Checking in on the NL East Division

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets staged one of the best finishes in the history of the National League East in 2007.

Philadelphia came back from seven games down with just 17 remaining to overtake the Mets and fulfill Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ spring training prediction that the Phillies would win the division outright and that they were the ‘team to beat’ despite the fact that the Mets had a big-time payroll with numerous ‘big name’ players to match.

Now, the Phillies and Mets look like they are headed toward another thrilling finish in the NL East, but this time, they have some unexpected company in the form of the feisty, young Florida Marlins.

With all three clubs putting their best foot forward BetUS Sportsbook on the outcome of the NL East race.

However, only one team can win it all and this article will give BetUS MLB bettors the inside scoop on each club as the 2008 MLB regular season continues its march toward an absolutely thrilling conclusion.

Here is a look at the current standings, followed by my brief comments on each team and overall analysis on which team will ultimately win the NL East in 2008.

64-56

The Phillies clearly have the most imposing batting order of all the teams in the NL East and can win games with their prolific offense even when their pitching fails to live up to expectations. Surprisingly, the Phillies also have the best team ERA, (3.99) in the division as well. This division could be theirs to lose.

64-56

The Mets have a solid batting order and decent pitching as well and could be rimed to win the division after acquiring the often-masterful Johan Santana to lead their pitching staff. Still, I get the sense that this ballclub doesn’t believe in itself nearly as much as the Phillies or Marlins for that matter. Outright talent could get the job done for the Mets this year, but something about the Mets makes me very skeptical. Maybe it’s because it because this ballclub just doesn’t play with a lot of fire on most nights.

Florida Marlins 63-58

The Marlins are not very good defensively, ranking 29th in errors and 22nd in team ERA. Still, this team has fought all season long by scratching and clawing and generally doing whatever is necessary to get a victory. It also doesn’t hurt that the Marlins are ranked third in all of baseball in home runs with a whopping 161 and have two big-time all-star talents in shortstop Hanley Ramirez and second baseman Dan Uggla.

55-65

The Braves have underachieved all season long after talking at length about how they were going to challenge Philadelphia and New York for division supremacy in the spring. While this club is not mathematically eliminated just yet, they will be very shortly.

44-77

I won’t waste bettors’ time by writing much about Washington except to say that the Nationals are so bad, they probably couldn’t beat the very best Triple-A teams there are. I like manager Manny Acta, but that’s about the nicest thing I can say about the Nationals without lying like a rug.