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NL East

The Spokesman-Review

EAST DIVISION

In order of 2006 finish

New York Mets

2006: 97-65, first place.

Manager: Willie Randolph (third season).

Projected lineup: SS Jose Reyes (.300, 19 HRs, 81 RBIs, 122 runs, major league-best 64 SBs and 17 3Bs), C Paul Lo Duca (.318, 5, 49), CF Carlos Beltran (.275, 41, 116, 127 runs, 95 BBs, 18 SBs), 1B Carlos Delgado (.265, 38, 114), 3B David Wright (.311, 26, 116, 40 2Bs, 20 SBs), LF Moises Alou (.301, 22, 74 in 98 games with Giants), RF Shawn Green (.277, 15, 66 with Diamondbacks and Mets), 2B Jose Valentin (.271, 18, 62 in 384 at-bats).

Rotation: LH Tom Glavine (15-7, 3.82 ERA, 198 IP), RH Orlando Hernandez (11-11, 4.66 in 29 starts for Diamondbacks and Mets), RH John Maine (6-5, 3.60 in 16 games, including 15 starts), LH Oliver Perez (3-13, 6.55 in 22 starts for Pirates and Mets), RH Mike Pelfrey (2-1, 5.48 in 4 starts).

Key relievers: LH Billy Wagner (3-2, 2.24, 40/45 saves, 94 Ks in 72 1/3 IP), RH Aaron Heilman (4-5, 3.62, team-high 74 appearances), LH Pedro Feliciano (7-2, 2.09), LH Scott Schoeneweis (4-2, 4.88, 4 saves with Toronto and Cincinnati), RH Joe Smith (0-3, 2.48, 9 saves in 27 games at Class A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton), RH Aaron Sele (8-6, 4.53 for Dodgers), RH Ambiorix Burgos (4-5, 5.52, 18 saves for Royals) or RH Chan Ho Park (7-7, 4.81 for Padres).

Overview: The biggest concern is an unsettled rotation. New York is counting on Maine, Perez and rookie Pelfrey to provide consistent starts. Glavine and Hernandez are both 41. Still, the balanced lineup is one of the league’s best and the reliable bullpen could be the difference in edging Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Phillies

2006: 85-77, second place.

Manager: Charlie Manuel (third season).

Projected lineup: SS Jimmy Rollins (.277, 25 HRs, 83 RBIs, 127 runs, 36 SBs), RF Shane Victorino (.287, 6, 46), 2B Chase Utley (.309, 32, 102), 1B Ryan Howard (.313, 58, 149, 108 BB), LF Pat Burrell (.258, 29, 95), 3B Wes Helms (.329, 10, 47 with Florida), CF Aaron Rowand (.262, 12, 47), C Rod Barajas (.256, 11, 51 with Texas).

Rotation: RH Brett Myers (12-7, 3.91 ERA, 189 Ks), LH Cole Hamels (9-8, 4.08, 145 Ks, 132 1/3 innings), RH Freddy Garcia (17-9, 4.53 with White Sox), RH Adam Eaton (7-4, 5.12 with Texas), LH Jamie Moyer (11-14, 4.30 with Seattle and Phillies).

Key relievers: RH Tom Gordon (3-4, 3.34 ERA, 34/39 saves), RH Antonio Alfonseca (0-1, 6.00, 3 games with Texas), RH Ryan Madson (11-9, 5.69, 2 saves), RH Geoff Geary (7-1, 2.96), LH Matt Smith (0-1, 0.87 with Yankees and Phillies), RH Jon Lieber (9-11, 4.93).

Overview: The Phillies also boast a formidable lineup with Howard, Rollins and All-Star Utley. They have scrappy winners, too: Rowand and Victorino. The bullpen, which features aging closer Gordon, might be the weak spot.

Atlanta Braves

2006: 79-83, third place.

Manager: Bobby Cox (18th season of current tenure, 22nd with Braves overall).

Projected lineup: 2B Kelly Johnson (.241, 9 HRs, 40 RBIs, 46 runs in 2005; missed most of 2006 with elbow injury), SS Edgar Renteria (.293, 14, 70, 17 SBs, 100 runs), 3B Chipper Jones (.324, 26, 86), CF Andruw Jones (.262, 41, 129, 107 runs, 127 strikeouts), C Brian McCann (.333, 24, 93), RF Jeff Francoeur (.260, 29, 103, 23 walks, 132 strikeouts), 1B Scott Thorman (.234, 5, 14, 128 at-bats) and Craig Wilson (.251, 17, 49 with Pittsburgh and Yankees), LF Matt Diaz (.327, 7, 32) and Ryan Langerhans (.241, 7, 28).

Rotation: RH John Smoltz (16-9, 3.29 ERA, 211 strikeouts, 232 innings), RH Tim Hudson (13-12, career-worst 4.86 ERA, 218 1/3 innings, 235 hits allowed), LH Chuck James (11-4, 3.78), LHP Mark Redman (11-10, 5.71 with Kansas City), RH Lance Cormier (4-5, 4.89) or RH Kyle Davies (3-7, 8.38) or LH Mike Hampton (5-3, 3.50 in 2005; recovering from Tommy John surgery and spring training oblique strain).

Key relievers: RH Bob Wickman (1-6, 2.67 ERA, 33/37 saves with Cleveland and Atlanta), LH Mike Gonzalez (3-4, 2.17, 24/24 saves with Pittsburgh), RH Rafael Soriano (1-2, 2.25, 2 saves with Seattle), RH Oscar Villarreal (9-1, 3.61), LH Macay McBride (4-1, 3.65, 1 save).

Overview: The Braves upgraded a shaky bullpen by acquiring Soriano and Gonzalez, but traded power-hitting first baseman Adam LaRoche to get Gonzalez. Smoltz highlights the rotation, and Hudson hopes to rediscover the form that made him such a big winner with Oakland. Chipper Jones’ health could be the key to the offense, which finished second in the N.L. in runs last year.

Florida Marlins

2006: 78-84, fourth place.

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (first season).

Projected lineup: SS Hanley Ramirez (.292, 17 HRs, 119 R, 59 SB), 2B Dan Uggla (.282, 27 HRs, 90 RBIs), 3B Miguel Cabrera (.339, 26 HRs, 114 RBIs, 50 doubles), 1B Mike Jacobs (.262, 20, 77), LF Josh Willingham (.277, 26 HRs, 74 RBIs), C Miguel Olivo (.263, 16, 58), RF Joe Borchard (.230, 10, 28 with Seattle and Florida), CF Alejandro De Aza (.278 in 69 games at Double-A).

Rotation: LH Dontrelle Willis (12-12, 3.87 ERA), RH Anibal Sanchez (10-3, 2.83), LH Scott Olsen (12-10, 4.04), RH Ricky Nolasco (11-11, 4.82), RH Sergio Mitre (1-5, 5.71).

Key relievers: RH Jorge Julio (2-4, 4.23, 16/20 saves with Mets and Arizona), LH Taylor Tankersley (2-1, 2.85 ERA), RH Matt Lindstrom (3.76 ERA, 11 saves at Double-A Binghamton), RH Henry Owens (1.58 ERA, 20 saves at Binghamton), RH Kevin Gregg (3-4, 4.14 for Angels), LH Renyel Pinto (3.03 ERA), RH Randy Messenger (2-7, 5.67 ERA).

Overview: Ramirez was the Rookie of the Year. Willis leads the pitching staff, and Cabrera is one of the best hitters in the league. Josh Johnson (12-7, 3.10 ERA) is expected to miss at least the first two months with an ailing elbow. The bullpen is unproven, even with the late addition of closer Julio.

Washington Nationals

2006: 71-91, fifth place.

Manager: Manny Acta (first season).

Projected lineup: 2B Felipe Lopez (.274, 11 HRs, 52 RBIs, 98 runs, 44 SBs, .358 OBP, 126 Ks for Reds and Nationals), SS Cristian Guzman (.219, 4, 31 in 2005; missed 2006 with shoulder injury), 3B Ryan Zimmerman (.287, 20, 110, 47 2Bs), RF Austin Kearns (.264, 24, 86 for Reds and Nationals), 1B Dmitri Young (.250, 7, 23 for Tigers), LF Ryan Church (.276, 10, 35), C Brian Schneider (.256, 4, 55), CF Nook Logan (.300, 1, 8 in 90 ABs).

Rotation: RH John Patterson (1-2, 4.43 ERA, eight starts), RH Shawn Hill (1-3, 4.66, six starts), LH Matt Chico (9-2, 2.45 at Double-A), RH Jason Bergmann (0-2, 6.68), RH Jerome Williams (0-2, 7.30 for Cubs).

Key relievers: RH Chad Cordero (7-4, 3.19, 29/33 saves), RH Jon Rauch (4-5, 3.35, 85 appearances), RH Ryan Wagner (3-3, 4.70), LH Ray King (1-4, 4.43, 67 appearances for Rockies), LH Micah Bowie (0-1, 1.37).

Overview: Playing in a tough division, this team could easily lose more than 100 games. The rotation is a complete mess behind No. 1 starter Patterson, who is coming off an arm injury. Several youngsters and castoffs will get a chance to prove themselves – for better or worse.

Associated Press