NL East, ranked by position

by HeyBattah on Jan 11, 2012 12:13 PM EST

Here's some interesting fodder from the worldwide leader. Freddie jumps out as a nice surprise at #1. Beachy and Minor get the nod at the best #4/#5 starters too. Other than that, nothing too controversial I don't think. Reading it does kinda hammer home how few holes we have on paper though, I mean, heck, they even have Prado as the second best left fielder.

Link: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/19843/nl-east-showdown

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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He put Uggla behind Espinosa and Hanson below Gonzalez and Buehrle so the Braves wouldn’t have more points than Philly in the final tally.

I feel like SWAT right now..Colin Farrell GET AT ME! GET AT ME! LL Cool J GET AT ME!

by bwellnjonesco on Jan 11, 2012 12:39 PM EST reply actions

That would require an ESPN writer to actually say something positive about Atlanta. Let’s get real here.

by kalesi on Jan 13, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

Jason Stark.

My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.

by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 13, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

Hey! I picked them as the wildcard for two years in a row in the magazine preview and they weren’t even a trendy pick before 2010!

--
Dan Szymborski
Dan's Stuff is on: BTF, ESPN, Twitter

by D.Szymborski on Jan 13, 2012 11:44 PM EST up reply actions

They honestly get a good amount of love from ESPN, in my opinion

Follow @Ben_Duronio

by BenDuronio on Jan 16, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

I think 8/10 Braves fans’ ESPN complaints are generalizations that should be focused at the Baseball Tonight chuckleheads.

That leaves 1/10 for KLaw’s opinion of Freddie Freeman and another 1/10 for Rob Parker.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 16, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

What about my utter disdain for just about any weak attempt at analysis from Buster Olney?

My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.

by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 16, 2012 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

You are the 1%.

But really, I suppose I could drop the first to 7/10 and have the other 1/10 be miscellaneous. I’ve never found room for Szymborski hate.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 16, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

When I first read this and saw Chipper at #4 for 3B, I was ready to rant and rave. Then I looked at the names above him, and realized that 3B is absolutely stacked in the NLE.

My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.

by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 11, 2012 7:26 PM EST reply actions

This is a joke.

2nd Base: Uggla behind Espinosa?
Center Field: I think Bourn is better than Victorino
2nd Starter: Hanson 4th behind Gonzalez and Buehrle?
3rd Starter: Jurrjens 4th behind Jordan Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez?

by Bedhead514 on Jan 11, 2012 11:05 PM EST reply actions

This is a joke.

It’s ESPN.
Although…
I’d agree a bit on the Hanson ranking only because we have no idea how he’ll pitch this year. If he’s completely healthy all year, he’s probably our #1. But he could miss half the season or more and be hurt while playing… then he’d be a non-factor.

These rankings also reminded me of how insane it would be to trade JJ. Honestly. You trade JJ and you’d have 2 of your starting 5 coming off possibly bad, lingering injuries. Oh, and the other three would have innings limitations. And Meds is coming off TJ.
So, go ahead and trade JJ, FW. While you’re at it, get ready for the possibility of Christian Martinez or some AAAA pitcher going against Philly and Miami in September.

You'd think I was Travis Tritt struttin my FINE ASS on down to Florida

by Fatvirus on Jan 12, 2012 7:32 AM EST up reply actions

He has some reasonings that aren't terrible...

Though I think he’s putting too much into Espinosa improving.

- Uggla should be ahead of Danny
- Bourn vs. Victorino is debateable.
- Hanson should definitely be above Buehrle, and as he says has Cy Young stuff…but the injury worry is legit. He’s slightly above Gio for me but I could see those two being close. Buehrle though is a joke.
- I am a huge Jordan Zimmerman fan…kinda like hanson, I don’t see how Jurrjens is behind Anibal, but he and JZimm are close in value for me.

In the end, nothing to get upset about. We come out looking good and arguable on top, on paper. Notice we win #4 starter, #5 starter, Closer, and Bullpen, plus best pitching depth (not a category but he mentions it as well). Not to mention, our #4 starter could outpitch our #1 starter this year.

Love our pitching

by jlaw on Jan 12, 2012 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

The rankings are out of whack, period.

C: Duh
1B: I love Freeman, I think he’s a star, but to put him behind Howard?
2B: Yes, definitely Uggla should be ahead of Espinosa
3B: Cant argue
SS: Cant argue
LF: Martin may bounce back, but LoMo is still the better OF at this point, IMO
CF: As Braves fans we’d like Bourn better, some like Victorino, toss up.
RF: Cant argue
SP1: Cant argue
SP2: I’d pencil JJ in as our #2, and he’d be 2nd on that list. Hanson > GIO WHEN HEALTHY, which is why I think Hanson is 4th. As for Buehrle, ya, thats a crock.
SP3: What samle size are they working on with JZim?? And Anibal? Ya, Hanson/JJ should be 2nd on that list.
SP4: Yep
SP5: Yep
C: Yep
RP: Yep
Intagibles: Huh?? just a throw away pole to give philthies more pts.

Who writes these things?? David Schoenfield. Again.. who?! Grain of salt, fellas, grain of salt

by murph35 on Jan 12, 2012 9:17 AM EST reply actions

Howard is missing a few months with the ruptured achilles

by nixa37 on Jan 12, 2012 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

The best $25M Philly ever spent!

My dad taught me how to make meat for sloppy joes and my mom let me turn over hot dogs on the grill.

by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

you missed the 1...

His $125m contract starts this year. At 32. Following multiple injuries that have seen his production decline significantly over the last 2 seasons.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 12, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Imagine the position Philly would be in if they hadn't made that deal

Is there any doubt that they would have gone hard after Pujols and/or Fielder? Worst case they get Howard at a discount because of the declining production and the injury and have a ton more payroll flexibility to add other guys.

by nixa37 on Jan 12, 2012 3:55 PM EST up reply actions