NL Central thread

[navamind]

Couldn't have asked for a better first game at Wrigley. Would have been cool to see Semien get that 3rd home run, fell just short at the warning track. Wrigley is just an electric place and a gorgeous neighborhood. Such a cool city!

 

[CB3UK]

Chapman's easily a top 5 3rd baseman in the league.

Hmmmm......
Anthony Rendon, DJ Lemahieu, Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant.... those are 5 damn good ones off the top of my head. I like Chapman though for sure.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Hmmmm......
Anthony Rendon, DJ Lemahieu, Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant.... those are 5 damn good ones off the top of my head. I like Chapman though for sure.

You must really selectively watch LeMahieu. Cause 3B is definitely not his normal position.

And he definitely isn’t close to the all around 3B Chapman is

 

[CB3UK]

You must really selectively watch LeMahieu. Cause 3B is definitely not his normal position.

And he definitely isn’t close to the all around 3B Chapman is

Thats fine.

 

[navamind]

Gotta give Cubs fans credit, they still hang around in a blowout. It was 11-0 earlier and it's only now in the 8th they're starting to leave.

 

[navamind]

And I love Lester but it figures the two times I've seen him pitch in person he's gotten absolutely shelled. I was at the Mets game in 2016 where he couldn't make it out of the 2nd inning and Flores went 6-6.

 

[Markwassillylaugher]

I think Bob Nutting is on acid or something after saying the Pirates were still in the race for the Central!

 

[JohnU]

Gotta give Cubs fans credit, they still hang around in a blowout. It was 11-0 earlier and it's only now in the 8th they're starting to leave.

Part of it connects to knowing how that CTA schedule runs. Dumping 30K into that at one time is a nightmare. You sort of figure that out after awhile and know when the hordes are swarming.

 

[JohnU]

I think Bob Nutting is on acid or something after saying the Pirates were still in the race for the Central!

I am in a forum with a lot of otherwise intelligent Reds fans who think they only have to win 62 percent of their games and make the playoffs. Being under .500 in Aug, in 4th place ... it's hard to change people's minds when they get an attiude. The Reds ARE NOT going to the playoffs.

Pitt happily will lose about 90.

 

[BrockForBroglio]

Why have instant replay? Last night and just now the Cards challenged and out call when EVERYONE knew the runner was safe and the call was upheld. I feelthe people in New York don't wat to show up the on field umps. Both were total B.S. Calls.

 

[tomcat1]

For all of you baseball junkies out there, like me, the biggest upset in 15 years took place today in Baltimore. The Astros, with Verlander starting, closed as high as -550 at several Las Vegas sportsbooks and they lost to the Orioles.

 

[tomcat1]

I think Bob Nutting is on acid or something after saying the Pirates were still in the race for the Central!

The Prates were only 2 1/2 games back at the all star break and since then they have had one of the biggest meltdowns I can ever remember.

 

[tomcat1]

Why have instant replay? Last night and just now the Cards challenged and out call when EVERYONE knew the runner was safe and the call was upheld. I feelthe people in New York don't wat to show up the on field umps. Both were total B.S. Calls.

I've never liked instant replay in MLB but I'm all for an electronic strike zone since many umpires who call the balls and strikes seem to be blind.

 

[tomcat1]

I am in a forum with a lot of otherwise intelligent Reds fans who think they only have to win 62 percent of their games and make the playoffs. Being under .500 in Aug, in 4th place ... it's hard to change people's minds when they get an attiude. The Reds ARE NOT going to the playoffs.

Pitt happily will lose about 90.

John, I agree with you that the Reds are not going to the playoffs but they have been competitive this season just like I told you they would be before the season started.

 

[navamind]

what's crazy about the Reds is that the pitching staff has completely exceeded expectations. Castillo is a legitimate stud (though he's still got some command wobbles) and Gray was a great pickup. Roark and DeSclafani are solid 3-4 guys and though Mahle's ERA/record don't look good, he's made improvements. Reds are 4th in the NL in ERA and have a 113 ERA+. The lineup's been pretty disappointing, especially with Votto being a below average hitter (95 OPS+) and Peraza falling off after a solid 2018.

 

[tomcat1]

what's crazy about the Reds is that the pitching staff has completely exceeded expectations. Castillo is a legitimate stud (though he's still got some command wobbles) and Gray was a great pickup. Roark and DeSclafani are solid 3-4 guys and though Mahle's ERA/record don't look good, he's made improvements. Reds are 4th in the NL in ERA and have a 113 ERA+. The lineup's been pretty disappointing, especially with Votto being a below average hitter (95 OPS+) and Peraza falling off after a solid 2018.

Exactly, and pitching is what has made the Reds competitive for most of the season.

 

[Myles]

Cardinals in a battle for the wild card spot and with the Cubs for the division.
I'm hoping Randy Arozarena will spice up the lineup a bit. He hit .349 with Memphis and Springfield this year. 10 HR's and 16 stolen bases.

 

[JohnU]

John, I agree with you that the Reds are not going to the playoffs but they have been competitive this season just like I told you they would be before the season started.

They really aren't as competitive as we thought but most of that is due to poor base running, an inconsistent offense and a whole raft of players who aren't really better than 0-WAR.
Losing Wood for 4 months cost them more than we realized.

 

[tomcat1]

Cardinals in a battle for the wild card spot and with the Cubs for the division.
I'm hoping Randy Arozarena will spice up the lineup a bit. He hit .349 with Memphis and Springfield this year. 10 HR's and 16 stolen bases.

Yes, I hope Arozarena will able to turn his AAA hitting into major league hitting in key spots the rest of the way when given the opportunity.

 

[tomcat1]

They really aren't as competitive as we thought but most of that is due to poor base running, an inconsistent offense and a whole raft of players who aren't really better than 0-WAR.
Losing Wood for 4 months cost them more than we realized.

I still think your Reds are in an uptrend which has got to make you feel better.