[h1]Atlanta Braves[/h1]Manager: Bobby Cox
Stadium: Turner Field
2007 Record: 84-78 (3rd in NL East)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule
[h2]2007: Batting Stats | Runs Scored (ranked 3rd in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]PLAYER[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]AB[/td] [td]HR[/td] [td]RBI[/td] [td]SB[/td] [td]AVG[/td] [td]OBP[/td] [td]SLG[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Kelly Johnson[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]2B[/td] [td]497[/td] [td]15[/td] [td]65[/td] [td]8[/td] [td].272[/td] [td].370[/td] [td].447[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Yunel Escobar[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SS[/td] [td]475[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]66[/td] [td]7[/td] [td].297[/td] [td].353[/td] [td].419[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chipper Jones[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]3B[/td] [td]425[/td] [td]25[/td] [td]86[/td] [td]5[/td] [td].327[/td] [td].418[/td] [td].595[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Mark Teixeira[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]1B[/td] [td]591[/td] [td]35[/td] [td]121[/td] [td]1[/td] [td].299[/td] [td].390[/td] [td].552[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Brian McCann[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]C[/td] [td]477[/td] [td]22[/td] [td]91[/td] [td]2[/td] [td].310[/td] [td].367[/td] [td].520[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jeff Francoeur[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]RF[/td] [td]637[/td] [td]24[/td] [td]104[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].286[/td] [td].327[/td] [td].463[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Matt Diaz[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]LF[/td] [td]302[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]35[/td] [td]3[/td] [td].325[/td] [td].358[/td] [td].470[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Mark Kotsay[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]CF[/td] [td]381[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]41[/td] [td]3[/td] [td].239[/td] [td].297[/td] [td].339[/td] [/tr][tr][td]OFF THE BENCH[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Scott Thorman[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]1B[/td] [td]110[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]1[/td] [td].218[/td] [td].256[/td] [td].400[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Omar Infante[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]INF[/td] [td]259[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]27[/td] [td]5[/td] [td].263[/td] [td].301[/td] [td].367[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
There'll be an unmistakable windfall from a full season of Mark Teixeira in the cleanup spot; he drove in 56 runs in 54 games after joining the Braves in a trade with the Rangers last season. Chipper Jones seems ageless, coming off career highs in average (.337, second in the NL) and doubles (42). Assuming he can stay healthy, there's no reason not to expect more of the same. Jeff Francoeur is a legitimate 100-RBI threat who's starting to learn the strike zone; he practically doubled his walks total from 2006 to 2007. His on-base percentage ballooned from .293 to .338, though he averaged a strikeout every five at-bats.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
Mark Kotsay's long-term durability remains in question: He played in only 56 games last year because of back surgery and batted just .214 as a result. Though he has a strong arm and good instincts in center, he has the unenviable task of replacing Andruw Jones. Brian McCann is one of the franchise's crown jewels, but he needs to rebound from a 63-point dropoff in batting average and an almost 200-point decline in slugging percentage between 2006-2007. The Braves are convinced the catcher's troubles were the result of a bone spur in his ankle; a winter's rest will help restore the punch of his rookie season.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h2]2007: Pitching Stats | ERA (ranked 3rd in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]ROTATION[/td] [td]T[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]G[/td] [td]IP[/td] [td]W[/td] [td]SV[/td] [td]K[/td] [td]ERA[/td] [td]WHIP[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tim Hudson[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP1[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]218.0[/td] [td]15[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]132[/td] [td]3.76[/td] [td]1.30[/td] [/tr][tr][td]*John Smoltz[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP2[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]216.0[/td] [td]15[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]197[/td] [td]3.21[/td] [td]1.18[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tom Glavine[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP3[/td] [td]28[/td] [td]172.0[/td] [td]12[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]87[/td] [td]4.13[/td] [td]1.38[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Mike Hampton[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP4[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jair Jurrjens[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP5[/td] [td]26[/td] [td]146.0[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]68[/td] [td]4.83[/td] [td]1.37[/td] [/tr][tr][td]BULLPEN[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Peter Moylan[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]80[/td] [td]90[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]63[/td] [td]1.80[/td] [td]1.07[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Will Ohman[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]64[/td] [td]44[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]43[/td] [td]4.50[/td] [td]1.48[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Rafael Soriano[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Closer[/td] [td]57[/td] [td]60.0[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]31[/td] [td]38[/td] [td]2.70[/td] [td]0.93[/td] [/tr][tr][td]-- = unavailable; * = on DL[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
If everyone stays off the DL, the Braves' rotation could rank among the NL's best. John Smoltz still averages close to a strikeout an inning at age 40, thanks to that Hall of Fame slider. Tim Hudson lowered his ERA by a 1.5 runs last year, emphasizing a power splitter that kept the NL from hitting a home run against him for 66 consecutive innings. Tom Glavine will be more comfortable nestled in the No. 3 spot than he was with the Mets. The bullpen is airtight, assuming Rafael Soriano's arm remains sound. Peter Moylan's sinking, two-seam fastball is poison to right-handed hitters.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
Heavy reliance on aging arms could turn the season into a bust. Hampton looked good during spring training, but he forever seems to be one pitch away from (another) breakdown. Glavine is a workhorse -- he's averaged 215 innings a season for the past two decades -- but ended 2007 with devastating results. He allowed seven runs in just one-third of an inning against the Marlins on the final day of the Mets' campaign, putting the finishing touches on the greatest collapse in regular-season history. A 6.10 ERA down the stretch (last six starts) could be a red flag for a 42-year-old starter.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h1]PROSPECTS[/h1]
[h2]HITTER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Brent Lillibridge can play short and second and should be able to handle center and third as well; he'll hit for average but doesn't have the patience or power to play every day.
[h2]PITCHER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Jair Jurrjens, acquired from Detroit in the Edgar Renteria swap, has great command of an above-average fastball, but has some history of minor shoulder problems that may hold him back.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.
[h2]JUST THE FACTS[/h2]
• Yunel Escobar is a vacuum. He'll be an upgrade over SS Edgar Rentería. "Edgar had no range," says a Braves teammate. "Yunel gets to everything."
• Finally, they've found a closer. Rafael Soriano's numbers last year were a preview: 72 IPs, 47 hits, 70 K's. Plus, says Bobby Cox, "he's mean."
• There's no easy out. The offense won't miss Andruw Jones. "We can slug with anyone," says Jeff Francoeur. Look for Mark Teixeira to have a monster season his walk year.
• The rotation is ancient. "The key to our team is the health of our starters," says John Smoltz, referring to Tom Glavine and the oft-injured Mike Hampton. The 40-year-old Smoltz then adds, "I'm just glad I'm not the oldest." That would be Glavine (42).
[h2]HEARSAY[/h2]
"The Mets and Phillies had better not sleep on us," says a member of the Braves. "If Chipper can play 150 games like he's shooting for, we're going to win the division. That's how much firepower we have."
[h2]HOUSE CALL[/h2]
"I would love to see the Braves regain their place atop the standings. I was there the night Hank Aaron hit No. 715. I was also there in 1991 when they won the NLCS. I had an out-of-body experience." -- John Lewis, D-Ga.
-- Tim Kurkjian
[h1]FANTASY[/h1]
[h2]SLEEPER[/h2]
The Braves liked Yunel Escobar and his .385 on-base percentage so much, they traded away Edgar Renteria so he could play every day.
[h2]BUST[/h2]
Rafael Soriano will start the year as the closer, but with his penchant for injury, we're not sure he'll finish the year that way.
-- A.J. Mass
[h2]INJURIES[/h2]
Mike Hampton has suffered a slew of injuries over the past five years and has not pitched in the majors since 2005. He underwent Tommy John surgery to reconstruct his left ulnar collateral ligament in Fall 2005, forcing him to sit out all of 2006. Hampton returned the following spring only to tear a flexor tendon in his left forearm, which again required surgery. The presence of a flexor tendon tear can be as devastating as a ligament injury because flexor strength is critical to countering torque produced at the elbow during pitching. Hampton thus spent the 2007 season working to strengthen his flexor muscle group in preparation for pitching again in 2008. Hampton's age and injury history work against him, but there is no reason to think that he cannot be effective, especially because he is demonstrating such good control this spring despite having spent so much time away from the game.
-- Stephania Bell
[h1]PREDICTIONS[/h1]
Stark
93-69
1st in
NL East
Kurkjian
90-72
3rd in
NL East
Olney
91-71
1st in
NL East
Law
85-77
2nd in
NL East
Phillips
90-72
2nd in
NL East
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=fla
Stadium: Dolphin Stadium
2007 Record: 71-91 (5th in NL East)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule
[h2]2007: Batting Stats | Runs Scored (ranked 6th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]PLAYER[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]AB[/td] [td]HR[/td] [td]RBI[/td] [td]SB[/td] [td]AVG[/td] [td]OBP[/td] [td]SLG[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Hanley Ramirez[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SS[/td] [td]656[/td] [td]26[/td] [td]76[/td] [td]53[/td] [td].320[/td] [td].376[/td] [td].538[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Dan Uggla[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]2B[/td] [td]635[/td] [td]30[/td] [td]91[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].269[/td] [td].338[/td] [td].490[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jeremy Hermida[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]RF[/td] [td]457[/td] [td]21[/td] [td]70[/td] [td]7[/td] [td].287[/td] [td].363[/td] [td].497[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Josh Willingham[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]LF[/td] [td]466[/td] [td]22[/td] [td]82[/td] [td]5[/td] [td].270[/td] [td].361[/td] [td].483[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Mike Jacobs[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]1B[/td] [td]405[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]57[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].274[/td] [td].356[/td] [td].437[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jorge Cantu[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]3B[/td] [td]260[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]35[/td] [td]0[/td] [td].254[/td] [td].318[/td] [td].381[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Cody Ross[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]CF[/td] [td]340[/td] [td]21[/td] [td]71[/td] [td]3[/td] [td].300[/td] [td].375[/td] [td].579[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Matt Treanor[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]C[/td] [td]280[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]29[/td] [td]0[/td] [td].246[/td] [td].339[/td] [td].350[/td] [/tr][tr][td]OFF THE BENCH[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Luis Gonzalez[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]OF[/td] [td]405[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]57[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].274[/td] [td].356[/td] [td].437[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Alfredo Amezaga[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]OF[/td] [td]251[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]17[/td] [td]10[/td] [td].263[/td] [td].327[/td] [td].359[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
The sky's the limit for Ramirez, who has the power and bat speed to merit a spot in the middle of the order. He's leading off, for now, but that won't last forever. He was tops among NL hitters with at least 150 plate appearances against lefties last year, batting .399. He scored a franchise-record 125 runs, as well. Uggla became only the second baseman in major league history to hit at least 25 home runs in each of his first two seasons. Hermida's second-half surge (.340, .956 OPS) could be a sign of good things to come.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
No lineup that loses Miguel Cabrera can hope to improve much; the best the Marlins can do is count on Ramirez's development and for Jacobs to reach his prime at age 27. He certainly has home run power. Uggla has proven long ball credentials, but he still has to repair the damage to his batting average, which fell to .245 last year, a 37-point decline from 2006. The bigger problem is the bottom half of the batting order, which is filled with question marks and experiments. It's no stretch projecting the Marlins in the last third of the NL in runs scored.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h2]2007: Pitching Stats | ERA (16th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]ROTATION[/td] [td]T[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]G[/td] [td]IP[/td] [td]W[/td] [td]SV[/td] [td]K[/td] [td]ERA[/td] [td]WHIP[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Mark Hendrickson[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP1[/td] [td]36[/td] [td]146[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]99[/td] [td]5.05[/td] [td]1.32[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Andrew Miller[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP2[/td] [td]24[/td] [td]140[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]116[/td] [td]4.57[/td] [td]1.42[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Scott Olsen[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP3[/td] [td]28[/td] [td]147[/td] [td]9[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]125[/td] [td]5.07[/td] [td]1.60[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ricky Nolasco[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP4[/td] [td]24[/td] [td]100[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]56[/td] [td]5.31[/td] [td]1.59[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chris Volstad[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP5[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]BULLPEN[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Taylor Tankersley[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]62[/td] [td]46[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]49[/td] [td]3.72[/td] [td]1.48[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Matt Lindstrom[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]71[/td] [td]67[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]62[/td] [td]3.09[/td] [td]1.30[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Kevin Gregg[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Closer[/td] [td]57[/td] [td]91[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]26[/td] [td]88[/td] [td]3.96[/td] [td]1.31[/td] [/tr][tr][td]-- = unavailable[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
Hendrickson, all 6-9 of him, threw well in the Grapefruit League, which Marlins officials take as a sign he'll improve on last year's 5.21 ERA with the Dodgers. In the post-Dontrelle Willis era, Hendrickson will serve as the veteran ace. He, Olsen and Miller will give the Marlins an unusual profile: three lefties in the starting rotation. Nolasco missed most of last season with elbow inflammation but appeared healthy in the Arizona Fall League and is back to throwing his power 91-94 mph fastball. The Marlins won't need a fifth starter until mid-April, but it could be 21-year-old rookie Volstad.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
Just as Cabrera will be missed, so will Willis, who gave the Marlins real mound presence and a legitimate chance to win every fifth day. There's no such guarantee in the current rotation. Olsen has upside, but his ERA soared to 5.81 last year, the third season in a row that mark has increased. The league's average against him ballooned from .239 to .315. Sergio Mitre is out until June with a forearm strain, opening the door for Volstad at the back end of the rotation. But his lack of major league experience will keep the Marlins from rushing him.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h1]PROSPECTS[/h1]
[h2]HITTER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Cameron Maybin has big raw power and plays a good center field with a plus arm, but is no friend of offspeed stuff. The Marlins might be rushing him if they give him a full-time job in the majors too soon.
[h2]PITCHER TO WATCH:[/h2]Burke Badenhop's stuff is fringy, and he projects as a back-end reliever at best. Chris Volstad, a former first-rounder, throws an almost effortless 90-94 mph.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc
[h2]JUST THE FACTS[/h2]
• Cameron Maybin will be a star. Eventually. For now, several former Tigers teammates say he's not ready. But the Marlins need to play him if they want anyone to watch.
• Starting from scratch. Dontrelle Willis is gone, Sergio Mitre (forearm) will miss two months, Anibal Sanchez (shoulder) at least three, and Josh Johnson (elbow) could be out for the season. All this for the team that had the NL's worst ERA last year.
• Fredi Gonzalez is giving out iPods. In an effort to change a frat-house atmosphere, the second-year manager has banned loud clubhouse music. He discovered last season that treating kids like men doesn't always work.
[h2]HEARSAY[/h2]
"I hate what's happening to the Marlins," says a scout. "But I've seen all the kids Larry Beinfest got for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, and they can play. It's just going to take time."
[h2]HOUSE CALL[/h2]
"With all the trades we've made, and with that huge stadium that's so hard to fill, it's difficult for Marlins fans to be dedicated. We might get a new stadium in Little Havana, right in my district. That would be wonderful." -- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.
-- Tim Kurkjian
[h1]FANTASY[/h1]
[h2]SLEEPER[/h2]
Jeremy Hermida has fallen off a lot of fantasy radar screens, but remember, the former 11th overall pick is just 24 years old. After the All-Star break in '07, he hit .340/.401/.555, with a dramatically improved line-drive rate. A season-long line of .300/25/90 is possible.
[h2]BUST[/h2]
Don't rely on Kevin Gregg to be a closer all year. Gregg earns the most money on this team, and has two more arbitration years ahead. The Marlins aren't going anywhere, and they've got a bunch of power-arm closer replacements. Expect a midsummer trade.
-- Christopher Harris
[h2]INJURIES[/h2]
Hanley Ramirez suffered through painful shoulder subluxations (where the shoulder slips in the joint but does not dislocate) on his left side after a big swing and a miss in July. Offseason surgery to repair a partially torn labrum and stabilize the shoulder should have removed the cause of any mechanical irritation, and the subsequent rehab should have given Ramirez the strength necessary to protect the shoulder. Batting over .400 this spring, with a few home runs thrown in the mix, Ramirez has already shown that he is fully recovered.
-- Stephania Bell
[h1]PREDICTIONS[/h1]
Stark
70-92
5th in
NL East
Kurkjian
64-98
5th in
NL East
Olney
68-94
5th in
NL East
Law
68-94
5th in
NL East
Phillips
66-96
5th in
NL East
Stadium: Shea Stadium
2007 Record: 88-74 (2nd in NL East)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule
[h2]2007: Batting Stats | Runs Scored (ranked 4th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]PLAYER[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]AB[/td] [td]HR[/td] [td]RBI[/td] [td]SB[/td] [td]AVG[/td] [td]OBP[/td] [td]SLG[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jose Reyes[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]SS[/td] [td]673[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]63[/td] [td]72[/td] [td].285[/td] [td].347[/td] [td].434[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Luis Castillo[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]2B[/td] [td]340[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]19[/td] [td]10[/td] [td].288[/td] [td].354[/td] [td].341[/td] [/tr][tr][td]David Wright[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]3B[/td] [td]596[/td] [td]32[/td] [td]109[/td] [td]28[/td] [td].319[/td] [td].404[/td] [td].552[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Carlos Beltran[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]CF[/td] [td]547[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]108[/td] [td]21[/td] [td].274[/td] [td].359[/td] [td].527[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Carlos Delgado[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]1B[/td] [td]532[/td] [td]29[/td] [td]98[/td] [td]2[/td] [td].267[/td] [td].351[/td] [td].494[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ryan Church[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]RF[/td] [td]496[/td] [td]18[/td] [td]78[/td] [td]7[/td] [td].274[/td] [td].352[/td] [td].476[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Brian Schneider[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]C[/td] [td]403[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]53[/td] [td]1[/td] [td].246[/td] [td].325[/td] [td].345[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Endy Chavez[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]LF[/td] [td]192[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]21[/td] [td]6[/td] [td].276[/td] [td].317[/td] [td].370[/td] [/tr][tr][td]OFF THE BENCH[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Marlon Anderson[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]INF/OF[/td] [td]154[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]5[/td] [td].292[/td] [td].341[/td] [td].468[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Angel Pagan[/td] [td]S[/td] [td]OF[/td] [td]155[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]20[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].258[/td] [td].308[/td] [td].419[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
When he's in the right frame of mind, Jose Reyes is one of the National League's most explosive players and is indeed the Mets' best all-around threat. He's worked on bunting this spring in hopes of boosting his average over .300 again (he dropped 20 points last year, finishing at .280), and also insists he'll pace himself better instead of burning out as he did during a 681 at-bat season in '07. At age 30, Carlos Beltran is in his peak phase, with back-to-back 100-RBI seasons at Shea, including 74 home runs. And while David Wright might (arguably) be deserving of the Gold Glove award, his real strength is run production, hitting a career-high 30 HRs last year with a .962 OPS.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
Moises Alou, who would've been the oldest outfielder in the big leagues before getting being diagnosed with a hernia, is out until May. His history of injuries means the Mets can't possibly project him over a full season. The team is paying similar attention to Carlos Delgado, who missed a week in camp because of a chronic hip problem. The 36-year-old first baseman is undoubtedly in his decline phase, coming off a 2007 season in which he had the fewest home runs and RBIs and lowest batting average since becoming an everyday player in 1996.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h2]2007: Pitching Stats | ERA (ranked 7th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]ROTATION[/td] [td]T[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]G[/td] [td]IP[/td] [td]W[/td] [td]SV[/td] [td]K[/td] [td]ERA[/td] [td]WHIP[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Johan Santana[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP1[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]230.0[/td] [td]22[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]269[/td] [td]2.54[/td] [td]0.90[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pedro Martinez[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP2[/td] [td]25[/td] [td]148.0[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]161[/td] [td]3.10[/td] [td]1.28[/td] [/tr][tr][td]John Maine[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP3[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]183.0[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]156[/td] [td]4.18[/td] [td]1.28[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Oliver Perez[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP4[/td] [td]31[/td] [td]178.0[/td] [td]12[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]170[/td] [td]4.40[/td] [td]1.43[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Mike Pelfrey[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP5[/td] [td]19[/td] [td]101.0[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]67[/td] [td]4.49[/td] [td]1.41[/td] [/tr][tr][td]BULLPEN[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Aaron Heilman[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]75[/td] [td]93[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]74[/td] [td]3.19[/td] [td]1.10[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pedro Feliciano[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]74[/td] [td]63.0[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]59[/td] [td]2.86[/td] [td]1.22[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Billy Wagner[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]Closer[/td] [td]69[/td] [td]71.0[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]36[/td] [td]85[/td] [td]2.41[/td] [td]1.08[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
The conversation begins and ends with the game's best pitcher -- Johan Santana, who's given the Mets every reason to believe he'll devastate National League hitters with that killer changeup. The 33 home runs Santana allowed last year with the Twins seem to be, for now, an aberration. His role as the team's ace goes unchallenged by Pedro Martinez, who is happy to serve as the No. 2 man while he attempts to pitch through an entire season for the first time since 2005. If everyone stays healthy, the Mets could have the best 1-2 punch in the division. Billy Wagner's spring-time experiment with a changeup proved successful.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
Will Pedro's shoulder hold up? As much as the Mets consider him a weapon, it all depends on the state of that surgically repaired rotator cuff. Gone are the days when Martinez consistently topped 90 mph on the radar gun, although that hasn't diminished his effectiveness. But he's made it clear: One more major injury and his career is over. Orlando Hernandez is having a sea-change moment, as well, trying to alter his delivery to take the strain off his right foot, where a painful bunion has yet to heal. El Duque has trimmed back to the massive leg kick, and it's anyone's guess what that will do to his velocity. It wasn't impressive in March.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h1]PROSPECTS[/h1]
[h2]HITTER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Nobody. The Mets' only upper-level hitting prospect, Fernando Martinez, is at least a full year away.
[h2]PITCHER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Carlos Muniz got a brief cup of coffee in September last year, and he'll be one of the first guys recalled when the Mets need a reliever. He has a three-pitch mix including a slider that kills right-handed hitters, and has above-average control.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.
[h2]JUST THE FACTS[/h2]
• No more picking the rotation out of a hat. With Johan Santana and a healthy Pedro Martinez around, no more starts for Brian Lawrence, Chan Ho Park or Dave Williams.
• Yep, Johan will dominate. He's just the second lefty under age 30 with a winning percentage of at least .650 (minimum 100 decisions) to be traded or sold since Babe Ruth.
• They're on a mission. What do you do after your team blows a seven-game lead with 17 to play? "I took it out on the weight room," says David Wright.
• They need an AARP health plan. Moises Alou, 41, will miss April after hernia surgery. Carlos Delgado, 35, has a hip problem. Both might be finished as productive players.
[h2]HEARSAY[/h2]
"Last year, basically three guys [Wright, Tom Glavine and Paul Lo Duca] talked to the media," says a local reporter. "So Brian Schneider will help. He was a team leader in Washington."
[h2]HEARSAY[/h2]
"I'm with Carlos Beltran his war of words with Jimmy Rollins. Maybe it's because I was raised in the school yards of New York City, but a little trash-talk never hurt. I'd like to see the Mets have more fight this year." -- Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.
-- Tim Kurkjian
[h1]FANTASY[/h1]
[h2]SLEEPER[/h2]
Ryan Church brings with him to the Big Apple his career .340 average at Shea, where he hit three home runs in just seven games last season.
[h2]BUST[/h2]
Moises Alou has seen his at-bats decrease each of the past three seasons, and already will be missing time due to hernia surgery.
-- A.J. Mass
[h2]INJURIES[/h2]
The main injury concerns that will challenge the Mets throughout the season are, not surprisingly, with their older players (Alou, Delgado). But Pedro Martinez, one of their senior hurlers, has surprised everyone with his strong comeback from the rotator cuff surgery he underwent in October 2006, all the more impressive considering the degree of injury. When he returned in September 2007, Martinez had lost some velocity (no surprise), but demonstrated good command and, more importantly, no pain. He has continued to look solid this spring, including a March outing with four shutout innings. The key to maintaining his health will be reliance on a mix of pitches, not speed, as well as controlling his total number of innings.
-- Stephania Bell
[h1]PREDICTIONS[/h1]
Stark
91-71
2nd in
NL East
Kurkjian
92-70
1st in
NL East
Olney
90-72
2nd in
NL East
Law
95-67
1st in
NL East
Phillips
94-68
1st in
NL East
Stadium: Citizens Bank Park
2007 Record: 89-73 (1st in NL East)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule
[h2]2007: Batting Stats | Runs Scored (ranked 1st in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]PLAYER[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]AB[/td] [td]HR[/td] [td]RBI[/td] [td]SB[/td] [td]AVG[/td] [td]OBP[/td] [td]SLG[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jimmy Rollins[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SS[/td] [td]702[/td] [td]26[/td] [td]85[/td] [td]40[/td] [td].291[/td] [td].341[/td] [td].504[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Shane Victorino[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]CF[/td] [td]593[/td] [td]11[/td] [td]72[/td] [td]42[/td] [td].275[/td] [td].334[/td] [td].398[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chase Utley[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]2B[/td] [td]639[/td] [td]29[/td] [td]118[/td] [td]13[/td] [td].321[/td] [td].398[/td] [td].556[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ryan Howard[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]1B[/td] [td]547[/td] [td]49[/td] [td]136[/td] [td]1[/td] [td].283[/td] [td].395[/td] [td]603[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pat Burrell[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]LF[/td] [td]480[/td] [td]35[/td] [td]119[/td] [td]0[/td] [td].271[/td] [td].404[/td] [td].544[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Geoff Jenkins[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]RF[/td] [td]452[/td] [td]21[/td] [td]69[/td] [td]2[/td] [td].265[/td] [td].339[/td] [td].473[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pedro Feliz[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]3B[/td] [td]569[/td] [td]25[/td] [td]84[/td] [td]1[/td] [td].264[/td] [td].301[/td] [td].464[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Carlos Ruiz[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]C[/td] [td]468[/td] [td]12[/td] [td]68[/td] [td]5[/td] [td].261[/td] [td].331[/td] [td].412[/td] [/tr][tr][td]OFF THE BENCH[/td] [/tr][tr][td]So Taguchi[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]OF[/td] [td]266[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]27[/td] [td]7[/td] [td].282[/td] [td].342[/td] [td].368[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Eric Bruntlett[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]INF[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]-- = unavailable[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
Where to begin? The Phillies are an opposing pitcher's nightmare: They led the NL in runs last year with 892 and finished second in homers with 213. Howard hit 47 homers -- his average dropped 45 points from '06 -- yet he batted .377 with runners in scoring position and two out. Rollins, the reigning Most Valuable Player, will be under pressure to duplicate his historic '07 numbers (he was the first ever to amass 200 hits, 30 doubles, 15 triples, 25 homers and 25 stolen bases), but the shortstop doesn't lack confidence. Utley's .976 OPS was by far the best in the league.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
It's hard to fixate on the flaws here; it's like staring at a scratch on a Rolls. Still, Howard has to mix in a little more discipline in that long, powerful swing, at least to contain his growing appetite for strikeouts. Last year he led the majors with 199 whiffs. Burrell has a similar all-or-nothing profile, striking out a whopping once every 3.93 at-bats. But he batted .337 with 20 homers over a 60-game stretch after July 1 while the Phillies were getting ready to topple the Mets, so it's a poison the franchise obviously can live with.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h2]2007: Pitching Stats | ERA (13th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]ROTATION[/td] [td]T[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]G[/td] [td]IP[/td] [td]W[/td] [td]SV[/td] [td]K[/td] [td]ERA[/td] [td]WHIP[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Brett Myers[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP1[/td] [td]32[/td] [td]209[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]208[/td] [td]3.92[/td] [td]1.28[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Cole Hamels[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP2[/td] [td]31[/td] [td]215[/td] [td]19[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]207[/td] [td]3.60[/td] [td]1.17[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jamie Moyer[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP3[/td] [td]33[/td] [td]202[/td] [td]13[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]122[/td] [td]4.72[/td] [td]1.41[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Kyle Kendrick[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP4[/td] [td]32[/td] [td]180[/td] [td]12[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]95[/td] [td]3.60[/td] [td]1.18[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Adam Eaton[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP5[/td] [td]25[/td] [td]131[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]84[/td] [td]5.70[/td] [td]1.58[/td] [/tr][tr][td]BULLPEN[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tom Gordon[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]53[/td] [td]50[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]45[/td] [td]4.14[/td] [td]1.28[/td] [/tr][tr][td]J.C. Romero[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]70[/td] [td]68[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]50[/td] [td]3.97[/td] [td]1.51[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Brad Lidge[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Closer[/td] [td]60[/td] [td]60[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]22[/td] [td]81[/td] [td]3.75[/td] [td]1.27[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
Myers did well in 48 relief appearances last year, keeping lefties to a .183 average. Now he's back in the starting rotation, where his unorthodox delivery should pay a fairly handsome dividend. Hamels, a 15-game winner at age 24, is averaging almost a strikeout an inning and kept the NL to a .237 average last year. He projects to pitch 200 innings in 2008. The success of the bullpen is based on the belief that Lidge is fully recovered from arthroscopic surgery on his knee -- and can acclimate to a tough Philly fan base. If so, his slider could be unstoppable, as it resulted in 88 strikeouts in 67 innings last year.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
The back end of the rotation could be a problem, especially if the Phillies hope to contain the Mets' sluggers. Moyer, 45, has withstood the test of time, but his 5.99 ERA over his final 16 starts didn't go unnoticed, nor did the .309 average by left-handed hitters. Eaton struggled down the stretch, losing four of his last five decisions while posting a 7.36 ERA. Shoulder inflammation was the cause, but the league batted .301 against him. And while setup man Gordon is still throwing that fine, old-fashioned 12-6 curveball, he's more fragile than ever: He threw only 40 innings last year, his fewest since 1999.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h1]PROSPECTS[/h1]
[h2]HITTER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Nobody. The hitting side of the Phillies' roster is set, and their nearest hitting prospect is Jason Donald, who projects as a utility player and has yet to reach Double-A.
[h2]PITCHER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Keep an eye on Scott Mathieson, who had a plus fastball/average slider combo and a lot of success as a minor-league starter before missing 2007 due to elbow surgery. He could be ready by May or June.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=was
Stadium: Nationals Park
2007 Record: 73-89 (4th in NL East)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule
[h2]2007: Batting Stats | Runs Scored (ranked 16th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]PLAYER[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]AB[/td] [td]HR[/td] [td]RBI[/td] [td]SB[/td] [td]AVG[/td] [td]OBP[/td] [td]SLG[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Cristian Guzman[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]SS[/td] [td]416[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]31[/td] [td]6[/td] [td].267[/td] [td].316[/td] [td].377[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Lastings Milledge[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]CF[/td] [td]550[/td] [td]18[/td] [td]82[/td] [td]7[/td] [td].262[/td] [td].331[/td] [td].422[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ryan Zimmerman[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]3B[/td] [td]631[/td] [td]27[/td] [td]98[/td] [td]6[/td] [td].293[/td] [td].356[/td] [td].506[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Nick Johnson[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]1B[/td] [td]410[/td] [td]17[/td] [td]64[/td] [td]6[/td] [td].290[/td] [td].422[/td] [td].507[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Austin Kearns[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]RF[/td] [td]572[/td] [td]23[/td] [td]88[/td] [td]6[/td] [td].260[/td] [td].356[/td] [td].449[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Paul Lo Duca[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]C[/td] [td]461[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]53[/td] [td]3[/td] [td].286[/td] [td].327[/td] [td].395[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Elijah Dukes[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]LF[/td] [td]326[/td] [td]20[/td] [td]40[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].255[/td] [td].380[/td] [td].500[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ronnie Belliard[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]2B[/td] [td]481[/td] [td]11[/td] [td]58[/td] [td]2[/td] [td].283[/td] [td].328[/td] [td].420[/td] [/tr][tr][td]OFF THE BENCH[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Felipe Lopez[/td] [td]B[/td] [td]INF[/td] [td]312[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]29[/td] [td]14[/td] [td].260[/td] [td].328[/td] [td].381[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Rob Mackowiak[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]OF[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]-- = unavailable[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
Zimmerman is a future star, if he isn't already, having hit 44 home runs in his first two seasons. Milledge has a high upside, assuming manager Manny Acta can motivate him. And Johnson, when in one piece, is a proven run-producer, evidenced by his 23 homers and 77 RBIs (and .290 average) in 2006. It remains to be seen how Dukes will adapt to his new surroundings, but like Milledge, the potential windfall could help the Nats improve on last year's 73 wins. His 10 home runs in 220 major league at-bats is an appetizing ratio.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
The Nats are either very flexible or else just desperate for an Opening Day starter, but it tells you plenty that Perez, who signed a non-guaranteed minor-league contract last month, now stands at the front of the rotation. Bergmann kept right-handed hitters to a .200 average last year when he wasn't injured. The Nats' best chance of winning games, however, is to squeeze out a lead and hand it to the bullpen. The dependable Rauch led the majors with a career-high 88 appearances last year and 173 since 2006. Cordero is still a reliable closer, finishing 2007 with 37 saves.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h2]2007: Pitching Stats | ERA (10th in NL)[/h2]
[table][tr][td]2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]PLAYER[/td] [td]T[/td] [td]POS[/td] [td]G[/td] [td]IP[/td] [td]W[/td] [td]SV[/td] [td]K[/td] [td]ERA[/td] [td]WHIP[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Odalis Perez[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP1[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tim Redding[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP2[/td] [td]25[/td] [td]120[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]70[/td] [td]5.93[/td] [td]1.63[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jason Bergmann[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]SP3[/td] [td]47[/td] [td]189[/td] [td]9[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]154[/td] [td]4.76[/td] [td]1.34[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Matt Chico[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP4[/td] [td]31[/td] [td]167[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]94[/td] [td]4.63[/td] [td]1.54[/td] [/tr][tr][td]John Lannan[/td] [td]L[/td] [td]SP5[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]BULLPEN[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Saul Rivera[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [td]--[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jon Rauch[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Setup[/td] [td]76[/td] [td]89[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]75[/td] [td]3.54[/td] [td]1.16[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chad Cordero[/td] [td]R[/td] [td]Closer[/td] [td]74[/td] [td]75[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]37[/td] [td]64[/td] [td]3.12[/td] [td]1.25[/td] [/tr][tr][td]-- = unavailable[/td] [/tr][/table]
[h3]STRENGTHS[/h3]
This was the National League's worst offense in 2007 (last in runs and home runs), so there's only one way for the trend line to move. Still, it'll be a while before the Nats can threaten the Mets' starters or keep up with the Phillies' run-scoring machine. Unless Dukes and Milledge produce, there's no reason to expect much change in the team's offensive profile. Johnson has a history of injuries, missing all of 2007, and Lo Duca, who batted .318 two years ago, dropped 46 points off his average. Most of his gap power is gone, too: the catcher went from 45 extra-base hits in 2006 to 18 last year.
[h3]WEAKNESSES[/h3]
The Nats were hopeful of making Shawn Hill their Opening Day starter -- he had a 3.42 ERA in 16 starts last year -- but he's beginning the season on the disabled list, suffering from a tight right forearm. And any long-shot projection for John Patterson's comeback were officially dashed last week when he was given his release. The right-hander made just seven starts last year because of elbow problems, and posted a 7.00 ERA this spring. And one thing to note about Cordero: As much as the Nats believe in him, his ERA has risen by 1.5 runs since 2005. Opposing hitters, who were once limited to a .198 average against the righty, fared 62 points better in 2007.
-- Bob Klapisch
[h1]PROSPECTS[/h1]
[h2]HITTERS TO WATCH:[/h2]
Justin Maxwell is probably the closest; he's a toolsy, athletic outfielder with limited baseball skills, and is blocked by similar athletes with better baseball résumés.
[h2]PITCHER TO WATCH:[/h2]
Joel Hanrahan is one inning over the rookie-eligibility limit but is throwing in the mid-90s with suddenly improved control. Washington's 2007 first-rounder, lefty Ross Detwiler, is expected to move quickly.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.
