OK - Catchers and pitchers don't report until next week but to get things rolling, who do you think will be the top 3 in the NL Central?

1 - Cubs
2 - Cards
3 - Stros

 

Cubs 1st? I don't know about that. I think the NL Central overall has gotten weaker in the off-season. The Reds may be the only team that improved their roster. The Cubs infield is pretty good, the outfield is suspect at best, they lost Alou & Sosa, Patterson has had injury problems, they brought in Burnitz to replace Sosa but he strikes out just as much as Sosa does. They lost Matt Clement and Maddux is not getting any younger. They still don't have a dependable closer.

The Astros lost quite a bit in the offseason as well. They lost Kent and Beltran, a lot of offense right there. There pitching staff should be good if healthy. Lots of questions though, will Pettite be back to his old self, how much longer can Clemens keep it up? Can Backe avoid a sophomore slump? Oswalt is the only sure thing. There middle relief more or less single handedly lost them the NLCS last year. It's not really the relievers fault, the team they traded away all their good relievers (Wagner and Dotel). Bagwell and Biggio are another year older.

St. Louis improved their starting rotation with the addition of lefty Mark Mulder. The middle infield is all new, Renteria is a huge loss offensively and defensivily, but Ecstein should be able to get the job done, having Scott Rolen to your right cuts down the amount of area he has to cover. Grudzielanek is a defensive improvement at second, what he can do with the bat is yet to be seen. They get Larry Walker for a full season, but he has a history of injuries. Matheny is gone at cather, which may prove to be a bigger loss than Renteria.

Okay after my analysis of the teams, my predictions:

St. Louis (93-69)
Chicago (88-74)
Houston (85-77)
Cincinnati (83-79)
Milwaukee (70-92)
Pittsburgh (65-97)

Although, the teams don't play on paper and if you would have told me the Cards were going to win 105 games last year, I would of said you are crazy.

 

Ranger,
Sorry to burst your buble about the cubs but they had a dramitic decline in talent in the off season and I'm not talkin about Sosa. They also lost Alou and thats going to hurt. I amy be an O's fan but the cubbies are 1 of my other favorite teams. The cards win this division easily. Holder's projection looks pretty accurate except that I would drop the Cubbies 2 spots to fourth and move Cincy to second. I think Cincy is the sleeper in this division this year.

 

1. St. Louis
2. Houston
3. Cincinnati

 

Glad to see we got some ball fans here! Think the Cub's infield is going to cover the potential problems in the OF. Burnitz is a wash to the 04 Sosa. We've been waiting for Patterson to fulfill his potential....... However, if Prior and Wood comeback, will stick with em for the division. Will give you that the Reds in 05 may be the surprise.

 

I'm going with Dave on this one

 

Agreed Lalo

 

OK - Not many results, but of the six who voted:


NL Div Champions: Cards (83%)

Cubs (17%)

Everyone Loves A Winner !

 

They won the division half way through the season last year and the closest rivals haven't made up any serious ground in the offseason. What did you expect?

 

Hey....being a Cubs fan, expecting something is not permitted. As they say, as of now, everyone is in first place. Cards would have to be the logical choice but then again, when it comes to baseball, I kinda throw logic out the window. If I didn't - would have to jump out of it.

 

Enjoy first place, while it lasts.

 

1. Cubs
2. Cards
3. Reds

And yes, I've been drinking my Cubs Kool-Aid. I think with Sosa gone the effect will be quite positive, both on the field and in the club house. And I understand the other holes in their lineup. Maybe the effect will be similar to that of A-Rod's after leaving the Mariners and Rangers.

 

Evil Capri - Welcome to the group. I would feel better if the "media rumors" came true about picking up Dotel.

 

Stros
Cards
Cubbies

 

OK, gotta be different.

Reds 93-69 - much improved pitching - finally healthy years for Kearns and Griffey - a 3rd baseman who can get on base, etc.

Cards 90-72 - Great team. Added Mulder - Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds terrific. I'm predicting some injuries and bullpen problems cost them a few games and the division, but not the WC.

Brewers 82-80. Young, talented and getting better. Watch out in 06.

Cubs 81-81. Saying Burnitz can match Sosa numbers is silly. Burnitz won't EVER walk. Still several questions here on this team. Patterson is now the star. Can he handle that?

Stros 75-87 - lost some lineup punch, Bags, Biggio only getting older.
Cubs

Pirates 68-96. Yeah, they still have alot of issues to address.

 

[quote=afcop13,March 2, 2005, 9:52 PM]
Cubs 81-81. Saying Burnitz can match Sosa numbers is silly. Burnitz won't EVER walk. Still several questions here on this team. Patterson is now the star. Can he handle that?


Good points on all, but
Cubs 92-70
Burnitz numbers from the last 2 years:
04- .283ba; 37 Hr; 110 rbi; 124so; 58 bb
03- .239ba; 31 Hr; 77 rbi; 112 so; 35bb

Sammy last year .253ba; 35 Hr; 80 rbi; 133 so; 56 bb

Why can't a rational person expect the same numbers with better defense??

Cards 89-73
weak "D" up the middle infield; Ankiel will bean Mulder in BP causing his back to hurt like last year.

I agree on brew Crew

Reds 80-82 - NO pitching

Pirates, young players but I feel bad for McLendon

74-88

 

He played last year in Colorado, so you have to keep those numbers out of it.
And those '03 numbers are nothing to brag, actually they are terrible.

There is a good write up by Peter Gammons on ESPN.com on the Cards, he is predicting them to be better this year than last. I would have to tend to agree with him. At 2B they are better defensively than last year, and the Cards could play without a SS and with Scott Rolen alone on the left side be better defensively than some teams.

 

Hey holderca1, check this out.
This is different.

Well, he did lead his minor league team in home runs, as a pitcher. Hmmm.

 

I never liked Ankiel as a pitcher :notnice: his control is non-existent
I heard that he was an excellent batter, so I wondered why he didnt go with that. glad to see him move

 

Just saw that today, kind of surprised me, they were talking about him competing for a spot in the starting rotation, now he can't pitch at all? Oh well, our rotation is fine.