NL East Preview

[MiamiDynasty92]

Very solid division with multiple all star caliber players

Philadelphia Phillies revamped with the huge acquisition of Cliff Lee
Atlanta Braves coming off a hot season with a new slugger in the roster in Dan Uggla
Florida Marlins coming with some very talented youth in Stanton Coghlan and a fresh bullpen, throw in Javi Vasquez as well
Washington Nationals made some big deals this offseason acquiring Jayson Werth
New York Mets looking to redeem last season's disappointment

Discuss.

[trwi7]

Worst. Preview. Ever.

[TyCobb]

Phillies will win the division and the Braves will win the wild card.

[MiamiDynasty92]

Braves have an ancient pitching rotation and phillies bats are grtting old and rusty, I wouldn't say it's that easy

[Starkiller]

Braves have an ancient pitching rotation and phillies bats are grtting old and rusty, I wouldn't say it's that easy

Exactly how are Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Shane Victorino old and rusty? Their pitching is light years better than anyone in baseball. They win this division in a landslide barring injury.

[MiamiDynasty92]

Braves have an ancient pitching rotation and phillies bats are grtting old and rusty, I wouldn't say it's that easy

Exactly how are Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Shane Victorino old and rusty? Their pitching is light years better than anyone in baseball. They win this division in a landslide barring injury.

the youngest guy in that list is 31, rollins and utley are declining, other than those 4 what bats do they have? their rotation is solid but not unbeatable

[craig01]

Worst. Preview. Ever.

Ouch

[Starkiller]

Braves have an ancient pitching rotation and phillies bats are grtting old and rusty, I wouldn't say it's that easy

Exactly how are Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Shane Victorino old and rusty? Their pitching is light years better than anyone in baseball. They win this division in a landslide barring injury.

the youngest guy in that list is 31, rollins and utley are declining, other than those 4 what bats do they have? their rotation is solid but not unbeatable

That rotation is way better than any other rotation in baseball. The best by light years.

Chase Utley is declining?

[MiamiDynasty92]

all im saying is, dont sleep on the braves or marlins

[Starkiller]

all im saying is, dont sleep on the braves or marlins

Braves will be solid, but won't be able to win the division. Marlins, I see no reason to fear them other than being that "suprising young team that plays really well" similar to the Rays of a few years back.

[Rafael122]

Nats will finish in 3rd place.

[MiamiDynasty92]

Ill give you the marlins pitch since its the team im most fond of

I expect Stanton to hit 35-40 HR
Expect Hanley to bat .320+
Coghlan Infante .300+
Sanchez Morrison Buck .285+

Most of those guys are very solid fielders and another prospect which is a monster fielder Matt Dominguez

Pretty solid starting pitching rotation in Josh Johnson, Nolasco, Vasquez, Sanchez, Volstad

Biggest improvement of the offseason was the bullpen that killed us last year, we acquired Ryan Webb, Alex Sanabia, Mujica, Michael Dunn

thats why im confident in the marlins this year

[HMFFL]

Over/Under Win Totals:

Phillies 96.5
Braves 88
Mets 77
Nationals 72
Marlins 81.5

[greenbeans]

their rotation is solid

[Starkiller]

their rotation is solid

It is.....

[greenbeans]

I'd say calling it "solid" is selling it just a little short

[Starkiller]

I'd say calling it "solid" is selling it just a little short

Oh ok, I thought you were implying that they aren't very good, when they are actually pretty solid. I'd say 2nd best in the division.

[TSC25]

I wouldnt call the Phillies old and rusty,nor say Utley is on decline,he has become injury phrone thou.The Phils pitching if all stay healthy will carry them to a division title.With Cliff now aboard will really help Blanton,with both Lee and Halladay pitching late into games,Joe wont be counted on to pitch as many innings and should help him alot.There offence should be very good in that park,and i feel Ibanez will have a better year,there weak spot is there bullpen which shouldnt be used as much.

The Braves will make a very strong run at the Phills,they have a good starting 4,there bullpen being a little young will have to come up big,there also have youth at 1st with Freeman and need McLouth to return to his allstar form and Chipper to just stay healthy,but with Uggla added they have a very good lineup to help stay close to the Phills.

The Marlins with even a good starting 5,and rebuilt bullpen which i think is the best in the division,there still just a little to young on offence to stay running with the big boys in this division,Id say there a year or two away!

The Mets are in need of alot of help,but with Alderson running the show it wont take long to turn things around.They have good parts to build around in Wright,Davis and Niese.

The Nationals are starting to turn the corner with young pitching in Strasburg,Storen,J.Zimmerman,Lannan and with the young core of guys like R.Zimmerman,Desmond,Ramos and Bernadina on offence,the ? here is when do they bring Bryce Harper up to the big leagues? With vets like I-Rod,LaRoche,Marquis,Hernandez,Gorzelanny could help them make a run for 3rd place with the Marlins.

[TSC25]

Braves top 5 prospects:

Julio Teheran, rhp Born: Jan. 27, 1991 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 170
Signed: Columbia, 2007 • Signed by: Miguel Teheran/Carlos Garcia
Background: The Braves signed Teheran out of Colombia in 2007 for $850,000, the largest bonus given to a pitcher on the international market that year. His cousin Miguel was one of the scouts who signed him, and that relationship contributed to Julio's decision to turn down a higher offer from the Yankees. It took him a little time to start living up to his projections, as his 2008 pro debut lasted just 15 innings because he battled shoulder tendinitis. He returned to Rookie-level Danville in 2009 and ranked as the Appalachian League's top prospect before earning a late-season promotion to low Class A Rome. Atlanta turned Teheran loose last season, when he advanced three levels while ranking second in the system in ERA (2.59) and strikeouts (159 in 142 innings). He overpowered the low Class A South Atlantic League in seven starts in April and May before jumping to high Class A Myrtle Beach, where he rated as the No. 1 prospect in the Carolina League. Promoted to Double-A Mississippi in late July, he struggled in his first start but then responded with a pair of scoreless outings. Teheran also stood out at the Futures Game, where he didn't throw a fastball under 95 mph and froze Desmond Jennings (Rays) with a 96 mph heater for a called third strike.

Scouting Report: Teheran has an electric arm, the ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes and the knowledge of how to exploit batters' weaknesses. His fastball clocks consistently in the 94-96 mph range, and he maintains his velocity throughout the course of a game. He has a pair of above-average secondary pitches, with his changeup grading slightly better than his curveball. His changeup shows nice fade and he's willing to throw it in any count. His curve resides in the low 80s with hard downward movement, as well as good bite and depth. Teheran's command is impressive, though he struggled a little with his precision shortly after being promoted to Double-A. He works both sides of the plate, usually keeping all of his offerings at the knees and below. Perhaps the most impressive part of his game is his mound presence. He has great makeup and bountiful confidence, backing down from no hitter. Teheran needs to get stronger, but that will come naturally as his body matures. Some scouts say his delivery has a little bit of violence and worry about the long-term wear and tear on the elbow and shoulder, while others believe he throws easy gas and aren't worried about his mechanics. Comparisons to a young Pedro Martinez are commonplace, and Teheran's biggest backers think he's more advanced at the same stage of his career.

The Future: The Braves thought Teheran was capable of jumping on the fast track, and he exceeded their expectations in 2010, advancing to Double-A as a teenager with little difficulty. He may split this year between Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett, with a late-season cup of coffee in Atlanta a possibility. Chances are his first opportunity for a job in the big league rotation won't come until 2012. He has front-of-the-rotation talent and will challenge Tommy Hanson for the role as the Braves' No. 1 starter well by the middle of the decade.

2010 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Rome (Lo A) 2 2 1.14 7 7 0 0 39 23 1 10 45 .168
Myrtle Beach (Hi A) 4 4 2.98 10 10 0 0 63 56 6 13 76 .233
Mississippi (AA) 3 2 3.38 7 7 0 0 40 29 2 17 38 .204


2. Freddie Freeman, 1b Born: Sept. 12, 1989 • B-T: L-R • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 220
Drafted: HS—Orange, Calif., 2007 (2nd round) • Signed by: Tom Battista
Background: The 78th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Freeman has been among the youngest players in every league he has played. He was the second-youngest starter in the Triple-A International League in 2010, when he was tabbed the circuit's rookie of the year. He led the IL in hits (147) and total bases (240), and managers rated him the loop's best defensive first baseman.

Scouting Report: Freeman has a smooth, aggressive swing from the left side. He possesses raw power that should generate 20-plus homers annually in the major leagues. He has good plate coverage with a patient approach that leads to consistent contact. He thrives in RBI situations and wants the bat in his hand with the game on the line. Defensively, Freeman has quick feet and above-average range at first base. He does all the little things well around the bag and he even has a cannon for an arm. Though not a blazer, he runs well for his size and shows outstanding instincts on the basepaths.

The Future: Though his success was limited during his September callup, Freeman swatted his first big league homer against Roy Halladay. He's may have an up-and-down 2011 season at the plate, but that roller-coaster ride should come as Atlanta's starting first baseman at age 21.

2010 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Gwinnett (AAA) .319 .378 .521 461 73 147 35 2 18 87 43 84 6
Atlanta .167 .167 .333 24 3 4 1 0 1 1 0 8 0



3. Randall Delgado, rhp Born: Feb. 9, 1990 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 180
Signed: Panama, 2006 • Signed by: Luis Ortiz
Background: Signed as an unheralded 16-year-old from Panama, Delgado has moved rapidly due to his maturity and repertoire. He led the Carolina League in strikeouts (120) last year despite getting promoted in mid-July, and he topped the system with 162 whiffs overall. He's similar to Julio Teheran in that he's a slender fireballer who reached Double-A well ahead of schedule.

Scouting Report: Delgado pounds the strike zone and challenges hitters. His fastball resides at 92-96 mph, and he mixes it well with a plus curveball and solid changeup. His curve has good downward bite, and his changeup shows impressive deception. Delgado struggled with his control in 2009 until altering his mechanics and mindset in July, leading to an impressive second half. When he got to Mississippi last summer, he had some problems leaving pitches thigh-high. He again adapted, improving his ability to throw his fastball down in the zone and on both sides of the plate.

The Future: If not for Teheran's presence, Delgado would receive more hype. By making significant adjustments the past two seasons, he has shown he could pitch in the front half of a major league rotation. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he'll open 2011 in Double-A with the chance to advance quickly to Triple-A if he continues his rapid progress.

2010 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Myrtle Beach (Hi A) 4 7 2.76 20 20 0 0 117 89 7 32 120 .210
Mississippi (AA) 3 5 4.74 8 8 0 0 44 36 2 20 42 .222


4. Mike Minor, lhp Born: Dec. 26, 1987 • B-T: R-L • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 200
Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2009 (1st round) • Signed by: Brian Bridges
Background: Atlanta signed Minor to a $2.42 million bonus in 2009, the biggest in franchise history and the largest ever given to the seventh overall pick in the draft. His pure stuff was better than expected last year, when he reached the major leagues three days after his one-year anniversary of turning pro. He tied a Braves franchise rookie record with 12 strikeouts in a start against the Cubs but tired in September.

Scouting Report: Minor's mixes three pitches with impressive command and acumen. His best offering is his changeup, which could become a plus-plus pitch as he gains experience. After throwing his fastball in the upper 80s in late 2009, he added velocity and worked at 91-94 mph in the early innings of his starts last season. His heater has significant movement, as does his slurvy curveball, which dives with three-quarters tilt. Minor can add and subtract with his pitches to keep hitters off balance. He has a great pickoff move and fields his position well. In addition to needing more strength, he'll have to challenge hitters more often instead of being so fine in the strike zone.

The Future: Minor should open 2011 as Atlanta's fifth starter. He has a ceiling as a No. 2 starter, though he may not serve in that role with Tommy Hanson, Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado all part of the Braves' future.

2010 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Mississippi (AA) 2 6 4.03 15 15 0 0 87 74 8 34 109 .233
Gwinnett (AAA) 4 1 1.89 6 6 0 0 33 19 1 12 37 .171
Atlanta 3 2 5.98 9 8 0 0 41 53 6 11 43 .314


5. Craig Kimbrel, rhp Born: May 28, 1988 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 5-11 • Wt: 200
Drafted: Wallace State (Ala.) CC, 2008 (3rd round) • Signed by: Brian Bridges
Background: The Braves selected 10 junior college players in the first 15 rounds of the 2008 draft, starting with Kimbrel in the third round. He signed for $391,000 after turning down $125,000 from Atlanta as a 33rd-round pick a year earlier. He ranked third in the International League with 23 saves and reached the big leagues in his second full pro season. He was dynamic during the pennant race, finishing the year with 12 scoreless big league outings while striking out 23 in 12 innings.

Scouting Report: Kimbrel has averaged 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings as a pro, thanks to his heavy fastball, which sits at 93-96 mph with excellent sink. His slurvy curveball gives him a second plus pitch to complement his heater. After rarely throwing a changeup in 2009, he worked on the pitch prior to last season and mixed it in on occasion. While moving faster than anticipated, Kimbrel has made significant strides with his command and his ability to pitch inside. Reminiscent of a righthanded Billy Wagner, he has the stuff and makeup to finish games.

The Future: The Braves tried to expose Kimbrel to the job of a major league closer and Wagner's expertise without rushing him in 2010. He responded well, putting himself in position to take over as Atlanta's closer in 2011 following Wagner's retirement.

2010 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Gwinnett (AAA) 3 2 1.62 48 0 0 23 56 28 3 35 83 .148
Atlanta 4 0 0.44 21 0 0 1 21 9 0 16 40 .125

[TSC25]

Marlins top 5 prospects:

Matt Dominguez, 3b Born: Aug. 28, 1989 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 205
Drafted: HS—Chatsworth, Calif., 2007 (1st round) • Signed by: Tim McDonnell
Background: Chatsworth (Calif.) High landed two infielders in the first dozen picks of the 2007 draft, with Mike Moustakas going second overall to the Royals and Dominguez 10 picks later to the Marlins. Florida signed Dominguez away from a Cal State Fullerton scholarship with a $1.8 million bonus. While his high school teammate has grabbled more headlines with his prolific power—Moustakas shared the minor league home run crown in 2010—Dominguez hasn't given the Marlins any reason to regret their selection. He earned MVP honors in the Double-A Southern League all-star game last summer, setting the stage for a strong finish. He batted .301 with 34 RBIs in his final 35 regular-season contests, then his .296 with three homers and eight RBIs in the playoffs to lead Jacksonville to its second consecutive title.

Scouting Report: Dominguez stands out most with his Gold Glove ability at the hot corner. Managers have rated him his league's best defensive third baseman in each of the last two years, and he's big league-ready with the glove. He anticipates well and gets himself in the right position to make plays with quick feet. He scoops the ball with smooth hands, then gets rid of it with strong, accurate throws. Dominguez hasn't been nearly as consistent with the bat. He has struggled with breaking pitches and good inside fastballs, but the Marlins noted significant improvement after they made adjustments to his swing last summer. They dropped the position of his hands from up around his shoulders to a couple of inches lower, and eliminated a top-hand hiccup that created a hole on the inner half of the plate. The changes gave Dominguez a clearer path to the ball, allowing him to make more consistent contact and drive the ball better. He also showed a more disciplined approach, though he still has room for improvement. While he hit just .222 against lefthanders in 2010, he handled them well the year before and the Marlins aren't concerned by his splits. Though he has yet to top the 18 homers he produced at hitter-friendly Greensboro in 2008, Dominguez projects to have average major league power. He drives balls from the left-field line to right-center. A quiet kid who never panics, he avoids emotional ups and downs even as he endures slumps or catches fire. Despite his quickness in the field, Dominguez's speed is well below-average and he has tallied just one stolen base in four pro seasons.

The Future: The third-base job is wide open in Florida, though Chris Coghlan and Wes Helms presently rank ahead of Dominguez on the depth chart. He still has to prove he can handle upper-level pitching and will get at least a couple of months at Triple-A New Orleans to do so. He also needs to get stronger to fulfill his power potential, and the Marlins would like to see him continue to work on the adjustments that allowed him to finish strong last year. Often compared to former Marlins all-star and Gold Glover Mike Lowell, Dominguez eventually should end the revolving door Florida has had at the hot corner since trading Miguel Cabrera after the 2007 season.

2010 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Jacksonville (AA) .252 .333 .411 504 61 127 34 2 14 81 56 96 0


2. Chad James, lhp Born: Jan. 23, 1991 • B-T: L-L • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 185
Drafted: HS—Yukon, Okla., 2009 (1st round) • Signed by: Ryan Wardinsky
Background: James has been the Marlins' top-rated pitching prospect since signing for $1.7 million as the 18th overall pick in the 2009 draft. He made his pro debut in low Class A last year, struggling at times but also showing plenty of upside. His brother Justin is a righthander in the Brewers system.

Scouting Report: Lefthanders with plus fastballs are always intriguing, and James throws his at 91-95 mph. But what makes him special is his power breaking ball, which comes in with slider velocity and breaks down and hard like a curveball. He also flashes a plus changeup, though it's inconsistent and needs to be utilized more frequently. While James got himself into trouble with walks in 2010, his problems came more from nibbling and not trusting his stuff rather than a true lack of control. He pitched behind in the count too often, allowing hitters to sit on his fastball. His mechanics sometimes go awry, with him clearing his lead arm too quickly or landing too upright. He's slow to the plate and needs to learn a slide step after giving up 33 steals in 24 starts.

The Future: His arsenal makes him a potential No. 2 starter, but it will be a couple of year before Florida can pencil James in behind Josh Johnson. He should open 2011 at high Class A Jupiter and could move quickly if he starts challenging hitters.

2010 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Greensboro (Lo A) 5 10 5.12 24 24 0 0 114 116 3 65 105 .269


3. Christian Yelich, of Born: Dec. 5, 1991 • B-T: L-R • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 189
Drafted: HS—Westlake Village, Calif., 2010 (1st round) • Signed by: Tim McDonnell
Background: Yelich comes from the same Westlake High (Westlake Village, Calif.) program that produced big leaguers Matt Franco, Mike Lieberthal and John Snyder, as well as fellow Marlins farmhand Graham Johnson. Yelich produced against top competition in high school and on the showcase circuit, propelling him to the No. 23 overall pick in the 2010 draft. He signed an above-slot $1.7 million deal at the Aug. 16 signing deadline.

Scouting Report: Yelich has an advanced approach for a high school hitter, with smooth swing mechanics that have elicited comparisons to Will Clark's. He reads pitches well and projects as a high-average hitter with average power. Though Yelich played first base at Westlake, he has slightly above-average speed and moved to the left field in pro ball. The Marlins will try him in center field in 2011, though he'll likely settle on a corner. His arm was a question going into the draft, but Florida tweaked his mechanics and believes his throwing can become at least close to average.

The Future: Yelich will return to Greensboro to begin his first full season. After witnessing how seamlessly he transitioned to pro ball last year, the Marlins won't be afraid to move him should his bat warrant another jump. He should arrive in Florida by 2013.

2010 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
GCL Marlins (R) .375 .423 .500 24 3 9 1 1 0 3 2 7 1
Greensboro (Lo A) .348 .375 .435 23 2 8 2 0 0 2 1 6 0


4. Jhan Marinez, rhp Born: Aug. 12, 1988 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 165
Drafted: Dominican Republic, 2006 • Signed by: Sandy Nin
Background: Marinez long has teased the Marlins with a frustrating combination of great stuff and immaturity. He finally reached full-season ball in 2009, his fourth pro season, and continued his ascent last year by making four big league appearances in July before going on the disabled list with an elbow strain.

Scouting Report: Armed with an explosive fastball that sits at 92-95 mph and reaches 98, Marinez has the stuff to close games. He has an easy arm action and can mix in a two-seamer with good sink. The key to his success will be the development of his slider, which he throws at 88-89 mph. While it took a step forward last year, it lacks consistent action. Marinez loses the zone at times and didn't throw strikes in the big leagues as he had in Double-A. He has to stay healthy, having pitched just 168 innings in five seasons, and his 45 last year were a career high. He had been resistant to coaching earlier in his career, but was much more willing to listen last year.

The Future: Marinez was throwing without pain in Florida's minor league minicamp in September. He should be a candidate for ninth-inning duties in the not-too-distant future, though he may open 2011 in Triple-A.

2010 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Jupiter (Hi A) 0 1 1.42 21 1 0 4 25 12 1 14 44 .148
Jacksonville (AA) 1 0 2.16 15 0 0 6 17 9 1 7 20 .164
Florida 1 1 6.75 4 0 0 0 3 3 1 3 3 .273


5. Osvaldo Martinez, ss Born: May 7, 1988 • B-T: R-R • Ht: 5-10 • Wt: 190
Drafted: Porterville (Calif.) JC, 2006 (11th round) • Signed by: Carlos Berroa
Background: Martinez got a new perspective on life after taking three bullets in a September 2009 drive-by shooting in his native Puerto Rico. After representing the Marlins in the Futures Game last July, he helped Jacksonville capture the Southern League title and earned his first big league callup. He batted .326 in September, with his first hit coming off Chris Carpenter.

Scouting Report: Martinez sprays line drives from gap to gap with a level swing. He won't hit a lot of home runs, though he does have the strong hands to collect his share of doubles. He profiles as a solid No. 2 hitter because he has excellent hand-eye coordination and controls the strike zone well. More quick than fast, he's was caught nine times in 22 steal attempts last year. At shortstop, Martinez's best asset is his strong arm. He anticipates well and shows good instincts and soft hands. Florida loves his all-around game and the way he doesn't let anything intimidate him.

The Future: Hanley Ramirez is blocking his path at shortstop, which could push Martinez to second base. At worst, he should be a quality utilityman capable of playing almost anywhere on the diamond. He figures to spend much of 2011 in Triple-A, getting time at other positions to enhance his versatility.

2010 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Jacksonville (AA) .302 .372 .401 516 90 156 28 4 5 54 49 64 13
Florida .326 .383 .465 43 8 14 4 1 0 2 4 6 1