2017 NL CENTRAL DISCUSSION

[scoutyjones2]

I think it's because the Cards don't have anything above average talent, but some exceptional pitching...not including the bully

 

[Clayton]

Well, this team just fell off the cliff again.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

Get fucking rekt Cardinals lmao.

 

[packerzrule]

Pirates on a pretty good tear as of late

 

[thedddd]

Pirates on a pretty good tear as of late

Two blown saves in two games.

Does any team need a left handed reliever that is past his prime as a closer or a CF in the same boat?

 

[JohnU]

Get fucking rekt Cardinals lmao.

Whoa, easy on the trash talk. It's a very long season.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

Whoa, easy on the trash talk. It's a very long season.

Lol my bad. But man it feels good.

 

[thedddd]

The only tradeable talent on the Pirates is blowing any chance of getting out of Pittsburgh. Geez 7 runs against tonight.

 

[Clayton]

I guess the Cardinals do have a home field advantage. They just needed to lose 7 in a row on the road for that to show up.


First 12 games: 3-9
Next 24 games: 18-6
Next 22 games: 5-17

Its not hard to see another hot streak coming on to finish out June above .500 just due to having a bunch of games against the Phillies but its also not difficult to see Matheny getting fired at the end of the year, too.

 

[packerzrule]

if the Brewers had a decent BP they would be 15 games over .500

 

[JohnU]

if the Brewers had a decent BP they would be 15 games over .500

Bullpen is the easiest thing to build. You just find 60 guys who can throw 99 mph, sign them cheap and keep going through the list until you find some that are fearless.

 

[Clayton]

Bullpen is the easiest thing to build. You just find 60 guys who can throw 99 mph, sign them cheap and keep going through the list until you find some that are fearless.

It seems like its the hardest thing to sustain, though.

I swear every time I hear something like 'and now they're going to the lefty on lefty specialist' in a major clutch situation regardless of team that guy ends up giving up a clutch hit and then leaves in shame. Maybe its just confirmation bias but it never feels like it.

Specifically with the Cardinals, I think they've already blown more 2 run leads this year than the entire season last year. Some of that isn't relief pitching, though, but late inning 'magic' is just something that never seems to last.


edit - nevermind, just noticed you were being sarcastic. carry on

 

[JohnU]

edit - nevermind, just noticed you were being sarcastic. carry on

k

Well I was sort of making folly of the process but I think a lot of teams are over-zealous in finding bullpen "pieces" that aren't useful. In theory, anybody should be able to get three hitters out. Some of this is mental preparation, some of it is analytics. In any event, spending too much on bullpens is goofy. Developing young guys in the system will do just as much.

 

[Clayton]

k

Well I was sort of making folly of the process but I think a lot of teams are over-zealous in finding bullpen "pieces" that aren't useful. In theory, anybody should be able to get three hitters out. Some of this is mental preparation, some of it is analytics. In any event, spending too much on bullpens is goofy. Developing young guys in the system will do just as much.

In theory the bullpen is somewhat of a low priority but as a fan a bad bullpen is maybe the 2nd hardest thing to watch behind bad defense.

Hard to imagine that this division is going to send a team to the playoffs. This is not at all how I thought the division was going to go

 

[JohnU]

Hard to imagine that this division is going to send a team to the playoffs. This is not at all how I thought the division was going to go

Nobody said you have to be great, just first.

 

[Clayton]

Its weird to see the Cardinals as the least clutch team in baseball but here we are.

Lost 10 out of 11 in division. Its time to start thinking about selling here shortly. No power in the bats and no ability to win late.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Its weird to see the Cardinals as the least clutch team in baseball but here we are.

Lost 10 out of 11 in division. Its time to start thinking about selling here shortly. No power in the bats and no ability to win late.

Who would be untouchable right now for the Cardinals? Selling high on Lance Lynn seems to be an obvious move to make.

 

[Clayton]

Who would be untouchable right now for the Cardinals? Selling high on Lance Lynn seems to be an obvious move to make.

Lance Lynn is probably the most likely piece to move. You could make an argument for Wong and Matt Carpenter but I think the Cardinals might value them more than other teams. Those are the 3 names I'd guess.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Lance Lynn is probably the most likely piece to move. You could make an argument for Wong and Matt Carpenter but I think the Cardinals might value them more than other teams. Those are the 3 names I'd guess.

I can see Carpenter being someone they move and they could get a decent amount in return. Given his contract and track record. You know more than me, but Wong seems to be someone they'll want to keep long term.

 

[Clayton]

I can see Carpenter being someone they move and they could get a decent amount in return. Given his contract and track record. You know more than me, but Wong seems to be someone they'll want to keep long term.

Honestly, I'm not really sure. Some of the moves the Cardinals have made the past few years are not ones I would've ever wanted them to do.

They basically dumped Matt Adams earlier in the season and got a super minor prospect so I suspect that the Cardinals thought they were going to be buyers here but the team just isnt performing at all in close games. The fact that the Cardinals need more power in their lineup makes that move look even sillier.

I personally don't think they get rid of Carpenter or Wong but if someone wanted them badly enough they could get them. Lynn, though, is probably gone unless things turn around here but I've seen all I need to out of this year's team.