A month has revealed a lot and not nearly enough. The belief coming out of spring training was the NL East would be a jumble and any of four teams could win it. Completing 16 percent of the schedule has only slightly clarified the division.
As an NL executive from outside the division said Monday: “You can make an argument for four teams, no doubt.” An AL executive offered, “I still think it’s a four-sided coin flip.”
Nine scouts/executives responded to an inquiry on who they think will win the NL East. Most said it was still too early, but when pushed they often whittled to two teams such as Phillies or Mets, or Nationals or Phillies.