1984 National League East Division Preview

1983 was a very competitive season for the NLE; at one point all five teams were above .500. Eventually, however, the Mets and the Expos pulled ahead with the Expos taking the division crown and both teams making the playoffs. As we can see below, no NLE team had a terrible 1983:

Team	1983 Record
Montreal Expos	93-69
New York Mets	88-74
Philadelphia Phillies	82-80
Atlanta Braves	78-84
Florida Marlins	78-84

The Mets advanced as far as the NLCS while the Expos lost in the NLDS.

1984 looks to be another competitive year in both the NLE division race and the NL Wild Card race. The second place NLE team will certainly not be guaranteed a WC spot as there are, as always, very strong teams in the NL Central and maybe a newcomer or two to the race from the NL West. In fact, the easiest path to the playoffs out of the NLE could very well end up being winning the division.

Florida Marlins (1983 Record: 78-84) The Marlins are a young team (the current spring training squad has an average age of 25.75 years) and a cheap team (their $3.7 million payroll is the 4th lowest in baseball). But that does not mean they lack talent. The two standout stars for the Marlins are 2B Bobby Vazquez (2.1 WAR) and CF Nate Bannister (3.3 WAR). These two should be the core of the Marlins' roster for years to come. Recent arrivals Logan Hinkle and Jesus Sanchez look to step up their major league playing time this season and both have the potential to produce well.

The Marlins starting rotation performed about above average last season and did not add much this off-season. Elias Laguna (3.7 WAR), Rob Rice (3.3 WAR), and Bob Ford (3.8 WAR) are the mainstays of the rotation but Jose Luna has the goods to also be a standout.

Florida has the 10th overall best farm system with 5 players in the top 100. Their top prospect, 1B Jesus Sanchez (14th overall), is currently with the Marlins in spring training and looks ready to start at first base this season full time after making his RLB debut last season.

Projected 1984 Record: 73-89

Atlanta Braves (1983 Record: 78-84) The Braves are also a young team (Their spring training squad has an average age of 24.97 which is the 3rd lowest) and have a payroll ($4.2 million) on the lower end of the spectrum. Also like the Marlins, the Braves hope to be carried through the 1984 season by young talent. These players include Cameron Buerkley (5.2 WAR) and Robbie Ekdar (5.3 WAR). Atlanta will be welcoming 1983 #1 overall pick Billy Becker to his first full season in the majors where he will be playing 2B. The Braves are also getting back SS Brad Shaw (1 WAR) who was having a very promising start to the 1983 season until he broke a bone in his elbow and was ruled out for the rest of the year. Finally, there is hope that the switch-hitting first baseman Brian Arnaut (OSA #43) can bring some much-needed power to a lineup that in 1983 led the league in batting average but lacked in run production and home runs.

The Braves' starting pitching has rarely been a strong point for the team, and although this year does not appear to deviate too much it doesn't seem as if it will be a huge weakness either. Ryan Blair (3.8 WAR) heads a rotation that welcomes back Al Babin (1.2 WAR) who suffered a season-ending injury last year.

Atlanta has the 3rd best farm system according to OSA with two highly ranked players: 2B Billy Becker (8th overall) and SP Danny Cerventes (13th overall). Becker made his MLB debut late last season and will start this season at 2B for the Braves. The farm system has 5 players in the top 100.

Projected 1984 Record: 80-82

Philadelphia Phillies (1983 Record: 82-80) The Phillies are in spring training with the oldest team in baseball (average age of 28.11 years) and the 11th highest payroll ($6.8 million). Longtime Philly stalwart and 5-time steal champion 2B Chase Notch (4.9 WAR) was traded in the off-season to the Oakland A's which leaves Philadelphia without its arguably biggest star. What the Phillies do still have, though, are the dynamic bats of LF Dylan Duncan (4.9 WAR) and 1B Ray Lancaster (3.1 WAR).

Starting pitching looks to be a key strength for Philadelphia with Leonardo Martinez (2.9 WAR), Aaron Crawley (2.4 WAR), Nate Finney (2.9 WAR), and Jeremy Melin (2.8 WAR) all looking to step up after only having slightly better than average stats last season.

Philadelphia's farm system is ranked 7th overall including the number 1 overall prospect Mitch Warburg. Warburg will be starting this season in AA along with several other of Philadelphia's top prospects. Overall, their farm system has 4 players in the top 100.

Projected 1984 Record: 82-80

New York Mets (1983 Record: 88-74; Lost in NLCS)

The Mets' spring training roster is on the older side (average age of 26.96 years) and their payroll ($6.3 million) falls right in the middle of the pack. After making the playoffs two years in a row this is a squad that is looking to march into the playoffs this season. Their lineup is a solid mix of bats and defense with standouts including former MVP 3B Jason Davis (3.8 WAR), RF Heriberto Trevino (4.4 WAR), and 1B Dan Linson (4.4 WAR).

New York looks to have one of the most dominant starting rotations in baseball with stars Dennis Kane (4.5 WAR) and Jesus Rodriguez (5.4 WAR) anchoring.

The Mets have the 8th overall farm system with recent international discovery SS Carlos Mendez instantly becoming OSA's 7th overall prospect. New York has three total players in the top 100.

Projected 1984 Record: 90-72

Montreal Expos (1983 Record: 93-69; Lost in NLDS) The Expos are beginning 1984 with an older squad (average age of 26.72) and the 6th highest payroll (7.2 million). But that money is being put to good use in paying stars such as former MVP 3B Matt Singer (4.9 WAR), former MVP 1B Travis Pinkard (4.3 WAR), and RF Alan Gatto (5.3 WAR).

Montreal's rotation of starting pitchers does not seem to boast a star, but their performances last year were solid all-around. Roy Lockerman (3.2 WAR), Dusty McCarl (4.4 WAR), and Alex Midence (3.5 WAR) could all have a breakout year but even if they just maintain their performance from last season they will be a strong asset to the team.

Montreal's farm system us currently ranked 16th with their highest ranked prospect (OSA #36) CF Santiago Alvarez currently in A ball. The system has three other players in the top 100, all are pitchers.

Projected 1984 Record: 92-70

Projected Standings:

Team	Projected 1984 Record
Montreal Expos	92-70
New York Mets	90-72
Philadelphia Phillies	82-80
Atlanta Braves	80-82
Florida Marlins	72-89

1984 should be an exciting year for the National League East. Some teams are more talented than others, but every team has at least a star or two and the potential to break into the Wild Card or division races for a spot in the playoffs. Last season showed that all of these teams are competitive and not much has changed in that regard. However, we can probably expect Montral and New York to once again pull away and compete with each other for the division title deep into September.