A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #2....Fightin' PHILS and GIGANTES battle it out as the REDBIRDS, Fightin' FISH, and BRAVES stay close...NL Breakdown

Last season everyone in the baseball world though the Philadelphia PHILLIES had it locked up...the NL East, the NL Pennant, and the Fall Classic. Now that the Baseball Gods have sent a message to the boys who reside in CITIZENS Bank Diamond we will have an all out assault on the National Pennant as there are at least 5 Teams including the defending World Champion REDBIRDS of the GATEWAY to the West in the running.

We all know pitching and defense wins RINGS and the Fightin' PHILS and GIGANTES of McCovey Cove have a plethora of ARMS that are Grade A in MLB terms. The Injuries on the Offense for both of these teams will be crucial as in how those players bounce back as the GIANTS are one of the younger teams and the PHILS are one of the older teams.

Challenging those 2 Teams will be the aforementioned REDBIRDS, the MARLINS, and the BRAVES which also means the NL East is top heavy with 2 spots in Winning Time for 2 teams.

Looking at the NL Teams and what they added to the ROSTER or need to get healthy sponsored by MLB needs a Marketing machine because no one knows when OPENING DAY is...never fear...BLUEDUDE SPORTSTALK is here:

Fightin' PHILS

They have a staff anchored by DOC Halladay and Cliff LEE. The big question in PHILLY with an aging roster is how 1B Ryan HOWARD and 2B Chase UTLEY bounce back from injuries. Then PHILS know they are close to playing with House Money and they need an influx of youth in that Clubhouse sooner than later.  We will also see if Free Agent pickup CLOSER Jonathan PAPELBON will be the answer for the back of the staff and if he is pencil the PHILS deep into Winning Time.

GIGANTES

The BOYS of McCOVEY Cove are back and they have arguably the best arms because of their age. ACE Tim LINCECUM with ZITO, CAIN, and BUMGARNER will be the GIGANTES 4-Man rotation. Then with even better news they have their backstop back in Buster POSEY arguably the best young catcher and maybe the best catcher in the SHOW. The Lineup consists of the aforementioned POSEY with SANDOVAL, HUFF, and CRAWFORD. The GIANTS should win the NL West but watch out for the BOYS in BLUE from Chavez Ravine and the young but FARM Loaded PADRES.

REDBIRDS

What will they do for an encore the BLUEDUDE knows living in CHI-CITY they put another LOW-BLOW with no points taken away on the NORTH SIDERS..the CUBBIES by winning another CHIP.  Now if Adam WAINRIGHT, who they lost in the 2011 Spring Training for the season with an Elbow Injury, is back an close to 100% the Redbirds Staff is even better. Chris CARPENTER as recent as yesterday has a sore elbow and sidelined but they still have LOHSE, Jaime GARCIA, veteran Jake WESTBROOK, and young Lance LYNN. The biggest news on 2 fronts was the loss of SKIP Tony LaRussa and the GATEWAY ARCH Hammer Albert Pujols in the off season. The REDBIRDS still have HOLLIDAY and BERKMAN to go with 3B FREESE, FURCAL, Speedy Jon JAY in CF, and newly signed extended contract Yadier MOLINA...one of 75 MOLINA Brothers in the SHOW and they all are BACKSTOPS. If the REDBIRDS say healthy and WAINRIGHT and CARP are not sidelined they should win the NL EAST.

BRAVES

We all know they have 2 constants....Tim HUDSON aka HUDDY and BOSTON, MILWAUKEE, and ATLANTA Braves 3B Wayne CHIPPER JONES. He did play with the '57 Milwaukee BRAVES and Hammerin' HANK, Warren SPAHN, and Eddie MATHEWS didn't he? Well anyway this is no doubt CHIPPER last go round and the BRAVES have pieces and they need RF Jason HEYWARD to come up really BIG and like CHIPPER called him out last season.....He (Heyward) has to learn to play through injuries...WE NEED HIM.  Hopefully HEYWARD got the message and the LINEUP is somewhat powerful with HEYWARD in it with UGGLA, McCANN, and young 1B Fred FREEMAN who the BRAVES expect to be in the MIDDLE of all this producing POWER and RUNS. The BRAVES will have to stay a float in by far the toughest Division in the SHOW....the ML East.  

Fightin' FISH

Let's see..they add SKIP Ozzie GUILLEN, who makes his home in the off season in 305, they get Free Agent SS Jose REYES of my AMAZINS', add PALE HOSE Lefty for the ages in Mark BUEHRLE, pickup CUBBIES Castoff and the enigmatic one in Carlos "Watch the GATORADE COOLERS and your TEAMMATES" ZAMBRANO, and take all that in an add new digs in MARLINS PARK....Oh! and they still have SS turned 3B Hanley RAMIREZ who is above average and should NEVER be replaced. Will they be contenders for the NL East and the Fightin' PHILS Throne....OZZIE can manage, Ace JOHNSON is now joined by BUERHLE and BIG Z, HANLEY and JOSE are arguably the best Left infield in the SHOW and the MARLINS PARK creates excitement. BRAVES and PHILS you need to put out that FIRE ASAP and the Philly FANATIC should be the one with the Fire Hose 1st.

The NL is TOP HEAVY and these 5 teams will be challenged all season by others in their respective divisions but if all 5 stay healthy and on course on of them will meet the HALOS in the 2012 FALL Classic.