2011 NL EAST.....PHILLIES at the TOP......BRAVES should be in the thick of it.....FISH, AMAZINS', and NAT'S battle for RESPECT

When this news came in.......the PHILLIES just got better in the wink of an eye......PHILS will get Left-Hand PITCHER Cliff LEE as he picks the PHILS over the RANGERS and BOMBERS.

The Aftermath you could here a PEN drop.....literally......as the rest of the NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST had to be like .....MAN...we need to stop the RICH GETTING RICHER.....or no one will have a chance at this.

There were some other moves made in light of the LEE Pickup but still the PENNANT will probably rest with the PHILLIES and if it doesn't.....look for the BRAVES to be waiting for them to slip up.


the NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST PREDICTIONS....2011:

1. Philadelphia PHIILIES aka the PHILS aka the Fightin' PHILS PROJECTED FINISH 1st NL East:


Look .......the BLUEDUDE has already explained pretty much why the PHILS are the Team to beat in the EAST and probably in the NATIONAL LEAGUE. Only thing that can derail them now is catastrophic injuries to Key Personnel....other than that they are a shoe in for 2011 NL EAST Champs.

Add Lee to Doc HALLADAY, OSWALT, and HAMELS.....and a Bullpen anchored by oft-injured Brad LIDGE......if he can stay off the DL for a long stretch...lookout.

They have an aging lineup but Ryan HOWARD, Chase UTLEY, and Jimmy ROLLINS are till the leaders of that offense and CLUBHOUSE. They also need someone to step up and fill the VOID left by Jayson WERTH.......don't blame the PHILS' for not picking him up....NATS' paid way too much money for a guy that really isn't proven.

the SKINNY: Minimize injuries, a healthy everyday line-up, they will be a lock for post season-play.


2. Atlanta BRAVES aka DAMN don't know......i know this...they lose a helluva a lot in the playoffs.....PROJECTED FINISH 2nd NL East:


The Post-Bobby COX Era begins with Freddy SANCHEZ at the helm and a healthy, rejuvenated CHIPPER JONES, who I think played with the Milwaukee BRAVES and and helped MATTHEWS, HAMMERIN HANK, and Warren SPAHN win the '57 World Series.

The BRAVES hopes are with their Pitching and Defense....they will hit the BASEBALL no doubt......but can they get solid starting pitching and solid defense up the MIDDLE.

Derek LOWE and Tim HUDSON anchor a mix of veteran and youthful staff with young flame thrower in Tommy HANSON. the BULLPEN will be by committee with Craig KEMBREL and Jonny VENTERS.

The Offense is led by Jason HEYWARD, CHIPPER, and Freddie FREEMAN. The BRAVES need a huge production burst from one Nate MCCLOUTH and if NATE comes up Big, the BRAVES will be in the HUNT for the NL WILDCARD.


3. Florida MARLINS aka Fighting FISH PROJECTED FINISH 3rd NL EAST:


They have arguably the best player in the GAME....in HANLEY RAMIREZ......who also takes up about 25% of the MARLINS minute PAYROLL. There is no doubting the TALENT is there from the Fighting FISH but other things have to come to fruition for them as well.

The PITCHING Staff is led by Josh JOHNSON and Ricky NALASCO. Javier VASQUEZ should be a better pitcher now that he is back in the SENIOR Circuit. The Bullpen needs to step their game up for the FISH to hold up on the back end.

On OFFENSE HANLEY will be joined by Mike STANTON and Omar INFANTE....a really quiet good move for the FISH in Free Agency.

The SKINNY......do they have enough HORSES in place to challenge the PHILS or BRAVES?.......not on a daily BASIS but there are night where the FISH look like the 1997 WORLD CHAMPION FISH.............who knows......but 3rd in this division serves them respect.


4. New York METS aka AMAZINS' aka MIRACLE METS aka METROPOLITANS PROJECTED FINISH 4TH NL EAST:


The only reason the BLUEDUDE's AMAZINS' don't get 5th place is because they have veterans, they play in GOTHAM CITY, where last place in anything will get you put over on the other side of the HUDSON, and to play in NYC....its just too much pride and the GHOST of DOC GOODEN, CAPTAIN KEITH, STRAW, MOOKIE, GARY, and RAY will WILL you to sty out of the cellar.

Now having said all that....can Johan SANTANA stay HEALTHY? you too BELTRAN.....always laughing and shit. OFFENSIVELY they have guys in place.....Jason BAY, BELTRAN, David WRIGHT, and Jose REYES........so what's wrong....MANAGEMENT......anyone connected to MADOFF,,,,,NOT GOOD.....and don't act like you didn't know.

Pitching is led by their ace when healthy...SANTANA.....after that MIKE PELPHREY...WHO? and the AMAZINS' better hope the bullpen doesn't get overworked and they under achieve.....or they will be using that APPLE for HOME RUNS HIT....for VICTORIES

the SKINNY...NO SHOT in 1986's FAME the MIRACLE METS get to the top of this DIVISION....it's that old adage......An organization is only strong at the BOTTOM as it is at the TOP......and the METS are not that ORGANIZATION right now.



5. Washington NATIONALS aka NATS PROJECTED FINISH 5th NL EAST:


The only reason they get the gas face and the BOTTOM.......a lot of unknowns and YOUTH.......nut if Stephen STRASBURG can get healthy and Bryce HARPER can live up to the HYPE...they are almost WERTH.......the price of admission based on what might or could happen at the old BALL PARK today.

The Free-Agent Pickup of OF Jayson WERTH was huge...because it lets the NATS Following know that we are eventually in it to win it. They have Ryan ZIMMERMAN and Adam LaROCHE to give them savvy veteran leadership.

The PITCHING without STRASBURG has mostly stopgap veteran with a ARM here or there they might eventually keep for the long haul. But the STAFF just isn't MLB Certified.......so get to the OUTFIELD SEATS......SOUVENIRS for everyone.

the SKINNY: The NATS are still a long way away but they are making the necessary strides to be eventually be in the top half of the NL EAST with the PHILS, BRAVES, and FISH. They just need more time......on the OTHER HAND...the METS have CASH and WHAT?