NL East Preview

03/14/2010 6:13 PM - 

Turning now to some of the question regarding teams in the NL East.

 ATLANTA BRAVES

• First and foremost for fantasy players if not Bobby Cox is “Will uber prospect Jason Heyward be the starting right fielder on April 5?”
• If Heyward is on the opening day roster how will the LF at bats play out with both Melky Cabrera and Matt Diaz thinking they should be full time players?
• Can Chipper Jones have one more productive and (mostly) injury free season before he rides off into retirement next year?
• Was SP Jair Jurrjens shoulder inflammation a one time occurrence or will he have problems during the year? We would have expected some regression from his ERA but otherwise solid performance if healthy.
• Can Nate McLouth bounce back and be the productive lead-off hitter the Braves need?
• Will Tim Hudson’s return continue in a positive direction? If so it should give Atlanta a very stable starting rotation.
• Is new closer Billy Wagner 100% healthy and can he stay that way all season?

 FLORIDA MARLINS

• Will the Marlins finally give prospects Gaby Sanchez or Logan Morrison the job at first base?
• If they choose neither and play veteran Jorge Cantu there what will they do at third base?
• Can LF Chris Coghlan avoid a “sophomore jinx” and improve on his 2009 ROY season?
• Does CF Cameron Maybin take the next step up towards star status?
• Can closer Leo Nunez be effective on a full time basis?
• Will the starting rotation stay healthy most of the year?  A very talented group IF they can pitch all year

 NEW YORK METS

• Looks like the medical staff gets most of these questions but foremost….Will Jose Reyes be able to play a full season…and run?
• Is Johan Santana completely healthy and ready to go?
• Are there more problems than we know about with KRod?
• How long will Carlos Beltran be out?
• Will at least some of David Wright’s HR power return?
• Who wins the fifth spot in the rotation?

 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

• Most of the questions for the Phillies are on the pitching side – starting with closer Brad Lidge – which one will we see this year? The Phillies would settle for something in between but definitely need a better effort than last year.
• If not is Ryan Madson the answer?
• Will J.A. Happ take the next step up from last year’s great effort, or regress in his second year in the rotation?
• Who wins the fifth spot in the rotation? To date Kyle Kendrick has looked better than Jamie Moyer or Jose Contreras.
• Can the offense make all the above questions irrelevant? Well we know they can, but will they?

 WASHINGTON NATIONALS

• Most fantasy players #1 question would be when Stephen Strasburg is put into the Nationals rotation? Bet on June and be happy with anything earlier
• Is this the year that all the talent in the Nats outfield takes a step forward?
• When will Jesus Flores be off the disabled list and ready to catch?
• How many AB will Ian Desmond get in 2010?
• Can Matt Capps return to form and be The closer for Washington this year?
• How many wins can new manager Jim Riggelman get from this edition of the Nationals?