Has the NL Central Just Become REALLY competitive?

by cubsonWGN4ever on Apr 10, 2008 12:39 AM CDT

I was watching baseball tonight and the Reds are apparently living up to the preseason hype as a potential surprise team. Corey Patterson has hit 4 Homeruns in the first week of the season and is hitting .323. Cueto delivered an excellent pitching performance yesterday.

Put that together with the Brewers potent offense and you have a 3 horse race. The Cards are having early season success and even though I can't see that lasting, the Cards have never been a team to give up.

The astros have a moderately dangerous lineup with Tejada involved. The only team in the NL Central that I can't see contending are the pittsburgh pirates but they've just taken us to TWO EXTRA INNING GAMES.

What I'm thinking is while the cubs absolutely do have talent to keep pace with the rest of the NL Central, several people have to raise their game tremendously if we want to be a dominant force. Otherwise we could have another NL Central free for all. The NL Central is no longer a joke, in my opinion. Seems like parity has risen overall in all of baseball this year.

Thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Competitive at the moment....

I agree. But I can't see this division being too close. I have a feeling the Cardinals are going to slip with lack of a proven rotation.... same with the astros. I think the division is going to be between the Cubs and Brewers with the Reds barely knocking on the door.

Who knows though.

The Time Is Now. [Chicago Cubs, '08]

by EJThunder on Apr 10, 2008 1:05 AM CDT 0 recs

I Agree With You...

... what we've seen so far this year is like runners in a marathon for the first mile. They are all bunched up, look great, feel like they can take on the world.

It thins out pretty quickly... as I think this year will show. Give it 50-75 games, and you'll see who's where.

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

by initram on Apr 10, 2008 7:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

Wait until everyone plays outside the Division

Sure all the teams look pretty good when they're playing each other and the likes of the Nationals but wait until we've had a look at how all the teams fair against the Mets, Phillies, Rockies, etc. I think you will start to see separation then and I think the first team to show it's flaws will be the Reds.

by LerxstCub on Apr 10, 2008 1:41 AM CDT 0 recs

NL Central

this time a year ago

Brewers, 5-4(83-79)
Cardinals, 5-4(78-84)
Reds, 5-4(72-90)
Pirates, 4-5(68-94)
Cubs, 3-5(85-77)
Astros, 3-5(73-89)

Cardinals, 7-2
Brewers, 6-2
Cubs, 5-3
Reds, 5-4
Pirates, 3-5
Astros, 3-7

So the Cardinals are 2 games better, Brewers are 1.5 games better. While the Cubs are also two games better then they were last year. So it's not a big difference from last year.

The Brewers will have some ups and downs once Suppan drops off, Sheets gets hurt and the league catches up to Parra and Villanueva a little bit. I do think the division is going to be tough though, the Brewers will be right there all year. The Reds will be there if Cueto keeps pitching well all year, but I think the Cardinals will drop off pretty soon. Their starting pitching isn't good and those starters are going to drop off in their next few starts.

by cubsfan25 on Apr 10, 2008 1:46 AM CDT 0 recs

Let's see what this all looks like

in a month or so, think we'll have a better picture then

"The Cubs can't be stopped" -- Me

by lilkimmer77 on Apr 10, 2008 6:35 AM CDT 0 recs

Yep.

Teams are playing well now, but in general it's too early to tell. (And the Pirates and Astros look pretty bad.)

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

by Al on Apr 10, 2008 6:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

Let's wait

until the Central has faced the East and West divisions, then we'll know. Remember our dismall record against the East a few seasons ago?

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Apr 10, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Astros

They're better than their record, and they have a very potent lineup 1-5, but after Tejada it kinda sucks. Same thing with the pitching after Backe.

I'll take a wait and see approach on the Reds. They are definitely better, but every year they get out to a good start and then every year they fade.

by dr stabbingworth on Apr 10, 2008 8:23 AM CDT 0 recs

I feel like

you can't say the Astros will compete simply b/c they have a good lineup. Their AL counterparts always have a potent offense w/o any pitching. The Astros have Oswalt (who has sucked it up so far) and that's it!

The Astros can't really compete with the top of the division w/o a miracle. They need their bullpen to pitch like it did in 2004 and 2005, and, honestly, they need Clemens and Pettitte back..

ZAMBRANO!

by KChiCubs on Apr 10, 2008 8:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

im rooting for corey

i love it that corey is doing well, it was idiotic that we traded him for peanuts and signed jacque jones for millions when we could have payed patterson a fraction of the cost to play a much better right field.

Aramis 5 BB - 2 K, he's come close before, I'd love to see a season from a Cubs player with more walks than strikeouts.

by kylejo on Apr 10, 2008 8:45 AM CDT 0 recs

i just threw up in my mouth

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up 1 recs

A better right field?

Here's the sum total of all games Patterson has played in RF in the major leagues: 1.

He switched to RF for the last three innings of this game on July 24, 2001, as the Cubs were leading 10-0 after six innings.

That's it. He's not suited to play major league RF, then, now, or ever.

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

by Al on Apr 10, 2008 10:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Or

We can just refer to what the kid did on the field which was nothing, COUNTING THE MINOR LEAGUES. Corey was annoited because he was gifted athletically and mostly with freakish speed and dominating in high school.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 10:23 AM CDT up 0 recs

im not saying he's an all star

but he sure as hell is better than jacque jones, defensively, and offensively.

Aramis 5 BB - 2 K, he's come close before, I'd love to see a season from a Cubs player with more walks than strikeouts.

by kylejo on Apr 11, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

If youd like me to bring up stats I will

but offensively Jacque has been more successful. UNBELIEVABLY

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 11, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

what?

patterson is a good center fielder with a good arm, please explain to me how those skills would not translate to right field?

Aramis 5 BB - 2 K, he's come close before, I'd love to see a season from a Cubs player with more walks than strikeouts.

by kylejo on Apr 11, 2008 9:31 AM CDT up 0 recs

He's been a bargain for Cincy so far...

He's no leadoff hitter, but if he OPS's .850, he'll prove his worth. Right now it's great to have him on my fantasy team, just as long as he doesn't show up against the Cubs.

Hector Villanueva's Career Stolen Bases: 1

by IowaCubs- on Apr 10, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'll let you know...

...in about 40-50 games how good the division is, or isn't.

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

by MPH73 on Apr 10, 2008 8:56 AM CDT 0 recs

What is it about the Cardinals

that always scares me? On paper they seem to be only a few steps from a rebuilding team-everybody seemed to count them out from the start-but here they are leading the division.
I also can't see them hanging in for the long term but LaRussa, love him or hate him, always seems to get his teams in contention.
As for Corey Patterson-he had his good streaks (not too many) with the Cubs too. He also had his brutal ones. Let's wait until the end of the season before we decide he's suddenly started to live up to the hype.

by bluekoolaide on Apr 10, 2008 9:20 AM CDT 0 recs

I agree..

It seems no matter how bad the Turds are on paper, they alwas seem to get off to a good start. Why can't the Cubs do that?

Wood for closer.

by wicubfan on Apr 10, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

Last year...

... the finish was more important than the start.

The 1969 Cubs started 11-1. We all know how that wound up.

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

by Al on Apr 10, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

Just sayin..

It'd be nice to get early confidence and excitement rather than alwas playing catch up.

Wood for closer.

by wicubfan on Apr 10, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

Seems competitive

Only because we're playing each other right now and pretty bad teams (Brewers/Giants).

Wait until our division starts playing Phillies,Mets, Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Rockies. While I think the Cubs can win most series against them most of the other teams in the division cannot.

That will separate us from the rest and the division I don't think will seem as competitive.

by ak123 on Apr 10, 2008 9:32 AM CDT 0 recs

I honestly

Always took offense to when people refer to us as the "weak" division in baseball because not only are we the biggest division in baseball (6 teams) we have also represented the NL in the World Series 3 out of the past 10 years which I think is more than any other division.

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 10, 2008 9:53 AM CDT 0 recs

When it takes only 85 wins to finish atop the division, that doesn't say alot about the quality of the division.

In this case size really does not matter. It just means that there's 6 teams in the crappy to above average range. As to divisional representation in the WS since 1998:
AL East 7
AL Central 1
AL West 1
NL East 3
NL Central 3
NL West 3

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 10, 2008 10:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

Don't assume 85 wins will win the Central this year.

We don't know that yet.

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

by Al on Apr 10, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Cubs are on pace for 101 wins

Wont happen but not in my life have they won 90 withouth and extra game added at the end of the year.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

HAVENT won 90

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

You're younger than 19?

Because they won 93 games in 1989.

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

by Al on Apr 10, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

Whooops

I dont have time but insert the picture of Homer saying DOH here.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

Al

When I met you I was wearing a hat...needless to say I wear a hat normally to cover my shame. When I was 19 Id wear the hat but because I always did, now I feel as if I have no choice.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 10, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Was only referring to last year's required win total

While it's likely the Cubs or Brewers will improve enough to surpass that total, the division as a whole is still pretty craptacular. The two Western divisions, though, could give the NL Central a run for its money.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 10, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not following the math.

Assuming you are right(3 out or 10 years) and there are only 3 NL divisions. Would that mean a different Division has had at least 4 years?

by gx4 on Apr 10, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

"3 out of the past 10 years"

That can't be the most. One division must have had more than 3 to add up to ten. The West has had 4 teams go to WS and the East 3 teams

by PirateDan on Apr 10, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ok lets say the last 5 years then :)

in the last 5 years then we have represented the NL 3 times....thats sounds more convincing doesn't it.... :)

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 10, 2008 10:13 AM CDT 0 recs

health

will be they key like always. unless sheets has a miraculous stay healthy b/c its a contract year season, he wont be around for long. the brewers have no pen at all that i can see. there sp is already in shambles. the astros suck,the cards suck. the reds is what i'm most worried about. they might not win the division but i think they will decide who does.

Go Cubbies Go!!!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Apr 10, 2008 11:00 AM CDT 0 recs

check your facts

the AL central has represented the AL atleast twice since 1998 because the cardinals beat the tigers in '06 and the white sox won in '04

by roywood3432 on Apr 10, 2008 1:38 PM CDT 0 recs

Thanks for the correction, was doing off the top of my head

NL West should also be 4.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Apr 10, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

division good enough..

we all know that the Cubs and Brewers should be in contention late.. who knows about the rest but do you all think the Cubs and Brewers will both get playoff spots? Or another battle to the end with only one?

by bizzle4 on Apr 10, 2008 2:55 PM CDT 0 recs

Cueto

When anyone else hears his name, do they think of the character from total recall?

by holmerica on Apr 10, 2008 3:01 PM CDT 0 recs

That Picture Is Hilarious!

Thats what I thought of when I heard his name!

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 10, 2008 9:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wasn't is Quatto?

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Apr 11, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

I believe the NL Central

is much tougher than most call it out to be. But that doesnt help my argument with Sox fans cause theyre too stubborn to hear me out...

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on Apr 10, 2008 3:07 PM CDT 0 recs

Thats Because

They need to say that they play in the tougher division so they can make an excuse for their team's crappy play

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 10, 2008 9:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

THANK YOU!

I appreciate it! For real. I have been party’in for hours. This is huge! Danica wins. Its big time for me. As big as a Cubs WSW would be. Its that serious. I appreciate your thanks. GO CUBS!!

"Stay thirsty my friend's....."

by Keystone80435 on Apr 20, 2008 1:21 AM CDT 0 recs