6 2121 Jaydawg drrubb^1266 Re: Who Will Win The N.L. Central? [Reply to #2872] 4/1/06, 5:21pm This is not a prediction, but I will say this! Lookout for the Brewers! I think they will surprise a lot of people this season. This division is hard to predict in my opinion. Every team has strengths & weaknesses. The Cardinals have solid starting pitching, & a decent bullpen. Outside of Pujols & maybe Rolen, I question their hitting a bit. We all know Pujols will tear it up! Rolen could bounce back very well also. Edmonds isn't bad but he is aging & he is a injury risk. I'm not really sold on their other 2 starting outfielders. To me, their middle infield is pretty weak at the plate. Yadier Molina is a good defensive catcher, but really just an average hitter. The Cubs starting pitching is shaky. Zambrano is a STUD! However, with the injury plagued Prior & Wood, their starting pitching is shaky. Rusch isn't bad, but he's not going to scare anybody. Jerome Williams could be decent, but he is still a wild card. Dempster out of the bullpen is fairly solid. Their hitting is their strength. Derek Lee & Aramis Ramirez might be the best hitting combination at 1st & 3rd in the game. Barrett is an underated catcher. Their average at 2B & SS. Their outfield will be pretty good with Pierre, Jaque Jones, & Murton. The Astros starting pitching is pretty good with Oswalt & Pettitte, but they are without Clemens most likely if he most likely retires. Lidge is as solid as it gets as a closer. Their hitting is decent. They have Berkman, who is very solid. Ensberg, Preston Wilson(if he can stay healthy will help), the speedy Tavares & Jason Lane. Biggio is aging however. They no longer have Bagwell. Ausmus just sucks at the plate. Everett in my opinion is very overated & meteocre at best. The Brewers are much improved. Their starting pitching is decent, but not great. Their bullpen is decent with Turnbow, but not great. Their hitting is pretty damn good! Fielder will be awesome this year. Weeks, Hall, & JJ Hardy rounds out a very good infield, which will be powerful at the plate. Carlos Lee is one of the best hitting outfielders in the game. Jenkins & Clark will both be pretty good, but not great. Damien Miller will be the weak bat in their line up. He is meteocre at best. The Reds lack somewhat at starting pitching. Harang should be pretty solid. Their bullpen could be a mess. Pitching is somewhat of a weakness for the Reds. Hitting will be awesome! Dunn will hit a lot of home runs this season. Felipe Lopez is a solid all around shortstop who will hit. Encarnacion will surprise some people this season. Look out! I think losing Wily Mo Pena will come back to haunt the Reds, however, Griffey Jr. has seemed to reserect his career. He will be solid this year if he doesn't pull a hammy. Kearns will have a very solid year. Freel isn't a bad player. Larue & Valinten will platoon well behind the plate. The Pirates have good young starting pitching. I think their bullpen is decent. Oliver Perez is the key to their starting pitching. Will they get the Perez of 2004 or 2005? Hitting will be decent, but not great. Jason Bay is definately their best hitter. He is very good! Burnitz will be okay. Casey will be okay. Jack Wilson & Craig Wilson will be okay. Their rookie catcher, Doumit(did I spell that right?) could surprise some people this season, but he could also be a bust. I guess the Pirates are just, well, "okay". I have no predictions for this division, but these are my opinions about these teams strengths & weaknesses. I think all 6 teams have a little of both, atleast to some degree. [drrubb from Panama City Beach/Florida] Replies: 2876