Bits and Pieces is your weekly More Than a Fan source for all the interesting stories out of the National League East. Whether you want pictures, videos, or just the half news/half bad jokes column you’ve come to expect from me, this is the place to be.
Every installment of Bits and Pieces will be led off by the current National League East standings next to my preseason predictions. We’ll be chronicling my idiocy all season.
| Standings | |||||||
| Current | My Prediction | ||||||
| Tm | W | L | W-L% | GB | |||
| Washington Nationals | 10 | 3 | .769 | – | Marlins | ||
| Atlanta Braves | 7 | 5 | .583 | 2.5 | Phillies | ||
| New York Mets | 7 | 5 | .583 | 2.5 | Nationals | ||
| Miami Marlins | 6 | 6 | .500 | 3.5 | Braves | ||
| Philadelphia Phillies | 5 | 7 | .417 | 4.5 | Mets | ||
Stock Overreaction
Is two weeks into the season long enough to admit that I have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to the National League. I’ve spent my whole life as an American League boy and this transition to studying and predicting the craziness that goes on in a league that lets pitchers hit.
I can take some solace in the fact that it’s still really early and I’m pretty sure nobody had the Phillies bringing up the rear. As much as I like their rotation, that damn Phillie Phanatic belongs in the basement where it can’t scare any innocent kids. The good thing about the Phillie Phanatic is that it’s less intimidating than Thunderbug, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s mascot. (I know the Lightning are an NHL team, but I couldn’t pass up this video)
LoMo Lays Down the Best Tweet Ever
I mean, do I really have to explain why this is awesome? Logan Morrison is at the top of the depth chart on a Major League baseball team and he’s running around on twitter even willy-nillier than I do. If you’re a slightly immature baseball fan, do yourself a favor and follow @LoMoMarlins.
If you’re too stuffy to appreciate a sex scene drawn out on an outlet cover… what are you doing here?
Hanley Mans Up
From Logan Morrison’s tweets to Hanley Ramirez‘s swing, it’s been a good week for the Miami Marlins. Hanley Ramirez is one of the most explosive players in the game, but suffered from a slow start in 2012.
Ramirez couldn’t even boast a batting average over .200 until the ninth game of the season, but he’s added 80 points to that average in his last three games. The bomb he hit in the video above decided the series opener in Miami against the Chicago Cubs and Hanley on fire is bad news for the rest of the National League East.
Sources:
Videos: MLB.com
Stats: Baseball Reference
Josh publishes More Than a Fan, produces and talks sports on the Team of Rivals & More Than a Fan Podcasts, is a general malcontent on twitter and keeps an eye on things at Stevand Racing. Being a Cleveland sports fan has toughened him up and helped him to become a productive adult. He hardly ever cries during games anymore.
