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Second-half preview: National League

By Gerry Fraley, Special to the Rocky

Published July 17, 2008 at 6:06 a.m.

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INTRO | AMERICAN LEAGUE

National League East

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

* The good: RHP Brad Lidge, of Englewood, converted all 20 save opportunities to lead a bullpen that had a National League-low 2.71 ERA.

* The bad: RHP Brett Myers fell from Opening Day starter to minor-league exile, looking for lost velocity.

* The future: The Phillies have 20 more games against Florida and the New York Mets.

NEW YORK METS

* The good: The clumsy firing of manager Willie Randolph had the desired effect. The Mets are 17-9 under Jerry Manuel.

* The bad: LHP Billy Wagner had only 22 saves in 28 opportunities to rank 10th in the NL for conversion rate.

* The future: RHP Mike Pelfrey goes into the second half on a roll at 6-0 with a 2.26 ERA for his past nine starts.

FLORIDA MARLINS

* The good: The Marlins played "gorilla ball" and led the majors with 135 home runs.

* The bad: The defense was porous, committing a league-high 80 errors.

* The future: The Fish face the Mets in six of their first 23 second-half games.

ATLANTA BRAVES

* The good: RHPs Jair Jurrjens and Tim Hudson ranked among the NL's top 10 for ERA, and the rotation was third, at 3.97.

* The bad: RHP John Smoltz and LHP Tom Glavine showed their advanced age and broke down.

* The future: A series against Philadelphia this month will be crucial. The Braves are 1-8 against the Phillies.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

* The good: The Nationals went 15-5 in RHP Tim Redding's starts and 21-55 in all other games.

* The bad: The offense averaged an NL-low 3.65 runs a game.

* The future: Prospects such as RHP Collin Balester will receive auditions.

National League Central

CHICAGO CUBS

* The good: With their hitters unusually patient, the Cubs led the NL in on-base percentage and walks.

* The bad: OF Alfonso Soriano went on the disabled list twice and played below expectations when active.

* The future: September will be a grind, with 16 of the final 22 games on the road.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

* The good: Journeymen RHPs Kyle Lohse and Todd Wellemeyer combined for 18 wins.

* The bad: The bullpen topped the majors with 22 blown saves, double the total from last season.

* The future: RHPs Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright could return from the disabled list this month.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

* The good: The bullpen improved when RHP Eric Gagne was deposed as closer, converting 16 of its last 20 saves.

* The bad: 1B Prince Fielder, with 18 homers and a .488 slugging percentage, was well off his pace of last year.

* The future: The Brewers will play six of their final 12 games against the Cubs.

CINCINNATI REDS

* The good: RHP Edinson Volquez, 3-11 with a 7.20 ERA before this season, was 12-3 with an NL-best 2.29 ERA.

* The bad: OF Ken Griffey Jr.'s slugging percentage was .400, 148 points less than his career average.

* The future: RHP Homer Bailey will get one more opportunity to meet the hype.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

* The good: Jason Bay, Nate McLouth and Xavier Nady formed a productive outfield with 50 homers and 174 RBI.

* The bad: More young pitchers regressed as RHP Ian Snell and LHP Tom Gorzelanny combined to go 9-14 with a 6.23 ERA.

* The future: A major league-record-tying 16th consecutive losing season looms.

HOUSTON ASTROS

* The good: 1B Lance Berkman stayed among the top eight in the Triple Crown categories.

* The bad: OF Michael Bourn had the lowest on-base percentage (.265) among NL leadoff hitters.

* The future: Manager Cecil Cooper will be under review after a rough first half.

National League West

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

* The good: All-Star RHPs Danny Haren and Brandon Webb combined for 21 wins and 30 quality starts.

* The bad: The offense withered, going from 5.89 runs a game in the opening month to 3.81 after that.

* The future: Arizona will play 13 games against the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

* The good: The staff had a league-low 3.64 ERA and allowed three runs or fewer in 47 games.

* The bad: The offense lacked power, ranking next to last in the NL for homers and slugging percentage.

* The future: Catalyst SS Rafael Furcal, out since early May because of back surgery, could return in late August.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

* The good: The long-dormant minor-league system produced everyday players: 1B John Bowker and OF Fred Lewis.

* The bad: LHP Barry Zito and RHP Matt Cain, the Nos. 1-2 starters, struggled. The Giants went 12-27 in their starts.

* The future: The Giants have only 36 home games in the second half.

Colorado

* The good: RHP Aaron Cook had a career-high 11 wins and stayed on course to reach 200 innings.

* The bad: Only one starter, 3B Garrett Atkins, stayed in the lineup from Opening Day through the break.

* The future: A 10-game trip that starts in Cincinnati on July 25 will be a hot-weather test.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

* The good: 1B Adrian Gonzalez was among the top eight in the NL for homers and RBI despite being stuck in an offense that ranked next to last in runs.

* The bad: The bullpen collapsed and had as many blown saves (17) as saves.

* The future: RHP Greg Maddux will keep trying for career win No. 351. Maddux is winless for 12 starts since No. 350.

Comments

  • July 17, 2008

    8:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dakar writes:

    Colorado Rockies -
    The good: Matt Holliday and Aaron Cook are bonefide all-stars.
    The bad: Nobody else on the team can hit or pitch
    The future: bleak

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