NL Central Chat 2008

[AndyC0803]

Well, the Cards lost again today, dropping two of three to the Phillies after dropping two of three to the Cubs.

I hate to say it, but I think this is probably the beginning of the Cards falling back to where their talent level is; a .500 team. And you know what, I'm would not really be that upset if it happened. Like I said, my expectations for the season were pretty low and right now the Cards are basically "playing with house money" in my book.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Originally Posted by AndyC0803

Well, the Cards lost again today, dropping two of three to the Phillies after dropping two of three to the Cubs.

I hate to say it, but I think this is probably the beginning of the Cards falling back to where their talent level is; a .500 team. And you know what, I'm would not really be that upset if it happened. Like I said, my expectations for the season were pretty low and right now the Cards are basically "playing with house money" in my book.

I don't know if there has been much talk, I thought I heard something about the Cards don't plan on making any moves because they got Mulder back (now hurt again) how serious is it andy jw?

Then they get wainwright back soon I believe and Carpenter in mid august or something along those lines I thnk?

I think they still have a legitimate shot at the WC you have to remember you still have 8 games left with the Pirates and 6 games left with the (Dusty Baker) Reds.

I don't think the Brewers are all that great honestly. I mean they have a good 1 2 punch in sheets and sabathia now, but there is no way Dave Bush is going to keep up his some of his ridiculous outings, some of the Brewers starters will start falling off like some of the Cards have done recently.

I hope the Cubs don't collapse but whenever i think they won't I still have to remember they are the Cubs.

I see the Cubs winning the division though and the Cards taking the WC by 1-2 games. The 2nd series back from the All Star break is going to be extremely huge for the Cubs, Cards, and Brewers.

If the Brewers take 3 of 4 from the Cards, and the Cubs do the same vs the Marlins I believe, it could put the Cards in a really big hole, the same goes for if the Cards take 3 of 4 from the Brewers. That is going to be a big series because it could give a big burst of momentum to whoever wins that series, the best thing both teams can hope for is a split because they know it doesn't hurt all that much losing only 1 game compared to 2 or 3 games on the leader.

That being said I'd much rather have the Cardinals take the WC because I used to hate the Cards but their hate has dropped off a little bit and taken 3rd place to the 1st place White sox and now new 2nd place team I hate the most the Brewers.

[AndyC0803]

All very vaid points. It's probably too early for me to make assumptions, especially when we still have Wainwright and Carpenter set to return, as you mentioned.

As for Mulder, I think we have seen him thrown his last pitch.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Originally Posted by AndyC0803

All very vaid points. It's probably too early for me to make assumptions, especially when we still have Wainwright and Carpenter set to return, as you mentioned.

As for Mulder, I think we have seen him thrown his last pitch.

And now he'll turn into some godly HR hitting outfielder that would help you having 2 of those guys.... Ankiel

The only thing I wonder about Ankiel though, is how the hell can he throw strikes to the plate from upwards of 250+ feet but he couldn't throw a strike from the mound, it just leaves me baffled and pisses me off when it happens to Cubs.

[AndyC0803]

I think it's obvious that Ankiel's pitching problems were largely mental. He got thrown in there before he was ready for the pressure and we all saw the results.

Anyway, the Cards won two of three from the Pirates heading into the All-Star break. It could have been a sweep had the Cards bullpen not melted down on Saturday night. Just an embarassing and horrible loss.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Andy is this anywhere close to the expectations you had of this team?

Did you every think that if the NL Central leader was 19 over .500 that you would be 4.5 back at the All Star Break?

[AndyC0803]

Originally Posted by HUSKERSnCUBS

Andy is this anywhere close to the expectations you had of this team?

Did you every think that if the NL Central leader was 19 over .500 that you would be 4.5 back at the All Star Break?

Not at all. Like I said before, my expectations of the Cardinals were pretty low. I didn't think the Cubs would be as successful either though. Honestly, I'm still kind of confused by their success, I see the Cubs' roster and aside from Lee, no one really jumps out to me as an outstanding player. Of course, one could look at the Cards' roster and say the same thing, just substitute Pujols for Lee.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

Originally Posted by AndyC0803

Not at all. Like I said before, my expectations of the Cardinals were pretty low. I didn't think the Cubs would be as successful either though. Honestly, I'm still kind of confused by their success, I see the Cubs' roster and aside from Lee, no one really jumps out to me as an outstanding player. Of course, one could look at the Cards' roster and say the same thing, just substitute Pujols for Lee.

Well for the Cubs you do have Aramis who may not always be consistent but when he is on one of his hot streaks, he looks like one of the best in the game, but when he goes cold, he also looks like one of the worst.

Soriano is about the same as Aramis, for instance when he hit 3 homers last year against the Braves in 3 at bats and 5 total pitches he looked absolutely flawless, then you get him striking out every other at bat.

I never would have thought the Cubs would be 19 over .500 but I think because of the Cardinals playing so well they both pushed each other, then the Brewers got into the act coming up on the ASB and made the push even stronger. If the Cubs were running away with the division and the Cards and Brewers were playing about 2 or 3 games above .500 I could almost guarantee the Cubs would probably only be about 10 over .500 right now, but when there are teams pushing you for the lead, you tend to play better baseball just my opinion though.

[HUSKERSnCUBS]

And the Cubs begin to piss me off early in the 2nd half.

Losing 2.5 games of their 4.5 game lead to the Cards

by losing their first two games to the astros, great pitchers I might had Moehler and Wandy Rodriguez, when Carlos Zambrano is your only bit of offense from a 11 hits with his Solo Homerun your team needs to get into gear or the Cards and Brewers are going to watch you fade to 3rd in the division.

Thank you please hit with runners on base, that is all.

[AndyC0803]

Sunday was a big day for the Redbirds. They were able to come back yet again on the Padres to complete the 4-game sweep and now they are only 2 games back.

That walk off grand slam was pretty awesome.

[Rusty27]

Go Cards! I want to see Pinella implode in the worst way.