What will be the order of finish of the NL Central this year?

Answer 1

Cards- go to the World Series
Cubs- Wild Card
Brewers
Reds
Astros
Pirates

Answer 2

Before spring training, I said the Brewers would win this division, but seeing how the Cards questionable pitching performed I'm not quite so sure. I still think the Brewers have a shot of being this year's Tigers. They have a ton of young talent and probably the best pitching staff in the division if not the NL. Still it is hard to go against a team that has a Cy Young (Carpenter) and MVP (Pujols) on the same team.

1. Cardinals
2. Brewers
3. Astros (when Clemens returns)
4. Cubs
5. Reds
6. Pirates

If Clemens doesn't come back to Houston, they will drop behind the Cubs.

Answer 3

1. Cardinals - The September roster won't look like the April roster unless all the pieces are already in place to win the division again.
2. Brewers - Pitching wins games, and Milwaukee is the only team in the division who (for now) has a good 1-through-5 rotation.
3. Astros - Even if Clemens were to choose Houston, he won't make a difference in the final standings, but he definitely won't be back unless the team could make the postseason without him. Look for the Red Sox or Yankees to employ him in June.
4. Cubs - Again, pitching wins games. This time, the adage works against the team I'm talking about. Beyond Z, who do these guys have? Injury risks, overpaid free agents, and the gutless wonder (Rich Hill, for those of you who were wondering).
5. Pirates - Wishful thinking on my part, but they're inching back into contention with the acquisition of Adam LaRoche. In baseball's weakest division, a bat like his could be the difference in a few games, and I'm hoping that's enough to put Pittsburgh ahead of...
6. Reds - Their once-vaunted offense is now a strikeout king (Dunn), a star-crossed star of the past (Griffey), a talented youngster who would've preferred to play for Ohio's other team (Phillips), a drunk (Freel), Edwin Encarnacion, a revolving door behind the plate (but Ross is the only halfway-decent offensive option of the bunch), and easy outs in LF and SS because they sent Kearns and Lopez to Washington last season. As for the pitching, Harang's the only sure thing. NL hitters could, and probably should, figure out Arroyo this season, the rest of the rotation is filled with castoffs from teams who have improved themselves since getting rid of these dead weights, and don't get me started on this atrocious bullpen. Outside of Coffey, who should be their closer but will be working innings 6 through 8, they got nothing (and even if they acquire Benitez from the Giants, that will still be the case until Eddie Gordito returns).

Answer 4

Too many guys are playing up the Cubs, and downplaying the Brewers:
1) St. Louis - it seems like every year they are on top. They will battle Milwaukee all year.
2) Milwaukee - one look at their starting pitching and there is no way you can pick them at the bottom.
3) Houston - Who cares about Clemens. They will compete because they can hit the ball far in that little stadium.
4) Chicago - the pitching staff - scares no one. The offense - no small ball ability without Pierre there. Softball score games.
5) Cincinnati - might be ahead of Chicago. They have to forget about Griffey. He is done.
6) Pittsburgh - No luck for these guys. Maybe they can move to the AL West.

Answer 5

1 Cards:Albert Pujols
2 Reds:Adam Dunn
3 Cubs: Alfonso Soriano
4 Astros:Carlos Lee
5 Brewers:Bill Hall
6:Pirates:Jason Bay

Answer 6

1. Cardinals
2. Reds
3. Astros
4. Brewers
5. Cubs
6. Pirates

Answer 7

1. Cards - i didn't think so at the beginning of the year, but their starters have been very surprising this spring!

2. Cubs - they spent a lot, but they wont get a lot...or at least not that much. their starting pitchers leave something to be desired.

3. Astros - clemens isn't coming back people, and the astros just aren't that good. i like berkman and carlos lee, but with lidge you never know what you are going to get anymore...too bad, because he used to be good!

4. Reds - adam dunn cant do it by himself...and do you really expect harang and arroyo to duplicate last years totals?

5. Brewers - a lot of young talent, but the perennial cellar-dwellers will be there again this year.

6. Pirates - like the reds...one person cannot do it himself - jason bay is good, but not that good!

Answer 8

1. Astros
2. Brewers
3. Cardinals
4. Reds
5. Cubs
6. Pirates

Brewers are going to surprise as I think the pitching staff is highly underated and overlooked and watch Sheets big comback this year. I think the Cubs are going to disappoint this year due to their pitching. All of this is just MY opinion.

Answer 9

1. Cubs
2. Cards
3. Reds
4. Astros
5. Brewers
6. Pirates

Also someone a couple put Astros #3 and Houston #5...they are the same team.

Answer 10

1. Brewers
2. Cardinals
3. Astros
4. Cubs
5. Reds
6. Pirates

Can't beat that Brewers' pitching staff.