Spring Thoughts

An appropriate title, as given prior history it's likely to be the only post all spring.  Ah well, what better way to avoid grading papers that I should have done days ago?

It is, once again, that best of all times, the last few days of spring training before baseball season starts.  It is a time of hope for fans of all teams, when great spring performances are signs of an upcoming breakout season and poor performances are merely players working out the kinks or trying something new.  Every team has the same record, and no one knows what oddities lie ahead over the course of the season.  Personally, my hands itch to be throwing or hitting a baseball most hours of the day.  At the moment, of course, that's not an option, so some preseason thoughts and predictions instead; we'll start with just the NL East for the moment (other picks: AL Central, AL West, NL Central, NL West):

The NL East

Mets

Strengths: Top 3 in MLB at their position at SS, 3B, CF, #1 SP; star bats could carry lineup; rest of rotation has potential (besides Livan Hernandez) and bullpen now headlined by KRod and Putz.

Weaknesses: SP overall could easily underperform; will be over the hill at C, 1B, 2B - if Delgado in particular regresses back to his first half stats from last year, the offense may not be able to score enough to overcome mediocre pitching.  How would they overcome an injury to one of their big 4?

Record: 90-72

Phillies

Strengths: Chase Utley, Chase Utley, Chase Utley (he's that good). Hamels is also a stud, and Rollins and Howard are productive.  Excellent defensively, strong bullpen, deep lineup.

Weaknesses: Howard is likely to begin to decline - he already can't hit lefties.  While it's a decent group, there are no sure things among 2-5 starters.  Ibanez is weak defensively and is at the stage where one might expect offensive decline as well.

Record: 89-73

Braves

Strengths: Solid infield, anchored by McCann.  Reasonably deep pitching staff.

Weaknesses: Miserable outfield, quality of starters is questionable; how many games will Chipper be able to play?

Record: 81-81

Marlins

Strengths: Hanley Ramirez.  Lots of young talent in the pitching staff.

Weaknesses: Several questionable spots in the lineup (Emilio Bonifacio at 3B?!?) - will the young, unproven talent deliver?

Record: 79-83

Edit: Revised down 3 games after reading this.  I'm not going as low as the projections in that article because I think their young pitching will be ok, but it did make me rethink a little.

Washington Nationals

Strengths: Jim Bowden is gone.  Ryan Zimmerman (maybe).  Lots of depth at corner OF and 1B.

Weaknesses: Too much depth at corner OF and 1B, not enough elsewhere.  Pitching, pitching, pitching.

Record: 68-94