Who you got to Win the N.L. Central

[Mr KLC]

I think the NL Central is the Brewers for the taking. Pitching was their main Achillis heel. This division was already ripe for the taking.

[Wiggums5]

Reds easily.

[jbrent95]

Houston with that young lineup

[EXhoosier10]

The Brewers aren't trading Prince after the way they bolstered their pitching staff for a run this year.

There are two months left of the season after the trade deadline. If the Brewers are 8 games back in 3rd place by that time, you don't think they'd consider trading him? They have one of the worst farm systems in all of baseball. If they get a good offer to replenish that system, I think they'd definitely consider trading Prince.

Now will it happen? My guess is no. But I've seen worse moves by GM's and a rash decision will completely destroy the Brewers team for the final two months and take away any chance at a late season run. Just something to take into account

[the-phenomenal-1]

who cares

who cares about the nl central all those teams suck the race that is gonna be the most interesting is whoes gonna take first out of yankees red sox tampa bay thats the division to watch

[GOIRISH]

St. Louis would be my pick or reds. Too many team fans in here, no way cubs win, they are a joke along with the pirates

[EaglesPhan36]

Houston Astros .

Reds crack with higher expectations
Cards season goes downhill when Carpenter gets hurt [prediction]
Brewers are the main competition
Cubs are a joke
Pirates are a bigger joke although still my 2nd favorite team

[EXhoosier10]

Eagles, I think you have to be the biggest joke by saying Houston will win. There is a reason they sucked the first half of '10... because they do, in fact, suck.

[Willie Bee]

Hoosier, easy there pardner, EP is my bud. I think he's a bit touched to suggest Houston will win, but stranger things have happened. And remember, the Astros sucked pond water in the first parts of both the 2004 and 2005 seasons, and in the end they did not indeed suck. Stop and think about it for a minute or two.

[milwaukee mike]

who cares about the nl central all those teams suck the race that is gonna be the most interesting is whoes gonna take first out of yankees red sox tampa bay thats the division to watch

"all those teams suck"??

4 legitimate world series contenders - milwaukee, cubs, stlouis, cincinnati

the wild card in the nl "should" come from the nl central

yes, some of us care about something other than the yankees and red sox, imagine that!

[EaglesPhan36]

Eagles, I think you have to be the biggest joke by saying Houston will win. There is a reason they sucked the first half of '10... because they do, in fact, suck.

And there is a reason they could contend in 2011. 40-33 after they dumped their aging vets in the 2nd half and went with a younger, better lineup. If their rotation stays healthy and young players like Wallace & Johnson fulfill their potential ... I would not be surprised if Houston is in contention. F-ing El Caballo needs to have a big year too. This division is void of a runaway winner IMO. On paper, yes the Reds should be the favorite, but on paper the Cubs and Cards should have won last year according to the "experts"

[Pauulzcappin]

"all those teams suck"?? 4 legitimate world series contenders - milwaukee, cubs, stlouis, cincinnati the wild card in the nl "should" come from the nl central yes, some of us care about something other than the yankees and red sox, imagine that!

Cubs world series contenders? No way.

I have a juicy future on the Brewers, hoping they can pull it off.

[mlb]

"all those teams suck"?? 4 legitimate world series contenders - milwaukee, cubs, stlouis, cincinnati the wild card in the nl "should" come from the nl central yes, some of us care about something other than the yankees and red sox, imagine that!

don't think the cubs are SERIOUS contenders but yes you are right, people do care and yes people care about other teams then the Yanks and Sox

[mlb]

I have it like this since the injury:

1. Brewers- great bats still...locked up some pieces long term, others still looking to have big years to get paid... revamped and upgraded pitching staff (top 5 now)
2. Reds- Young talent all over the place, but I really don't know how often lighting strikes twice, they need a lot to go right again to win the division again.. I think the Brewers are more built to beat the Cards, Cubs, Astros and [reds] more times then the Reds are .. just a hunch
3. Cards- I think the Wainright injury is serious and maybe it won't drop them out of contention, but this is serious... they are now relying on old veteran bats and Carpenter essentially to avoid injury for a full season
4. Astros- not getting enough credit I think for what they did second half of last year ... I don't really see how dumping old guys was a necessary bad thing
5. Cubs- good pieces here and there but still too many question marks and need to get rid of guys like z, soriano and ramirez, they have overstayed their welcome, how much motivation and ambition do they have left? they havent shown much in recent years (I think ultimately, Cubs and Astros could be switched around, but I like the Astros to surprise a little.
6. Pirates- I think no matter how much of a mini hot streak they get off too they will fade like always, just don't have the pieces again

[d2bets]

Wide open. Red, Cards, Cubs, Brewers are all contenders. I think it's gonna be a right 4-way race. Just gotta see who steps up. Losing Wainright has to hurt though. I think Reds overperformed last year, don't think they're that good. 83-93 wins for all 4 of those teams.

[mlb]

Wide open. Red, Cards, Cubs, Brewers are all contenders. I think it's gonna be a right 4-way race. Just gotta see who steps up. Losing Wainright has to hurt though. I think Reds overperformed last year, don't think they're that good. 83-93 wins for all 4 of those teams.

both things are key to the brewers winning imo ... although legitimately chasing a title will be relatively uncharted territory for them

[d2bets]

I have it like this since the injury:

1. Brewers- great bats still...locked up some pieces long term, others still looking to have big years to get paid... revamped and upgraded pitching staff (top 5 now)
2. Reds- Young talent all over the place, but I really don't know how often lighting strikes twice, they need a lot to go right again to win the division again.. I think the Brewers are more built to beat the Cards, Cubs, Astros and [reds] more times then the Reds are .. just a hunch
3. Cards- I think the Wainright injury is serious and maybe it won't drop them out of contention, but this is serious... they are now relying on old veteran bats and Carpenter essentially to avoid injury for a full season
4. Astros- not getting enough credit I think for what they did second half of last year ... I don't really see how dumping old guys was a necessary bad thing
5. Cubs- good pieces here and there but still too many question marks and need to get rid of guys like z, soriano and ramirez, they have overstayed their welcome, how much motivation and ambition do they have left? they havent shown much in recent years (I think ultimately, Cubs and Astros could be switched around, but I like the Astros to surprise a little.
6. Pirates- I think no matter how much of a mini hot streak they get off too they will fade like always, just don't have the pieces again

So Astros need to get credit for their second half, but Zambrano has overstayed his welcome? What about his dominating the last 2+ months winning 8 straight?

[mlb]

So Astros need to get credit for their second half, but Zambrano has overstayed his welcome? What about his dominating the last 2+ months winning 8 straight?

you make a good point, but I would counter that you are comparing apples to oranges, the Astros are a whole team going forward with their franchise... Z was a disaster and ticking time bomb last year and very streaky .... oh yeah just like every year and they continue to fail to win ... I would not necessarily count out the Cubs, but I have seem them put stronger teams on the field with less talent coming out of the reds and brewers camps

[d2bets]

both things are key to the brewers winning imo ... although legitimately chasing a title will be relatively uncharted territory for them

I dunno about Milwaukee's offense. Braun is a star and Fielder has power, but I don't see them getting on base enough. Hart is not as good as his last season and they just look weak up the middle to me.

And I don't think Greinke is an ace, and wouldn't trust him. And then that bullpen looks downright scary to me.

[d2bets]

you make a good point, but I would counter that you are comparing apples to oranges, the Astros are a whole team going forward with their franchise... Z was a disaster and ticking time bomb last year and very streaky .... oh yeah just like every year and they continue to fail to win ... I would not necessarily count out the Cubs, but I have seem them put stronger teams on the field with less talent coming out of the reds and brewers camps

Every year? If I'm not mistaken, the Cubs have won 2 of the last 4 NL Central titles. Exactly how many NL Central titles have the Brewers won? The Cubs had a comedically disasterous year last season and the Brewers still only won 2 more games.

The market agrees with you that Milwaukee has a better shot, so there you go, but I dunno, this is just a tough one to predict. Cubs do better with low expectations.

[mlb]

I dunno about Milwaukee's offense. Braun is a star and Fielder has power, but I don't see them getting on base enough. Hart is not as good as his last season and they just look weak up the middle to me. And I don't think Greinke is an ace, and wouldn't trust him. And then that bullpen looks downright scary to me.

4th in runs, 2nd in hits, 2nd in homeruns, 4th in BA, 4th in OBP .... not horrible numbers and I really don't even think they had that good of a season .. Reds were ahead of them in most of those categories, but like you said I think they overachieved ...

either way too hard to really tell anything and predictions are more often then not completely off base

[Regul8er]

Im going to say Milwaukee. Adding Greinke and Marcum is going to result in a lot more quality innings. It's wide open.....and I wouldn't be surprised to see anyone except Pittsburgh win it after 162 games.

[Herky]

Cardinals are always the team to beat. Sometimes it happens. Tough loss for them with one of top 3 pitchers in game going down. Brewers much improved.

[Bcatswin]

Say it again, REDS!!!!!

[donkdown]

Suckos get in with a 500 record.. mark it down!!

[BeatingBaseball]

I have Milwaukee winning NL Central over the Reds.

It all starts with the rotation starters and the Brewers now have the overall best and deepest in the division.

Brewers also have a potent lineup that should score runs in bunches.

Main questions for them will be:
(1) the bullpen - esp closer Axford must hold up
(2) the rookie manager Ron Roenicke.

Axford saved 24 last year and seems fairly reliable.
Also think Roenicke will be OK. They have some guys who can run and he figures to be a lot more aggressive with his running game than was Macha. They should be fun to watch.

[cant call it]

I dont see a bet out for NL central right now

5D has al east, al west , al central
nl east, nl west
what gives?


Who do you guys think win these other divisions?
I cant keep up with baseball.