Can Johan Santana help Mets Fans forget the pain of Last Season?
The Trading For Johan Santana (and the subsequent bank-breaking extension) sent shockwaves throughout the baseball world. The two epicenters of this deal was both Minnesota and New York.
In This MLB Preview, we will look at how the signing changes the landscape of the NL East Picture.
PHILLADELPHIA PHILLIES
The Phillies in April looked flat. Their team was in Last Place, and their angry manager (Charlie Manuel) was talking to reporters, wanting to fight them. The Phillies picked it up the rest of the way. propelled by National League MVP Jimmy Rollins (who talked the talk and walked the walk) to the 2006 National League Rookie Of the Year Ryan Howard (who walked the walk and produced big in the clutch).
Pitching Wise, Cole Hamels, Jon Lieber (now an injury risk for the Chicago Cubs), Brett Myers (the first guy In a while to start and close in the same season), Jamie Moyer, and Rookie Kyle Kendrick formed the best rotation in the National League East Last Season. Could they be the best rotation in the NL East again? Abselotely. Especially after Johan Santana, the Mets have nothing but questionmarks in their rotation.
Kyle Kendrick will replace Jon Lieber in the rotation. Kendrick shined at Double A, was called up to The Show, and shined there as well.
Defensively, the Phillies lost Aaron Rowand (who may replace #25 in Left Field for the San Francisco Giants) and Tadahito Iguchi, a mid season addition last season, to Free Agency.
NEW YORK METS
Heartbreak and dissapointment came to Mets fans last season, The Mets still had a seven game lead in September, with 17 games to go. The Mets, however, would lose 11 of their next 16, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to tie them with three games left. The Mets lost to the Marlins 8-1 in the final game of the season, while the Phillies went on to win their final game 6-1 against the Nationals and clinch the NL East by one game. The Mets became first team in MLB history to blow a lead of seven or more games with only 17 games to play, and, by one analysis, it was the 2nd worst collapse overall in MLB regular season history. Despite the season ending debacle, Minaya announced that Randolph would remain as manager for the 2008 season.
The Mets has to make changes this offseason and they did. They made the biggest trade of the offseason, as The Mets agreed to trade four minor league prospects, including outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitcher Philip Humber to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Johan Santana, who agreed on a six-year contract extension on February 1 worth $150.75 million, the highest amount ever for a pitcher on a long-term contract. The trade was finalized on February 2nd when Santana passed his physical.
Santana is already the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, and he improves their rotation. But what about the rest of their rotation? John Maine and Pedro Martinez fill out the rest of the rotation as of today. Tom Glavine, who helped the Braves win the 1995 World Series, is coming back to the Atlanta Braves for the 2008 Season.
Offensively, The Mets will be back, but they are old. Moises Alou and Carlos Delgado are aging, but the two best young players on this team, David Wright and Carlos Beltran, should carry this team. Ryan Church replaces Shawn Green in Right Field, and Brian Schneider, one of the best defensive catchers in Baseball, replaces Paul Lo Duca behind the plate.
ATLANTA BRAVES
After the Braves won fourteen consecutive division titles, the Braves have had a pair of third place finishes. The Braves are still trying to win. The "Old Men" rotation of John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, and Tom Glavine will have the usual hope of staying healthy all season. On the offensive side, the Braves would be smart to resign First Baseman Mark Texiera to an extension. Omar Infante and Yuniel Escobar will be the table-setters for Texiera and Chipper Jones. Andruw Jones had horrible power number last season, and they will only get worse playing in Chavez Ravine. Mark Kotsay, the former Oakland Athletics Outfielder, will compete for Andruw Jones's old spot in Center Field.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
The Washington Nationals are on the way up offendively. They have a Future All Star and Gold Glover in Ryan Zimmerman, and Elijah Dukes could be a major sleeper if he cleans up his act. The Nationals will need to improve their rotation if they want to be competitive.
The Future is now for the Nationals. They have the newest ballpark in Baseball and hope to put together a team to compete with the Mets and Phillies.
FLORIDA MARLINS
The Florida Marlins won the World Series in 1997. They then purged their roster of high priced talent. The Marlins again won the World Series in 2003, they purged their roster in 2006, and in 2008, finished purging their roster as they traded away the two cornerstones from their 2003 World Series Run, Third Baseman Miguel Cabrera and Pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
The Marlins will be hoping their pieces from the trade (Mike Rabelo, Andrew Miller) will be enough to build confidence for the youngsters.
The Marlins and Devil Rays will compete to be the worst Florida Team in Baseball.
My Projected Finish:
NEW YORK METS
PHILLADELPHIA PHILLIES
ATLANTA BRAVES
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
FLORIDA MARLINS
In the next MLB Preview, we will preview the American League East. Will The Red Sox be able to repeat? Will Joe Girardi find success in New York? Can The Blue Jays Be A Sleeper this season? Can Tampa Bay Be Competitive This Season? Find out in the next MLB Preview.
