posted March 20, 2009 at 13:30 EST in MLB Props
NL East Odds - Phillies Look to Repeat
The race for division supremacy in the NL East has been an absolute knock-down, drag-out, fight to the finish the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies laying two emphatic division ‘smackdowns’ on the Mets, including their history-making comeback two seasons ago.
The NL East race is once again shaping up to be another thriller with the Phillies going on to win not only the NL East, but the World Series as well.
Now, the Mets and Marlins will be nipping at Philadelphia’s heels, while the Phillies will seek to maintain their division and league-wide excellence.
This look at the 2009 National League East Odds, followed by my brief analysis and division winner prediction will give BetUS MLB baseball sports betting enthusiasts everywhere a fine sense of which team or teams are not only capable of winning the NL East in 2009, but also contending for the World Series title.
Atlanta Braves
Offseason Additions
RHP Derek Lowe, RHP Kenshin Kawakami, RHP Javier Vazquez, LHP Boone Logan, C David Ross, OF Garret Anderson
Offseason Departures
RHP John Smoltz, Mike Hampton, RHP Jorge Julio
Analysis: The Braves made excellent additions Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Boone Logan and a seriously underrated Garrett Anderson and didn’t lose as much as one might think. I think Atlanta is still a bit short with its young position players, but I never like to put much past the Braves’ fine organization and managerial skills of future Hall of Famer, Bobby Cox. Still, this club has a ways to go to surpass Philadelphia and New York.
Florida Marlins
Offseason Additions
RHP Scott Proctor, RHP Leo Nunez, LHP Dan Meyer, RHP Jose Ceda, INF Emilio Bonifacio, LHP Zack Kroenke.
Offseason Departures
1B Mike Jacobs, LHP Scott Olsen, LF Josh Willingham, RHP Kevin Gregg, RHP Joe Nelson, OF Luis Gonzalez, LHP Arthur Rhodes, C Matt Treanor, LHP Mark Hendrickson, RHP Doug Waechter.
Analysis: I’ll keep it simple by saying that the Marlins do more with less, than any other team in baseball. While Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla are absolutely phenomena players – and the additions of veteran hurlers like Scott Proctor and Leo Nunez will help shore up Florida’s mediocre pitching staff, the team will be hard-pressed to overcome the losses of Mike Jacobs, Scott Olsen and Matt Treanor. Expect the Marlins to tae a slight step backwards in 2009 or remain in the 80-win neighborhood.
New York Mets
Offseason Additions
RHP Francisco Rodriguez, RHP J.J. Putz, OF Jeremy Reed, RHP Sean Green, RHP Darren O'Day, RHP Rocky Cherry, RHP Connor Robertson, RHP Tim Redding, LHP Casey Fossum, INF Alex Cora, RHP Freddy Garcia, OF Cory Sullivan, RHP Livan Hernandez
Offseason Departures
RHP Joe Smith, RHP Aaron Heilman, OF Endy Chavez, LHP Scott Schoeneweis, OF Trot Nixon, RHP Claudio Vargas
Analysis: The Mets made some nice offseason additions in closer, Rodriguez and J.J. Putz, but have issues on the back end of their starting rotation with Oliver Perez and the questionable Freddy Garcia. Left field is a huge question mark with Daniel Murphy or Fernando Tatis expected to platoon the position right now. Luis Castillo is also a question mark at second base though I really like the steady influence of Jerry Manuel. Still, something bothers me about this ballclub and it could be the lack of outspoken leadership from their veteran position players.
Philadelphia Phillies
Offseason Additions
LF Raul Ibanez, RHP Chan Ho Park, C Ronny Paulino, INF Marcus Giles, RHP Gary Majewski, INF Pablo Ozuna, RHP Robert Mosebach, OF John Mayberry, INF Miguel Cairo
Offseason Departures
LF Pat Burrell, OF So Taguchi, LHP Les Walrond, RHP Tom Gordon, RHP Adam Eaton
Analysis: Even though Philadelphia brought back almost every player from last season’s title-winning squad, they will be in a big-time battle to repeat their jaw-dropping success from last season as no NL team has repeated as World Series champs since 1975-76 when the ‘Big Red Machine’ Cincinnati Reds turned the trick.
Still, the Phillies have made some very nice additions despite losing big-bopper Pat Burrell. I like veterans, Raul Ibanez, Chan Ho Park, Ronny Paulino and Marcus Giles. If Philadelphia’s pitching holds up behind the phenomenal Cole Hamels, their big bats could carry them to another division-winning season, if not more.
Washington Nationals
Offseason Additions
LHP Scott Olsen, OF Josh Willingham, RHP Terrell Young, RHP Daniel Cabrera, OF Corey Patterson, RHP Josh Towers, LHP Wil Ledezma, INF Alex Cintron, C Javier Valentin, 1B/OF Adam Dunn
Offseason Departures
LHP Charlie Manning, 2B Emilio Bonifacio, INF Aaron Boone, RHP Tim Redding, RHP Chad Cordero
Analysis: The Nationals are going to be an absolute mess again in 2009 and for the foreseeable future if you ask me. The ‘Nots’ have mediocre position players, uninspiring pitchers in both, the staring rotation and bullpen and now, no knowledgeable GM since Jim Bowden hit the road. 70 wins might be stretching it.
Division Analysis: Call me crazy, but I like the Philadelphia Phillies, barring any major injury, to win the NL East once again as the Mets fall just a hair short because of their fourth and fifth starters and lack of leadership from their veteran players. Don’t get me wrong, New York will have a very legitimate shot, I just think the pressures of performing in the Big Apple will get to some of their new players.
I like the Braves for third place, followed by Florida and Washington.
The Pick: Philadelphia Phillies
