NL East Update

ATLANTA BRAVES

Inside the Numbers: Chipper Jones, who turns 39 next month, leads the Braves this spring in hits (17), doubles (6), home runs (3) and runs batted in (11). Freddie Freeman (14/45), Alex Gonzalez (12/44), Martin Prado (14/48), Dan Uggla (10/43), Nate McLouth (11/30) and Jason Heyward (11/25) also all have double digit hits this spring. Prado has scored a team high 10 runs and has 5 doubles. Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe and Tim Hudson are a combined 6-1 in 12 starts this spring with 42 innings pitched and only having allowed 5 runs. Lefty relievers Eric O'Flaherty and Jonny Venters have worked 13 scoreless innings this spring between them and have only allowed two hits.

Of Note: Nate McLouth was a huge disappointment for the Braves last season batting just .190 in 85 games with 6 home runs and 7 stolen bases on the heels of a 2009 season that saw him hit 20 homers and steal 19. McLouth started slow last year getting just 6 hits in 51 at bats during the spring and never really got things going. There's reason to be hopeful though as this year McLouth is hitting .367, has scored 9 runs and drawn 8 walks against just 2 strikeouts. If he can be the player they thought he would be when they acquired him from the Pirates, the Braves are going to be in good shape.


FLORIDA MARLINS

Inside the Numbers: Gaby Sanchez leads Florida with 14 hits in 30 at bats this spring. Seven of Sanchez's hits are doubles. 21 year old Matt Dominguez leads the Marlins with 10 runs batted in but is batting just .219 (7/32). Hanley Ramirez is batting .382 (13/34) but only has 3 runs batted in and 2 extra base hits. Josh Johnson leads the team with 15 innings pitched over his 4 spring starts but has a 6.60 ERA. Elih Gonzalez was 14-4 in 28 starts with AA Jacksonville last year and has tossed 9 scoreless innings this spring while holding opposing batters to a .172 average. Shawn Hill has thrown 8 scoreless innings over 4 appearances.

Of Note: Javier Vazquez was scratched from his last start due to soreness in his right elbow, but he's good to go again and will start this weekend against St. Louis. Vazquez projects to be the Marlins' number three starter, and he's looked strong in his two spring starts (7 innings 2 runs). The Marlins will need him to be healthy this year if they hope to contend in the loaded NL East.


NEW YORK METS

Inside the Numbers: Catcher Josh Thole leads the Mets this spring with 14 hits. Daniel Murphy has a team high 6 doubles and is second to Ike Davis with 8 runs batted in. Davis has 9 runs batted in and is one of 5 Mets hitters to have more than one home run. Angel Pagan has a team high 10 runs scored and also leads the team in steals. Jason Bay is hitting .300 (9/30) but has struck out 11 times. Zach Lutz has 10 strike outs in 14 at bats this spring. Jon Niese has pitched a team high 16 1/3 innings and leads the team in strike outs as well with a 3.31 ERA. Chris Young continues his comeback attempt logging a 1.88 ERA through his first four starts.

Of Note: Taylor Buchholz broke out in 2008 with the Rockies posted a 2.17 ERA in 63 relief appearances. but Buchholz would miss the entire 2009 season following Tommy John surgery and managed to pitch in just 9 games in 2010. This spring however, Buchholz has tossed 9 shutout innings over 6 games as he tries to earn a spot in the Mets bullpen to start the season.


PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Inside the Numbers: The Phillies have 6 players with at least 14 hits this spring: Wilson Valdez (16/36), Ross Gload (15/35), Delwyn Young (14/45), John Mayberry (14/42), Ben Francisco (14/41) and Shane Victorino (14/41). Ross Howard and Mayberry are tied for the team lead in home runs with 4 while Howard has the RBI lead with 10. Mayberry also has a team high 4 stolen bases. Raul Ibanez leads the team in runs scored with 10. Roy Halladay has yet to be scored upon this spring in 11 innings of work. The other members of the Phillies "Fab Four" rotation have struggled a bit. Cole Hamels has a 4.61 ERA in 4 starts, Cliff Lee is 1-2 with a 5.54 ERA in 4 starts and Roy Oswalt is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in 2 starts.

Of Note: Mayberry hit just .267 with AAA Lehigh Valley last season with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases, but this could be the year he makes the jump to the next level. Mayberry has appeared in 50 games with the Phillies over the past two seasons and has struggled with putting the ball in play. In 69 at bats he has struck out 27 times. This spring though, Mayberry is hitting .333 and has walked more times (6) than he has struck out (5). With Jayson Werth now in Washington, there's a spot in the outfield. If Mayberry keeps doing the things he's been doing, he's got a great shot.


WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Inside the Numbers: Michael Morse leads the Nats in hits (15) and home runs (5). Second baseman Danny Espinosa leads the team in runs batted in with 12. Nyjer Morgan has a team high 5 stolen bases but is batting just .222 (8/36). Shortstop Brian Bixler is hitting .370 (10/27) this spring and leads the team in runs scored with 10. Half of Bixler's 10 hits are for extra bases and he has also added a pair of steals. Jayson Werth is just 5 for 30 in his first spring with Washington. In 3 starts Jason Marquis has allowed just 1 earned run in 12 innings of work. Jordan Zimmerman has not allowed any runs in his 3 starts spanning 11 innings.

Of Note: Bryce Harper hit .389 (7/18) this spring with 3 doubles and 5 runs batted in, but it wasn't enough to keep him from getting sent down to Class A. Harper was disappointed, but the Nationals want him to get more playing time and continue to develop. Obviously the 18 year old showed he can hit, but his defense and baserunning could still use some improvement. Doesn't seem like there's any doubt that this kid is the real deal though.