The NL East is the class of the NL, and I predict the Phils and Braves will take the East and Wildcard in some combo.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are the favorite to get back to the World Series for a 3rd straight time (though I think playoffs are a crapshoot, but I’ll get into that in the next post). Chase, Doc, UPS, JDub, J Roll, Vic, and Hamels are a core every team desires for and I think they have all the pieces to compete for a 3rd world title.

Best Player: 2B Chase Utley

Chase Utley was the most underrated player in the country, and his heroics in the World Series hopefully fixed some of that. His hip problem probably will bring his decline phase faster than it naturally would have been, but if anyone can fight through it, it will be Chase. He is simply the best hitting 2nd baseman, the best fielding 2nd baseman, and the best fielder in baseball over the last 3 years. Really just read this, its everything you need to know. (Shout out to Nicky 2’s, I’ll never stop trying to get Chase)

Potential Bust: OF Raul Ibanez

Something happened midway through the season where Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez had like a Freaky Friday or something, because Raul Ibanez had an absolutely unrepeatable first half that saw him as probably the best player in the league for 2+ months of the season. The second half saw him fall back down to earth, and that player is the player that fans should expect. I hated this signing when it was made, had it thrown in my face, and now I promise I will have the last laugh, there will be times this season when fans will be crying for Ben Francisco to be in left.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves have a solid team as-is, but with #1 prospect Jason Heyward lying in wait, the Braves should have enough to make it to the post season for the first time since 2005.

Best Player: C Brian McCann

Brian McCann is the real stud on this team, and even on a down year the big guy was still worth 4 wins. He underwent Lasik eye surgery to deal with the eye issues he fought with in 2009 and it may take McCann back to the 5+ win territory he is used to.

Potential Bust: 3B Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones took a hard fall to earth as injury, age, a big increase in K% and a little bit of bad luck caused him to take a 5 win fall from his elite 2008-2009 levels. The future hall-of-famer is 38 years old so the best years are certainly behind him, but his bat is still a threat and whether he can stay on the field will be the big determinant of how good his season will be, and possibly the Braves’ season as a whole.

New York Mets

The Mets saw one of the unluckiest seasons on record last year, so a bounce back is a certainty. They have some fantastic talent, that is for sure, but there are just far too many question marks and injury issues to think this team has a chance this season.

Best Player: 3B David Wright

David Wright took a huge step back last season as his power absolutely left him, along with his glove. If he didn’t benefit from an absolutely ridiculous .394 BABIP, he probably would have been the biggest disappointment of all elite players in the league. That said, I think those things were more of an aberration of what should be expected of Wright in 2010. The power didn’t seem to be a product of Citi Field (5 HRs Away, 5 at home) and whether the power outage is for real or not will dictate the kind of player Wright will be in the future.

Potential Bust: OF Jason Bay

Jason Bay was the big free agent move for Omar Minaya and The Mets as Omar continued to show how bad a GM he really is. They gave Jason Bay a 4 yr/$66 million dollar deal with a 5th year option, the Red Sox gave Mike Cameron a 2 yr/$15.5 million deal. 
Bay put up a 3.5 WAR last season and a 2.7 WAR/150 3-year weighted average and is projected to put up roughly another 3.5 WAR season at age 31.
Cameron put up a 4.3 WAR last season and a 4.17 WAR/150 3-year weighted average and is projected to put up around a 3 WAR season at age 37.
Obviously the Mets paid for Bays above average bat, but completely ignored his awful fielding that will probably be even worse in the bigger convines of Citi Field (and a bat that will most certainly fall due to a more pitcher friendly park and less protection in the line up).

Florida Marlins

Ramirez, Johnson, Nolasco, Coghlan, and Uggla are solid pieces that will give this team a chance to win any game they play, but the inconsistency and injury questions lingering throughout the ballclub will probably bring this team to trade away Uggla and Cantu at the deadline and finish in the mid-70s, but if they can get the kind of luck they got in 2009 they could make things interesting for the top 2 dogs.

Best Player: SS Hanley Ramirez

Long story short, Hanley Ramirez is one of the top 5 players in baseball and if you wanted to argue he is the best I wouldn’t put up a fight. He has made tremendous strides with his defense, and if that continues he is a guaranteed 8 win player, and my pick for best season of 2010.

Potential Bust: OF Cody Ross

It is anybody’s guess what Cody Ross will give you in 2010. He has shown some really nice power, but his glove has been average his entire career except for a stellar 2008. If he can get everything together for one season he could have a spectacular season, but just as easily he could be mediocre, at best.

Washington Nationals

Unsurprsingly, the Nationals are a pretty bad team, but the 59 wins was more a cause of bad luck and giving up early. I’ll put them at 70 because I love Zimm and Morgan and I’m assuming Strasberg joins the club fairly early and is a solid starter.

Best Player: 3B Ryan Zimmerman

Zimmerman is truly one of the most valuable players in the game. He’s only 25 and he could actually get better. The only negative for the superstar is he has been rather inconsistent from time to time in all parts of his game. If the improvements he made in 2009 hold or somehow get better, you are looking at one of the top 10 players in baseball.

Potential Bust: P Jason Marquis

Jason Marquis was the big signing this offseason for the Nats, but I don’t understand why a team with no chance of winning, buying high on a guy who has been consistently average or worse for most his career. I will enjoy the Phillies facing him 4 or 5 or times this year.