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Now an early look at the NL East.

1.  Will Tommy Hanson lead the Braves in Wins?
There is a decent chance he does. Jair Jurrjens pitched about as well as you can imagine last year and only managed to win 14 games. Tim Hudson always has question marks. Derek Lowe hasn’t won 16 games since 2006. That leave Hanson who won 11 in 21 starts. He stumbled a bit in July (1-2, 3.94 ERA), but rebounded nicely to finish the year off.

2.  Can Billy Wagner hold up?
He sure looked good for Boston last year. He had good velocity. He’s getting up there in age, but I believe the lefty could put together a 30 save season.

3.  Will Ricky Nolasco bounce back?
Nolasco was high on everyone’s list going into last year after his 15-8, 3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP in 2008. Sure, his ERA bloated to 5.06, but his WHIP was a very respectable 1.25. What’s more is he had a better strikout ratio (9.49 K/9 compared to 7.88). Plus, he was 11-4 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP from June through the end of the year. Hopefully his first half struggles and overall numbers let him slide in your drafts making him a great value in 2010.

4.  Will Leo Nunez hold on to the Closer gig?
It’s his job to lose, but do note that he blew seven of his 33 save opportunites (21 percent). He was even worse in December with three blown saves in 11 chances with a 6.10 ERA.

5.  Is Citi Field cursed?
I can’t recall a team going through as many injuries at the Mets did last year. Reyes, Wright (see where he ranks among 2010 Third Basemen), Johan, Beltran, the list goes on and on. Seriously though, I think the offense will be fine. Jason Bay adds his big bat to an already impressive lineup (when healthy). The trouble is their pitching. I don’t see them having enough starting pitching to compete with Atlanta or Philadelphia.

6. Will Cole Hamels return to form?
I can’t think of a more important question for the Phillies. I think the role of Superman in the postseason may have got to his head a bit. He received a lot of negative attention when he said he couldn’t wait until the season was over. I didn’t take it as him quitting rather the year took a toll on him. I think he’ll work hard to get back to the level he and his fantasy owners have grown accustomed to. Despite his struggles, he did manage to produce a decent ERA (4.32) and a solid WHIP (1.29). He doesn’t have the pressure of being the ace of the staff anymore either.

7.  Will Jayson Werth continue to be a fantasy beast?
After a solid 2008 season, Werth’s numbers exploded last year as he scored 98 runs, hit 36 HRs, and had 99 RBIs. He matched his 2008 SB total with 20. He’ll turn 31 early in the year, and I see no reason he can’t continue to produce at a high level, especially in that lineup.

8.  Should you draft Stephen Strasburg?
Only in deep keeper leagues. He means too much to the future of the Nationals for them to rush him along. If you’re in a league with three or four keepers, he won’t be worth hanging onto just yet. Be patient with him, like the Nationals will be.

9.  Will Nyjer Morgan continue to produce?
I don’t see why not. He was solid for Pittsburgh before being dealt to Washington, where he was even better. He hit .351 with 35 runs and 24 SBs in 49 games with the Nationals.

Game 1
Chase Utley went 2 for 4 with a 2-Run HR a Walk, and 2 SBs.  Jayson Werth went 2 for 4 with a Run, 2 Doubles, a Walk, and a SB.  Shane Victorino went 2 for 4 with a Run.  Pedro Feliz went 2 for 3 with a Walk.  Carlos Ruiz had a Walk and drove in the game-winning Run.  Akinori Iwamura went 3 for 4 with a Double and an RBI.  Carl Crawford hit a solo HR.  Jason Bartlett scored a Run, Walked twice, and stole a base.

Cole Hamels gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to earn the Win for the Phillies.  Ryan Madson threw a perfect 8th with a K.  Brad Lidge threw a perfect ninth with 2 Ks to earn the Save.  Scott Kazmir gave up 3 Runs in 6 Innings with 4 Ks, but took the Loss.  Grant Balfour threw 1-2/3 Innings of scoreless relief with 2 Ks.  J.P. Howell struck out 2 in 2/3 of an Inning.

Wednesday, October 15th
Ryan Howard went 3 for 4 with a Run, an RBI, and a Walk.  Jimmy Rollins went 1 for 4 with 2 Runs, a HR, a Walk, and a SB.  Manny Ramirez went 2 for 3 with a HR and a Walk.  James Loney and Matt Kemp each had 2 Hits.  Chase Utley scored 2 Runs.  Pat Burrell had an RBI.

Cole Hamels gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Runs to close the door on the Dodgers and send the Phillies to the World Series.  Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge each pitched a scoreless Inning to protect the lead.  James McDonald threw 2 scoreless Innings of relief with 2 Ks.  Hong-Chih Kuo pitched 1 scoreless Inning of relief.

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Tuesday, July 8th
Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 3 RBI.  Carlos Beltran went 3 for 4 with a HR and 4 RBI.  Jim Thome went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, and a Walk.  Esteban German went 4 for 6 with 3 Runs, a Double, an RBI, and a SB.  Alexei Ramirez and Mike Aviles also had 4 Hits.  Chase Headley went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI.  Scott Hairston went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, 2 Doubles, an HR, and 3 RBI.  Brian McCann hit a pair of solo shots.  Kevin Youkilis, Adam LaRoche, Richie Weeks (3 Runs), and Mark Kotsay each had 3 Hits.  Marcus Thames, Alex Rios, Ryan Braun, Geovany Soto, Yunel Escobar, and Nate McLouth each had 3 RBI.  Kelly Johnson scored 3 Runs.

Justin Duchscherer pitched a Complete Game two-hit Shutout to improve to 10-5 with a 1.78 ERA.  He’s got to be the early AL Cy Young favorite.  Andy Pettitte gave up 4 Hits with 5 Ks in 8 scoreless Innings to improve to 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA.  Justin Verlander gave up 2 Runs on 2 Hits with 7 Ks to improve to 6-9.  Nick Blackburn gave up 2 Runs in a 6-2/3 Inning no-decision.  Scott Kazmir gave up 2 Runs in 5 Innings with 9 Ks, but took a Loss.  Joel Pineiro tossed 6-1/3 scoreless Innings to improve to 3-4.  Cole Hamels gave up 2 Runs on 3 Hits with 8 Ks, but took the Loss.  Brandon Webb delivered a Devil’s line with 6 scoreless Innings, 6 Hits, and 6 Ks to improve to 13-4 with a 3.27 ERA.  Mike Pelfrey threw 7 scoreless Innings allowing 3 Hits with 5 Ks to improve to 7-6 with a 3.93 ERA.  C.C. Sabathia gave up 2 Earned Runs in 6 Innings to win his Milwaukee debut.  Matt Harrison dominated his Big Leauge debut going 7 Innings and allowing 2 Runs on 5 Hits.  Ryan Dempster gave up 1 Run on 2 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 10-3 with a 3.13 ERA.  Carlos “Hi Ho” Silva gave up 2 Runs in a Complete Game loss.  Randy Wolf gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 6-8.  Jair Jurrjens gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits with 6 Ks in 6 Innings to improve to 9-4 with a 3.00 ERA.

I am going out of town today so I won’t be able to post the July 5th and 6th editions of the FBPoD.  Enjoy the holiday everyone!

Thursday, July 3rd
Aubrey Huff cracked 2 HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  J.J. Hardy, Matt Joyce, and Mark Grudzielanek each had 4 Hits.  Jeff Baker had 4 RBI.  Corey Hart, Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Lopez, Pedro Feliz, Brandon Phillips (3 RBI), and Cody Ross each had 3 Hits.  Chad Tracy, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Ivan Rodriguez, and Jose Guillen each had 3 RBI.

Jon Lester threw a five-hit Complete Game Shutout to improve to 7-3 with a 3.21 ERA.  Cole Hamels gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits in 8-2/3 Innigs with 7 Ks to improve to 9-5 with a 3.22 ERA.  Manny Parra tossed 6 scoreless Innings, but took a no-decision.  Johnny Cueto gave up 3 Runs in 7 Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 7-8.  Chad Billingsley gave up 2 unearned Runs in 8 Innings to improve to 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA.  Mark Redman gave up 2 Runs in a 6 Inning no-decision.  Justin Duchscherer gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 9-5 with a 1.96 ERA.  Javier Vazquez pitched a Complete Game giving up 3 Runs on 4 Hits with 10 Ks, but took the Loss.  Mike Pelfrey gave up 1 Run in Inniings to improve to 6-6.  Justin Verlander gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings to improve to 5-9.

Monday, June 16th
Ryan Howard went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, a Triple, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI.  Marcus Thames hit 2 HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  Carlos Beltran hit a pair of solo HRs.  Fred Lewis had 3 RBI.  Jimmy Rollins (3 RBI), Dustin Pedroia, Macier Izturis, John Bowker (3 RBI), and Ivan Rodriguez each had 3 Hits.

Jair Jurrjens tossed 7-2/3 scoreless Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA.  Cole Hamels gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings to improve to 7-4 with a 3.23 ERA.  Andrew Miller gave up 1 Run on 6 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 5-5.  Justin Verlander gave up 1 Earned Runs with 7 Ks in a 6 Inning no-decision.

Thursday, June 5th
Old Man Matt Stairs went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, a HR, and 5 RBI.  Manny Ramirez went 2 for 3 with a Run, a HR, and 5 RBI.  Elijah Dukes went 4 for 6 with 3 Runs, a Triple, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Chipper Jones went 4 for 5.  Cristian Guzman went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs.  Dan Uggla, Alexi Casilla, Mike Redmonds, Aaron Boone, Kory Casto, Michael Young, Milton Bradley, Tadahito Iguchi, and Ryan Theriot each had 3 Hits.  Jason Michaels, Mark Worrell, and Ramon Vazquez each had 3 RBI.  Joe Mather scored 3 Runs.  Jeff Kent hit a pair of HRs.

Cole Hamels tossed a Complete Game three-hit Shutout to improve to 6-4 with a 3.36 ERA.  Garrett Olson went 6-1/3 Innings allowing 2 Runs to improve to 5-1 with a 3.86 ERA.    Todd Wellemeyer pitched six scoreless Innings allowing 5 Hits with 5 Ks to improve to 7-1 with a 2.92 ERA.  He beat John “Can’t Buy Me Love” Lannan, who gave up 2 Runs on 4 Hits in 6 Innings.  Jon Lester gave up 1 Run in 6-1/3 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA.  Paul Maholm went 8 Innings allowing 2 Runs to improve to 4-5.  Jose Contreras gave up 1 Run on 4 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA.  Josh Banks (6 Innings, 5 Hits, 1 Run – his ERA sits at 0.39) and Mike Pelfrey (6 Innings, 1 Run) took no-decisions in their pitchers’ duel.