My Old Kentucky Blog
  • 12:02 PM ET  07.04
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The NL Central has become the laughing stock of baseball during the regular season, but it's also the division that has put out the past three NL Pennent winners (St. Louis in '04 and '05 and Houston in '06). This division is known for losing records and bad teams, but also good postseasons. However, this year's NL Central is currently a two-horse race. I'm going to break it down team by team and tell you who comes out of the NL Central.

  1. Chicago Cubs- I'm picking the Cubs to finish first. Yes, I know, they are my team. Believe me, this has nothing to do with that. Do I pick Kentucky to win the SEC? No. But I am picking the Cubs to win their division. So how will the Cubs overcome the Brewers to become the leaders in this division? Simple. The Cubs are on a very hot streak and have won 10 of their last 11, with two series left before the all-star break. Those two teams are Washington and Pittsburgh, both winnable series. The Cubs have one of the best hitting lineups in baseball! The Brewers just lost one to Pitt, moving the Cubs within 5.5 games of the leaders. Also, the Cubs this season are an astounding 7-5 against the Brewers. They have one series left with them. Just a few short weeks ago, the Cubs were 10 games back!
  2. Milwaukee Brewers- As I've said before, I think that the Brewers will give up their first place spot to the Cubs. While they are a great team, they are also young and can't quite handle playing badly so well. (see Prince Fielder in the dugout yesterday) I don't think that they will completely collapse, but I do think that they will allow the Cubs to win enough games and they will lose enough games to put Chicago out in front. The Brewers are definately the team to beat right now, but they don't have the kind of streak going on that the Cubs do, and have lost 7 of 12 games to the Cubs already.
  3. Houston Astros- Houston is a World Series squad waiting to happen! They have so much talent, and yet right now sit fourth in the NL Central. I think that the Astros will be able to gain some games, but will finish a close third to the Brewers. They are currently on a three game win streak, but also have to travel to Wrigley Field, and must face the Brewers again before the end of the season. Houston is just now finding themselves and have everything clicking, but I don't think that the top two will allow them to get any closer.
  4. St. Louis Cardinals- The Cardinals currently sit 9.5 games back in their division, and are considered an outside shot and the NL Central title. I disagree. I have to put them at fourth because I don't think that they will be able to put up a bunch of wins in their current position. While a down season for Albert Pujols is a great season for any other player, that's not enough for the Cardinals right now. They have problems with pitching, and problems with batting. I don't see them making any huge waves in this division this season, but all due respect for the defending World Champs.
  5. Pittsburgh Pirates- I really like this Pittsburgh team. They don't win too many games, or hardly any series, but they do put up some solid single wins here and there against great teams. They are a team that aren't playoff contenders, but can be dangerous for league leaders or teams trying to get back in the race. They have defeated the division leaders a couple of times this season. They currently sit 12 games back in the division, at fifth, and I think that they'll stay right there.
  6. Cincinnati Reds- The Reds are a very talented team, just like the Astros, but cannot pull it together. The difference between the Reds and the Astros is that the Reds are down 16 games in the division, and are pretty much completely out of any kind of contention. Ken Griffey, Jr. couldn't get it done, although he is having a stellar season individually. He will likely be on the next bus out of Cincinnati soon, leaving the team with nothing to rely on.

These are my picks for the NL Central this season. I know that a lot of people don't want to see the Cubs at the top, but they are inarguably one of the best teams in baseball right now, and are clicking on all cylinders. The truth is, the Cubs probably have the best team in the NL Central, with everything from great young players to veterans. Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, Mike Fontenot, and Derrek Lee are all ready to take the NL Central Pennet, and try their luck in the playoffs again.

July 4, 2007  12:05 PM ET

Thanks for the nice comments for the Pirates but I do think they'll edge into 4th by the end. We can only hope and pray. haha

July 4, 2007  12:05 PM ET

I totally disagree except for the Pirates and Reds.

July 4, 2007  12:07 PM ET

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

July 4, 2007  12:11 PM ET

1. Brewers
2. Cubs
3. Astros
4. Cardinals
5. Pirates
6. Reds
You mention the fact that the Cubs play the Pirates and Nationals before the break, but are you forgetting that the Brewers are playing the exact same teams before the break as well? Also, I would hardly call 7-5 against the Brewers "astounding." In reality, they have gained one game on the Brewers by playing them.

July 4, 2007  12:11 PM ET

The National League Central will be interesting and you may be up to par with you prediction. There are many games yet to be played, however, it does not hurt to predict who will win the NL Central. Nicely done and very informative.

July 4, 2007  12:36 PM ET

Thank you BoJacksonFan. Also, bpeepers, you put the Cubs at FOURTH! HA!

July 4, 2007  12:41 PM ET

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

July 4, 2007  12:41 PM ET

It's hard to say even the Astros could turn things around and win the lousy division, but they'll definitely finish higher than the Cards. As of July 4th, the Astros have played the most games in the division, 84, and the Cards have played 80. That's a LOT of make-up games. The Astros are all caught up. Their record is what it is, but they're looking better every day. Whereas, the Cards are looking worse every week.

July 4, 2007  01:31 PM ET

The Cubs are hot. Hotter than the rest anyway. The Brewers started off hot, but is in a "funk", and It seems that they will continue thier downward spiral. The only other club worth talking about is ST.L.. I believe the "DUIs" did them in. They didn't recover. The Cubs fate is in thier hands and Lou knows how to fire em up.
h

July 4, 2007  01:37 PM ET

I can't wait for all of these guys who now are picking the Cubs to finish second to say that they believed in the Cubs the entire time when they win the division

July 4, 2007  01:44 PM ET

CUBS ALL THE WAY!!!!!

YEAH!!!

July 4, 2007  01:48 PM ET

5rings- Uh, before they met the Cubs the Brewers had won like 9 of their last 10, so they are not in a downward spiral.

July 4, 2007  01:56 PM ET

Didn't the Cards win the pennent in 06? 2006 World Series Champs!

July 4, 2007  02:58 PM ET

Hey League of Shadows, since that awesome start the Brew-crew had at the beginning of the season, they have had streaks of that you've mentioned alone with the negative of that. This downward spiral I'm refering to are these up and down streaks they are having and they lose ground when the lose more than they win.
h

July 4, 2007  02:59 PM ET

The cubs are streaky too (as most of all MLB teams), but lately they win more in thier winning streaks and lose less in thier losing ones.
h

July 4, 2007  04:03 PM ET

"Didn't the Cards win the pennent in 06? 2006 World Series Champs!"

They won the division 83-78 and had to play all 7 games against the Mets to win the pennant. Hardly anything to brag about. Besides, the Cards didn't win the World Series. The Tigers lost it.

July 4, 2007  06:02 PM ET

I'd love to think the Cubs would win it this year, for their sakes, but I gotta go with Brewers as well.

July 4, 2007  06:51 PM ET

astros baby

July 4, 2007  09:57 PM ET

I am not really sure but i like your blog. I think that the brew crew may be able to hold onto te lead. They are not playing as well but they started so great i think they have to have something. But i think the reds will atleast not come in lasy with narron gone. Watch for the reds to be 3 or 4 in the division

 
July 4, 2007  10:56 PM ET

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

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