- Views
- 1223
- Comments
- 45
- 07/10/2012, 03:45PM ET
How about a little frog giggin?
Outlaw... said 07/10, 03:45 PM
It's the halfway point of the season, and my preseason NL East predictions are starting to look pretty unrealistic.
Here we will be predicting the final NL East standings.
1. Nationals- I had them second before, but I'm convinced they will be the division winners. Even when they shut Strasburg down, they still have plenty of good starters, and I look for their offense to improve in the second half now that Morse is back, and LaRochae and Zimmerman have been second half players throughout their careers.
2. Braves- Nearly 50 consecutive games against teams with a record of at least .500 and a lot of injuries in the first half, but they're still in the hunt. McCann and Uggla underperformed in the first half, look for that to change.
3. Marlins- This team is talented, and they've shown what they have the potential to do. I think they play better in the second half and move up a spot in the standings.
4. Mets- I think they overperformed in the first half, and reality will hit them hard in the second half. I'd be shocked if RA Dickey can repeat his first half performance.
5. Phillies- They have too many holes in their offense no middle relief.
Brooklyn Maestro said 07/11, 12:48 PM
I agree with you on first place. I think the Nationals have too much talent and are playing too well right now to get caught. One thing I dont agree with is that the Mets over performed. I am a yankee fan too so that pains me a little to say.
1} Nationals - One of the top 5 most talented teams in the major leagues. They will not only win the division but they will make noise in the postseason.
2} Mets - The mets young talent is peaking at the right time and Wright is finally playing like he is supposed to play and is a perrenial MVP candidate. They also happen to have the best starting pitcher in the major leagues right now in Dickey and I see no reason he wont be just as good in the second half.
3} Braves - Atlanta is talented but if they werent the Atlanta Braves we can rename them the inconsistent Braves. Slugger Uggla must shape up and not hit .200 in the 2nd half if they're going to gain ground.
4} Phillies - The phillies are too talened to be stuck in last. With the Doc coming back and ryan howard and chase utley taking the field full time the Phillies will roar back in the 2nd half.
5} Marlins - They are overrated, plain and simple.
Outlaw... said 07/11, 12:59 PM
Braves over Mets- The Braves have been through a lot in the first half, losing 3 key pieces at the same time, losing our ace to Tommy John Surgery and a ridiculous stretch of games against contending teams. With all of that, the Braves are still ahead of the Mets in the standings.
The Braves are starting to get healthy, and remember the great second half Uglla had last season after a terrible first half? Uggla is a second half player, and McCann is too good of a player to hit .220 in the second half. He's homered in 4 straight games and has adjusted his swing in a way that seems to be working.
The Mets just seem like the Pirates of last season. Overpermormed in the first half, and reality will set in in the second half. I find it hard to believe that a 37 year old RA Dickey who had the best half of his career will continue prolonged success this season as he faces teams for a second time. He's been getting hit a little harder his last few starts.
The Mets have been a nice story, and they have some good pieces for the future, but for the present, they are a fourth place team at best.
Other changes in next argument.
Brooklyn Maestro said 07/11, 01:20 PM
Im sorry man I cant buy them as 4th place right now. Even if i was to accept them behind the braves, do you honestly believe that the Marlins are better? I dont even think that the Marlins think they're better right now.
The marlins three big FA acquisitions of Heath Bell, who just lost his closer job, Mark Buehlre, and Jose Reyes have all underperformed at best. Their best hitter stanton is now injured and I dont see a terribly bright rest of the season for them. As such, there is no way the mets finish in 4th this season because they will not finish behind Miami.
The funny part about the Mets so far is that besides Wright, they havent gotten anything real out of Ike Davis or Lucas Duda who were supposed to be key contributers this season. Davis was showing signs of snapping out of it before the all star break.
The Braves are torn up by injuries and underperforming players but give me a sign you see THIS season (not last season) that shows that Uggla or McCann will be able to turn it around. If they don't, no way the Braves finish in third ahead of the Mets.
This met team is scrappy and competitive unlike the lathargic teams of mets past. They will finish in 2nd
Outlaw... said 07/11, 03:35 PM
The Marlins are have leaps and bounds more natural talent on their team than the Mets. They have played inconsistently at best this season, but look at their month of May and you'll see what they have the potential to be. Losing Stanton hurts, but the Marlins still field a good lineup on paper, and their ace isn't a 37 yearold journeyman knuckleballer who happened to have an unrepeatable first half.
Top to bottom, the Marlins are the better team. The Marlins have underperformed, the Mets have been over achievers. It will balance out in the second half and the better team will finish higher in the standings, and the better team is the Marlins.
I'm sure the Phillies will improve in the second half, but they're in a very deep hole, and I don't think they can dig out of it.
Chase Utley isn't half the player he used to be, and I doubt Ryan Howard will be the same either. The Phillies are an old team and it's showing this season.
Even when they get Halladay back, there's no way of knowing if he'll be the same, and even then, the starters will need to go at least 8 innings every game because they have no middle relief.
Leaderboard
| Fan | W | L | T | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OJ Simpson | 48 | 11 | 4 | 79.4% |
| 2 | Bloggers Needed | 1094 | 336 | 89 | 75.0% |
| 3 | JimJ77 Can't make it up | 130 | 53 | 26 | 68.4% |
| 4 | :CubanM... | 62 | 27 | 7 | 68.2% |
| 5 | Marlins Fan | 146 | 66 | 32 | 66.4% |
| 6 | Argos. | 174 | 103 | 26 | 61.7% |
| 7 | J-Business | 91 | 73 | 24 | 54.8% |
| 8 | XXPCHXX... | 926 | 1536 | 406 | 39.4% |
| 9 | Highway... | 170 | 813 | 54 | 19.0% |
Truth & Rumors
MOST POPULAR
-
1
Stunned Cavs open to dealing top pick
- Views
- 5872
- Comments
- 1484
-
2
Duquette's luck running out
- Views
- 2289
- Comments
- 515
-
3
Namath: Jets wasted Smith pick
- Views
- 29430
- Comments
- 95
-
4
Rangers fear 'huge' loss on D
- Views
- 7119
- Comments
- 83
-
5
LeBron knows Indy can beat the Heat
- Views
- 2295
- Comments
- 61
Most Active Users
Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns
Blogs
-
Slap Dog Hoops
In defense of Sergio Garcia
Usually I write just about basketball, but this issue riled me up so much…
- Views
- 62
- Comments
- 2
-
Charles Hartley's Blog
Salute to the World's Non-Athletes
There are people walking this Earth who are not world-class athletes like…
- Views
- 47
- Comments
- 0
-
For the Record
Ten years after 9/11
<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; …
- Views
- 17325
- Comments
- 62
Fantasy Plus
TM & © 2013 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
FanNation.com is part of Sports Illustrated Sites
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines, your California privacy rights, and ad choices
Comments (45) Add A Comment
If McCann and Uggla can bounce back in the second half and Ben Sheets is anywhere near the pitcher he was in Milwaukee, we have a good shot. Only 4 games back and in second place is better than I thought we would be at this point in the season. Time will tell.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
If McCann and Uggla bounce back in the second half and Ben Sheets is anywhere close to the pitcher he was in Milwaukee, we have a chance. 4 games back and in second place is better than I thought we would be at this point. Only time will tell.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
i agree with marlins. i'd take atl to catch wash but i'll also add i think philly will at least contend to pass ny for fourth.
kalbrecht17
Hallock , MN
Total Comments (188)
I agree with this, the only thing I might change is Phillies over Mets but other than that seems good to me.
That new guy
Chicago, IL
Total Comments (11)
Take it easy on the shine and stay away from other boy's women
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
My preseason predictions were:
1. Phillies
2. Nationals
3. Braves
4. Marlins
5. Mets
The only change I have from my preseason list is moving the Phillies to the bottom and bumping everyone else up 1.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
I'm still holding out hope that the Rockies finish the year on a 77 game losing streak and go 33-129. Then maybe the coach and GM will get the boot.
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64434)
I won't have time in my argument, but both McCann and Uggla have shown signs of coming out of it. McCann has changed his swing, and has now homered in 4 straight games, and has raised his batting average by .15 points in that span, he's also been driving the ball to the opposite field, something that he hasn't done all season.
And Uggla in his career has been a very streaky hitter. He'll swing his way into and swing his way out of slumps. His biggest issue during his slump was strikeouts, his last few games, including the AS game, he has been making solid contact, which is a very good sign for Dan Uggla.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
That works for me. They still have a series against the Braves, and they've finished their season series with the Nats.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
They are just awful this year. Was gonna go down to Denver and catch a live Rockies but now I have changed my mind.
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64434)
Fowler played high school ball like 2 minutes down the road from where I used to work in Milton, GA.
Outlaw...
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (39777)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.