ESPN Sweet Spot with an interesting way of ranking the NL East. They ranked all five teams by position and used a regular rank score of 5 points to 1 point for first place to last place. Check out the main article on ESPN to read all the commentary which accompanied each ranking.

Catcher

1. Brian McCann, Braves
2. Wilson Ramos, Nationals
3. Carlos Ruiz, Phillies
4. Josh Thole, Mets
5. John Buck, Marlins

First base

1. Freddie Freeman, Braves
2. Ryan Howard/Jim Thome, Phillies
3. Ike Davis, Mets
4. Gaby Sanchez, Marlins
5. Adam LaRoche, Nationals

Second base

1. Chase Utley, Phillies
2. Danny Espinosa, Nationals
3. Dan Uggla, Braves
4. Daniel Murphy, Mets
5. Omar Infante, Marlins

Third base

1. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
2. David Wright, Mets
3. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
4. Chipper Jones, Braves
5. Placido Polanco, Phillies

Shortstop

1. Jose Reyes, Marlins
2. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
3. Ruben Tejada, Mets
4. Ian Desmond, Nationals
5. Tyler Pastornicky, Braves

Left field

1. Michael Morse, Nationals
2. Martin Prado, Braves
3. Logan Morrison, Marlins
4. Domonic Brown/John Mayberry, Phillies
5. Jason Bay, Mets

Center field

1. Shane Victorino, Phillies
2. Michael Bourn, Braves
3. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
4. Andres Torres, Mets
5. Roger Bernadina, Nationals

Right field

1. Mike Stanton, Marlins
2. Hunter Pence, Phillies
3. Jason Heyward, Braves
4. Jayson Werth, Nationals
5. Lucas Duda, Mets

No. 1 starter

1. Roy Halladay, Phillies
2. Josh Johnson, Marlins
3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
4. Tim Hudson, Braves
5. Johan Santana, Mets

No. 2 starter

1. Cliff Lee, Phillies
2. Gio Gonzalez, Nationals
3. Mark Buehrle, Marlins
4. Tommy Hanson, Braves
5. R.A. Dickey, Mets

No. 3 starter

1. Cole Hamels, Phillies
2. Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
3. Anibal Sanchez, Marlins
4. Jair Jurrjens, Braves
5. Mike Pelfrey, Mets

No. 4 starter

1. Brandon Beachy, Braves
2. Vance Worley, Phillies
3. John Lannan, Nationals
4. Jonathon Niese, Mets
5. Ricky Nolasco, Marlins

No. 5 starter

1. Mike Minor, Braves
2. Carlos Zambrano, Marlins
3. Dillon Gee, Mets
4. Chien-Ming Wang, Nationals
5. Joe Blanton/Kyle Kendrick, Phillies

Closer

1. Craig Kimbrel, Braves
2. Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies
3. Drew Storen, Nationals
4. Heath Bell, Marlins
5. Frank Francisco, Mets

Bullpen

1. Braves — Jonny Venters, Eric O’Flaherty, Kris Medlen, Cristhian Martinez, Anthony Varvaro
2. Marlins — Steve Cishek, Edward Mujica, Mike Dunn, Ryan Webb, Randy Choate
3. Nationals — Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett, Henry Rodriguez, Ryan Perry, Tom Gorzelanny
4. Phillies — Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes, Dontrelle Willis, David Herndon, Jose Contreras
5. Mets — Bobby Parnell, Jon Rauch, Pedro Beato, Tim Byrdak, Manny Acosta

Intangibles

1. Marlins
2. Phillies
3. Braves
4. Nationals
5. Mets

The final tally

1. Phillies, 58 points
2. Braves, 56 points
3. Marlins, 49 points
4. Nationals, 48 points
5. Mets, 29 points

Right off the bat I saw that Ramon Ramirez was not included in the Mets bullpen. Ramirez had a huge season in 2011 and if you included him and left of Pedro Beato, I would have ranked the Mets bullpen #2 behind Atlanta.

I’m not convinced that Ike Davis should be ranked #3 and in fact given the Ryan Howard injury I would have ranked Davis #1. Plus he’s a better defender and more rangy than the two ranked ahead of him.

R.A. Dickey ranked last as a No. 2 pitcher is way off. I’m not saying he’s first or second, but last place, no way.

I’ll lay 3:1 odds that Lucas Duda outperforms Jayson Werth this season. Make that 5:1.

What are your thoughts? Was this a fair assessment?