NL Predictions

Let’s get through the easy ones, so we can focus on what we really care about.
The West will come down to the Rockies and the Giants. I’m going to pick the Rockies because I don’t think the Giants have enough offense to stay in the race over the entire season. The Rockies offense is solid and their pitching should be good enough to win the division.

Everyone loves the Brewers in the Central. Everyone loves the Brewers every year. Everyone always thinks this is the year the Brewers are going to get it done, and every year the Brewers disappoint. Zach Grenke is already hurt, and their first baseman looks like he just finished off all the Oreos in the world. Give me the Reds, who won the division last year, and bring everyone back. The Cardinals are out without Wainwright, and the Cubs… well maybe next year.

Ok, for the East.

The Mets will be out of the picture before July.

The Nationals will be out of the picture by this afternoon.

The Marlins are good enough to hang around for a while, but if Josh Johnson isn’t healthy, they will be out of the picture by August. If he is healthy, they can hang until September and maybe scare someone for the wild card.

I’m pretty confident that both the Braves and the Phillies are going to make the playoffs. In my view, they are the two best teams in the National League. I don’t think there is another division in baseball that could be turned quicker due to injuries. If everyone was at full strength, I’d pick the Phillies to win the division and the Braves the wild card. However, Chase Utley is a huge question mark, Dominick Brown is injured, and Brad Lidge is out 3-6 weeks.

I’m not convinced that the Phillies are going to be healthy all year. Assuming that the Phillies get right before the playoffs, I’ll take the Braves for the division and the Phillies for the wild card. If Utley doesn’t come back before June, the Phillies could dig themselves a hole they can’t get out of.

For all of their pitching, you do have to score runs to win, and it is very difficult for even the best pitchers to go out there every five days knowing they can’t give up 2 runs or they might lose. No Jayson Werth and no Chase Utley means no playoffs for the Phillies. If the Phillies don’t win the wild card, I’ll take the Giants.

Playoffs:

Braves over Reds

Phillies over Rockies

NLCS:

If the Phillies have all of their pitchers and bats, the Braves can’t beat them in a 7 game series when you would have to face Halladay and Lee 4 times. I’ll take the Phillies to win the NLCS.

World Series:

Red Sox over Phillies