Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2012 21:36:42 GMT -5
Atlanta Braves: Jair Jurjens is the head of the average rotation that, after one year of a dynasty league, is shockingly similar to the current Braves roster. So is the bullpen, with Venters and Kimbrel at the front. Brian McCann, Heyward, and Cargo lead the good lineup that can potentially do damage this season. With not much cap for FA, this is the team that is going to be the 2012 Braves, with a couple trades. The farm system looks like it will produce a few impact players, like almost every team in this divison. I think the Braves have the potential to do well, but their stars have to play like stars.
Miami Marlins: One of the few teams that I see not only contending this year but also in 5 years with a similar team. The Marlins have some of the best young talent there is with Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Ryan Braun, even if he misses 50 games. Sandoval, Kinsler, and Ike Davis are also some big hitters to look out for. One thing the Marlins are missing is an ace, but with consistent pitchers in Cueto and Romero, the staff can produce. The bullpen is led by Brian Wilson and Francisco Cordero, and look to help the Marlins win several pitching categories this year. Mix in about $30-35 mil of extra cap, and you have a contender. Just don’t ask about the farm.
New York Mets: Future ace Michael Pineda is the head of a solid rotation including Daniel Hudson. With a young lineup including Jose Tabata, Austin Jackson, Justin Smoak, and Danny Espinosa, and newly acquired BJ Upton, the hitters could be feared down the road. The bullpen is a weak spot as of now, outside of David Pauley, but that’s nothing their money for FA can’t fix. If the Mets are able to use their money wisely, they are a team that can definitely make noise in the NL East soon. Not necessarily this season, but in a couple years look out for them.
Philadelphia Phillies: As hard as it is to rate my own team, after looking at it for some time, I have decided that if I were describe the Phillies in one word, it would be “balanced”. Brandon Phillips, Ichiro, and Youkilis are the main guys in the lineup, with young players Mark Trumbo and Ian Desmond with them. The rotation consists of almost all #2 or #3 starters, with Bumgarner, Marcum, and Danks all falling under that category, and Kyle Lohse and Vance Worley closer to a low-end #3 or a #4. Sean Marshall and Mike Adams are at the top of the pen. Outside of needing a LF and one RP, the Phillies just need to add some quality bench players with $35.5 mil for FA. There are definitely some future impact guys in the farm, but outside of the top 3 or 4 guys, not much else follows. The Phillies have some work to do if they want to make the playoffs, although it is not a ridiculous goal to set.
Washington Nationals: Outside of Pedro Alvarez, Aaron Hill, and Ubaldo Jimenez, the Nationals are not a good team. Of course, it is almost impossible to be good using only $20 mil of cap. They have $70 mil for FA because adding and subtracting what they owe and what they are paid, they lose $10 mil to others. As of today, there isn’t much else to say about Washington. There are a few good spects that will be up in the coming years, so look for them to contribute as well. The most important thing is that they use their money well, and they will be a decent team this season.
NL EAST 2012 SEASON OVERVIEW: The Mets and the Nationals have a lot of money to spend, but that guarantees nothing other than the potential for bad contracts. Money is never a bad thing, but $70 mil for signings does not always equal winning. I see the Marlins in 1st, myself (Phillies) in 2nd, the Braves in 3rd, the Mets in 4th, and the Nationals in 5th. This will almost certainly change post-FA though.
Miami Marlins: One of the few teams that I see not only contending this year but also in 5 years with a similar team. The Marlins have some of the best young talent there is with Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Ryan Braun, even if he misses 50 games. Sandoval, Kinsler, and Ike Davis are also some big hitters to look out for. One thing the Marlins are missing is an ace, but with consistent pitchers in Cueto and Romero, the staff can produce. The bullpen is led by Brian Wilson and Francisco Cordero, and look to help the Marlins win several pitching categories this year. Mix in about $30-35 mil of extra cap, and you have a contender. Just don’t ask about the farm.
New York Mets: Future ace Michael Pineda is the head of a solid rotation including Daniel Hudson. With a young lineup including Jose Tabata, Austin Jackson, Justin Smoak, and Danny Espinosa, and newly acquired BJ Upton, the hitters could be feared down the road. The bullpen is a weak spot as of now, outside of David Pauley, but that’s nothing their money for FA can’t fix. If the Mets are able to use their money wisely, they are a team that can definitely make noise in the NL East soon. Not necessarily this season, but in a couple years look out for them.
Philadelphia Phillies: As hard as it is to rate my own team, after looking at it for some time, I have decided that if I were describe the Phillies in one word, it would be “balanced”. Brandon Phillips, Ichiro, and Youkilis are the main guys in the lineup, with young players Mark Trumbo and Ian Desmond with them. The rotation consists of almost all #2 or #3 starters, with Bumgarner, Marcum, and Danks all falling under that category, and Kyle Lohse and Vance Worley closer to a low-end #3 or a #4. Sean Marshall and Mike Adams are at the top of the pen. Outside of needing a LF and one RP, the Phillies just need to add some quality bench players with $35.5 mil for FA. There are definitely some future impact guys in the farm, but outside of the top 3 or 4 guys, not much else follows. The Phillies have some work to do if they want to make the playoffs, although it is not a ridiculous goal to set.
Washington Nationals: Outside of Pedro Alvarez, Aaron Hill, and Ubaldo Jimenez, the Nationals are not a good team. Of course, it is almost impossible to be good using only $20 mil of cap. They have $70 mil for FA because adding and subtracting what they owe and what they are paid, they lose $10 mil to others. As of today, there isn’t much else to say about Washington. There are a few good spects that will be up in the coming years, so look for them to contribute as well. The most important thing is that they use their money well, and they will be a decent team this season.
NL EAST 2012 SEASON OVERVIEW: The Mets and the Nationals have a lot of money to spend, but that guarantees nothing other than the potential for bad contracts. Money is never a bad thing, but $70 mil for signings does not always equal winning. I see the Marlins in 1st, myself (Phillies) in 2nd, the Braves in 3rd, the Mets in 4th, and the Nationals in 5th. This will almost certainly change post-FA though.