What's wrong with the National League East?

Dan Wanser (Writer): @DanWanser

Credit: dailystache.net
At the beginning of the season, Strasburg, Stanton, Wright, Heyward,
and Hamels all wanted to be contending for the NL East crown at this
 point in the season. Up to this point, nobody is seeing what they expected

What is up with the National League East? In the beginning of the season it looked like the Phillies, Braves, and Nationals would all fight to capture a NL East crown. Now, almost halfway into the year, it's a pretty one sided division. At this point in the season, The Atlanta Braves have a respectable 45-33 record. However, they're on their own up at the top as they're the only team in the division with a record above .500.


At exactly .500 the Washington Nationals are the closest to them with a 38-38 record. This puts them 6 games back in the division. Last year, the Nationals finished the regular season as one of the best teams in baseball and looked like they might be able to make a deep postseason run. Now this year, with their ace Stephen Strasburg completely healthy, and Bryce Harper in the outfield again, they were expected to be on top the NL East. That has definitely not been the case so far.

In third place sit the Philadelphia Phillies, they have a 37-41 record which puts them 8 games behind the first place Braves and 2 behind the Nationals. I don't know about everyone else, but when the season started I definitely didn't see the Phillies having a losing record when we got to June 25th. Like all teams, the Phillies have been bitten by the injury bug. Losing Utley for a long period of time from the beginning of the season and losing Halladay certainly did not help them, but its also not an excuse with all the talent they do have. Right now, the Phillies can make an argument that they have one of the best infields in the league. With Michael Young at 3rd, Rollins at short, and then Howard and Utley at first and second base respectively they have a very solid infield. One of the problems in Philly is the pitching. Cliff Lee is the only pitcher in the starting rotation with an ERA below 3. If you move to the bullpen, Paplebon has blown 4 saves recently, and nobody else in the pen is stepping up. The offense has struggled mightily throughout the year, even though they shouldn't be. With solid hitters starting with Rollins at the top, and having Young, Utley, Howard, and Dominic Brown throughout the line-up you have some serious pop in the bats.
       
Unbelievably though, hitting has been the problem with both Washington and Philadelphia. Both teams are sitting towards the bottom of the league in batting average, and runs per game. Philadelphia has scored 3 runs or less in most of their games, which is inexcusable. Washington is also hitting poorly at times even though they have the likes of Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and you can even throw Ian Desmond in there as someone who could bring a solid bat to the lineup. Right now neither the Phillies nor the Nationals have a single player hitting above .300. Michael Young is close for the Phillies, hitting .284, but close isn't doing enough. On the Nationals side, Ian Desmond is the closest with a mere .277 average. Pitching hasn't really been a big problem for Washington, but unfortunately for them, they have others that have brought them down throughout the year.
       
Despite all the problems in the division, you do have to give credit to the Braves for winning games and playing well. They have 3 pitchers in their rotation with an ERA under 3.4. Their pitching is keeping them close, and their offense is scoring enough runs to win games as they're led by Freddie Freeman who leads the team in both average and RBI. As we approach the All Star break I am not trying to say that the Braves have won the NL East and have solidified a playoff spot, because this division is far from over and we cant make assumptions and say who will and will not make the playoffs until game 162 has been played. What I am saying is there is something wrong with teams in the NL East, and if the Phillies or Nationals want to make a run for the postseason, they need to figure out what's wrong, and they need to fix it now.

Credit: cbssports.com
The Braves, Nationals, and Phillies all have major talent on their rosters
but something is wrong with some teams in the NL East, and if they want to
 have hopes of making a run this year, they need to figure out their problems,
 and find a way to fix them