Phil Rogers' "bold predictions" and team by team predictions for the NL Central

I thought these were nice reads. So how far off or how close do you think these predictions are?

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95-67 for the Cubs?

That's quite a bold prediction.

Hey, if it happens, I'm all for it. Same for if the Bears go 15-1 next year.

by gjdow on Mar 24, 2008 7:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

If I expect any team in the NL to win 95 games, let alone the Cubs, but hey, Rogers jumped the shark some time ago, so he can predict that rabid bears will devour all the Cubs' opponents, thus enabling the team to go 162-0 and I wouldn't be surprised.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 24, 2008 7:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i think the cubs will win at least 90

i think they should have had 90 wins last year. they had the slow start, the bullpen sucked and they ended up nine games under .500 when they had scored more runs than they allowed. this years team is better and i am positive that by the same point in the season that we will be over .500 by several games not under.

"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic" Crash Davis - Bull Durham

by hoppy91 on Mar 24, 2008 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I could see the Cubs...

...winning 95 games if everything goes well. But, I don't see the top three teams in the division combining for 269 wins. That is a huge stretch.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 24, 2008 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

thats what stood out to me as well..

..hard to win 95 when two of your divsion opponents are going to win 88 and 86. Certainly possible but I would suspect pretty unlikley.

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 24, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

If you have three teams like that in one division -- and two other division winners who might win 90+ -- that means you're going to have to have at least one 100-game loser in the league, maybe two.

I don't see that happening.

But Phil Rogers has never let facts get in the way before; why start now?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 24, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If there is going to be a division like that...

...the '08 NL Central is as likely a candidate as any you'll ever find. If Pujols does shut it down midway through the season, then the Cardinals at least have a shot at that; if the Astros lose Oswalt they're probably a lock to lose at least 90 games. The Pirates are probably going to have a fire sale at the deadline (Huntington has pretty much said just that).

Now, sure, maybe it's not precisely likely. But the rump of this division is awful.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Mar 24, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 24, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Curious,

In order to have a fire sale, heck any kind of sale, don't you need to have merchandise that other people want? Assuming the Pirates plan to keep their young, cheap pitchers who are any good who else would anyone want? Jack Wilson? Blah......

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Mar 24, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Jason Bay can show that last season was a fluke...

...he should have interest at the trade deadline from a team looking for a big bat. Xavier Nady could pick up some interest. Matt Capps, their closer, could be flipped. If a team gets really desperate for starting pitching, they might even find a home for Matt Morris.

And we all know how valuable two-time All-Star second basemen are, so Freddy Sanchez could pick up some interest.

There's some pieces they could deal off.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Mar 24, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In essense...

...the NL Central would go from one of the weakest divsions, to one of the strongest.

I don't think so...

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 24, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you add up all the wins/losses

There are only four more wins than losses in the division.

He's calling it just about an average division.

by gjdow on Mar 24, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dad Said...

... that AM radio guys yesterday (he didn't tell me which station or when) predicted the Cubs to win (as they are today) no more than 88 games. The Brewers would win 90+.

I can't see this, either. Cameron is out for the first 25 games, Sheets will miss time (as he always does), the acquisitions in the 'pen if anything kept pace with their losses. And, if Braun or Fielder get hurt, I think they are dead in the water.

The Reds will be lucky to be a .500 club.

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 24, 2008 10:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs