If Your Team's Still In It, Here's How It Can Win the Pennant

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies

The Positive

You are sitting atop the NL East by four games.  Your offense is fifth in baseball in runs scored.  Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth are having monster seasons along with Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard doing their usual production.  

Directions To Champagne

You are 25th in team ERA.  This reminds me of the 2006 Chicago White Sox, who, after winning the World Series in 2005, completely lost their pitching while exploding offensively. 

The Phillies' 2008 pitching was not that good outside of Cole Hamels, so it comes as no surprise that Jamie Moyer and Brett Meyers are doing terrible and hurt respectively in 2009. 

Cole Hamels is probably simply struggling due to so much pitching last year (Mark Buehrle had a 4.99 ERA in 2006).  Pedro Martinez will help, but that is only because your starting pitching is awful.  

Jimmy Rollins needs to step up a bit, but more importantly Joe Blanton, who shouldn't be tired from last year's World Series run, and J.A. Happ, who is the rookie of the year in the National League for the first half of the season, must continue to help keep the starting rotation sane. 

Brad Lidge also needs to get back on track.  He showed good signs closing his last five save opportunities before the end of the first half.  

Florida Marlins

The Positive

You are 13th in runs scored and 16th in ERA, so you are middle of the road in both.  That is not a bad thing because it shows you have talent in both areas.  Josh Johnson has been amazing for your starting rotation.  Hanley Ramirez continues to shine, Emilio Bonifacio looks good at the age of 24, and Cody Ross is having a great season.  

Directions To Champagne 

Chris Volstad seems to be turning things around and he has to if this team wants to compete.  Ricky Nolasco needs to get himself together because he is killing the starting rotation.  The bullpen is banged up and bad, although Leo Nunez has filled in quite well for the awful Matt Lidstrom. 

Jorge Cantu needs to add some power production whereas John Baker, Dan Uggla and Jeremy Hermidia need to get their averages up. 

Atlanta Braves

The Positive

You are sixth in team ERA and only six games back.  Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Javy Vazquez, and Kenshin Kawakami is easily the best rotation in the division.  Imagine what you would be with Tim Hudson.

Directions To Champagne 

Chipper Jones has stayed healthy, but isn't producing as he usually does, so a hot streak from him would be nice.  Yunel Escobar needs to stay healthy and Casey Kotchman needs to fix whatever is wrong with him. 

Nate McLouth was a huge boost to the 22nd ranked team in runs scored and Brian McCann needs to keep producing.  The bullpen has looked good since moving Mike Gonzalez to setup man and Rafael Soriano to closer.  

Pitching wins championships and you have the best pitching in the division.  

New York Mets

The Positive

Not much has gone right for the Mets, but you are still just six-and-a-half games out.  Citi Field is an extremely hard place to hit home runs, but Carlos Beltran and David Wright still find production.  Johan Santana has just begun to heat up, and he is a second half pitcher.  

Directions To Champagne

You are six-and-a-half games back with no Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Carlos Beltran, and JJ Putz.  Each one of these players should return except Delgado most likely. 

John Maine needs to get back because the starting rotation has been terrible.  Pelfrey is erratic while Livan Hernandez, and Oliver Perez have been terrible.  Fernando Nieve has been one of the few good surprises for the Mets. 

Washington Nationals

The Positive

You make a lot of people laugh.  Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman are good.  John Lannan has been surprising.  You are 19th in runs scored which is not last.

Directions To Champagne

Mapquest says your trip will take at least five years.  You have the worst team ERA in the National League, the most errors in baseball, and Mike MacDougal is your closer which says something about your bullpen.  You have to trade Dunn, Nick Johnson, and Cristian Guzman at the deadline and start rebuilding...again.  

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