upgrade. The Mets are hoping that RHP Pedro Martinez will bounce back this year and join Santana and RHP John Maine in the starting rotation.

The Mets are one of the oldest teams in the league with Delgado, Moises Alou, Martizez and Orlando Hernandez all having one year left on their contracts. After last year's collapse, the time is now for the New York Mets.

Washington Nationals

Key Additions:

P. Lo Duca, C

J. Estrada, C

L. Milledge, OF

Key Losses:

B. Schneider, C

R. Church, OF

At first glance, it does not appear that the Nationals did very much this off season to improve the team that was 16 games under .500 last year. Their big name free agent acquisition, catcher Paul Lo Duca had very similar numbers to a catcher they let go, Brian Schneider. Additionally, Lo Duca will be sidelined for most of the spring after a left knee operation.

However, the team has high hopes for young OFs Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge and also P Tyler Clippard, whom they acquired from the Yankees. Nick Johnson should be coming back from injury which will help bolster the offense. Dmitri Young had a breakout year with the team hitting .320 and was Comeback Player of the Year. How will they work him and Johnson in the lineup together?

The Nationals had a hard time scoring runs last year. They are hoping that their new additions, plus a move to a more hitter friendly stadium will improve their offense which ranked near the bottom in just about every offensive category.

The starting pitching is still suspect. Thomas Patterson is coming off injury. If Patterson is healthy and back to the form he showed two years ago, he and P Shawn Hill could give the Nationals a decent 1-2 punch.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Mets

2. Phillies

3. Nationals

4. Braves

5. Marlins

The addition of Santana gives the Mets the edge in a race that will be very close and will more than likely go down to the wire. The wildcard looks to be coming out of the East, with the Phillies looking to secure the spot.

Sources

National League East Division - The Courier News.com

Phil Rogers - National League East Preview - ChicagoTribune.com

The Official Site of Major League Baseball - MLB.com

JJ Stankevitz - 2008 MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves - bleacherreport.com