2017 NL CENTRAL DISCUSSION

[Ickey Shuffle]

The damaged has already been done from that losing streak. But I'm still more enthusiastic about this Reds team in a long time.

We just gotta get a pitching rotation together. Luis Castillo is making his debut on Friday. That's a start.

 

[Clayton]

Man, Cardinals just gave that game away

 

[JohnU]

The Reds will probably take a hard look at what's left of their ambition if Homer Bailey is truly as lame as he appeared on Saturday. They might hope he pitches well enough to be traded for salary relief. He isn't going to anchor a rebuild, and neither will Desclafani -- if he EVER pitches again.

 

[thedddd]

A very under the radar move but claiming Vogt just might help keep the Brewers around all season. Not for his offense or subpar framing but for his leadership.

 

[packerzrule]

A very under the radar move but claiming Vogt just might help keep the Brewers around all season. Not for his offense or subpar framing but for his leadership.

would be nice

just didn't like the disruption of the good chemistry between Bandy and Pina

 

[Skerpokes]

Note to self: Throwing your star pitcher under the bus to the media after allowing 7 stolen bases in one game is not good for job security

 

[VikingFan2k2]

Note to self: Throwing your star pitcher under the bus to the media after allowing 7 stolen bases in one game is not good for job security

Star pitcher? Have you watched him much this year? I've followed him significantly because he's on my fantasy team and he's been very mediocre.

I'm not saying Montero was right to do it, he wasn't and he deserved to get run for it. But if Jake keeps pitching like this, the Cubs won't be bringing him back either.

 

[Skerpokes]

Star pitcher? Have you watched him much this year? I've followed him significantly because he's on my fantasy team and he's been very mediocre.

I'm not saying Montero was right to do it, he wasn't and he deserved to get run for it. But if Jake keeps pitching like this, the Cubs won't be bringing him back either.

Honestly, no. I haven't watched any of him this year because I can't stand the Cubs

 

[JohnU]

The Cubs are living proof that you don't win championships based on statistics from a year ago.
As it looks, I'd wager the Cardinals emerge in the NL-C mainly because their pitching IS more predictable.
All they need is for Carpenter to start hitting.

 

[Clayton]

The Cubs are living proof that you don't win championships based on statistics from a year ago.
As it looks, I'd wager the Cardinals emerge in the NL-C mainly because their pitching IS more predictable.
All they need is for Carpenter to start hitting.

While I'd say you are correct with any normal Cardinals team from the past...15 years or so...this Cardinals team is completely without identity and would need to find a way to win 60% of their games from here on out I'd imagine. A lot of their hitting numbers from last year were unsustainable (apparently) and this team hasn't gotten any better defensively and in some ways are getting worse with all of the young guys they are rotating in. This is a typical step back year where the league catches up to the young hitters and now the young hitters have to fully adjust to the league and a lot of them aren't. Add that to the GM and coaches completely botching the Matt Adams situation and its likely a bridge too far unless they start gelling in all of the small ways that are needed to win games.

That said....somebody has to win the division. Still probably the Cubs but I wouldn't rule anyone out

 

[soxfan1468927]

The Cubs are living proof that you don't win championships based on statistics from a year ago.
As it looks, I'd wager the Cardinals emerge in the NL-C mainly because their pitching IS more predictable.
All they need is for Carpenter to start hitting.

The Cubs are a game out of first in the division. Even if they win the division with a mediocre record (85-88 wins), it wouldn't be the first time that an NL Central team got in to the playoffs because the division sucked, and then won the World Series.

 

[JohnU]

I agree that the Cubs still have the most talent in the division and if their pitching doesn't completely fold up, they could win 90 games. That said, it's not the team we were expecting. But yeah, a team with 80-some wins can win the pennant. We all know the history on that.
Cubs are fortunate to be in a division that's generally either in rebuild or teardown.
I think I am more surprised that it happened so quickly.

 

[Clayton]

The big stat right now is that the Cubs are winning in division games at the highest clip.

Reds and Pirates are middle of the pack. Cardinals and Pirates can't win in the NLC.

 

[JohnU]

Reds and Pirates are middle of the pack. Cardinals and Pirates can't win in the NLC.

Just watched the 3-game set between Reds and Brewers. I think the Reds are looking at a lot of 7-game losing streaks from here to the end of the year. My god, Kevin fucking Shackleford? Seriously?

 

[The Derski]

Watching the Brewers-Marlins game. Poor Stanton was about to catch a ball at the warning track that probably wasn't going to go out, ball goes in the webbing of his glove and flips over the wall for a two run homer. Now the wheels have fallen off for Miami. 50+ pitch inning and 6 runs.

 

[LambeauLegs]

All this talk and not much mention of the Brewers. They have been fun to watch and have been in first place for over the last 40 days.

 

[JohnU]

All this talk and not much mention of the Brewers. They have been fun to watch and have been in first place for over the last 40 days.

You are more than welcome to mention the Brewers if you want.

 

[navamind]

All this talk and not much mention of the Brewers. They have been fun to watch and have been in first place for over the last 40 days.

Nelson and Anderson have been pleasant surprises this year. Sucks Anderson went down, it's probably my fault. I've had like 10 starting pitchers go down in fantasy this year (Jon Gray, McCullers, Kluber, Eduardo Rodriguez...)

 

[packerzrule]

Go Brewers

 

[Clayton]

Brewers with almost the same ERA as the Cardinals and they are hitting 34% more Home Runs. One of those 2 stats needs to change.

I might actually be rooting for the Yankees this weekend. Homers. Homers everywhere in that series.