Comments on: Predicting the Division http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/ It sounds like porn, but it's all about baseball. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:38:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: KC2HMZ http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5818 KC2HMZ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:40:24 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5818 I don't buy the theory that the NL Central sucks. A team from the NLC has represented the NL in the World Series in each of the past three years, and seven of the last ten teams to play in the NLCS came out of the NLC. I also don't buy the theory that the AL is superior to the NL. The NL has produced as many World Series winners in the past six years as the AL has, three for each league. Um, smartelf, I mentioned Encarnacion in my diary, "Good Enough To Dream" and said one of these years he's going to put up a monster season, and this could be the year. As for him batting cleanup, I'd love to see it. If I were managing the Reds, I'd put Freel and Phillips 1-2, Griffey third, EE fourth, Dunn fifth, Ross sixth, Hatteberg seventh, Gonzalez eighth. That breaks up two lefthanded hitters in a row in the middle of the lineup like we've had with Griffey hitting ahead of Dunn by inserting the righty EE between them, it also gets Dunn out of the cleanup slot where I think he strikes out too often, and puts a guy with some pop behind Dunn in Ross, to make opposing teams pay for all those walks issued to Dunn. RHM: No, I haven't forgotten it was you who started this with your predicted order of finish in the NLC. I think the Astros hurt themselves more by losing pitching than they've helped themselves by gaining offense. I think the Cardinals will slip a bit after winning it all in '06, just enough to let the Reds squeak by this time. I think the Brewers will finish third. The other three teams will all finish below .500 - here's my own guess FWIW: 1. Reds 2. Cardinals 3. Brewers 4. Cubs 5. Astros 6. Pirates HMZ I don’t buy the theory that the NL Central sucks. A team from the NLC has represented the NL in the World Series in each of the past three years, and seven of the last ten teams to play in the NLCS came out of the NLC.

I also don’t buy the theory that the AL is superior to the NL. The NL has produced as many World Series winners in the past six years as the AL has, three for each league.

Um, smartelf, I mentioned Encarnacion in my diary, “Good Enough To Dream” and said one of these years he’s going to put up a monster season, and this could be the year. As for him batting cleanup, I’d love to see it. If I were managing the Reds, I’d put Freel and Phillips 1-2, Griffey third, EE fourth, Dunn fifth, Ross sixth, Hatteberg seventh, Gonzalez eighth. That breaks up two lefthanded hitters in a row in the middle of the lineup like we’ve had with Griffey hitting ahead of Dunn by inserting the righty EE between them, it also gets Dunn out of the cleanup slot where I think he strikes out too often, and puts a guy with some pop behind Dunn in Ross, to make opposing teams pay for all those walks issued to Dunn.

RHM: No, I haven’t forgotten it was you who started this with your predicted order of finish in the NLC. I think the Astros hurt themselves more by losing pitching than they’ve helped themselves by gaining offense. I think the Cardinals will slip a bit after winning it all in ’06, just enough to let the Reds squeak by this time. I think the Brewers will finish third. The other three teams will all finish below .500 – here’s my own guess FWIW:

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

HMZ

]]> By: Zeldink http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5794 Zeldink Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:25:51 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5794 The Pirates, to me, are like the Braves were up until last season. I'm picking them last until they can prove me wrong. Actually, I think they have a better shot at getting out of the cellar this year than last year, but that's thanks more to the unimprovements that the other teams have done than anything Littlefield did. The Pirates, to me, are like the Braves were up until last season. I’m picking them last until they can prove me wrong.

Actually, I think they have a better shot at getting out of the cellar this year than last year, but that’s thanks more to the unimprovements that the other teams have done than anything Littlefield did.

]]> By: BubbaFan http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5786 BubbaFan Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:02:16 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5786 The Reds finished only three games back of the world champions last year. I don't see how anyone can say they (or the division) suck. Methinks the Bucs fans just don't want to put their own team in last place (and who can blame them?) The Cubs have spent like a drunken sailor. All the experts say the Brewers are the team to watch this year. So who does that leave for Pirates fans to look down on? Pre-season predictions are usually embarrassingly wrong, no matter who makes them, so I'm not going to make any. But I do think Krivsky is doing the right thing, given his budget constraints. Pitching and defense is the way to win championships. Just ask the Yankees. More sluggers than most teams can even dream of, but it hasn't gotten them a championship. The Reds finished only three games back of the world champions last year. I don’t see how anyone can say they (or the division) suck.

Methinks the Bucs fans just don’t want to put their own team in last place (and who can blame them?) The Cubs have spent like a drunken sailor. All the experts say the Brewers are the team to watch this year. So who does that leave for Pirates fans to look down on?

Pre-season predictions are usually embarrassingly wrong, no matter who makes them, so I’m not going to make any. But I do think Krivsky is doing the right thing, given his budget constraints. Pitching and defense is the way to win championships. Just ask the Yankees. More sluggers than most teams can even dream of, but it hasn’t gotten them a championship.

]]> By: Red Hot Mama http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5780 Red Hot Mama Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:23:54 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5780 Welcome Matt of WTNY. Pleasure to have you here. I know: can you believe the Cardinals actually WON last year? Maybe it's not just the NLC that sucks... Welcome Matt of WTNY. Pleasure to have you here.

I know: can you believe the Cardinals actually WON last year? Maybe it’s not just the NLC that sucks…

]]> By: WTNY http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5779 WTNY Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:20:53 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5779 "Which touches on why ranking the NLC teams for next season is so difficult: they all suck." Very true. Matt [url=http://tilnextyear.blogspot.com/]Wait 'Til Next Year[/url] “Which touches on why ranking the NLC teams for next season is so difficult: they all suck.”

Very true.

Matt
[url=http://tilnextyear.blogspot.com/]Wait ‘Til Next Year[/url]

]]> By: Red Hot Mama http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5778 Red Hot Mama Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:10:10 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5778 Nicely put, smartelf. I don't know that I'd go so far as to call Lohse "brilliant," but other than that, my sentiments exactly. Daedalus, I was telling a Pirates blogger off-line that the Pirates may well finish ahead of the Cardinals, but I have trouble committing to that in a prediction. I mean, the Cards have ben SO quiet this offseason, you'd think they'll have to realize that they have to do something before the season starts and surprise us with some big move. Not that I can even think of what big moves are left to make. Trading for Dontrelle? Nicely put, smartelf. I don’t know that I’d go so far as to call Lohse “brilliant,” but other than that, my sentiments exactly.

Daedalus, I was telling a Pirates blogger off-line that the Pirates may well finish ahead of the Cardinals, but I have trouble committing to that in a prediction. I mean, the Cards have ben SO quiet this offseason, you’d think they’ll have to realize that they have to do something before the season starts and surprise us with some big move. Not that I can even think of what big moves are left to make. Trading for Dontrelle?

]]> By: smartelf http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5777 smartelf Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:54:50 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5777 Everyone seems to think we get worse with AGON as our SS, which flies in the face of the evidence that he is one of the best if not THE BEST defensive shortstop in baseball. They also seem to say once you get past Arroyo and Harang... well you can't just get past Arroyo and Harang, those are two aces at the top of the rotation that much up with anyone else in the league. Sure the #5 is a question mark, as it is for EVERY team in baseball. #4 Lohse looked solid if not brilliant, so it comes down to Milton at #3, who if healthy will be ok hopefully. The point is two top tier starters is all you can really hope for in today's market, and we have it. The key to the offense which no one has mentioned is young Edwin Encarnacion who will be batting cleanup in all liklihood. If he decides to move to the next level we just might have a great offense. If he struggles we might be in trouble. Everyone seems to think we get worse with AGON as our SS, which flies in the face of the evidence that he is one of the best if not THE BEST defensive shortstop in baseball. They also seem to say once you get past Arroyo and Harang… well you can’t just get past Arroyo and Harang, those are two aces at the top of the rotation that much up with anyone else in the league. Sure the #5 is a question mark, as it is for EVERY team in baseball. #4 Lohse looked solid if not brilliant, so it comes down to Milton at #3, who if healthy will be ok hopefully. The point is two top tier starters is all you can really hope for in today’s market, and we have it.

The key to the offense which no one has mentioned is young Edwin Encarnacion who will be batting cleanup in all liklihood. If he decides to move to the next level we just might have a great offense. If he struggles we might be in trouble.

]]> By: Daedalus http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5776 Daedalus Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:08:12 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5776 I like your rankings. I do think that more than the Cubs, the Brewers should be the team to beat this year, which does not bode well for the Reds, who never do well against the Sausages. But until last year, they hadn't done well against the Asstros, and we wiped them up last year. If Bill Hall would have a Guzman-like year, the Reds could benefit. I would like to see the Pirates finish ahead of the Cardinals. The Pirates have a much better rotation. I mean, the Cardinals have Chris Carpenter and that's it. If it weren't for Pujols, no one would be saying this team is the favorite to win again. Regardless, I don't think the top three teams - maybe four teams - will be separated by that much, just like last year. The Reds are going to surprise everyone again. What's that saying? Fool me once, shame on you, uh, fool me, uh, uh...you can't get fooled again... I like your rankings. I do think that more than the Cubs, the Brewers should be the team to beat this year, which does not bode well for the Reds, who never do well against the Sausages. But until last year, they hadn’t done well against the Asstros, and we wiped them up last year. If Bill Hall would have a Guzman-like year, the Reds could benefit.

I would like to see the Pirates finish ahead of the Cardinals. The Pirates have a much better rotation. I mean, the Cardinals have Chris Carpenter and that’s it. If it weren’t for Pujols, no one would be saying this team is the favorite to win again.

Regardless, I don’t think the top three teams – maybe four teams – will be separated by that much, just like last year. The Reds are going to surprise everyone again. What’s that saying? Fool me once, shame on you, uh, fool me, uh, uh…you can’t get fooled again…

]]> By: Red Hot Mama http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5775 Red Hot Mama Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:52:07 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5775 Welcome, Dave! Always a pleasure to have a new point of view around here. If there's one thing GM Krivsky isn't afraid of, it's making the big moves (though so far none of them have come at the deadline). I'm not sure whether he's just been changing so many things in the first year because he's in a hurry to remold the team in his image, or whether we're always going to be struggling to remember the names of the guys on the 40-man, but either way I think you're right that the moves throughout the season could mean everything to how the division plays out. Welcome, Dave! Always a pleasure to have a new point of view around here.

If there’s one thing GM Krivsky isn’t afraid of, it’s making the big moves (though so far none of them have come at the deadline). I’m not sure whether he’s just been changing so many things in the first year because he’s in a hurry to remold the team in his image, or whether we’re always going to be struggling to remember the names of the guys on the 40-man, but either way I think you’re right that the moves throughout the season could mean everything to how the division plays out.

]]> By: Dave http://www.red-hot-mama.com/2007/02/14/predicting-the-division/comment-page-1/#comment-5774 Dave Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:09:36 +0000 http://www.red-hot-mama.com/wp/?p=365#comment-5774 Just to defend myself a bit in the Round table Discussion, the intro to my rankings was dropped in order to get to the meat of the discussion. Here is what I submitted: [quote]Overall the whole division could be covered by a blanket by the end of the All-Star break. The question is who makes the right moves at the trade deadline. There is no clear front runner and more questions than answers on every team. Any team in the division could win as many as 90, but they could all easily lose that many as well. [/quote] Just to defend myself a bit in the Round table Discussion, the intro to my rankings was dropped in order to get to the meat of the discussion. Here is what I submitted:

[quote]Overall the whole division could be covered by a blanket by the end of the All-Star break. The question is who makes the right moves at the trade deadline. There is no clear front runner and more questions than answers on every team. Any team in the division could win as many as 90, but they could all easily lose that many as well. [/quote]

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