Baseball Update: NL East

The Baseball Update is a look at the happenings around Major League Baseball

This division is getting better by the day. The Mets and Phillies keep trading places for first place of the division. These teams are very different. Phillies can't win at home, but have no problems traviling. The Mets can't win on the road, but can win at Bailout Park. The Mets have won with their starting pitching, while the Phillies have won with hitting. I can't see either of these teams going anywhere during the season, and the winner of the division will probably go down to the last week of the season.

Up-and-Down: During Memorial weekend Brad Lidge blew two saves to the Yankees. Since then Lidge has saved four straight games. While closers do go through up-and-down moments through the season, Lidge can does cause some concern. You never know if he will revert to his old Astro self, blowing saves and never recovering from that Pujols sucker punch. Or he will look like his 08 self, where he saved every game in which he was in. He is without a doubt the funniest closer to watch in the league.

Pitching!: One things the Mets do have this season is pitching. Once the team sent Oliver Perez packing, the pitching staff has improved. Right now the Mets are third in the Majors in team ERA and are fouth in the league in runs given up. The additions of J.J. Putz and Fransisco Rodriguez have vastly improved the Mets bullpen. Their pitching this year will carry this team. Now it's up to David Wright to become a leader.

I'm an actual baseball player, get me out of here: Poor Ryan Zimmerman. I truly feel sorry for this guy. Almost, he did sign a long-term contract with the Nationals. But he is a great player stuck on a horrible team. This guy goes on a 30-game hitting streak, but his team has the worst record in the Majors. Ryan Zimmerman should be on a competing team (Giants, wink, wink) but he is on the Natinals. I will be drinking a beer on Mr. Zimmerman today.

Hanging in there: The Atlanta Braves are hanging in there in the NL East. The Braves are at .500 and are four games behind the Phillies for first place. While their pitching staff has been steady, their lineup has been mediocre. Chipper Jones leads this team with five home runs, but they are like the Giants. They need to make a trade for a hitter. At least they need Jeff Francoeur to step up his production. Francoeurs numbers have dipped since his first season. Instead of a bat, they need Francoeur to stp up his performance.

Look Ahead:

The Phillies travel west to play both San Diego and Los Angeles. Please Philadelphia do the Giants a favor and sweep both teams. Thanks, Keith

The Mets luck out this week by getting to play both Pittsburgh and Washington. I'd expect them to take the division lead again sometime during the week.

Both the Cubs and Brewers come to Turner Field to face the Braves. Two tough NL Central opponents against a team that has trouble winning at home. I'd expect a 2-4 home stand by the Braves.

The Marlins play Milwaukee this week and San Fransisco on the weekend. Whoopee!

The Nationals play San Fransisco and New York this week.