In 2007, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins made a bold statement claiming that the Phillies were the “team to beat in the National League East.” Many questioned Rollins after the Mets had just won the National League East easily in 2006. However, Rollins and the Phillies delivered on his prediction in 2007 as the New York Mets blew a 7 game lead in September and the Phillies won the National League East. The Phillies would be ousted that year to the surprising Colorado Rockies. During the offseason, the Mets acquired Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins via trade. Baseball analysts were already taking the Mets to make the playoffs and Mets fans were ready to print playoff tickets. Enter: Jimmy Rollins who refused to take the Mets this season. Jimmy once again had a prediction, predicting the Phillies to win 100 games. Fast forward to September 2008 and it was deja vu for Mets fans. The Mets once again faced elimination from the playoffs within the last two games. The Phillies clinched the division and were no longer the Mets worst enemy. In fact, the Brewers were not even the Mets worst enemy: they were their own worst enemy. The Mets fell once again and missed the playoffs. The Phillies? They went on to live out Jimmy Rollins’ prediction in a very unlikely World Series. The 2008 World Series did not include the usual Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees. It did not include the 2008 favorite Chicago Cubs or the mid-season favorite Chicago White Sox. No, this year included two teams that for years were in the shadow of the top of the division: The Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies went on to win the World Series behind the arm of Cole Hamels, the bat of Chase Utley, and the clutch saving skills seen all year from Brad Lidge. Hamels, like many great pitchers (Smoltz, Pettitte to name a few) made a name for himself in the playoffs and has the opportunity this following season to truly establish himself as a pitching great. Expect Santana and Hamels to battle it out for the National League Cy Young award. Oh yeah, and here’s an interesting fact: A former Mets farmhand named Fred Westfall was Hamels first pitching coach when he was in the Carmel Mountain Ranch Little League in San Diego and was the first to begin to teach Hamels the changeup. The Yankees/Boston rivalry seems to be fading a little bit for one reason: they aren’t facing each other in the playoffs, taking away from truly meaningful games. While the rivalry will probably never die, I am simply making an example. The Mets/Phillies rivalry is a very good rivalry and has the potential to become a great rivalry. The only way the rivalry can truly become great is a playoff series such as the NLCS. While I do not see anyone on the Mets or Phillies throwing an old man to the ground (unless the Mets resign Pedro in between now and then); the mix of Mike Schmidt and his e-mails, the two best pitchers in the NL in Hamels and Santana, and the two best shortstops in the national league, one cockier than the other, would set up for an amazing playoff series and the start of an amazing rivalry for years to come.

New York Mets
2008 Record: 89-73, 2nd Place
2009 Projection: 95-67, 1st Place
Key Additions:- Francisco Rodriguez
- JJ Putz
- Freddie Garcia
- Livan Hernandez
- Oliver Perez (resigned)
- Tim Redding
- Sean Green
Key Loss(es):
- Joe Smith
- Aaron Heilman
- Duaner Sanchez
- Moises Alou
- Pedro Martinez
Key Young Player(s)
- OF Daniel Murphy
- OF Nick Evans

Projected Rotation
1) LHP Johan Santana
2) RHP John Maine
3) LHP Oliver Perez
4) RHP Mike Pelfrey
5) RHP Livan Hernandez (favored to earn position)
Who and What to Watch For:
- Daniel Murphy: According to Mets manager Jerry Manuel, Murphy will get the nod to bat second in the Mets line-up. The young Murphy has shown that he has a great eye for the ball, and plenty of patience at the plate. Expect Murphy to establish himself as an important player in the Mets line-up.
- The Mets 2-3-4-5 Pitchers: Johan Santana is going to give you plenty, so there’s no use worrying about him (barring injury). The Mets will need production from their 2-3-4-5 pitchers. With the newly refurbished bullpen, all the Mets need is a solid 7 innings from their starters– the bullpen will do the rest. The Mets need the Oliver Perez and John Maine from 2007, and the Mike Pelfrey from the second half of 2008. If, and that’s a big IF the Mets can get that production, expect them to do well.
- David Wright: It must be a 3rd baseman playing in New York thing, because David Wright just could not come up big in clutch situations last season. Wright, who came up huge his first 2 seasons seemed nervous at the plate last season and struck out a lot in big situations. His clutch hitting appeared in the World Baseball Classic and with a clutch-hitting Wright, the Mets line-up is completely different.

Okay, Mets, this is your last chance. I took the Mets last season to win the division in a toss-up. I really could not decide between the Mets and Phillies, so I let my bias choose the Mets. Well, they made me look like a fool. The Mets went out and improved their biggest problem: the bullpen. According to stats, if the Mets had Puttz and K-Rod last season, they would have finished 12 games ahead of the Phillies and Santana’s wins would have been somewhere in the mid 20’s (move over Timmy). Many questions revolve around K-Rod and his decreasing velocity and if David Wright can get rid of the A-Rod bug. Just like the Mets lost the division in September, the best bet for the Mets to win the division from the Phillies will be in April. With Cole Hamel’s health in question, Chase Utley likely to miss a week or two, and the suspension of Romero, the Mets need to attack early, and the Mets’ September can turn out to be the Phillies’ April.

Philadelphia Phillies
2008 Record: 92-70, 1st Place
2009 Projection:91-71, 2nd Place (wildcard)
Key Additions:
- Raul Ibanez
Key Loss(es)
- Pat Burrell
Key Young Player(s)
- N/A
Projected Rotation
1) LHP Cole Hamels
2) RHP Brett Myers
3) LHP Jamie Moyer
4) RHP Joe Blanton
5) RHP Kyle Kendrick
Who and What to Watch For:
- Brad Lidge: Can the guy blow a save? Lidge looks to continue his save streak and that will be a huge story this season.
- Bullpen: While on the note of Lidge, the bullpen is very strong. Look for the Phillies to rely on the bullpen and hold onto late inning leads.

I hate taking the Mets to win the division because in the end, the Phillies are the team to beat. They won the division and the World Series and going into this season, they are the team on everyone’s radar. In the past 2 seasons Jimmy Rollins’ predictions have come true. There’s no need for predictions this season– they are the team to beat. I see the division going back and forth and expect Hamels to have a huge season. The Phils will need a healthy Utley and Hamels to keep up with the Mets though.

Florida Marlins
2008 Record: 84-77, 3rd Place
2009 Projection: 82-80, 3rd Place
Key Additions:
- Leo Nunez
- Emilio Bonifacio
- Jose Ceda
Key Loss(es)
- Mike Jacobs
- Josh Willingham
- Scott Olsen
- Jose Ceda
Key Young Player(s)
- OF Cameron Maybin
Projected Rotation
1) RHP Ricky Nolasco
2) RHP Josh Johnson
3) RHP Chris Volstad
4) RHP Anibal Sanchez
5) LHP Andrew Miller
Who and What to Watch For:
- Youth: The Marlins are a very young team this season. Expect them to be a very fun to watch team this season behind the best shortstop in the league, Hanley Ramirez

Someone get the Marlins GM, Michael Hill a calendar. Doesn’t he know the Marlins tradition? They’re supposed to win a World Series every 7 years, THEN unload their players. The Marlins have lost a lot this offseason, but they have gained a lot of speed, or a lot MORE speed. Don’t get me wrong, the Marlins are going to be a very “showy” team and a lot of fun to watch. Hanley Ramirez is moving down to the 3-spot in the line-up leaving leadoff to youngster and possible breakout player of the year Cameron Maybin. Expect this team to be very interesting with an offense that has the ability to roll over opposing pitching—- but they’re just not good enough to hang with the Mets and Phillies.

Atlanta Braves
2008 Record: 72-90, 3rd Place
2009 Projection: 75-87, 4th Place
Key Additions:
- Derek Lowe
- Kenshin Kawakami
- Javier Vazquez
- Boone Logan
- David Ross
Key Loss(es)
- John Smoltz
- Mike Hampton
- Tom Glavine
- Tim Hudson (injury– may miss season)
Key Young Player(s)
- OF Matt LaPorta
Projected Rotation
1) RHP Derek Lowe
2) RHP Javier Vazquez
3) RHP Jair Jurrjens
4) RHP Kenshin Kawakami
5) RHP Jorge Campillo
Who and What to Watch For:
- Derek Lowe: Lowe has been spectacular the last couple of seasons. Expect him to thrive in Atlanta’s big ballpark. Being a sinker-ball pitcher, as he gets tired, his sinker only gets better. Put him in a pitcher’s ballpark and expect him to get only better.
- Chipper Jones: Chipper was amazing last year and put up a remarkable batting average. Should be interesting to see how well he does this season.

Let’s get this out now– the Braves of the 90’s are gone, figuratively and physically. With the departure of John Smoltz, the 90’s era just about left, but is still hanging on to Chipper’s bat. While Chipper will put up the numbers, he is not what he used to be (he doesn’t get to play at Shea anymore– to whom he named one of his children because of his success there). The Braves padded their pitching this offseason, but also lost Hampton and Smoltz. Expect their pitching to do well, but just like the Marlins, they won’t be able to hang with the Mets and Phillies. Should be interesting to see the Braves face Smoltz as the AL East and NL East face each other this season.

Washington Nationals
2008 Record: 59-102, Last Place
2009 Projection: 68-94, Last Place
Key Additions:
- Daniel Cabrera
- Scott Olsen
- Josh Willingham
- Adam Dunn
Key Loss(es)
- Emilio Bonafacio
- Aaron Boone
- Tim Redding
- Chad Cordero
- Jon Rauch
Key Young Player(s)
- OF Lastings Milledge
Projected Rotation
1) LHP Scott Olsen
2) RHP Daniel Cabrera
3) RHP Jordan Zimmerman
4) RHP Shairon Martis
5) TBA
Who and What to Watch For:
- Ryan Zimmerman: Zimmerman’s injury had to do a lot with the Nat’s terrible season last year. He was on pace to have a great season when he got injured and was back and forth all season. Expect Zimmerman to come back and put up good numbers
- Lastings Milledge: This is the year he fulfills the hype that surrounded him while he was in the Mets minor league system. He’s a very good player but has played too much with his head and not his heart. If he can get past the ego, Milledge can have a great season.

With the addition of Adam Dunn and other hitters, the Nationals have set themselves up for improvement. While getting out of the basement is still a reach, and the playoffs are out of sight— if you’re a Nationals fan, I’d be excited for the future.

Subscribe to the comments feed, reply, or trackback.