What They Need: NL East
Mets: The Mets have a lights-out closer (Wagner), an MVP candidate (Reyes) and several big bats (Beltran, Delgado, Wright). So they really don’t need much.
Coming into the season, the Mets biggest worry was their aging starting staff. It still is. Tom Glavine has been marching dutifully towards 300 wins, but one has to wonder how long he can keep it up. Oliver Perez has been surprisingly good, if inconsistent. Orlando Hernandez has spent a good bit of time on the DL. This staff might be enough to get the Mets to the playoffs, but it’s hard to imagine these guys will lead them to a World Series championship. There’s no ace on this staff. But there could be if Dontrelle Willis became available and the Marlins got interested in Lastings Milledge.
Braves: After an encouraging start to the season, times are suddenly tough for the Bravos. Their best reliever to this point, Mike Gonzalez, will need elbow surgery and is lost for the year. Tim Hudson, who was unhittable in April, has been very hittable in May. Andruw Jones has been a shadow of his former self. And Chipper Jones managed to injure both hands on the same play — and there wasn’t even a piano or anvil involved.
If the Braves are going to catch the Mets, they need a healthy Chipper and a robust Andruw. But most of all, they need their starting pitching to step it up. Smoltz needs his latest injury to be minor. Hudson needs to rediscover his confidence. And Chuck James (I’m Chuck James, Bitch!) and Kyle Davies need to pitch up to their abilities.
Phillies: It’s no secret that the Phillies’ Achilles heel is their bullpen. Tom Gordon is out. Brett Myers may be lost for the year as well. So what’s a GM to do? Pray, for starters. And then try to pry David Weathers from the Reds, and sign the newly unretired Troy “I’m not dead yet” Percival.
Marlins: This young squad isn’t going anywhere this year. But if you’re a Florida fan, the future is bright. Hanley Ramirez, Josh Willingham, Miguel Cabrera — these guys are for real.
The fish are a few bullpen arms and some veteran experience away from a string of playoff births. The Marlins tried to trade for a closer earlier in the season, but ended up with an injured Jorge Julio. The time might be right to trade SP Dontrelle Willis. Hitters seem to have figured him out. The Marlins need a top of the rotation pitcher. Whether that comes in the form of a reinvigorated Willis or a free-agent acquisition, it needs to happen.
Nationals: I mean, let’s be honest, the Nationals need help at pretty much every position. I don’t even know where to begin. So I won’t.
May 30th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Coley - you forgot Pedro, dude. I’m increasingly (perhaps stupidly) being convinced that he’ll be back in early August throwing in the 90s. How’s that for your ace?
Oh, and I highly doubt that the Marlins would give up Dontrelle for Lastings. They may have considered it last year, but won’t even bat an eye to reject it this year.
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May 30th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Paul, I don’t think the Marlins would give up Dontrelle for Milledge straight up. But Lastings was hitting the ball a ton before his injury and Willis hasn’t been so hot this season. I don’t think it’s a stretch that they could work something out. Mabye Milledge and another prospect for Dontrelle. Or Lastings and Heilman?
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May 31st, 2007 at 11:52 am
Hudson has two bad starts, followed by a great start last night. And he needs to rediscover his confidence?
You obviously don’t watch the Braves much do you? Though I agree about James and Davies.
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