National League

Sporting News, The, March 29, 1999

BRAVES

Projected finish: 1st

N.L. East

Depth will make the difference

1998: 106-56; 1st in N.L. East.

KEY ADDITIONS: 2B Bret Boone, RF Brian Jordan.

KEY SUBTRACTIONS: 1B Greg Colbrunn, 1B Andres Galarraga, LHP Denny Neagle, RF Michael Tucker.

REASON TO GET EXCITED: The addition of 2B Bret Boone and RF Brian Jordan helps balance the lineup and counters the loss of 1B Andres Galarraga. The Fab Three of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz totals seven Cy Young Awards. C Jaw Lopez just keeps gelling better. He had 34 homers and 106 RBIs last season and could be a 40-homer, 120-RBI guy. And 3B Chipper Jones, who wasn't satisfied with a season in which he hit .313 with 34 home runs and 107 RBIs, came into camp bigger and stronger. He appears poised for a monster season.

REASON TO WORRY: The bullpen. The loss of RHP Kerry Ligtenberg is a substantial blow, and the uncertain future of former closer Mark Wohlers simply compounds the situation. John Rocker, with less than a full season of major league experience, will be asked to handle dosing duties.

PLAYER ON THE SPOT: 1B Ryan Klesko. This is Klesko's last chance. If he doesn't produce some big numbers and demonstrate he can hit lefthanders, he may wind up in the American League as a designated hitter. Of course, if he does finally break out with a big season, he'll probably be traded to move payroll and create a starting opportunity for heralded outfield prospect George Lombard in 2000.

OUTLOOK: Yes, the Braves have been hurt by the losses of Galarraga and Ligtenberg. But what separates this team from so many others is its depth. By adding Boone and Jordan to a lineup that produced the most runs and home runs in franchise history last year, the offense probably won't miss a beat. If Wohlers makes a successful comeback, Ligtenberg's absence won't be as keenly felt. There's no doubt the Braves' injuries have helped the Mets close the gap in the East, but the Braves' rotation and lineup will be more than enough to carry the team to an eighth consecutive division championship.

WHEN IT'S ALL OVER: Figure the division race will remain close for the first two or three months before the depth of the Braves pitching begins to make a difference. Atlanta probably won't win the division by 18 games again, but it doesn't figure to be challenged in the second half, either. --Bill Zack

LINEUP CARD

Name               Pos.

Nixon(#)           LF
Boone              2B
C. Jones(#)        3B
Jordan             RF
Klesko(+)          1B
Lopez              C
A. Jones           CF
Weiss(#)           SS

ROTATION

Glavine(+)
Maddux
Smoltz
Millwood
Chen(*)(+)

SETUP

Seanez
Remlinger(+)

CLOSER

Rocker(+)

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GRADING OUT

STARTING PITCHING    A
RELIEF PITCHING      B
CLOSER               B
SPEED                B
RUN PRODUCTION       A
POWER                B
MANAGER              A
FRONT OFFICE         A

TSNumber 215

The number of homers the team hit last year, a bid factor in the franchise-record 826 runs. The total may fall because of Galarraga's absence, but Boone and Jordan should help sustain run production.

PROSPECT WATCH

GEORGE LOMBARD, OF: The Atlanta native displayed power and speed at Class AA Greenville last season, hitting 22 homers and stealing 35 bases, but the Braves want him to cut down on his strikeouts this year at Class AAA Richmond. He struck out 140 times last year and has 589 strikeouts in 526 minor league games, so he needs to demonstrate more patience and a better grasp of the strike zone if he wants to play in his hometown next season.

METS

Projected finish: 2nd

N.L. East

There's a lot to like about the Mets

1998: 88-74; 2nd in N.L. East.

KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Armando Benitez, RF Bobby Bonilla, LF Rickey Henderson, 3B Robin Ventura.

KEY SUBTRACTIONS: None.

REASON TO GET EXCITED: A whole season of Mike Piazza. One of the most devastating hitters in the game, Piazza hit .328 last season with 32 home runs and 111 RBIs after being traded twice, booed unfairly and having to deal with the uncertainty of his future. Everything is settled now, and Piazza will pursue an MVP-type year once again.

REASON TO WORRY: The starting rotation. Al Leiter had a career year, but is he really a No. 1 starter? Rick Reed fell apart at the end of the year, raising some doubts about his ability to pitch much more than 200 innings. The rest of the starters are unimpressive.

PLAYER ON THE SPOT: RHP Hideo Nomo. Once a dominant major league pitcher, Nomo's decline over the past few seasons picked up pace last year. If he can mm it around, the Mets suddenly would have a good 1-2-3 at the top of their rotation.

OUTLOOK: For the first time since 1988, the Mets are a well-balanced, playoff-type team. Over the offseason, G.M. Steve Phillips successfully addressed every shortcoming by acquiring more offense, better corner outfielders, a leadoff hitter and a dominant setup man. The most important thing Phillips did was improve the offense. The Mets were 11th in the N.L. in runs scored with 706, but that will change in '99. Last year, all opposing pitchers had to do was avoid Piazza and John Olerud and pitch to the other guys. That will not be so easy any more, as the fast real hole in the lineup isn't until the No. 8 spot. The acquisition of Robin Ventura means Edgardo Alfonzo moves to second base, and the Mets are much better offensively with Alfonzo at second. The bullpen cost the Mets enough wins last year to prompt Phillips to, in essence, trade a former All-Star catcher (Todd Hundley) for a setup man (Armando Benitez). The bullpen of Benitez, John Franco, Dennis Cook and Turk Wendell should be one of the best in baseball.