|
Post by badgersballers on Apr 2, 2009 21:36:32 GMT -5
Just cause I know that Goose, BTB, GoBigRed, D4H , and myself have teams in this division, I think we should make predictions: My Homerstic Predictions: 1. Brewers 120-42 2. Pirates 100-62 3. Reds 95-67 4. Cardinals 90-72 5. Astros 50-112 6. Cubs 0-162 My real predictions: 1. Cubs 98-64 2. Brewers 83-79 3. Cardinals 81-81 4. Reds 78-84 5. Astros 76-86 6. Pirates 60-102 Honestly, I see the Cubs running away with the division, the Pirates running away with last place, and the Brewers, Cardinals, Reds and Astros fighting for 2-5.
|
|
|
Post by BTB07 on Apr 2, 2009 21:40:06 GMT -5
I think the Cubs win the division, and probably around 100 games.
The Brewers will fall off IMO (no Sabbathia or Sheets).
The Cards could be good, but I really like the Reds pitching staff (think it is good enough to compete for the Wild Card).
Should be an interesting year.
|
|
|
Post by badgersballers on Apr 2, 2009 21:43:32 GMT -5
I think the Cubs win the division, and probably around 100 games. The Brewers will fall off IMO (no Sabbathia or Sheets). The Cards could be good, but I really like the Reds pitching staff (think it is good enough to compete for the Wild Card). Should be an interesting year. I'm worried honestly, I could easily see us only winning 70 games. A lot of people think we can compete for a Wild Card Spot again, and I don't see it. I like the 1-2(Gallardo, and Parra), but after that I don't know. The Bullpen should be better though I think. The hitting though should be really good. Hart, Fielder(We need to trade him soon), Braun, Hardy, etc. is a pretty good lineup. I don't losing Sheets will really hurt them, Sabbathia kills them though. Opening up in San Francisco though I think could be interesting, I might go to the game though. I heard the Giants Stadium is awesome, I've been to the Oakland one, and it was average at best, so I'm hoping better. We'll see how the young hitters do against Lincecum and Cain though.
|
|
|
Post by BTB07 on Apr 2, 2009 21:46:31 GMT -5
It would be awesome if you could go to that game BB. I have heard good things about the Giants stadium (apparently great food).
You could see a real low scoring game (Galladro vs. Lincecum).
|
|
|
Post by gobigred203 on Apr 5, 2009 20:46:53 GMT -5
I think the Cubs win the division, and probably around 100 games. The Brewers will fall off IMO (no Sabbathia or Sheets). The Cards could be good, but I really like the Reds pitching staff (think it is good enough to compete for the Wild Card). Should be an interesting year. See..the problem is..the Cubs got worse from last year. Jason Marquis was a more important player than most thought (though he wasn't very good). He ate up innings and now that he's gone, Sean Marshall is starting, so when Rich Harden goes down, the Cubs don't really have a pitcher who can step in and pitch at least decently as a starter (Aaron Heilman? Please..). I really didn't like the DeRosa move, even though Miles is almost as versatile and Fontenot looks like he could have a bright future. The Cards are a tricky team to figure...If Chris Carpenter is healthy, they'll be able to take the Wild Card in my opinion. It'll take more than Chris Carpenter obviously, but they have a closer they have confidence in (Jason Motte) and they have perennial MVP Albert Pujols. I really didn't think the Khalil Greene move was all that impressive..but I guess we'll wait and find out. The Reds + Dusty Baker..need I say more? Concerning the Brewers...Yovani Gallardo will be a dominant force in the rotation, so that'll more than make up for the loss of "Mr. DL" Ben Sheets. It's the rest of the pitching that's concerning. The offense will be good again, just the pitching..
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:05:41 GMT -5
1. Cubs 2. Cards 3. Stros 4. Reds 5. Brew Crew 6. Pirates
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:06:31 GMT -5
BTB the thing is the Reds have a great staff but in that ballpark it is just hard to have real consistency on the mound
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:06:47 GMT -5
Goose....sorry
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:08:02 GMT -5
BB the lineup is looking good but with now Sheets, Sabathia, or a good closer I am losing faith in the Brew Crew Bold Prediction though is that Ryan Braun wins MVP
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:09:07 GMT -5
GBR, we all know how I feel about the Cubs but they do have the best team in the Central even though losing Derosa will hurt them
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:09:55 GMT -5
Finally GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:10:23 GMT -5
BTW the Astros lineup can rake
|
|
|
Post by BTB07 on Apr 5, 2009 21:10:55 GMT -5
BTB the thing is the Reds have a great staff but in that ballpark it is just hard to have real consistency on the mound That is an interesting point. I really like the park...but it is far too offensive oriented (the overall park is a nice place to visit is what I mean here). The pitching staff all throws hard stuff with a lot of downward movement (see Cueto and Volquez) which would be prone to producing more grounders. Too bad they passed on a hometown sinker baller several drafts ago (Brandon Webb?!). That park can lure hitters, but they will have to continue to build their pitching from within to be consistently successful IMO. They have to go after a certain 'type' of pitcher to be successful.
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 5, 2009 21:34:25 GMT -5
I would not pursue Eric Milton again
|
|
|
Post by BTB07 on Apr 5, 2009 21:38:46 GMT -5
I would not pursue Eric Milton again Nothing like giving a terrible pitcher 9 mil/year for 3 years... Oh and...
|
|
|
Post by thepruitt21 on Apr 6, 2009 11:52:11 GMT -5
Cards - Larussa knows how to manage. He will put them in position to win. The staff is slightly above average w/o Carpenter. If he returns to form, which so far he looks impressive, look out. They have players who can hit. The Greene move is interesteing. He hit 20 or so bombs in Petco. Imagine what he may hit at Busch.
Cubbies- Pitching is not going to be as good this year. Zambrano his slipped the last few years. I don't know how great they will be hitting either. Lee is not outstanding, Soriano isn't what he once was (injury prone), not a big Aramis Ramirez fan. The only bright side is Soto IMO.
Stros- That offense is amazing. It is hard to go against Berkman and Lee. Plus they got one of the best pitchers in the game in Oswalt.
Brewskies- Their O will keep them in contention. Braun and Feilder are studs. Gallardo is one of the best young arms in the game, but what do you do between his starts?
Reds- They could end up 3rd in this division!! They have great young arms in Volquez and Cuento, and lets not forget that Harang is a guy that eats innings and has pretty good K numbers. the problem is Dusty Baker overworks his pitchers. I love the addition of Hrnandez behind the dish as well. In that band box they call a stadium he is a sure bet for 20+ HRS. Throw in Bruce and Votto and you have a pretty good core of guys.
Bucs- Wow, ummmmmmm..............Nate McLouth is good..........
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2009 12:12:43 GMT -5
Pirates 56-106... seriously... it might even be worse...
|
|
|
Post by gobigred203 on Apr 6, 2009 23:09:33 GMT -5
Cubbies- Pitching is not going to be as good this year. Zambrano his slipped the last few years. I don't know how great they will be hitting either. Lee is not outstanding, Soriano isn't what he once was (injury prone), not a big Aramis Ramirez fan. The only bright side is Soto IMO. Um..you don't like Ramirez because you dislike him or because you don't think he's all that great? Just take a look at the last 6 or 7 years for Am-Ram..
|
|
|
Post by thepruitt21 on Apr 7, 2009 9:13:08 GMT -5
Cubbies- Pitching is not going to be as good this year. Zambrano his slipped the last few years. I don't know how great they will be hitting either. Lee is not outstanding, Soriano isn't what he once was (injury prone), not a big Aramis Ramirez fan. The only bright side is Soto IMO. Um..you don't like Ramirez because you dislike him or because you don't think he's all that great? Just take a look at the last 6 or 7 years for Am-Ram.. Just don't really like him. He is a good offensive player, but his D is aweful! It just always seems like something is wrong with him as far as injuries go.
|
|
|
Post by gobigred203 on Apr 7, 2009 19:30:53 GMT -5
He has actually improved on defense ever since joining the Cubs. His defense got a little worse last year, but otherwise, defense hasn't been Ryan Braun like w/ Am-Ram. He's fair, but not terrible. And yeah..he's had a couple of stingers, but it's not like he's gone for seasons at a time. Also, I consider him a great hitter. He was much more patient last year, and his averages from 2004-2008 look mighty good.
|
|
|
Post by badgersballers on Apr 7, 2009 20:32:23 GMT -5
BB the lineup is looking good but with now Sheets, Sabathia, or a good closer I am losing faith in the Brew Crew Bold Prediction though is that Ryan Braun wins MVP If they finish 5th, he won't win MVP. Pitching will be okay, not great, but will keep them in contention. Parra, and Gallardo are a good 1-2, Suppan is an okay 3. If they find a good 4-5, they'll have a great chance to make the playoffs. CUBS SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 7, 2009 22:04:59 GMT -5
All is right with the world as the Cards defeat the Pirates
|
|
|
Post by badgersballers on Apr 7, 2009 22:32:47 GMT -5
All is right with the world as the Cards defeat the Pirates Tough win there...What happened last night?
|
|
|
Post by gobigred203 on Apr 7, 2009 22:36:29 GMT -5
He has actually improved on defense ever since joining the Cubs. His defense got a little worse last year, but otherwise, defense hasn't been Ryan Braun like w/ Am-Ram. He's fair, but not terrible. And yeah..he's had a couple of stingers, but it's not like he's gone for seasons at a time. Also, I consider him a great hitter. He was much more patient last year, and his averages from 2004-2008 look mighty good. Thanks Am-Ram for being a bonehead and disproving me.
|
|
|
Post by theswan on Apr 7, 2009 23:30:19 GMT -5
Cubs are the favorite, but I think the Reds are going to be really good this season
|
|
|
Post by badgersballers on Apr 9, 2009 20:41:20 GMT -5
Parra pitched horriblely today, and because of it we got our ass kicked. Cain was on though, and even if Parra pitched decently we wouldn't have won. I had us going 1-2 this week so I'm not suprised.
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 9, 2009 20:54:05 GMT -5
Carp was looking good today
|
|
|
Post by okcubsfan on Apr 10, 2009 9:41:50 GMT -5
Too bad Carp can't throw every other day and close games out as well. As a baseball fan, good to see Carpenter finally make it back. As a Cubs fan I hope he loses every game from here on out.
|
|
|
Post by MIZ-SIU on Apr 10, 2009 17:54:15 GMT -5
Oklahoma fan and a Cubs fan. What a horrible combination
|
|
|
Post by badgersballers on Apr 10, 2009 18:50:46 GMT -5
Cubs just blew it in the 9th, hopefully they continue to have closer problems this season.
|
|