It Doesn't Help When...The NL East Is the Worst Division in Baseball

What happened to the NL East? They've taken over the title of the laughing stock of baseball. Their best team is only two games over .500 and their worst team is the worst in all of baseball. Overall, the division is 179-209 (.461) and any of four teams could be in the playoffs.

Philadelphia Phillies: What has happened to the World Champions? With the entire league struggling, one would've expected them to run away with the division. The Phillies have dropped 14 out of their last 18 games. They were swept by three teams in that period. It doesn't help when...

1. Your ace, Cole Hamels, has a 4.98 ERA—and that's leading the team.
2. Your fan favorite, Jamie Moyer, has six wins (an six losses)—and that leads the team.
3. Your closer, Brad Lidge, has a 7.57 ERA and already six more blown saves than last year.
4. Your leadoff hitter, Jimmy Rollins, has a .253 on-base percentage.
5. Your record at home is 13-22.

Florida Marlins: The Marlins started off the season so hot...and then cooled off to six games below .500. They were one of the few National League teams with a winning record against the American League and have won seven of 10. However, it doesn't help when...

1. You don't have a true closer finishing your games.
2. You get whipped by the NL Central, going 6-13 in those games.
3. Your All-Star second baseman, Dan Uggla, is batting .225.
4. Your pitching staff has the third worst WHIP in the National League, at 1.43.
5. Your defense has committed 59 errors already.

New York Mets: The injury-ridden Mets have relinquished second place to the Marlins. They have hovered at or around .500 as they went an embarrassing 9-18 in the month of June. It doesn't help when...

1. No team in baseball has less home runs than your team—and it's not just Citi's fault (with only 23 home runs in 38 road games).
2. You have two All-Stars, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, on the disabled list—not to mention Carlos Delgado and JJ Putz.
3. Your bullpen is overworked (454.1 innings pitched).
4. One of your starting pitchers, Tim Redding, has a 6.99 ERA.
5. Your glove at third as shed its gold, having already committed 12 errors.

Atlanta Braves: The Braves are two games under .500 and still only two out. The Braves have made the NL East a four-game race, with their 10-15 record in June being sufficient enough to stay alive. It doesn't help when...

1. Your team is slugging .391—good for fourth worse in all of baseball.
2. Your team has only stolen 29 bases—good for the third least in all of baseball.
3. Your right fielder, Jeff Francouer, only has a .282 on-base percentage.
4. Your offense only gives your pitching staff 4.21 runs in support a game—the third worst in the National League.
5. Your two highest paid players are either on the disabled list for the year or have an ERA above 4.40.

Washington Nationals: There's not a worse team in baseball. They're 22 games under .500 and were the first team to reach 20, 30, 40, and 50 losses. They'll be bottom-dwelling for a while. It doesn't help when...

1. Your team has a -104 run differential, despite having the third easiest schedule in baseball.
2. Your starting pitching staff has only hurled 29 quality starts, the worst in the National League.
3. Your bullpen has already blown 19 saves—what a good complement to its 5.71 ERA.
4. Carl Crawford has stolen more bases than your entire team (28).
5. You're the only team in baseball with single digit (nine) road wins.