A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #46....the 2nd HALF....NL EAST....can the NATS hold off the BRAVES and AMAZINS' among others?

Here we go as the MLB 2nd Half is upon us and we have the Best Division in the Show the NL East first up to see who has to make the necessary changes to get to October Play.

NL East Standings July 12, 2012
 
     W-L    GB
1. Nats 49-34
2. Braves 46-39... 4
3. Amazins' 46-40....4.5
4. Fightin' Fish 41-44....9
5. Fightin' Phils 37-50...14

Nats: They have been in the NL East Drivers Seat for awhile and they are going no where. They have the 1-2 Punch of Strasburg and Gonzalez. Jayson Werth won't be back until Late August if that (Broken Wrist) and Zimmerman came back a few weeks ago and the Nats look the part and have been playing the part.

Braves: Right there and they have Solid Starting Pitching and they also have Pop in that Lineup. The Brave 4...McCann, Uggla, Heyward, Freeman have carried the Offensive Load. If the Pen can do their job they will be in the Running at least for the NL Wildcard.

Amazins': The well-documented R.A. Dickey has been the Story of the 1st half along with the Hitting of Hot Corner David Wright at a .351 Avg at Break. If they can get Johan and Niese to rise up in the Rotation and someone to help Wright carry the Offensive Load they will be in the Race. May need to make a Move in that Lineup.

Marlins: They are 9 back under the 1st Year of New Digs.To their Credit Ozzie is a Top Shelf Skip and they have made the First Move on the Board to tell the NL East that we are not done yet. They trade for the Big "CABALLO" Ex-'Stros and Pale Hose RF Carlos Lee to help with the Struggling Marlins Offense. With All- Star LF Giancarlo Stanton out with Minor Knee Surgery it has to be a Combo of Lee, Hanley Ramirez, and Jose Reyes who will ignite the 2nd Half Blaze if they are to get back in it. Who in the Fish Rotation is the real Slim Shady?...Buerhle, Johnson, Nolasco, Sanchez, or Big Z..Zambrano. Gents I need a #1 anyday now....

Phils': They have Cole Hamels out there which tells me it is time in Citizens Bank BP to get rid of Pay Roll and slowly start over. Doc Hallady went down, Ryan Hoard just now back off of Achilles Surgery, Chase Utley hurt and out for awhile getting some At-Bats under his wing. A team that is Veteran Laden can't withstand all these Key Vets hurt at the same time. 14 games back as we go to Press....Dunzo Philly.

Prediction: Nats win NL East and Braves in the running for NL Wildcard......

Note: Numbers from MLB.com