While it’s premature as the off-season is not over yet and
there are still moves that can be made, there are so few things happening that
I thought we should take a look at what each team has done thus far and who
they plan to put on the field. I present
my analysis in the order in which I predict them to finish.
Washington Nationals
When you run away with the division you really don’t have to
do much and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
In fact, by comparison they make the Mets look like the Padres or
Dodgers. They traded Ross Detwiler to
the Texas Rangers for a few minor leaguers who don’t look to have an immediate
impact on their future. The biggest
change for them is their hopeful return to health for Ryan Zimmerman who takes
over for departed free agent Adam LaRoche at 1st base. They still have a formidable pitching staff
that includes Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister
and Tanner Roark. Their bullpen includes
the 1-2 punch of Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. In addition to Ryan Zimmerman, they also
feature Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmon, Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper, Denard Span
and Jayson Werth along with catcher Wilson Ramos. Pencil them in for first place right now.
New York Mets
With a return to health and career average performances from
some of their regulars, the NY Mets should easily finish 2nd behind
the Nationals. Lucas Duda is coming off
a 30 HR season. Daniel Murphy is
solid. Wilmer Flores is a quantum leap
over Ruben Tejada. David Wright is on
the mend. Curtis Granderson has a full
year against NL pitching under his belt.
Gold Glover Juan Lagares Increased his offensive production last year
and hopes to build upon that progress.
Newcomer Michael Cuddyer is a professional hitter who, though he cost
some big dollars and a first round draft pick, should solidify the revolving
door in the other corner outfield position.
Travis d’Arnaud looked like the hot prospect he was touted to be after
his return from Las Vegas. The pitching staff
gets All-Star Matt Harvey back again in addition to a plethora of solid
pitchers that could enable the team to trade one or two starters before the
season begins. The bullpen will
eventually get the return of flamethrower Bobby Parnell to join last year’s
surprising 28 save man Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Vic Black, sub 2.00 ERA
Josh Edgin and long man Carlos Torres.
Florida Marlins
One of the more active teams this Hot Stove season, the
Florida Marlins have improved their team with some notable additions. Slugger Michael Morse takes over at 1st Base. Speed demon Dee Gordon takes over at 2nd. Flashy glove man Adeiny Hechavarria returns
at SS and professional hitter Martin Prado supplants Casey McGehee at 3rd. Their young outfield returns unchanged with
Christian Yelich in left, Marcell Ozuna in center and newly minted
gazillionaire Giancarlo Stanton in right.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia returns at catcher as well. The starting rotation should eventually see
the return of Jose Fernandez. Until then
it will include Henderson Alvarez, Mat Latos, Jarred Cosart, maybe Dan Haren
(if he doesn’t retire or get traded back to the west coast) and a plethora of
candidates for the other open slot(s).
Steven Cishek returns as the closer with an unheralded and somewhat uneven
bullpen. If a few things break right, they could leapfrog the Mets.
Philadelphia Phillies
While this club continues to age like a bottle of milk left
out on the counter, the fact remains that they do still have a nucleus of some
solid players interspersed with overpaid or unproven others. At 1st Base they have the underperforming contract
albatross, Ryan Howard. Chase Utley –
their Troy Tulowitzki – returns at 2nd. For the first time in what seems like forever
Jimmy Rollins is gone and replaced by utilityman Freddy Galvis and 3rd
Base manned by the unspectacular Cody Asche.
The outfield is pretty strong and
right now returns intact with Domonic Brown in left, Ben Revere in center and
Marlon Byrd in right. Catcher Carlos
Ruiz turns 36 this year and you have to wonder how much he has left in the
tank. Their 1-2 punch at the top of the
rotation is as good as any team in baseball with Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee
(assuming they are healthy) but after that it’s warm bodies , with David
Buchanan, Jerome Williams and Miguel Gonzalez penciled it at this
juncture. Jonathan Papelbon is still a
solid closer but then it’s a lot of hoping and praying beyond that.
Atlanta Braves
As bad as the Phillies look, I actually think the Braves are
worse, though positioned to improve sooner than the boys from the city of
brotherly love due to the plethora of prospects they received in a flurry of
off-season trades. First base is manned
by arguably the league’s best, Freddie Freeman.
Journeyman Alberto Callaspo takes over for the departed Dan Uggla at 2nd. All-Star caliber Andrelton Simmons mans SS
and then you have the underwhelming Chris Johnson at 3rd. The outfield which was once a strength now
features misplaced catcher Evan Gattis in left, contract-from-hell B.J. Upton
in center and puzzling free agent acquisition Nick Markakis in right. Catching duties are being handled by
Christian Bethancourt. The rotation does
still have Julio Teheran and newcomer Shelby Miller, plus
reliever-turned-starter Alex Wood. Then
it gets a bit shaky with Mike Minor and David Hale. The bullpen has lights-out closer Craig
Kimbrel, followed by the dice roll on a bunch of no-names. If any of their youngsters prosper during
2015 they could challenge the Phillies for 4th but right now they
look like a lock for the basement. They
sport exactly one hitter in the lineup – Freeman – with 25 homer
potential. Gattis may do it but he’s
rumored to be on the trading block. This
team is going to struggle to score runs and doesn’t appear to have the pitching
to carry a moribund offense.
You are early...
ReplyDeleteIf a gun was held to my head today, I would say Nats, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Braves
Mets have a miracle up their sleeves for 2015. I pick them for a surprising first.
ReplyDeleteCan we trade our outfield for the Marlins outfield? ;)
ReplyDeleteNats, mets, marlins, braves, phillies. Because i feel the phillies will move several more key players. Also mers pitching staff and bullpen is superior to marlins.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets starting pitching is what gives them a chance at making the post season. Actually, their entire pitching staff does.
ReplyDeleteThe starters specifically though, are rock solid. With the exception of Colon, who will toss his share of clunkers, each starter has the ability to absolutely shut down any line in the bigs.
Where they'll really shine though, is when they're matching up against other team's 3,4, and 5 starters. A lot of teams have two solid pitchers anchoring the rotation, but the Mets have 4 legit starters that could pitch on opening day. That number increases in June, when Thor should enter the rotation. They should win their share of games easily, by just those mismatches alone.
The bullpen, with 3 to 4 solid and hard throwing pitchers, should turn many 9 inning games, into 6 or 7 inning affairs.
A lot of people aren't sold on the offense. I happen to think they have the players in place to score an average of 4 to 5 runs a game.
Having Cuddyer is huge, allowing them to sit Duda when facing a lefty. Turning what was an automatic out last year, into a slot in the lineup that should produce an 850+ops.
I also think the Mets would be wise to carry Ceasar Puello on the roster as well. He could spell Grandy in those same situations, and hopefully produce a 800 ops that Granderson would never come close to against lefties.
Having Lagaras, Mayberry, and Puello in the outfield against lefties should turn this team into a legit threat.
I think Cuddyer was an overpay in terms of years and draft pick at his age and health, though the dollars are fair. I don't think he was the best choice, but if he can stay healthy he should be a solid hitter in the mold of a Keith Hernandez offensively. Defensively is another matter entirely.
ReplyDelete