For the rest of the week, four of our staff writers will go division by division to make our playoff predictions, while looking at a major storyline for each team.
Our four-man panel includes —
Travis Berardi — Pirates beat writer
Gar Bercury — Co-Pitt beat writer
Michael Waterloo — Co-Owner/Columnist
Matt Welch — D-2 coverage/The Times West Virginian.
First up, the National League East.
Atlanta Braves —
“Can the Braves overcome injuries to Kris Medlen (Tommy John), Brandon Beachy (Tommy John) and Mike Minor (shoulder)?”
Berardi – The Braves won 96 games last season with a disappointing year by B.J. Upton, and an injury-filled year by Jason Heyward. If those two can get it together, they have the offensive output to survive the early pitching issues.
Bercury – It’s not going to be easy. I love the acquisition of Ervin Santana, as he’ll help ease the losses a bit. To me, there are two other questions. How do they move on without the leadership of Brian McCann, and who is going to step up defensively beyond Freddie Freeman?
Waterloo – It’s a good thing that the Braves get to play the Phillies, Mets and Marlins so often this year. Turner Field is the only place that makes any kind of sense for Santana, but it was essentially a $30-plus million panic move (when considering future costs), but they’ll be just fine for a second-place finish.
Welch – It’s tough to say those two don’t mean so much. In a weak NL East, I think they can make it.
Washington Nationals —
“Can the Nationals live up to the hype this year after a disappointing 2013 season?”
Berardi – Last year’s Nationals had the pieces for a playoff run, but stumbled late, and they fell out of the Wild Card race. If Stephen Strasburg can live up to expectations, they could have a chance at a run.
Bercury – Adding Doug Fister from the Tigers was huge. Couple that with Cy Young candidate Strasburg and a deep rotation, and there is no reason not to think this team will bounce back in a big way. Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth are both capable of putting of monster numbers. If they can be more consistent offensively, this team should win the division, and be in the mix to win the pennant.
Waterloo – Last year, I picked the Nationals to win the World Series. This year, well, fool me twice, shame on me, right? Well, I’ll consider myself a fool if they bust again, because I have the Nats taking the division. Have you seen Harper? What’s more, Gio Gonzalez is poised to return to his 2012 form, and though the bullpen is a question, the Nats will coast to a division title.
Welch – With a new manager (Matt Williams), the Nationals will still be trying to find themselves this year.
Miami Marlins –
“Can the Marlins pull a surprise and contend at any point this year?”
Berardi – No. The Marlins do have young talent on the team in Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez, but they’re still a couple of years away.
Bercury – No. Stanton and Fernandez are two of the top players in the National League, but this team stinks.
Waterloo – If you watched the video cast this week, you know my feelings. Remember the Pirates, what, three years ago now? They were Wild Card contenders until the All-Star break. I think you’ll see the same thing from the Marlins this year. Stanton, Fernandez, Marcell Ozuna, Chritian Yelich and Steve Cishek all have the potential to make a bold claim come true.
Welch – No. There’s too much wrong in the clubhouse.
New York Mets –
“With the season in doubt, should the Mets have signed Daisuke and Colon instead of giving the younger guys a chance?”
Berardi – The Mets are taking an extreme chance of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Bartolo Colon as they are trying to get lucky with two guys that have had one year under a 3.00 ERA combined. They are trying to contend with luck instead of giving the younger guys valuable playing time.
Bercury – Losing Matt Harvey was an absolute killer. Matsuzaka was a cheap, low-risk option. Colon, though relatively pricey, could be a nice trade deadline piece if the Mets up being, well, the Mets. Sixty-million guaranteed to Curtis Granderson? Wow, what a puzzling move. How much longer does David Wright languish with a team seemingly not going anywhere? Could he finally be moved to a contender?
Waterloo – The Mets are a bad, bad team. It makes no sense to me when a team makes a signing that blocks a young guy from performing (see Rodney, Fernando and Arroyo, Bronson), and the Mets did just that. Matsuzaka, sure, but why shell out that money to Colon with Noah Syndergaard on track to the bigs?
Welch – Season in doubt = Mets (still) rebuilding. Go with the younger guys.
Philadelphia Phillies –
“What do you expect from A.J. Burnett in Philadelphia?”
Berardi – I see one of two things happening: 1. Burnett has a good year, but not as good as the first year-and-a-half in Pittsburgh. 2. He completely stinks.
Bercury – If you put any credence into spring training numbers, it might be a very long year for Burnett. What might be the most interesting part in all of this is if the and the aging Phillies struggle, how will Burnett respond? He has a track record of not playing well with others, and being tough with the media. This could get very interesting.
Waterloo – The magic of Ray Searage won’t be there, and Citizens Bank Park isn’t exactly pitcher friendly. He’ll be OK, but he won’t be $16 million OK…and that remains true even if he was in Pittsburgh.
Welch – He will be in the shadows of Halladay in Philly, even though Halladay is gone.
Playoff Teams –
Berardi – Braves, with Nats as a Wild Card.
Bercury – “It’s hard not to like the Nationals here.
Waterloo – “It’s the Nationals, without a doubt. Not a Fister fan, but the staff and offense is way too good. The Braves will grab a Wild Card spot.”
Welch – Braves
