N.L. East Should Be Great

In a division featuring the defending World Champions, a team with baseball's 2nd highest payroll and another with perhaps the game's best young rotation, it's easy to forget about the Atlanta Braves. After all, the Braves haven't been to the postseason in four years, and last year they finished with just 72 wins, their worst showing since 1990.

In the offseason, GM Frank Wren, looking to vault Atlanta back to the top of the standings, made pitching a priority. After failing to complete a deal for Padres starter Jake Peavy and then losing out on free-agent A.J. Burnett, Wren traded for White Sox starter Javy Vazquez, signed veteran Derek Lowe to a four year deal worth $60 million, and plucked starter Kenshin Kawakami from Japan.

And now the Braves, who for so long rode its elite pitching to 15 consecutive division titles, find themselves just four games out of the NL East, with perhaps the Senior Circuit's best pitching staff.

Vazquez, who fell into manager Ozzie Guillen's dog house on the South Side, has been a revelation in Atlanta. Among NL starters, Vazquez ranks 9th in ERA (3.04), 2nd in K's (125), 1st in K/9 (10.55) and 3rd in the ever-important K/BB ratio (5.43).

The rest of Atlanta's rotation has been almost as impressive. Jair Jurrens ranks 8th in the NL in ERA (2.93). Lowe has struggled but is unbeaten within the division. Tommy Hanson hasn't allowed a run in his last 20 innings and beat both the Red Sox and Yankees in successive outings. Kawakami has a 3.18 ERA in his last 10 starts. And the back end of the bullpen, with co-closers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, prevents opposing teams from mounting late-inning rallies.

Entering today, the Phillies, Mets and Marlins and Braves are separated by just four games in the ultra competitive National League East. While close in the standings, each team has chosen distinct paths to achieve success.

The Phillies, who last year captured their 2nd World Series title in franchise history, sit atop the division despite considerable struggles from its starting rotation, whose 5.21 ERA ranks dead last in the NL and 28th in MLB, ahead of only Baltimore and Cleveland. But like last year, the Phillies have relied on one of the game's most potent lineups to carry their team. Among NL clubs, the Phillies rank 2nd in runs (391), 1st in slugging (.450) and 1st in OPS (.786).

Next we have the upstart Florida Marlins. With a young lineup featuring, among others, one of baseball's most dynamic players in Hanley Ramirez, and a rotation comprised of fireballers Josh Johnson, Chris Volstad, Andrew Miller and Ricky Nolasco (3.52 ERA, 186/42 K:BB ratio in 212 IP last year), the Marlins entered this season with heightened expectations, a popular dark horse chosen by baseball pundits. This season, despite being outscored by 24 runs, the Marlins sit just one game back of the Phillies, having gone 9-4 in their last 13 games. The Fish rank 5th in the NL with 362 runs scored, but have relied heavily on ace Josh Johnson. The 24-year old ranks 4th in the NL in ERA (2.76), 7th in strike outs (97), and 2nd in quality starts (14), one behind Dan Haren.

And finally the Mets, who are three games back despite suffering a rash of debilitating injuries. As of today, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado are out, as are pitchers John Maine and setup man J.J. Putz. Playing in cavernous Citi Field, the 2nd worst hitters yard in baseball to Petco Park, some Mets players have had to completely revamp their approach at the plate. David Wright, who has averaged 29 HR's per season since becoming a full-time player in 2005, has just five long balls in 2009, but ranks 2nd in the NL in batting average (.341), 3rd in OBP (.432) and 5th in doubles (23). And unlike last year, when Metropolitans relievers poured gasoline onto every smoldering rally, the bullpen has held late-inning leads. Mets relievers rank 5th in the NL in ERA (3.70), 5th in save percentage (67%, tied with the Brewers) and 6th in OPS against (.712).

At this juncture of the season it's tough to pick winner, as each team has glaring holes. The Phillies need a front-line starter (Bedard?), the Mets need to get healthy and find a serviceable starter (Penny? Garland?), the Marlins could use another bat and a reliever (Saito? Street? Valverde?). The Braves, who rank 13th in the NL in runs scored and 24th overall, desperately need a right-handed power bat (Jermaine Dye says hello, same with Matt Holliday).

If you held a gun to my head and asked me to pick a team, I'd probably say the Braves. With that pitching staff they can beat anyone in the game, and they have the chips to deal for whomever they want.