6.  - Last place in the NL Central is nothing new to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Steel City has not seen their baseball team have a winning season since 1992. Not helping the cause, the Pirates lost Zach Duke and Lastings Millage. On the other hand, the "Black and Yellow" team added Lyle Overbay (.243 batting average in 2010), Matt Diaz (.250 batting average in 2010), and Kevin Corriea (5.40 earned run average in 2010). The reigning last place champions look like they will be able to defend their title by taking more steps backward than forward. |
5.
- The Roy Oswalt era came to an end last season (traded to the Phillies), and the 'Stros finished 2010 ten games under .500. Houston needed to make significant moves in the offseason if they wanted to have a chance to contend for the NL Central crown in 2011. That did not happen. While not losing any big names, the Astros did not add any either. El Caballo (Carlos Lee), 34 years old, is looking to bounce back from his .246 batting average in 2010, yet even if he can, it will not be enough to contend in the NL Central.
- The Roy Oswalt era came to an end last season (traded to the Phillies), and the 'Stros finished 2010 ten games under .500. Houston needed to make significant moves in the offseason if they wanted to have a chance to contend for the NL Central crown in 2011. That did not happen. While not losing any big names, the Astros did not add any either. El Caballo (Carlos Lee), 34 years old, is looking to bounce back from his .246 batting average in 2010, yet even if he can, it will not be enough to contend in the NL Central.4.
- The Brewers had quite a stellar offseason to say the least. Then how could they still end up finishing in fourth place? Zach Greinke has been called by several baseball scouts a "head-case", and now will miss his first three starts (due to a rib injury playing basketball). ex-Blue Jay Shaun Marcum has been complaining about tightness in his shoulder recently, which is never what you want to hear from a pitcher. The Brewers set the bar very high on themselves this season by making huge financial moves in what could be Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks' last season in Milwaukee. Pressure to meet expectations will doom the "Brew Crew" in 2011, and they will start to fade during the second half of the season.
- The Brewers had quite a stellar offseason to say the least. Then how could they still end up finishing in fourth place? Zach Greinke has been called by several baseball scouts a "head-case", and now will miss his first three starts (due to a rib injury playing basketball). ex-Blue Jay Shaun Marcum has been complaining about tightness in his shoulder recently, which is never what you want to hear from a pitcher. The Brewers set the bar very high on themselves this season by making huge financial moves in what could be Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks' last season in Milwaukee. Pressure to meet expectations will doom the "Brew Crew" in 2011, and they will start to fade during the second half of the season.3.
- There are a grocery list full of questions when it comes to the 2011 Chicago Cubs. Jim Hendry (Cubs general manager) added three more to the list this offseason. Is there anything left of the Carlos Pena that hit .282 and 46 home runs back in 2007 or is the .196 batting average Pena hit last season who the Cubs are receiving? Can Kerry Wood continue to thrive as he did in the American League the past two years or will his injury problems leave him on the disabled list for most of the season? Will the Matt Garza who gave up nineteen runs in three starts last September pitch or will the 2008 ALCS MVP pitch for the Cubs? This team has plenty of potential with their rising star Starlin Castro (As a 20 year old rookie last season he hit .300) leading the way. However, there are too many questions that need to go right for the Cubs to become the NL Central champions.
- There are a grocery list full of questions when it comes to the 2011 Chicago Cubs. Jim Hendry (Cubs general manager) added three more to the list this offseason. Is there anything left of the Carlos Pena that hit .282 and 46 home runs back in 2007 or is the .196 batting average Pena hit last season who the Cubs are receiving? Can Kerry Wood continue to thrive as he did in the American League the past two years or will his injury problems leave him on the disabled list for most of the season? Will the Matt Garza who gave up nineteen runs in three starts last September pitch or will the 2008 ALCS MVP pitch for the Cubs? This team has plenty of potential with their rising star Starlin Castro (As a 20 year old rookie last season he hit .300) leading the way. However, there are too many questions that need to go right for the Cubs to become the NL Central champions.2.
- Albert Pujols contract talks are looming as his contract expires at the end of this season. The Cards' ace Adam Wainwright won't even throw one pitch for the birds this season. How on earth can they contend for the NL Central crown with these huge problems before the season even starts? Tony LaRussa (Cardinals coach) always finds a way to get the best out of his players despite if there is a circus going around the team or not. Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday are one of if not the scariest one, two punch in the MLB. Look for the the Cardinals to be in the thick of both the NL Central and NL Wild Card races as they find a way to win like they always do.
- Albert Pujols contract talks are looming as his contract expires at the end of this season. The Cards' ace Adam Wainwright won't even throw one pitch for the birds this season. How on earth can they contend for the NL Central crown with these huge problems before the season even starts? Tony LaRussa (Cardinals coach) always finds a way to get the best out of his players despite if there is a circus going around the team or not. Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday are one of if not the scariest one, two punch in the MLB. Look for the the Cardinals to be in the thick of both the NL Central and NL Wild Card races as they find a way to win like they always do.1.
- The offseason was pretty dull for Red fans this winter. After winning 91 games in 2010 there was not much that needed to be changed. The only major departure was veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera. World Series MVP Edgar Renteria came Cincinnati to replace him. The Reds are solid in both the hitting and pitching department so it will be tough to shake Cincinnati off course in their road to defend their title as NL Central champions. As long as Joey Votto can have another MVP-like season the Cincinnati Reds will be at the top of the NL Central Standings once again.
- The offseason was pretty dull for Red fans this winter. After winning 91 games in 2010 there was not much that needed to be changed. The only major departure was veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera. World Series MVP Edgar Renteria came Cincinnati to replace him. The Reds are solid in both the hitting and pitching department so it will be tough to shake Cincinnati off course in their road to defend their title as NL Central champions. As long as Joey Votto can have another MVP-like season the Cincinnati Reds will be at the top of the NL Central Standings once again.
1 comment:
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