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Marlins (15-11, First):
Due to their low expectations entering the season, the Marlins aren’t feeling any pressure being in first place, writes Greg Cote of the Miami Herald.
At his blog for the Sun-Sentinel, Mike Berardino wonders if the Marlins continue their hot start will they go out and add a piece to boost their playoff chances.
…easy fellas…it’s still april…albeit i’m surprised the Marlins are playing this well…it’s a nice story, but the fish are playing a bit over their heads…they are slugging their way to wins, however they have allowed more runs (124) than they have scored (120)…they can’t keep that up and continue to win…
Phillies (15-12, 1 LB):
According to David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News, OF Shane Victorino, who returned from the disabled list last night, may have lost his spot as the team’s starting center fielder.
Over at The Good Phight, jonk states, based on expectations OF Jayson Werth might just be the Phillies MVPREV, or Most Valuable Player Relative to Expected Value.
Braves (12-14, 3 LB):
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution breaks news on the possibility of Braves RHP John Smoltz returning as the team’s closer once he is activated from the 15-day disabled list.
…smoltz heading to the bullpen puts the Braves in the same quandary the Yankees have with Joba Chamberlin only vice-versa…smoltz would certainly help the back end of a decimated Braves bullpen, but also open up a big hole in their starting rotation…
At her blog for the AJC, Chop Chick wonders if any of the Braves pitching prospects are ready to plug the hole vacated by Smoltz.
…can’t say i’m shedding any tears for the Braves and their injuries…good luck with all that…
Nationals (10-17, 6 LB):
Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post states the Nationals offensive woes have masked team’s real issue, the injuries to their two most important pitchers, Shawn Hill and Chad Cordero.
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Like I said before with Smoltz starting I always have the hope that 4 at least 3 innings you get the Braves terrible pen and always a chance to win it in the 9th.
With Smoltz closing it give the starters and bp more confiedence. This is not good for the rest of the division. The only good part is if the rest of the starters struggle or if Chipper continues to miss games.
If the Mets could just score runs off starting pitchers, this wouldn’t be an issue…
With that said…the NL East seems to be wide open. I agree the Marlins hot start will not last. But it’s scary how hard most teams play with the given talent they have. Should be a nail biter. Hopefully, the Mets will pull it off.
We always seem to hit bullpens better than starters. This gives Smoltz an influence every night instead of 6 innings.
But this assumes that we won’t be able to hit whoever the Smoltz fill-in starter is (Jo Jo Reyes?).
I agree that this seems to be our trend, but it is one we need to crack if we are going to have a shot.
The D-Back last year gave up more runs than scored.
Not comparing these Marlins to the Arizona of last season, but they do have some nice young players.
Agreed, but the Marlins don’t have a Brandon Webb in their starting rotation.
Olsen is the only thing they have going right now. Too bad he’s a headcase.
Thankfully Mr Jeffrey Loria is the owner of that team.
Enough said.
Only thing going pitching wise
just to clarify
Didn’t a Loria-owned Marlins squad win a World Series?
Just saying…he takes alot of heat for the extremes he goes to - like Huzienga before him - in building and tearing down the team…but who can argue with the way the Marlins have approached their bad-market status? They’ve got 2 World Championships dotted between years on the payroll floor.
Personally, I love the deal they made with Detroit. Willis is overrated and begging for long-term injury with that crazy delievery, and the only way to get rid of his contract was to pair it with Cabrera’s - who for his part is fat, lazy, disinterested, and as great a talent as he is is just as likely to become Andruw Jones as he is to become Manny Ramirez. Teams like Florida can’t afford to wait to see which it’ll be.
I wouldn’t be that critical of Loria’s ownership - he plays the hand he’s dealt as well as anyone.
Arizona has a few more established vets than the Marlins do, however.
And the D-Backs are lined up for us this weekend. Owings/Webb/Haren.
This isn’t going to be the usual west coast trip mets slug fest in the BOB or Chase field, or whatever it is called this year.
They took 3 of 4 last year……but it wasnt the usual beating. They lost the final game and the D-back took the Shea series later that year.
Arizona found their success that summer. I dont anticipate the Mets inflicting pain like in 05 and 06. However I do expect a very competitive series.
Game 1: I mentioned on another post that Owings is having ankle issues but will pitch friday. I would like the Mets to work the count a lot against him and get into that solid bullpen.
Game 2: We’ve had better success against Webb in Arizona than at shea. So hope there.
Game 3: Haren pitch well vs mets in 05 but that doesnt say much for now.
Only reyes and delgado are hitting over .250 vs Arizona.
Reyes is hitting .400 vs Ariz and needs to be a factor on the bases.
Webb is due for a loss- let’s give it to him.
Alou is going to come back strong– (this before he hurts his arm or something in the LA series).
Expect Wright and Beltran to break out also (they’re due.)
And don’t forget, this year we have our secret weapon– and his name is Church…
So in a 7 game stretch we get Hudson and Smoltz (Braves top 2), Snell and Gorzelanny (Pirates top 2), and Owings, Webb, and Haren (DBacks top 3)…and that’s before even looking ahead ot see who goes in LA.
When the Mets franhise charter was drawn up in 1962, “thou shalt never miss the opponent’s top starters no matter the length of the series” was a key component.
Gorzelanny’s form this year isn’t exactly worthy of a #2 pitcher, even for a basement team like the Pirates.
Any given season you’re gonna go through a stretch where it seems like you’re facing ace after ace after ace. If we want to win championships, we have to beat these guys… and so far we’ve won the games pitched by Hudson, Smoltz and Snell.
Just think of it as post-season practice
Lol
I think another part of that charter was, “thou shalt be the team against whom all players young and old shall make milestones.”
I’m all for Smoltz going to the pen. It hurts the Braves starting staff immensely, and what’s the point of a good closer if you don’t have a lead to go into the ninth anyway?
I’d love Smoltz to go to the pen also. I don’t think its the same problem as the Yankees have with Joba though because with Joba they don’t know if he’s really a solid major league starter. The Braves know Smoltz is a solid starter and closer. I can’t see them doing this though because with Glavine and Hampton the DL they’d have something like Hudson, Jurrjens and Bennett starting. Plus Soriano is supposedly coming back soon and Acosta isn’t bad. I hope they move Smoltz though.