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Post by brewersgm on Feb 17, 2007 13:02:54 GMT -5
Ithink that the Milwaukee Brewers will win the NL central this year.
REASONS
They have one of the best pithing staffs in the NL Central, With ace Ben Sheets, when healthy he can be one of the nastiest pitchers in the game. He had a 2.7 era in 05, and is strikeout to walk ratio is incredable. Chris Capuano was an allstar last year he had a 2.9 era in the 1st half but than struggled in the 2nd half. Jeff Suppan is a VERY good # 3, he has experience as well as the leadership the young pitchers need. # 4 is a very good young pitcher in Dave Bush. MLB.com had him as one of the chances as a breakout in 2007. # 5 is a average pitcher in Vargs but he can be pretty good with former catcher in Arizonia Johnny Estrada catching. Hitting wise they are very good also. Fielder is one of the most young promising players in the big leagues, he ht 27 homeruns in his rookie year, more than Ryan Howard. You have speedster in Rickie Weeks, and J.J> Hardy has some potentiol for SS. Johnny Estrada was an all star catcher a fewyars back and hit .300 last season. Only question is who will play 3B with Koskie still suffering from post concusion syndrome, and will Jenkins rebound in LF? Were will Mench or Clark play? There bullpen is also solid with Closer Fransisco Cordero saving games, and Matt Wise a dependable RP, along with Jose Capellan and Derrick Turnbow. Cubs may have gotten better, but they have always looked good on paper but cant produce on the field. Cardinals have gotten worse, CIN is still very unproven and with a old Griffey. I also think the Brewers will win the N.L. central because there OF is also strong with CF Bill Hall who was just signed to a 4 yr 24 mil deal, and also with RF Corey Hart who has amazing potentiol. Things are on the rise in beer town.
My NL Central Prediction
1. MIL
2. STL
3. CHC
4. HOU
5. CIN
6. PIT
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Post by rockiesgm on Feb 17, 2007 13:07:18 GMT -5
i agree
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Post by Zack Attack Troll on Feb 17, 2007 13:12:09 GMT -5
I agree too, I think the Brewers will win the division, right down to the wire with Cardinals.
Brewers
Cardinals
Astros
Cubs
Pirates (like they're young pitching, they could surprise)
Reds (I think it's a forgone conclusion that they'll have the leagues worst offense)
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Post by cardsfan643 on Feb 17, 2007 13:20:09 GMT -5
Alright... Why the Cardinals will win the Central. ReasonsThey have one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in Carpenter. They have a promising #2 who, under Duncan's coaching, could be a very good pitcher in Kip Wells ( www.thecardinalplayground.blogspot.com/). They have two young promising pitchers in Reyes and Wainwright. Both have the tools and the experience after their World Series runs. They have many options at the #5 slot in the rotation with Looper, Franklin, Thompson, Narveson, and Cate. They have a young catcher with more experience than some 30 year old catchers have. He has arguably the best arm in baseball, and great defensive skills to back it up. They have one of the best players to ever play the game in Albert Pujols. Enough said for him. They have two guys up the middle that provide the intangibles, like hard work and dedication. They worked together to win a WS with the Angels. Those two guys are David Eckstein and Adam Kennedy. They have a Gold Glove winning thirdbasemen, who also happens to be one of the best hitters in the league. They have a promising young leftfielder, with tons of power and hit for a good average last year. They have a veteran Gold Glove winning centerfielder, who isn't too shabby with the stick either. They have a consistent rightfielder, who has above average fielding and pretty good power. They have many options in the bullpen. Isringhausen is expected to come back healthy, and should solidify the bullpen. They have two rising stars that shined in the World Series (Kinney and Johnson). Both have great breaking stuff. Springer, Franklin, and Rincon provide some experience to help out the younger guys. Thompson and Narveson are two young guys that both have MLB experience. They have two solid pitchers in Flores and Hanc*ck. Both stepped it up when it mattered last year. They have one of the best benches in baseball. Bennett almost single-handedly beat the Cubs in an entire series. Spiezio came up with clutch hits all season. Miles filled in at 2B and SS when he was needed. Taguchi provides good defense as a sub late in games. Wilson provides some power and is a potential platoon partner with Duncan. Not to mention they have one of the best coaching staffs in baseball. Tony LaRussa leading the way, the third winningest manager in the history of the game. Two World Series wins, one in each league. They have one of the best pitching coaches in baseball in Duncan. He is known for getting the most out of his pitchers, and has saved many pitchers' careers. I can go on all day if I need to. My point is that the Brewers have a good team, and they will probably get the WC. The Cardinals will most likely win the divison though IMO. |
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Post by brewersgm on Feb 17, 2007 13:23:45 GMT -5
WWO, Kip Wells is good? He is no # 2 and on most teams hes a # 4 or # 5. Other than that ur points are ok. But I thought that was kinda funny.
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Post by cardsfan643 on Feb 17, 2007 13:28:35 GMT -5
That's one point I forgot to go further on. He will be a fine #2 until Mulder comes back in June.
But it's not that ridiculous for him to be considered a #2. As most scouts would tell you, he has top of the rotation stuff. It's all been a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time (Pit and Tex). Also injuries have brought him down throughout his career. The whole reason the Cardinals signed him (and why he took less money to come to STL) is because Duncan's specialty is getting the best out of pitchers coming off of an injury (Matt Morris, Chris Carpenter, Andy Benes, etc...). Like Looper in the #5 spot, Wells will be fine until Mulder comes back.
When Mulder comes back, the rotation will be.
Carpenter
Mulder
Wells
Reyes
Wainwright
That's a very good rotation IMO.
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Post by brewersgm on Feb 17, 2007 13:32:33 GMT -5
Mulder has been hurt all of last year and as far as i know Wainright is a Closer who they are trying to convert into a SP, so how do you know Mulder and Wainright will do good? Wainright is a closer last year and he may not have the endurance a sucesful SP has.
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Post by cardsfan643 on Feb 17, 2007 13:37:48 GMT -5
Wainwright has been a starter his entire career until last year. With so many starting pitchers last year, he was forced into the bullpen. He was our best reliever, so when Izzy went down, Wainwright had to step up and become the closer. He has the stamina to make it through an entire season. He has the physical ability, the composure (as he showed in the playoffs as the closer), and the resources around him (defense behind him, Duncan's help, Carpenter's advice...etc).
Mulder has been hurt, so he had surgery last season. Mulder was once a Cy Young candidate, in the AL. He has had shoulder problems since he came to STL. Like Wells, Duncan will help Mulder back to his true form after he recovers. If he doesn't, the Cardinals have the bullpen and outfield depth to swing a trade for another starting pitcher. Probably Penny or Buerhle if they need to.
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Post by Josh on Feb 17, 2007 14:11:35 GMT -5
I think that it'll be a three-horse race between the Brewers, Cards, and Cubs.
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Post by Fish Troll on Feb 17, 2007 14:51:21 GMT -5
Ithink that the Milwaukee Brewers will win the NL central this year. REASONSThey have one of the best pithing staffs in the NL Central, With ace Ben Sheets, when healthy he can be one of the nastiest pitchers in the game. He had a 2.7 era in 05, and is strikeout to walk ratio is incredable. Chris Capuano was an allstar last year he had a 2.9 era in the 1st half but than struggled in the 2nd half. Jeff Suppan is a VERY good # 3, he has experience as well as the leadership the young pitchers need. # 4 is a very good young pitcher in Dave Bush. MLB.com had him as one of the chances as a breakout in 2007. # 5 is a average pitcher in Vargs but he can be pretty good with former catcher in Arizonia Johnny Estrada catching. Hitting wise they are very good also. Fielder is one of the most young promising players in the big leagues, he ht 27 homeruns in his rookie year, more than Ryan Howard. You have speedster in Rickie Weeks, and J.J> Hardy has some potentiol for SS. Johnny Estrada was an all star catcher a fewyars back and hit .300 last season. Only question is who will play 3B with Koskie still suffering from post concusion syndrome, and will Jenkins rebound in LF? Were will Mench or Clark play? There bullpen is also solid with Closer Fransisco Cordero saving games, and Matt Wise a dependable RP, along with Jose Capellan and Derrick Turnbow. Cubs may have gotten better, but they have always looked good on paper but cant produce on the field. Cardinals have gotten worse, CIN is still very unproven and with a old Griffey. I also think the Brewers will win the N.L. central because there OF is also strong with CF Bill Hall who was just signed to a 4 yr 24 mil deal, and also with RF Corey Hart who has amazing potentiol. Things are on the rise in beer town. My NL Central Prediction 1. MIL 2. STL 3. CHC 4. HOU 5. CIN 6. PIT Lots of if there buddy, no way your going to sniff Division title this year. Cubs improve way more then the Brewers and no way you happen to be better then the WS Champion just by an off-season. The Cards can still play good. |
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Post by seaver41 on Feb 17, 2007 18:30:33 GMT -5
The Cardinals lost a LOT this off-season, most notably their post-season heroes. I think the Brewers have leveled the playing field and matched up to the quality of the Cardinals. I am still going out on a limb and saying the Cubs win the division and lose the NLCS in dramatic fashion.
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Post by Fish Troll on Feb 17, 2007 18:32:42 GMT -5
You mean Weaver? Cards fans could care less.
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Post by cardsfan643 on Feb 17, 2007 19:26:44 GMT -5
It does seem like the Cardinal lost alot. But think about their rotation last year.
Carpenter
Mulder
Suppan
Marquis
Ponson/Reyes/Weaver
Carpenter will be the same.
Mulder isn't coming back until June, so like last year, he'll miss half a season.
Suppan went for the money, but looking at his career stats, Kip Wells has VERY similar stats to Suppans when he became a Cardinal. Wells will be a fine replacement, and only cost the team $4MM.
Weaver was a post-season hero, nothing more. He will get rocked in Seattle. How quickly everyone forgets how terrible he was.
Ponson was a joke.
Reyes and Wainwright have the experience and the tools to do well for an entire season. I expect good things from them.
They aren't losing a good closer, because Izzy doesn't suck. He sucked because he was injured. Now he's healthier, so look for him to be back to his '04 form.
They signed a better 2B. They have more insurance in LF with Wilson and Duncan instead of Bigbie and Taguchi.
This is not the 83 win team of last year. It's better.
Just because they didn't spend ridiculously, it doesn't mean they didn't improve.
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Post by cardsfan643 on Feb 17, 2007 19:27:37 GMT -5
Oh yeah, and the Cardinals don't have to deal with Marquis anymore.
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Post by moofis on Feb 18, 2007 22:51:59 GMT -5
Go Cybermatt and GO BREWERS!
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