[ad_1]
John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |
It was a four-team horse race that everyone could win, perhaps the most competitive division of the Majors this season. But while the contenders qualify for the pole quarter this weekend, the East is the NLI is not up to fashion.
The race could still go on, but with only the Phillies leading over .500 on Saturday, the division is certainly weaker than expected, with the Mets, the Braves and especially the Nationals all playing baseball less than scintillating. .
The bad bulls are the common denominator – although the Phillies' pen has improved a lot lately – leaving open the possibility that one of these teams will take the plunge to sign Craig Kimbrel.
At this point, after an active winter for everyone except the Braves, it's clear that the Phillies, as might be expected, are taking advantage of the situation Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, and Andrew McCutchen, even if David Robertson has been a no-show so far.
But they are not really a heavyweight at this point and do not expect to run away with anything. Here is a breakdown of the first quarter of eastern NL (although the Marlins are the worst of MLBs), describing how planning for the off-season is played out for each team and the reasons for believing or doubting their chances to win the division.
METS
Best move in the low season: take Jeff McNeil out of the trade with the Mariners.
Would the Mets really have included McNeil in the deal if social media had not exploded into scandal when information about such a trade surfaced? They will never say it, but given that Brodie Van Wagenen's acquisitions have been disappointing overall, it's a good thing that he has kept his new hitter to the hit machine, which is simply invaluable for the offense.
Worst move in low season: Wilson Ramos
This is not a trivial feat that prevails Jeurys Familia in this category, but Ramos was so bad. He seemed to be a sure bet when Van Wagenen signed a two-year contract after being frustrated by the Marlins' asking price at Realmuto. But until now, Ramos seemed old and motionless behind the marble, fighting with wild throws and ironed balls, while he eliminated only 14% of the basic thieves (4 out of 25). He also hits .235 with four more moves.
Reason to believe that they can win the NL East: The starting pitch finally arrives and could still be the best rotation of the division. And McNeil and Pete Alonso offer hope for the offense, assuming Robinson Cano to life at his bat.
Reason to doubt that they will win: Their paddock has been better lately, but it's still scary, especially if Familia can not regain her form on her return from injury. Meanwhile, Noah Syndergaard & # 39; s inconsistencies become more and more disturbing, and defense, especially at SS, C, and CF (when Nimmo plays it), is emerging as a major concern.
PHILLIES
Best move in low season: J.T. Realmuto
This could change, of course, if Harper, currently hitting .237 with seven HRs, displays the expected number of him. But at this point, the Phillies' trade against the best baseball receiver is paying off. He has been strong offensive and superb in defense, eliminating up to now 55% of the MLB's best core thieves.
Worst move in low season: David Robertson
Signed at the signing of a $ 23 million two-year contract for the Phillies, Robertson had some tough starts, as evidenced by his 5.40 ERA and 2.10 WHIP. On April 15, he injured his elbow. No indication, he is about to come back.
Reason to believe that they can win the NL East: They have clearly been the best team in the division so far, at 21-16, and that is with a bumpy start to the season from the Ace. Aaron Nola, which has regained its form at its very beginnings, and pretty much about Harper. Without Robertson, the pen was surprisingly effective.
Reason to doubt that they will win: After the collapse of the end of the season in 18, they have baggage up to the huge expectations. And the starting pitching has a lot to prove, just like the manager Gabe Kapler.
BRAVES
Best move in low season: Josh Donaldson
It's not worth $ 23 million even for a one-year contract, but AL 2015's most valuable player is in good health and is productive at third base, with six home runs and a SPO of .859.
Worst move in low season: sitting on their hands
The Braves apparently thought that a rising team would automatically continue to improve, but it seems clear that the pitching team, in particular, needed a boost, especially after having lost Anibel Sanchez, an unsung hero last year who left via a free agency. Despite all their promise, the Braves starters rank 12th in the Netherlands with a silver medal of 4.55.
Reason to believe that they can win the NL East: Especially the same team that went 90-72 to win last year, with many young talents that should continue to improve, especially pitching.
Reason for doubting that they can win: It's not a surprise to see a young team struggling to meet high expectations. At the moment, their pitching is not good enough to be repeated.
NATIONAL
Best move in low season: Patrick Corbin
The Yankees would not have a six-year sentence and $ 140 million for the left-handed free agent, and the deal might sound disappointing, but so far, Corbin has been very good. He is 3-1 with a points average of 3.20 including seven decisive rounds against the Dodgers in Los Angeles last week.
Worst move in low season: Trevor Rosenthal
Brian Dozier Until now, 2B has also gone bankrupt, but Rosenthal is a major factor in the disorder of the nationals. They bet $ 8 million that the ex-cardinals could recover after Tommy John's operation and become their eighth inning, but it was disastrous. It was only at his fourth outing that Rosenthal even had an exit, and he currently has a late score of 36.00 and has not started since April 26, when he left with a viral infection.
Reason to believe that they can still win NL-East: Their big three of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Corbin was good enough to allow the Nats to take flight, especially when they are offensive catalysts Trea Turner returns in a week or two from a broken finger.
Reason to doubt that they will win: They are 15-23 with a manager, Davey Martinez, in the hot seat and the market, with his horrible ERA of 6.29, is probably irreparable without Kimbrel's signature. In addition, maybe everything was not the fault of Bryce Harper.
HARPER: As the BVW Mets team struggles, can Jed Lowrie help straighten the ship? >> Read more
RELATED: Jeurys Familia should be back with Mets Sunday >> Read More
RELATED: Mickey Callaway's unique message to the Mets seems to have worked >> Read More
[ad_2]
Source link