The NL East is now home of the defending champs.They also play host to one of the top lineups in the league, a reformed rotation, and a team carried on the shoulders of essentially one offensive player. The Mets added not one but two closers to fill in their ‘pen, the Braves brought in Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, and Kenshin Kawakami in hopes of once again becoming the elite pitchign team in the league. The Marlins got approval for a new stadium but couldn’t get a new bat (or arm) to bolster their team around that guy Ramirez (not to be confused with Manny) and the Phillies kept their roster in most part intact in hopes of repeating their title run. Even the Nationals made some news, adding Adam Dunn to an already stuffed outfield and got some pitching help in former Oriole Daniel Cabrera. This is a stronger division now, so strong that the defending champs may not even be favored to win it.

5) In the cellar of the East, The Nationals find their home. They are improving, just at too slow and steady a pace to be expected to rise up out of the five hole any time soon. Rather, their season wil be spent refining their rotation and hoping Adam Dunn can help lead some young, talented guys like Zimmerman, Dukes, Milledge, and Guzman. Their rotation isn’t good, they really have no bona fide ace and their bullpen still lacks a guy that strikes fear into the heart of opposing rosters as the game goes on. They are certaintly improving and with the first pick in the draft, they might just get an ace with that fireballer Erik Starsburg waiting for his name to be called. They are on their way up but their pitching will need to improve and their offensive guys will need to step up big time before this team goes anywhere up.

4) The Marlins had a good season last year but they lost a few key guys in the offseason. Mike Jacobs will be missed and now Jorge Cantu will have more pressure to contribute. Dan Uggla was a formidable power hitter in the first half and went as cold as ice after the break and the key for the Marlins will be for him to be going strong all year. Hanley will be superb as he always is but this team needs to build up some offense around him. They have Uggla and in a year or two from now Cameron Maybin will be the next Curtis Granderson out there in center but for now much of the offensive spark will be provided from the shortstop. They will have to rely a lot on a weak bullpen and a young, inexperienced rotation that can be lights out when hot and deader than a pitching machine when cold.

3) An improved rotation moves the Braves up my list this year. Lowe is a true ace and isn’t as ancient as the guys the Braves hold on too for nostalgia (*cough* Glavine). Vazquez can be good or bad but has a good upside and Jair Jurrgens is a real gem in the gravel for Atalanta. I like Rafael Soriano in the pen but he needs to close out these games if they want to get full value for him. Chipper will be Chipper and play solid but the offense will be average at best. I do like Garret Anderson but he is definitely on the downside of his career and Jeff Francour will need to step it up. A good team, but not elite (as you need to be in this division).

2) Speaking of elite, what is better than winning. World Series champs the Phillies finish second. Their offense is loaded with great contributors and their major offseason pickup in Raul Ibanez is a leg up from Pat Burrel in my eyes. Their Achilles heel will be their pitching. Cole Hamels is one of the best lefties in the game but is the only real sure thing in that rotation. Brett Mayers and Jamie Moyer and getting too old to be productive and Joe Blanton will have as many off-days as he does good-days. Their bullpen will be good, especially the back end with Lidge and Madson but their starting five isn’t strong enough to overcome such a strong lineup as the team ranked ahead of them. Jimmy Rollins is still on the way up, Ryan Howard is riding high, and Chase Utley will be productive yet again but the offense won’t be able to pick up all the slack and the pitchign will cost the Phillies the division crown.

1) And last but not least, the Mets will overcome their past September….wait, go no further, it’s just too painful to New Yorkers. They have one of the top three lineups in the National League and their starting rotation is strong. Johan is one of the best, Perez is solid, Pelfrey is a rock and a horse, Maine is going to break out sometime soon and Livan Hernandez has a point to prove. They also have strong guys waiting like Garcia and Redding that might break in later on. Their bullpen is strong but not yet perfect. They still have questions in the early stages of their pen but the back end with Putz and K-Rod will not allow as many games to slip as the former bullpen did in 2008). Thye also have the option of trading Garcia or Hernandez or Redding in exchange for some sixth or seventh inning guys if need be. Their lineup with Reyes, Wright, Delgado, Beltran, and Castillo will be dynamite and Church and Schneider will contribute as well. This team will challenge the Cubbies for the NL Pennat and thanks to a weak Philidelphia rotation, will have the opportunity to put away the “chokers” label (there i said it)