The East gets better
Better get ready for a fight for the NL East this season.
Yesterday the Braves completed work on a bullpen as deep 
as any — accept maybe ours — by finally acquiring reliever Mike Gonzalez for first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Their rotation — John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton, Chuck James and Kyle Davies — could be pretty good if the front three stay healthy. Now the big question is how they'll hit outside Andruw Jones.
The Phillies, of course, will come at us with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, and this winter built a decent starting staff by adding Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton to wonderkid Cole Hamels. Their Achilles' heel will be their bullpen, a crackshoot outside Flash Gordon.
Florida, meanwhile, will look to build on last season after their young pitchers and hitters came on strong at the end of the season. Ripe for a team-wide sophomore slump? Maybe.
As for the Nats... guess every division needs a punching bag.
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The Mets haven't spoken to the Oakland A's about their pitchers since before Christmas, SI.com's Jon Heyman reports.
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Carlos Delgado — recovering from minor elbow surgery — expects to begin taking batting practice Jan. 22. He says he’ll be ready for spring training.
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Omar's got five premium prospects and he's not going to move them for just anybody, the New York Times says. Check out who they are.
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28 days ‘til pitchers and catchers
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Mets in '07!
After giving it thought, I think Atlanta made a good trade. Their weak offense gets even weaker, but LaRoche was no great shakes for a first baseman, and he probably played above his level in '06. The addition of Gonzalez is huge for them, if he's healthy. But they need the back end of that rotation (I don't count Mike Hampton) to come up huge to have a chance, with that lineup.
The Phillies got a little better, but not much better. Adam Eaton will not pitch more than six or seven games. I think they'll be the Mets' biggest competition, but they also need some breaks.
Florida has a fabulous young rotation, but a lot of players due for sophomore slumps. They could win 81 games or 51 games.
I think the Mets are still the class of the division--on paper. We all know that baseball isn't played on paper. Should be an interesting year.
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EC...
I agree... the Mets still are the class of the rotation. But I don't think this will be a runaway.
With Wickman, Gonzalez and Soriano, the Braves have a setup core to compete with the Mets. But Omar's added even more options than last year. And that Atlanta offense is awfully weak.
Philly always seems to come up short. Considering Eaton's injury history and Jamie Moyer in the five-spot, I expect them to do so again.
Can't wait to get this thing started though...
~ Eddie @ Willie Ball
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Oh, I don't think it'll be a runaway at all. Either way I can't wait. The cold weather is making me want baseball even more!
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