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2 Responses to “Hardball Times’ Season Preview”

1. Ron says:
   

   February 8th, 2008 at 9:37 am

   So….. are the Braves finishing higher than 3rd this year?

2. Alex Remington says:
   

   February 8th, 2008 at 11:04 am

   I’d say so, yeah. The Phillies’ offense is fearsome, but their pitching staff is in tatters, even with Myers back in the rotation. I’d put them at third unless Brad Lidge turns back into his former self and their rotation miraculously survives the season intact.

   The Mets are a better team at this point, as we’ve discussed, but they have massive red flags at virtually every position other than SS, 3B, and CF. Ryan Church will produce acceptable but below-average production in right, as will Brian Schneider at catcher. Luis Castillo, Carlos Delgado, and Moises Alou are obviously major injury risks, and Anderson Hernandez, Ruben Gotay, and Endy Chavez really aren’t enough to pick up the slack.

   On the pitching staff, Orlando Hernandez and Pedro Martinez are always injury risks and are doubtful to combine for more than 40 starts, and key setup man Duaner Sanchez hasn’t pitched in a year and is coming off surgery. John Maine had a dominant first half and a putrid second half, and Oliver Perez has never pitched two good seasons in a row. Johan Santana himself had a worrisome second half, as everyone knows.

   So while I don’t think the Braves are a perfect squad by any means, I like our chances when stacked up against them.

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