NL East Power Rankings

April 7, 2008 – 10:49 am

It’s time for our first series of NL East Power Rankings. Power Rankings indicate who has the power and momentum in the division and with three contenders this year, they’ll change weekly. So who is at the top? Who is at the bottom? And why do the Marlins have the same record as the Braves?

#1 - The Atlanta Braves
The Braves (3-3) have come out of the gate with their offense firing on most cylinders. The scary part of that is they’re still 2nd in the NL in average (.292), runs (40), slugging percentage (.470) and OPS (.822). They’ve already shown their ability to battle back and put games into extra innings, as well as outscore the Mets 14-6 in the last two games. Their pitching staff is not working as it should yet - the bullpen is recovering from early jitters and Mike Hampton is back on the DL (Surprise? Hardly). But solid starts from both John Smoltz and Jair Jurrjens have put the Braves in a good spot to be - at the top of the division early.

#2 - Florida Marlins
How are these guys able to be 3-3? They’ve taken it to the Pirates. I don’t think they’ll be in the #2 position long, so don’t get used to it. They’ll begin climbing the ranks downward.

#3 - New York Mets
These guys would be in the two position were it not for the Marlins’ strong start. Santana is looking good, Pedro is hurt and their offense wasn’t clicking during their last series against the Braves. The Mets’ bullpen hasn’t been stellar so far either. But they’re the Mets, and they’ll surely rebound strong. Can’t discount them.

#4 - Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies may be in the cellar right now as far as standings go, but they’re not completely dead yet. However, they’ve had issues with the starting pitching and relief corps. And their highly touted offense has had a slow start - scoring only 27 runs so far - that’s fourth in the NL East.

#5 - Washington Nationals
The Nationals have issues. They just lost a series - the entire series - to Cardinals. The Nationals did eek out a win against the Braves to start the season (lucky break on that Moylan pitch), but they’re going to need to start winning the easy games against the teams that are worse than them. Thus, they’re in the basement, at least for the first week of the power rankings.

Did I mis-rank the teams? Any of the 12 Marlins fans that are young enough to own computers want to whine about them not being at the top? Leave us a comment and we’ll hash it out.


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8 Responses to “NL East Power Rankings”

  1. By Andrew Vazzano on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    Nah, you got it.

    Crazy that the “best league in the NL” doesn’t have anyone over .500…

  2. By Jonathan on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    Same concept as the ACC in college basketball, they all spend the season beating each other up too much.

    I think it won’t be too terribly long until the projected three-team race starts to emerge. Once the fish and the nats get a few more games under their belts this season, I expect to see them down around the bottom, though both teams have shown a few glimmers into things that could come in upcoming seasons.

  3. By Chris on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    Just a couple a criticisms…

    1.) Nationals were NOT swept by the Marlins…in fact today will be the first time the Nationals and the Marlins will have played each other this season.

    2.) Nationals beat the Braves and then went in to Philly to take 2 of 3 before going to St. Louis to be SWEPT by the cards.

    I think you have the top two just about right (for now) I think the Braves are starting to find a stride and will have to work hard to keep up the momentum this week in a cold and wet Colorado. The Marlins should be in 2nd since they just did what the Braves couldn’t do…and that’s take 2 of 3 from the Pirates.

    The Muts are hurt and will hurt some more when the rest of their team gets bitten by the injury bug. As for the Nationals and the Philles…if they can’t be tied for last I would have to give the edge to the Nats since they have the better head-to-head record so far…

  4. By Jonathan on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    You are correct about the Nationals, Chris. I have made the appropriate changes.

    I think the series in Colorado will be interesting to watch. The results are going to be highly dependent on how the bullpen performs and whether or not the powerful Colorado offense can hit their stride. If they continue to hit like that have thus far this season, I don’t look for them to be a big challenge. If they start hitting however, it will be a different series.

  5. By Chris on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    You should probably look into updating the Marlins and the Muts entries since you referenced the sweep in those as well.

    Colorado’s bullpen has been suspect, but like you said they could hit out of that mini slump they are currently in very easily. No lead is EVER safe at Coors Field.

  6. By Doc's Sports Picks Guru on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    I would have to respectfully disagree that this is the best division in the National League. Watching the N.L. West I think it’s clear that they are a cut above. They have more aces and better overall pitching staffs, as well as a unique style that they all seem adept at playing.

    They play small ball. And a lot of times it looks like they’re playing a different sport. But the D-Backs, Rockies, Dodgers, and Padres comprise the toughest core in the N.L.

    Also, the Marlins are pretty bad. They hit the ball a little bit but their five starters have to be one of the worst starting staffs in baseball. I know you don’t like the Mets, but come on. I think Washington is going to hang around in this division this year. They have the best bullpen in the East and if their starters continue to throw like they have this team is scrappy as hell.

    Best of luck.

  7. By Colin on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    I’ve updated the rest, Chris. Sorry, bad data there on my part.

    Doc - you may have an argument there. More young aces, maybe. But the Braves and Phillies have two of the strongest lineups in baseball. If you’ve watched any of the games the Braves have played they’ve put together their own version of small ball as well. Sacrifices, heads-up base running, and the little things here and there have made the games go easily for the Braves (except those painstaking extra inning losses).

  8. By baseballbrett13 on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply

    I like the rankings now. If Hudson and Smoltz can continue to beat the Mets aces things look really promising, as I don’t see Philly having enough pitching to keep up with the Braves

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