Who Will Win The NL Central?

Who Will Win The NL Central

  • Chicago

    Votes: 12 37.5%
  • Cincinnati

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Houston

    Votes: 3 9.4%
  • Milwaukee

    Votes: 2 6.3%
  • Pittsburgh (they are only 8 out)

    Votes: 6 18.8%
  • St. Louis

    Votes: 9 28.1%

  • Total voters
    32
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It is also worth noting that Jack may be a UFA next year. So for 5 prospects the Mariners got a rent-a-player that is on the downside of his career and a RHP that asked the Pirates to send him to AAA because he could not take the pressure of MLB.

This is why I don't engage in such discussions often.... there's always an answer when obviously hyperbolic statements (e.g. "Pirates GM gets away with Armed Robbery") are made :p
 
I'm still waiting to see the results (in a few years). I hate to be cynical about the Bucs and I hope to be proved wrong. Either way, I'll be a fan for life, as will most of their fans, so they know they are safe to do whatever they want.
 
Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce to you the first place Cubs?!?!

For those that are lifelong fans like me, this news at the end of July often conjures up sickening feelings. Now a huge home series looms against Fred's Astros, who are just 2 back and lead-off with 10-win, 2.72 ERA Wandy in the opener!

On a side note, I have contacted the Cubs' front office and asked for them to put Rich Harden in a hyperbolic chamber until the end of August, to prevent yet another trip to the DL.

Well, I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.

What about that DeRosa HR? Bye, bye Dodgers!

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Brother, I have already enjoyed it. See, I am a Cubs fan, remember? The whole fleeting-taste-of-success thing comes with the territory. I fully realize that it is only late-July and there is plenty of time for them to fold up like a chair and finish 10 back. Seen that movie too many times.

That said, I love our starting pitching (my obligatory 'Cubs--hope springs eternal statement')...
 
We can take solace in this fact Jessi. That for the first time in 17 years the Bucs are actually interested in rebuilding. It has been a half-way covenant between rebuilding and doing just enough to break .500 for the last 15 years. Finally we have an ownership (remember Bob Nutting did not become controlling owner till September of 2007) that is willing to spend money (see the massive new Dominican facility and Pedro Alvarez and soon to be Pirate, Miguel Sano) and is dedicated to doing the right baseball moves to put us in a place to compete. Because let us be honest, the Bucs will never be the Yankees or Red Sox. We can only hope to be Oakland or Cleveland in terms of regular success.
 
We can take solace in this fact Jessi. That for the first time in 17 years the Bucs are actually interested in rebuilding. It has been a half-way covenant between rebuilding and doing just enough to break .500 for the last 15 years. Finally we have an ownership (remember Bob Nutting did not become controlling owner till September of 2007) that is willing to spend money (see the massive new Dominican facility and Pedro Alvarez and soon to be Pirate, Miguel Sano) and is dedicated to doing the right baseball moves to put us in a place to compete. Because let us be honest, the Bucs will never be the Yankees or Red Sox. We can only hope to be Oakland or Cleveland in terms of regular success.

Well even better now.

We got San Francisco's 4th-best prospect, Tim Alderson.

The Giants paid a big price for Sanchez in surrendering Alderson, who was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the San Francisco organization entering this season. Alderson, 20, is 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds. He has a 7-2 record and a 3.65 ERA in two minor league stops this season.

Freddy Sanchez's knee hold up possible trade between Pirates and Giants - ESPN
 
We can take solace in this fact Jessi. That for the first time in 17 years the Bucs are actually interested in rebuilding. It has been a half-way covenant between rebuilding and doing just enough to break .500 for the last 15 years. Finally we have an ownership (remember Bob Nutting did not become controlling owner till September of 2007) that is willing to spend money (see the massive new Dominican facility and Pedro Alvarez and soon to be Pirate, Miguel Sano) and is dedicated to doing the right baseball moves to put us in a place to compete. Because let us be honest, the Bucs will never be the Yankees or Red Sox. We can only hope to be Oakland or Cleveland in terms of regular success.

Well even better now.

We got San Francisco's 4th-best prospect, Tim Alderson.

The Giants paid a big price for Sanchez in surrendering Alderson, who was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the San Francisco organization entering this season. Alderson, 20, is 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds. He has a 7-2 record and a 3.65 ERA in two minor league stops this season.

Freddy Sanchez's knee hold up possible trade between Pirates and Giants - ESPN

But as soon as Alderson has a 16 win season he will be traded for prospects as well. In order to rebuild you have to at some point actually pay players.
 
We can take solace in this fact Jessi. That for the first time in 17 years the Bucs are actually interested in rebuilding. It has been a half-way covenant between rebuilding and doing just enough to break .500 for the last 15 years. Finally we have an ownership (remember Bob Nutting did not become controlling owner till September of 2007) that is willing to spend money (see the massive new Dominican facility and Pedro Alvarez and soon to be Pirate, Miguel Sano) and is dedicated to doing the right baseball moves to put us in a place to compete. Because let us be honest, the Bucs will never be the Yankees or Red Sox. We can only hope to be Oakland or Cleveland in terms of regular success.

Well even better now.

We got San Francisco's 4th-best prospect, Tim Alderson.

The Giants paid a big price for Sanchez in surrendering Alderson, who was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the San Francisco organization entering this season. Alderson, 20, is 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds. He has a 7-2 record and a 3.65 ERA in two minor league stops this season.

Freddy Sanchez's knee hold up possible trade between Pirates and Giants - ESPN

But as soon as Alderson has a 16 win season he will be traded for prospects as well. In order to rebuild you have to at some point actually pay players.

Who have the Pirates had that is actually worth paying in the last 17 years?

Even more to the point is the fact what good does it do to lock up complimentary players? You cannot win with no pitching and a team full of #6, #7, and #8 hitters. Look where Nate McLouth and Jason Bay are batting in their respective lineups (both are hitting at .260). The Red Sox valued Adam LaRoche so much they traded him away a week after receiving him from the Pirates for a guy who they thought would be a better bench player.

Like I have noted before do not pay any attention to the National Media. They think Bob Nutting has been in charge for the whole 17 years when in fact he has only been principal owner since Oct. of 2007 and has spent money where it counts, in Latin America, Asia, and in the Draft. Places the previous management team refused to spend money. Take a look at the Strasburg fiasco in D.C. The Pirates ponied up the money for a Scott Boras client a year ago when they signed Pedro Alvarez for #1 money for a #5 pick. Previous regimes tried to win on the cheap and doing it by signing over the hill Vets like Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to fill in the gaps.

It cannot be overstated how bad the Pirates Farm System was prior to the present GM, Owner, and CEO coming to power. Buster Olney said back in 2007 when they took over that there were only six prospects in the entire farm system that had a shot at being even role players in the Majors. Neil Huntington has taken our farm system from being the worst in all of MLB to being a Top 10 system in less than two years.

Things are finally looking up in Bucco land.
 
I personally never understood why MLB tolerates 6 teams in the NL Central. I would think it'd at least be protested by the 6 themselves since it makes it that much tougher to compete for the postseason.

Some years ago Milwaukee came over from the AL and I didn't exactly get that either. Seems they need to go back to the AL Central. Kansas City could then be shipped off to fill the shallow end of the pool (AL West) and everything would be fairly symmetrical with each division having 5 teams.

But at this rate with baseball it'll likely take an act of Congress....

-----Added 7/31/2009 at 09:49:43 EST-----

BTW, I vote Cubbies this year.

I'm sorry Ivan. Truly, I am. :(
 
Well even better now.

We got San Francisco's 4th-best prospect, Tim Alderson.



Freddy Sanchez's knee hold up possible trade between Pirates and Giants - ESPN

But as soon as Alderson has a 16 win season he will be traded for prospects as well. In order to rebuild you have to at some point actually pay players.

Who have the Pirates had that is actually worth paying in the last 17 years?

Even more to the point is the fact what good does it do to lock up complimentary players? You cannot win with no pitching and a team full of #6, #7, and #8 hitters. Look where Nate McLouth and Jason Bay are batting in their respective lineups (both are hitting at .260). The Red Sox valued Adam LaRoche so much they traded him away a week after receiving him from the Pirates for a guy who they thought would be a better bench player.

Like I have noted before do not pay any attention to the National Media. They think Bob Nutting has been in charge for the whole 17 years when in fact he has only been principal owner since Oct. of 2007 and has spent money where it counts, in Latin America, Asia, and in the Draft. Places the previous management team refused to spend money. Take a look at the Strasburg fiasco in D.C. The Pirates ponied up the money for a Scott Boras client a year ago when they signed Pedro Alvarez for #1 money for a #5 pick. Previous regimes tried to win on the cheap and doing it by signing over the hill Vets like Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to fill in the gaps.

It cannot be overstated how bad the Pirates Farm System was prior to the present GM, Owner, and CEO coming to power. Buster Olney said back in 2007 when they took over that there were only six prospects in the entire farm system that had a shot at being even role players in the Majors. Neil Huntington has taken our farm system from being the worst in all of MLB to being a Top 10 system in less than two years.

Things are finally looking up in Bucco land.

Jason Bay has struggled with strikeouts but he leads the Sox in HRs and RBIs. Give the guy some credit. And McLouth has more hits, HRs, RBIs and 2Bs than Chipper Jones. Both of them are more than 'complimentary' players.
 
As a suffering Met fan I am giving up on the season and rooting for women's left-handed LaCrosse.
 
I think the Cardinals. I read the book Three Nights in August about Tony La Russa and the Cardinals and their series against the Cubs so I now like the Cardinals better. Before that I would have probably chosen the Cubs :p

With that said I'm a Jays and Mets fan :D

jaymets.jpg
 
St. Louis Cardinals 57 49 .538 --
Chicago Cubs 54 47 .535 0.5

I love this stuff!

Amen, brother. I just cannot figure out how the Cards ended up with 5 games in hand at the end of July. This one is going to come down to the wire. I still would not count out Houston (though they have hit a rough patch) at this point.
 
But as soon as Alderson has a 16 win season he will be traded for prospects as well. In order to rebuild you have to at some point actually pay players.

Who have the Pirates had that is actually worth paying in the last 17 years?

Even more to the point is the fact what good does it do to lock up complimentary players? You cannot win with no pitching and a team full of #6, #7, and #8 hitters. Look where Nate McLouth and Jason Bay are batting in their respective lineups (both are hitting at .260). The Red Sox valued Adam LaRoche so much they traded him away a week after receiving him from the Pirates for a guy who they thought would be a better bench player.

Like I have noted before do not pay any attention to the National Media. They think Bob Nutting has been in charge for the whole 17 years when in fact he has only been principal owner since Oct. of 2007 and has spent money where it counts, in Latin America, Asia, and in the Draft. Places the previous management team refused to spend money. Take a look at the Strasburg fiasco in D.C. The Pirates ponied up the money for a Scott Boras client a year ago when they signed Pedro Alvarez for #1 money for a #5 pick. Previous regimes tried to win on the cheap and doing it by signing over the hill Vets like Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to fill in the gaps.

It cannot be overstated how bad the Pirates Farm System was prior to the present GM, Owner, and CEO coming to power. Buster Olney said back in 2007 when they took over that there were only six prospects in the entire farm system that had a shot at being even role players in the Majors. Neil Huntington has taken our farm system from being the worst in all of MLB to being a Top 10 system in less than two years.

Things are finally looking up in Bucco land.

Jason Bay has struggled with strikeouts but he leads the Sox in HRs and RBIs. Give the guy some credit. And McLouth has more hits, HRs, RBIs and 2Bs than Chipper Jones. Both of them are more than 'complimentary' players.

I'm pretty sure it was Jim Rome who was talking about the Bucs the other day and couldn't see much sense in what was going on. He said, "Well, maybe we'll see something good come out of there in 2011, at the earliest. Maybe." I totally agree with him, except would be very surprised by a 2011 showing. I do hope to be wrong.
 
But as soon as Alderson has a 16 win season he will be traded for prospects as well. In order to rebuild you have to at some point actually pay players.

Who have the Pirates had that is actually worth paying in the last 17 years?

Even more to the point is the fact what good does it do to lock up complimentary players? You cannot win with no pitching and a team full of #6, #7, and #8 hitters. Look where Nate McLouth and Jason Bay are batting in their respective lineups (both are hitting at .260). The Red Sox valued Adam LaRoche so much they traded him away a week after receiving him from the Pirates for a guy who they thought would be a better bench player.

Like I have noted before do not pay any attention to the National Media. They think Bob Nutting has been in charge for the whole 17 years when in fact he has only been principal owner since Oct. of 2007 and has spent money where it counts, in Latin America, Asia, and in the Draft. Places the previous management team refused to spend money. Take a look at the Strasburg fiasco in D.C. The Pirates ponied up the money for a Scott Boras client a year ago when they signed Pedro Alvarez for #1 money for a #5 pick. Previous regimes tried to win on the cheap and doing it by signing over the hill Vets like Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to fill in the gaps.

It cannot be overstated how bad the Pirates Farm System was prior to the present GM, Owner, and CEO coming to power. Buster Olney said back in 2007 when they took over that there were only six prospects in the entire farm system that had a shot at being even role players in the Majors. Neil Huntington has taken our farm system from being the worst in all of MLB to being a Top 10 system in less than two years.

Things are finally looking up in Bucco land.

Jason Bay has struggled with strikeouts but he leads the Sox in HRs and RBIs. Give the guy some credit. And McLouth has more hits, HRs, RBIs and 2Bs than Chipper Jones. Both of them are more than 'complimentary' players.

Jason Bay and Nate McLouth are being protected in much better lineups. Jason Bay is batting 5th behind David Ortiz and in front of Mike Lowell. Jason Bay was also a defensive liability in LF in PNC Park.

Just as an aside how many division titles were Jason Bay and Nate McLouth going to win in Pittsburgh?

The answer is Zero. We lost with them, we can lose without them. The point is that Pittsburgh's farm system was completely desolate with legitimate prospects or even role players. This is something the National Media just flat out does not understand. The only way a team in Pittsburgh's situation is going to win and do so on a regular basis is to have a strong minor league system. We finally have an owner and CEO plus a smart GM that is committed to doing things the right way and that means not merely dumping salary (cf: Jason Kendall, Aramis Ramirez, etc...) but actually getting something for players and selling at the right time (cf: Nate McLouth, Xavier Nady, Freddy Sanchez) for the right prospects. If you look at the Bucco's Minor Leagues right now you will see a number of top-end prospects that will finally allow the Pirates to become competitive and stay competitive that we have gotten both from these trades over the last two years and from the excellent Drafts from 2008 and 2009. The money will be spent (look at Cleveland where Neil Huntington came from and in a similar market), the new ownership has said as much and have proven it with the money they have spent like I said in the Draft and Latin America. They paid over-slot for a number of players, something that never happened before under previous ownership and GM's.
 
Who have the Pirates had that is actually worth paying in the last 17 years?

Even more to the point is the fact what good does it do to lock up complimentary players? You cannot win with no pitching and a team full of #6, #7, and #8 hitters. Look where Nate McLouth and Jason Bay are batting in their respective lineups (both are hitting at .260). The Red Sox valued Adam LaRoche so much they traded him away a week after receiving him from the Pirates for a guy who they thought would be a better bench player.

Like I have noted before do not pay any attention to the National Media. They think Bob Nutting has been in charge for the whole 17 years when in fact he has only been principal owner since Oct. of 2007 and has spent money where it counts, in Latin America, Asia, and in the Draft. Places the previous management team refused to spend money. Take a look at the Strasburg fiasco in D.C. The Pirates ponied up the money for a Scott Boras client a year ago when they signed Pedro Alvarez for #1 money for a #5 pick. Previous regimes tried to win on the cheap and doing it by signing over the hill Vets like Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to fill in the gaps.

It cannot be overstated how bad the Pirates Farm System was prior to the present GM, Owner, and CEO coming to power. Buster Olney said back in 2007 when they took over that there were only six prospects in the entire farm system that had a shot at being even role players in the Majors. Neil Huntington has taken our farm system from being the worst in all of MLB to being a Top 10 system in less than two years.

Things are finally looking up in Bucco land.

Jason Bay has struggled with strikeouts but he leads the Sox in HRs and RBIs. Give the guy some credit. And McLouth has more hits, HRs, RBIs and 2Bs than Chipper Jones. Both of them are more than 'complimentary' players.

Jason Bay and Nate McLouth are being protected in much better lineups. Jason Bay is batting 5th behind David Ortiz and in front of Mike Lowell. Jason Bay was also a defensive liability in LF in PNC Park.

Just as an aside how many division titles were Jason Bay and Nate McLouth going to win in Pittsburgh?

The answer is Zero. We lost with them, we can lose without them. The point is that Pittsburgh's farm system was completely desolate with legitimate prospects or even role players. This is something the National Media just flat out does not understand. The only way a team in Pittsburgh's situation is going to win and do so on a regular basis is to have a strong minor league system. We finally have an owner and CEO plus a smart GM that is committed to doing things the right way and that means not merely dumping salary (cf: Jason Kendall, Aramis Ramirez, etc...) but actually getting something for players and selling at the right time (cf: Nate McLouth, Xavier Nady, Freddy Sanchez) for the right prospects. If you look at the Bucco's Minor Leagues right now you will see a number of top-end prospects that will finally allow the Pirates to become competitive and stay competitive that we have gotten both from these trades over the last two years and from the excellent Drafts from 2008 and 2009. The money will be spent (look at Cleveland where Neil Huntington came from and in a similar market), the new ownership has said as much and have proven it with the money they have spent like I said in the Draft and Latin America. They paid over-slot for a number of players, something that never happened before under previous ownership and GM's.

It sounds as if they want to model themselves after the LA Angels! (Who, by the way, have the best record in the AL despite the death of one of their starters, injuries to WS Game Seven Winner John Lackey, MVP Vlad Guerrero, and All Stars Ervin Santana and Torii Hunter.) All because they are deeeeeep.

I hope you are right. I think a strong Pirates team is good for baseball. Too many Pennsylvanian youth are growing up Steelers fans!! :rolleyes:
 
The NL Central is not as compelling today as it was. As of the day I started the poll, the Reds have gone 1 and 8! Are they going to battle the Pirates for last place?
 
Now that we have Scott Rolen, it's only a matter of time before my Reds chase down the division leaders.


Wow...I typed that with a straight face. :lol:

I'm going to dance a bit....if Holliday can get his NL bat back, StL could make some noise. Soto is rehabbing here in my town this week, and if he gets back for the run, maybe the Cubs can stick it out. I don't see someone winning this division. I see others losing it. Houston gets Oswalt back, watch out for their annual charge...or have we already seen it?
 
The Red's had a hard time against the Cubs and what's wrong w/ Aaron Herang? The Cubs and Cards look like they will duel... Houston is too inconsistant they just got slamed by SF. but I'm saying the obvious The Dodgers are going to win it all

nuff said
 
Being fifteen games out, can we officially put a fork in the Pirates now?
 
Well needless to say Jessi saw a dynamite ballgame. Walk off winner in the bottom of the 9th!

Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McCutchen's late blast brings rousing victory, 6-4
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Andrew McCutchen's misplay on a liner to center field nearly cost the Pirates an excruciating loss, but it was his two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth that lifted them to their best victory of the season, 6-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight before 17,049 at PNC Park.

Closer Matt Capps followed a good start from Ross Ohlendorf, as well as exemplary relief by Joel Hanrahan, Phil Dumatrait and Jesse Chavez, by giving up laser after laser in the World Series champions' two -run ninth.

Remember, it was Capps who had the worst outing of his professional career July 11 in Philadelphia, blowing a four-run lead in what wound up an 8-7 loss.

This time, he inherited a 3-2 lead and got a quick out, but Carlos Ruiz and pinch-hitter Ben Francisco each went after Capps' first pitch, and each belted his for a double, Francisco for the tying RBI that made it 3-3.

Next, Jimmy Rollins lined out to deep right, and Shane Victorino lined right to McCutchen in center, except that McCutchen charged forward and backtracked too late. The ball zipped to the fence, Victorino had a triple, and the Phillies had the lead.

Not for long.

Luis Cruz led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off Brad Lidge and advanced on a wild pitch. Brian Bixler pinch-ran and, when pinch-hitter Brandon Moss lined a single to right that was bobbled by Jayson Werth, Bixler sprinted for home, Moss for second.

McCutchen saw one pitch, a 94-mph fastball, and crushed it into the center-field seats to bring the Pirates' fourth walkoff victory and a celebration at home plate few could have foreseen when this team lost 13 of 14 earlier this month.

The Pirates now have won six of seven.

Rollins launched each of the first two pitches he saw Ohlendorf over fences: The game's opening pitch, a fastball, was launched to right-center, and the slider that opened the third inning, wound up well above the Clemente Wall for a 2-1 lead.

The previous inning, Ryan Doumit's eighth home run had tied the score.

The Pirates kept pecking away at Joe Blanton, too, but with precious little result: In the first four innings, they went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position and stranded two men at third base, two at second.

Finally, something counted in the sixth when, after a Doumit walk and two outs, Steve Pearce tomahawked Blanton's 3-1 slider into the bleachers for his third home run, and the Pirates pulled ahead, 3-2.

Blanton fumed afterward at home plate umpire CB Bucknor, whose strike zone was, as usual, more expansive than the norm.

Russell sent Ohlendorf back out for the seventh although his pitch count was approaching 100, and Ohlendorf got one out before pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett doubled. Just like that, the lead was in jeopardy.

Hanrahan, apparently unmoved by what Rollins did earlier, went right after him with three fastballs ranging from 95-96 mph, then struck him out swinging over a slider in the dirt. Victorino saw 96-mph heat, too, and flied out to right to end it.

Russell surprisingly turned to Dumatrait, making his second appearance since missing a year to major shoulder surgery, for the eighth. The reason was simple: Philadelphia had a wave of left-handed batters due, and Dumatrait is the only lefty in the pen.

Chase Utley led off with a bloop double, but Ryan Howard grounded out sharply and Raul Ibanez's liner was speared by shortstop Luis Cruz despite the infield being drawn in.

Chavez was next, and he blazed 95-mph heat past pinch-hitter Jayson Werth's bat to end to strand the runner 90 feet away.

Ohlendorf finished with a line of two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

McCutchen's home run was his eighth.
Catch more on the Pirates at the PG's PBC Blog. Dejan Kovacevic can be reached at [email protected].
First published on August 25, 2009 at 10:13 pm
 
Well needless to say Jessi saw a dynamite ballgame. Walk off winner in the bottom of the 9th!

Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was the best baseball game I've ever seen! There was so much drama, starting with the Phillies' Rollins hitting a homerun on the first pitch of the game, and finishing with our McCutcheon hitting a homer for the last pitch of the game! Plus, we had awesome seats!
6456_517298254502_151101582_30773238_4103592_n.jpg
 
PNC Park without question is the best ballpark in America. Outside of Fenway it is certainly the most intimate (I've never been to Wrigley personally). The highest seat at PNC is at the same level as the middle-tier at Three Rivers.

:( There are days I miss living in Pittsburgh.
 
You guys need to stop. This thread was dead. And buried with it was the attention given to the fact that the Cubs have folded-up. But next year, we got this guy....

:barfy: (no official choke smilie)
 
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