Sunday, April 01, 2007
NL Central Preview
Welcome to Home of the worst World Series champion ever, your 2006 St. Louis Cardinals. According to the Clarion’s Pops, one of the all time baseball encyclopedias of his day, they fight for the honor with the 1969 Mets. (Incidentally, dear old Dad insists the ‘69 Mets are still the worst, he has certain anti-New York issues.) The ‘69 Mets won 100 games, and were led by Tom Terrific Seaver in perhaps his best season. If the playoffs hadn’t been diluted to NHL levels there is no possible way the Cards, the team with the 13th best record could have backed-in despite losing seven of their last ten games. The 2006 Cards were a collection of aging journeymen, plus, Albert Pujlos and the formerly great defensive outfielder known as Jim Edmonds. (*please note even though this link is sick, it doesn't have any footage of Edmonds very best defensive work with the Angels...also be patient with it, it starts slow.)
The division is putrid, and will once again have no teams that deserve to make the playoffs, but the hope hear is somebody more interesting than the Cardinals breaks through. The Cards mediocre starting pitching got worse when they failed to replace three-fifths of last year’s rotation. Bradon Looper? Please, Looper, who couldn’t hack it as a reliever has 572 appearances and zero starts.
The popular pick has been the Milwaukee Brewers. The Clarion sort of likes the everyday line-up, but who in it knocks your socks off? Historical record says Milwaukee's pitching will get hurt. (sorry Ben Sheets rotisserie owners.) The Brew Crew haven’t been this likable or this well regarded since the days of Harvey’s Wallbangers, when they were led by future Hall of Famers, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, ably supported by the underrated Cecil Cooper and everybody’s picture of a beer maker, Gorman Thomas.
The Chicago Cubs blew a ton of money($300 million) on? A 40 homer second baseman to play centerfield and hit lead-off, even though he strikes out a lot? And that was their most logical signing? Too bad they didn’t spend this way before they burned out the arms of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Was this a vain attempt to increase the teams value because the Tribune was up for sale? No less wacky theories made any more sense.
The Clarion is rooting for the Cincinnati Reds or the Pittsburgh Pirates. Which team has more pitching? Says here the Reds. Aaron Harang quietly tied for the NL league lead in wins last year, and led the league in strikeouts and shutouts. Broson Arroyo has serious eggs. If the Reds get a big year out of either Eric Milton or Kyle Lohse they will sneak away with this lousy division.
After all who else can? They are staring down the barrel of 14 consecutive losing seasons in Pittsburgh, and they are counting on Adam LaRoche as their clean-up hitter? Who misses, Pops, Willie Stargell?
Why can’t the Houston Astros score runs? Who knows, but they can't and the rotation will miss Pettitte, even though Woody Williams is a solid number three starter. The division could still be swayed by the return of Rocket Roger Clemens to the ‘stros in June. The Cubs can’t buy the Rocket. Rather, the Clarion sees the Yanks using the dough they saved on Soriano this winter to bring in Clemens mid-season.
NL CENTRAL
1. Cincinnati Reds
over/under 74 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
over/under 86 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
3. Chicago Cubs
over/under 84.5 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
4. Houston Astros
over/under 78 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
over/under 72.5 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
6. Milwaukee Brewers
over/under 83 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
The division is putrid, and will once again have no teams that deserve to make the playoffs, but the hope hear is somebody more interesting than the Cardinals breaks through. The Cards mediocre starting pitching got worse when they failed to replace three-fifths of last year’s rotation. Bradon Looper? Please, Looper, who couldn’t hack it as a reliever has 572 appearances and zero starts.
The popular pick has been the Milwaukee Brewers. The Clarion sort of likes the everyday line-up, but who in it knocks your socks off? Historical record says Milwaukee's pitching will get hurt. (sorry Ben Sheets rotisserie owners.) The Brew Crew haven’t been this likable or this well regarded since the days of Harvey’s Wallbangers, when they were led by future Hall of Famers, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, ably supported by the underrated Cecil Cooper and everybody’s picture of a beer maker, Gorman Thomas.
The Chicago Cubs blew a ton of money($300 million) on? A 40 homer second baseman to play centerfield and hit lead-off, even though he strikes out a lot? And that was their most logical signing? Too bad they didn’t spend this way before they burned out the arms of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Was this a vain attempt to increase the teams value because the Tribune was up for sale? No less wacky theories made any more sense.
The Clarion is rooting for the Cincinnati Reds or the Pittsburgh Pirates. Which team has more pitching? Says here the Reds. Aaron Harang quietly tied for the NL league lead in wins last year, and led the league in strikeouts and shutouts. Broson Arroyo has serious eggs. If the Reds get a big year out of either Eric Milton or Kyle Lohse they will sneak away with this lousy division.
After all who else can? They are staring down the barrel of 14 consecutive losing seasons in Pittsburgh, and they are counting on Adam LaRoche as their clean-up hitter? Who misses, Pops, Willie Stargell?
Why can’t the Houston Astros score runs? Who knows, but they can't and the rotation will miss Pettitte, even though Woody Williams is a solid number three starter. The division could still be swayed by the return of Rocket Roger Clemens to the ‘stros in June. The Cubs can’t buy the Rocket. Rather, the Clarion sees the Yanks using the dough they saved on Soriano this winter to bring in Clemens mid-season.
NL CENTRAL
1. Cincinnati Reds
over/under 74 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
over/under 86 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
3. Chicago Cubs
over/under 84.5 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
4. Houston Astros
over/under 78 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
over/under 72.5 wins
The Clarion takes the Over.
6. Milwaukee Brewers
over/under 83 wins
The Clarion takes the Under.
Labels: baseball, Predictions, sports
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