2006-12-15 02:12:58 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
They definitely have a good shot, though their pitching has thinned a bit. Two things are working against them, however. First of all, the NL Central's other teams have bulked up during the offseason. The Astros have added both solid pitching and a good bat to compliment Oswalt, Berkman, and Biggio. The Brewers have been slowly building their team for some time now and will most likely surprise a lot of folks this year. The Reds and Cubs, though still not ready for contention, are getting better. The Pirates will be a sleeper team this year, but I think that they'll be spoilers when it comes down to who wins the NL Central and who might win the Wild Card. Secondly, the Cards will have to get through either the Mets, Padres, or Nats to make it to the big game again.
2006-12-15 02:45:07 · answer #1 · answered by kenrayf 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not without rounding out their pitching staff they don't. Right now a staff of Carpenter, Wells, Reyes, Wainwright and ????? doesn't seem overly intimidating.
The Cards barely squeaked into the playoffs last year, but their pitching proved incredible when it counted, the question is with most of that pitching departed can the Cards even win their own division?
The Cubs are completely reloaded on offense and on the mound.
The Astros have added the one thing they've lacked in recent years, another big bat.
The Reds made a strong push last season and appear to have a rotation that will include ubber-prospect Homer Bailey.
The Brew-Crew is about one starter and a proven lead-off hitter away from contention.
Even the Pirates made huge strides late last season, if things click from opening day they could make a dark horse run at the Wild Card in the ridiculously weak NL.
I'm not going to rule anything out, because anything can happen in baseball and that's a big part of why I love the game, but right now I'd say it doesn't look too good for a repeat.
2006-12-15 02:20:57 · answer #2 · answered by tkatt00 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, if they signed Adam Kennedy, who played for the Red Birds up until being traded for Jim Edmonds, that's a great move by the Front Office to bring him back. Also, it's a plus that Kennedy played with WS MVP David Eckstein in LA on the Angels.
However, I do think that if the Cards don't resign Jeff Weaver, I'll have to bet on the Cubs or the Astros going into the playoffs. I say the Cubs for the reason being that they signed Jason Marquis to a multi-year deal, signed Alfonzo Soriano to some huge bucks, and a whole lot more.
I say that the Astros can give us a run for our money b/c we pretty much lost most of the season series to them, even in the new ball park
2006-12-16 16:30:42 · answer #3 · answered by XXX 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No unless they all of a sudden robbed a bank recently. This goes for every team really. When the Cubs paid a fortune for Ted Lilly (1 game above 500) then we all lose. Lilly makes more this year than Johan Santana which makes no sense. That Soriano contract will kill the Cubs in the long run.
2006-12-15 04:36:13 · answer #4 · answered by berta44 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They will definately win their division - that is guarenteed.
The Cubs are the only team that will give them a run in the Central Division, but I hate to say it, but they are the Cubs and even though they have what it takes on paper, they always find a way to blow it. The Astros lost too much pitching.
Than they will kick it into high gear in the playoffs and World Series and beat the Twins 4 games to 3 as sweet revenge going back to the 1987 series.
2006-12-15 04:38:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think the Cards will not be a World Championship team this year without some better pitching. Carpenter, basically carried this team on his back last year on the pitching staff. Without a FEW good performances from the other starters, they probally would not even had made it to the NLCS.
I think with Zito on the market now, they should spend the money to go out and get him. Then, I think it would be their's to lose.
2006-12-15 02:32:07 · answer #6 · answered by fields_john_a 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As a Cardinals fan, I think probably not. However, I do believe that they have what it takes to make the playoffs, and as our boys showed this year, that is all that matters. Once your in, you've got a chance.
2006-12-15 03:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by pdigoe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, because look where they finished last year. The Phillies had a better record than the Cards did. And the Phillies got better. Watch out for the Phillies this year! Go Phillies!
2006-12-15 15:47:44 · answer #8 · answered by Tommy R 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
nope
they barely got in last season to the playoffs
the CUBS jumped into the driver seat in the Central now
2006-12-15 02:32:33 · answer #9 · answered by buddy_z34 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think we will go again. We just need to up our pitching a little bit. GO CARDS!
2006-12-15 02:42:06 · answer #10 · answered by Mimi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋