2006-12-29 15:18:11 · 20 answers · asked by Michael H 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I wish I could say the Astros, but it's unlikely. They've lost Pettitte and probably Clemens, and their outfield is much weaker thanks to Carlos Lee and the loss of Willy Taveras. Hopefully they can make it up in offense. I still think the Cardinals will pull it off.
2006-12-29 16:53:05 · answer #1 · answered by smeiou78 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Cubs, because of all of the money in this off-season and all of their new additions to the club plus Derek Lee and Ramirez if they both stay healthy should get deep into the playoffs if not into the World Series. The cardinals will do worse than most people think because of them losing a lot of their pitching staff, and Albert Pujols cannot be the entire team. The reds will probably do well because they have a recent history of doing well without lots of big named players. The Brewers will probably come in third or fourth just because the rest of the division had a lot more happen in the off-season (excluding the Pirates). The Pirates will do terrible and are the complete losers of the off-season. They will be last in the division simply because they didn't do anything in the off-season and they were very bad last year and they aren't the type of team to make big trades in the regular season. The Astros will probably come in second. They usually have good pitching and I still expect them to next year even though they lost Pettite. Roger Clemens will most likely do what he did last year only a bigger deal because of the uprising cost of pitching this year. Carlos Lee was a huge addition for them and I could see him having a career year. The astros will probably win the wild card this year and I expect the NL Central to be the best division this year.
2006-12-30 00:58:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Cubs and Astros went out and spent money on another bat, but their rotations are weak (Note to Jim Hendry: Your rotation is Zambrano, Prior for half the year until he hurts himself, Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, and Jason Marquis. I'm so frikkin' scared----NOT!!!!---). The Cardinals will still score runs, and their rotation will be better than the Cubs and 'Stros (Carp, Reyes will be good, Wainwright has crazy good stuff, Kip Wells had a couple good years in the past, now with the Cards' D behind him his ERA should drop., I expect Weaver and/or Mulder to return). Cincy will continue to tease everybody, and is probably the only other real threat in the Central. Milwaukee is going to find out Jeff Suppan isn't an ace/number 2 starter. The Pirates...whatever.
So I think the Central will shape up like this.
1. STL (If they don't get any big name guys next year, they're screwed.)
2. Cincy (They'll tease everyone into September, then come up just short.)
3. Chi Cubs (the pitching will lose them as many games as their offense wins them)
4. Houston (Without the Rocket and Pettite, expect other teams to use that stupid porch in left more.)
5. Milwaukee (They're gonna miss Carlos Lee)
6. Pittsburgh (Duhhhhhhhh...)
2006-12-29 23:34:06 · answer #3 · answered by punkkarrit182 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The only reason I would give the cubs a fighting chance is because the NL Central is so weak. But remember Zambrano is the only consistently good pitcher. Lilly is alright but he is a .500 pitcher. His best season ever was 15-13. So to say the least it will be a toilet bowl battle to see who wins that division.
2006-12-30 19:22:42 · answer #4 · answered by Smooth Move EX-LAX 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cubs, they have a solid lead off man, a great 3, 4 in the line up, and the rest of the line up is not that bad. The pitching is good Carlos, Ted, Mark (he pitched part time in the past 2 years that should be enough rest) and three other good guys to fill 2 spots.
I think the Cards will be in second they have not added enough yet and two people can not win every game especially if one is a pitcher.
2006-12-30 08:30:38 · answer #5 · answered by frogyspond 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
How can you not say the guys that just won the world series. Seriously they've been up there the last however many years (I don't follow them too well) and their team is as solid as its ever been. I don't see how cubs or any of the other competitors have the upper hand. Housten lost pettitte, and the reds just don't have the depth. Cubs had a .407 win% (last in NL) last year i'll just point out.
2006-12-30 02:47:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
the NL Central will once again be won by the St. Louis Cardinals. And i do expect a repeat in the World Series.
2006-12-31 06:30:49 · answer #7 · answered by Jeremy Medlock 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think the Cards will do it again. I think the Cubs will be in the race but I don't see them going anywhere. Just cuz they spent more doesn't mean they are going to win anything.
2006-12-29 23:28:08 · answer #8 · answered by Jeff 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cubs becasue they got some pitching and also some pitching. Cards lost too many players. Marquis to the CUBS!! Mulder will prolly to Indians and they didn't add many players
2007-01-01 14:41:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Cardinals should be the favorite to win the division.The reason why TLR he is a master of the 162 game schedule.
2006-12-30 10:57:16 · answer #10 · answered by Ricky Lee 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋