The Late NL Report
Alright, so I’ve been lazy busy and haven’t been able to do my AAAA National League write-up yet. Let me be honest, the NL doesn’t have anything on the American League. The AL once again dominated in Interleague play this year. I’d take four or five AL teams to win the World Series before I’d take the best NL team. The races are heating up, save the NL West, and the NL is going to be fun to follow for the two months. Who’s going to take the East and is the CC deal going to propel the Brewers to the World Series, or are the Cubs just too good.
No one in baseball can pin point why the AL is so much better than the NL, and either can I. It’s been a few years now where the AL has dominated in Interleague play, and they haven’t lost an All-Star game in 10 plus years. Is it because the AL gets the extra hitter and teams think about the offensive production a bit more in the AL? Can’t be, when AL teams goes to NL parks the pitchers hit, the AL still wins. Each league gets to scout and draft from the same pool of talent. I don’t know why the difference between the two leagues is so drastic, but it could be quite some time before the tides shift. It’s hard for the shift to happen when most of the big spenders are in the AL and they are spending money on there drafted players by going over the slot.
NL East
1. New York Mets- They have one of the best pitchers in baseball pitching well and their offense is pretty good. Wright, Beltran, and Delgado is a pretty tough part of the line-up to get through. Mike Pelfrey has started to come on stong. In the end I think the Mets will come though and Beltran’s early season prediction will be correct.
2. Philadelphia Phillies- They have a great line-up as well, except Ryan Howard strikes out way too much. Chase Utley is having a great year and Pat Burrell is having a typical contract year for any MLB player. The Joe Blanton trade was a upgrade over Adam Eaton but I still don’t think their starting rotation is that great. Cole Hamel’s has yet to stay healthy for a full year, but he hasn’t had any problems thus far. They also have one of the best closers in the game closing games for them in Brad Lidge, and that never hurts.
3. Florida Marlins- Hanley Ramirez is a beast and having another great season. The Marlins rotation is solid. I believe they will be sellers at the deadline with the way the Mets and Phils are playing, but could be in contention next year. Dan Uggla is having a great year.
4. Atlanta Braves- First Basemen, Mark Teixeira’s days are limited in Atlanta. I believe he’ll be dealt before the deadline. The Braves have to make up too much ground and they won’t be able to sign him after the season. The Braves road woes are terrible and they haven’t been able to get over them. Chipper won’t hit .400 either.
5. Washington Nationals- Shortstop, Christian Guzman, has a new contract so he’ll be around for another two years and it wasn’t a smart move by the Nats. Ryan Zimmerman isn’t going anywhere soon. Their farm system is depleted. At least they have that new fancy stadium, no?
NL Central:
1. Chicago Cubs- The Rich Harden deal was a great one, if he can stay healthy. So far he’s looked good in a Cub uni. Their line up is very good and a one two of Zambrano and Harden is hard to beat in the playoffs. Their bullpen is also sold with Kerry Wood closing games and Carlos Marmol setting up Wood in the eighth.
2. Milwaukee Brewers- The CC Sabathia trade has given the Brew Crew a huge spark. Ryan Braun’s bat has caught on fire. Corey Hart is having a great year. Ben Sheets needs to stay healthy and this team could be very dangerous. CC and Sheets in a short series is pretty nasty.
3. St. Louis Cardinals- Their rotation isn’t that good and I believe they have been playing over their heads. The Cubs and Brewers are about to run away with the Central. Albert Pujols is having a very solid season. They have found some pieces they can build around.
4. Cincinnati Reds- Edison Volquez has had a Cy Young like year, hopefully Dusty Baker doesn’t over use him and the Red have him on an inning limit since they are going nowhere this year. They could trade Adam Dunn, if there are any takers. Jr. Griffey isn’t going to go anywhere. They have some pieces in place - Arroyo, Phillups, Bruce to name some- to build around.
5. Houston Astros- Lance Berkman has had MVP like year. Ace, Roy Oswalt is coming back to pitch on Monday. Why they traded for Randy Wolf is beyond me. They aren’t going anywhere soon and he’s a Free Agent after this year.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates- Nate McLouth has had a break out year. The trade of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte isn’t going to help this team this year, and they got robbed. Stud Prospect Andrew Mccutchen could be called up. He’ll be exciting to watch. They have made an improvement, but are still a ways off from competing.
NL West:
1. Arizona Diamondbacks- Brandon Webb. Dan Haren. Really the only two names that need to be mentioned here. They are probably the best one two of any team in the NL. Their line-up has struggled to score runs but it sounds as if they are looking for another bat and Mark Teixeira is an option as long as they don’t have to give up First Basemen, Connor Jackson. The back of their pen is off and on and the Jon Rausch deal will help strengthen it. They’ll win the division by default but could make a huge run in the playoffs.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers- Dodger fans, I hope you guys don’t deal Matt Kemp this year or do something stupid. Andrew Jones. What’s wrong with him? He has been awful and the Dodgers are going to have to find something to do with him after singing that huge contract. Stud pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw is still a little ways off from being a dominate starter in the bigs, but he’ll probably see some more innings. The Dodgers are another option for Teixeira.
3. Colorado Rockies- They are on a tare right now. Shortstop phenom Tulo is back and healthy. The big question is do the Rockies trade or keep Matt Holliday? They are ready to win now so it’d take a player that’s ready to play now to get Holliday. I think they were too far out to start the second half to make a serious run at the West, but they were in the same position last year.
4. San Fransisco Giants- Besides Randy Winn they don’t have much to sell. Tim Lincecum has had Cy Young like year. They have surprised many people, including me, and have not been as bad as I thought they were going to be. They have a great young pitching staff to build around for the future.
5. San Diego Padres- This team can’t score runs. They have already traded Randy Wolf, and I don’t see them trading any other big parts. They called up top-prospect Chase Headly already. They could play a spoilers role because who wants to face Jake Peavy?
Playoff Predictions:
NLDS:
Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers
NLCS:
Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers
NL Champion: Chicago Cubs
MVP: Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies
CY Young: Carlos Zambrano - Chicago Cubs
Rookie of the Year: Geovany Soto - Chicago Cubs
Manager of the Year: Ned Yoast - Milwaukee Brewers