NL Central Chat 2008

[AndyC0803]

The real question here is in what kind of spectacular and soul crushing fashion will the Cubs blow it?

[Rusty27]

haha! I'm sure it will be a cliff hanger scenario as the time draws near.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Originally Posted by AndyC0803

The real question here is in what kind of spectacular and soul crushing fashion will the Cubs blow it?

they very well could blow it but it certainly helps their cause that they are

1st in Runs
1st in RBIS
2nd in BA (1st NL)
1st OBP
3rd Slugging (2nd NL)
2nd OPS (1st NL)

Too go along with the
6th best ERA (3rd in NL)

Last year in the hitting categories we were consistantly hitting about #18 in the Major League last year in the standings this year they are toward the top half.

The Cubs could very well blow it but don't get too angry if they blow it in the playoffs after the win the division.

[ssigman]

why are you not around between football and baseball season?

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Originally Posted by ssigman

why are you not around between football and baseball season?

Lot to do man, started college last year so that was a new experience had a lot of shit to do, football there was no point because I couldn't talk about the Chiefs or the Huskers they both sucked last year haha. I just hadn't been around for awhile mostly because of starting college, jeez SSIGS GET OFF MY CASE MAN! haha

[AndyC0803]

So as of today, 06/02, the Cubs are in first place in the division. Their record of 36-21 is in fact the best record in MLB. The Cubs spent a lot of money in the off-season to build a winner with a payroll of over 124 Million, according to CBSSports.com

The Cards are in second place in the division, sporting a 34-24 record, good enough to be 2.5 games behind the hated North Siders. The Cards have a bunch of no name scrubs on their pitching staff and a ton of young guys playing significant innings. Their payroll this year is about 98 million but keep in mind that includes 17 Million in Carpenter and Mulder, both of whom are on the DL.

So, what does this mean? Obviously the Cards are beating expectations. Will it last? Can the Cubs keep it up and have they bought themselves a long awaited pennant or even a World Series? If the Cubs DO win will they be more or less annoying than the Red Sox fans were when they won? QUESTIONS!

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

I don't know if the way they are playing will last but the last time they had the best record to start the month of June 1908 , I can always dream, I don't think the Cardinals will keep up their play as well as they have. They have over achieved with some of their players but getting Carpenter and Mulder back will also help the Cards. I think the race is going to come down to the Cardinals and the Cubs. I think the Astros pitching is not good enough and is going to fall off, I think the Cardinals pitching will fall off some, but then Mulder and Carpenter will revive that somewhat.

The Brewers in my opinion are going to make a little push post all star game but then fall off again and drop to 5th behind the Cincinnati Reds.

My Predicted finish of how the teams are playing as of now.
Cubs
Cards
Astros
Reds
Brewers
Pirates

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Cubs and Cards continue to stay on fire.

Cubs 45-25
Cards 42-29 3.5 back
Brewers 39-33 8.5 back
Pirates 34-36 11.0 back
Astros 33-37 12.0 back
Reds 33-38 12.5 back

Will the Cubs are Cardinals falter? I'm not sure The cardinals staff showed signs of vulnerability against the phillies the other day giving up 20 runs I believe, that isn't always going to happen and I think the Cardinals will stay in the hunt whenever mulder and carpenter get back.

The Cubs lost Soriano for 6-8 weeks but showed no signs of faltering in the Cubs case. They had won 1 total road series and that was against the Padres. They proceeded to beat the Bluejays twice after losing game 1 of the 3 game set.

The go on to take on a very young, good, and ready to make a post season finally,
Rays team. I see the Rays taking 2 of 3 from the Cubs with throwing 2 of their top pitchers, Kazmir game 1 and Shields game 3.

Kazmir is matched up with a hot pitching Ryan Dempster so it could go either way if they get to the Ray ace as they got to Roy Halladay for the Bluejays. Game 3 I think is a Rays win for sure with Sean Gallagher opposing James Shields. I think the Cubs take game 2 with Zambrano on the mound although sonnastine has showed great signs of being a good pitcher.

Hopefully I will still be posting about a lead come the All Star Break but we'll have to see, with Houston faltering completely i think the race at the end of the year will be between the Cubs and Cards.

The Cubs and Cards IMO are going to push each other through out the season and slowly keep pulling away from the Brewers, by early to mid August I see it being a two team race in the NL Central and IMO whoever loses the Central will get the wild card.

[AndyC0803]

It would be the first time in a while that the NL "Comedy" Central sent two teams to the playoffs.

I'm actually very shcoked that the Cards are still performing well. This could be one of LaRussa's best managing jobs ever.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

I have a great deal of respect for LaRussa with the way he manages in 2006 when they won the wS? He defnitely did not have the most talented team but he got the job done, this year he is obviously getting his guys to play better than what I expected and what most expected them to do, but hey thats just one up for you guys Andy and I just hope the Cubs keep the pace their at so you guys get the WC thats fine with me haha

[AndyC0803]

I was working at a charity golf tournament all day yesterday and got to spend most of my time hanging out with Whitey Herzog, manager of the Cards in the 80s. To say it was awesome would be an understatement.