NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEWS

MLB PICKS 2008 NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

ATLANTA BRAVES:
MANAGER: BOBBY COX
2007 RECORD: 84-78

KEY ADDITIONS:
TOM GLAVINE LHP
WILL OHMAN LHP
JOSH ANDERSON OF
OMAR INFANTE UTL

KEY LOSSES:
LANCE CORMIER LHP
JOSE ASCANIO RHP
WILLIE HARRIS OF

HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JORDAN SCHAFER OF

OUTLOOK:
Hudson, Smoltz and Glavine could eat up 600+ innings. However, the key may be Mike Hampton returning from injury. If he steps up, so will the Braves. The Braves have a long lineup and it is balanced with veterans, and young, rising players. Will be in the hunt.

FLORIDA MARLINS:
MANAGER: FREDI GONZALEZ
2007 RECORD: 71-91

KEY ADDITIONS:
JOSE CASTILLO UTL
BURKE BADENHOP RHP
EULOGIO DE LA CRUZ RHP
DALLAS TRAHERN RHP
ANDREW MILLER LHP
MIKE RABELO C
CAMERON MAYBIN OF

KEY LOSSES:
DONTRELLE WILLIS LHP
MIGUEL OLIVO C
MIGUEL CABRERA 3B

HELP IS ON THE WAY:
GABY HERNANDEZ RHP

OUTLOOK:
With the departure of Willis, there is no longer an anchor to the staff. Last year the starters had a combined ERA of 5.58, with a .304 avg. against them. Maybin may be a top player someday, but he proved last year that he is not there yet. This team has some young talent, but it is miles from contending this year.

NEW YORK METS
MANAGER: WILLIE RANDOLPH
2007 RECORD: 88-74

KEY ADDITIONS:
JOHAN SANTANA LHP
MATT WISE RHP
RYAN CHURCH OF
BRIAN SCHNEIDER C

KEY LOSSES:
LASTINGS MILLEGE OF

HELP IS ON THE WAY:
ALL TRADED NO IMMEDIATE HELP

OUTLOOK:
The Mets completely choked down the stretch last year. Many have this team already in the World Series after picking up Santana, and Pedro back. Something however, just doesn’t seem to fit with this team and we aren’t ready to name them champs. They badly need a right-handed hitter. Lots of question marks with Pedro, El Duque, Alou, DelGado, Wagner and the entire Mets’ bullpen. They should have a good year, but something says they won’t.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
MANAGER: CHARLIE MANUEL
2007 RECORD: 89-73

KEY ADDITIONS:
BRAD LIDGE RHP
ERIC BRUNTLETT UTL
GEOFF JENKINS OF
CHAD DURBIN RHP
SO TAGUCHI OF
PEDRO FELIZ 3B

KEY LOSSES:
ROD BARAJAS C
ABRAHAM NUNEZ UTL
MICHAEL BOURNE OF
GEOFF GEARY RHP
FREDDY GARCIA RHP
AARON ROWAND OF

HELP IS ON THE WAY:
JOSH OUTMAN LHP

OUTLOOK:
Best lineup in the entire NL, with hitter-friendly park. Lidge is a huge pick-up because it puts Myers back in the rotation where he belongs. Hamels, Kendrick and Myers give them three very good pitchers. If they can get anything from Moyer and Eaton they will be there in the end.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
MANAGER: MANNY ACTA
LAST SEASON: 73-89

KEY ADDITIONS:
PAUL LODUCA C
AARON BOONE UTL
ELIJAH DUKES OF
LASTINGS MILLEGE OF

KEY LOSSES:
GLENN GIBSON LHP
RYAN CHURCH OF
BRIAN SCHNEIDER C

HELP IS ON THE WAY:
COLLIN BALESTER RHP

OUTLOOK:
Lots of baggage on this team, which could go either way. The pitching pales in contrast to the rest of the division and that certainly doesn’t bode well. The bullpen is solid, but will likely be very overworked. Can’t imagine this team rising much above the 73 wins from a year ago.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. PHILADELPHIA
2. NY METS
3. ATLANTA
4. WASHINGTON
5. FLORIDA