NL Central Prediction
Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 12:27 pm
Kind of a sub-topic from the Pirates discussion thread. I asked how will the Central shake out. I took a look at the ESPN generic Depth Chart's as of now. Here's what I found, and here is everyone's projected Lineup/Rotation/Closer
Chicago Cubs
C - Miguel Montero
1B - Anthony Rizzo
2B - Javier Baez
3B - Tommy La Stella
SS - Starlin Castro
LF - Chris Coughlin
CF - Dexter Fowler
RF - Jorge Soler
SP's - Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, Kyle Hendricks
Closer - Hector Rondon
Anthony Rizzo is a stud, Starlin Castro is inconsistent and talented, and Miguel Montero is a good offensive catcher. Beyond that, the Cubs are banking on some role guys and unproven younger guys to make this offense go. The rotation led by Lester is fairly good. Arrieta, Hammel, and Wood are decent. Hendricks is a promising young guy. Still not sure they make the big jump everyone says they are going to, but it's possible.
Cincinnati Reds
C - Devin Mesoraco
1B - Joey Votto
2B - Brandon Phillips
3B - Todd Frazier
SS - Zach Cozart
LF - Marlon Byrd
CF -Billy Hamilton
RF - Jay Bruce
SP - Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, Tony Cigrani, Anthony Desclafini
Closer - Aroldis Chapman
The Reds have six guys in their lineup that have the ability to hit 20 home runs, the only problem is keeping guys healthy. Brandon Phillips got old really quickly it seems, Votto and Bruce can't stay in the lineup for a whole year. Cozart and Hamilton can't really hit at all. The back end of the rotations seems shaky to me, but they have a huge weapon with Chapman if they can get to him. Cueto is really good, can he duplicate last season though?
Milwaukee Brewers
C - Jonathan Lucroy
1B - Adam Lind
2B - Scooter Gennett
3B - Aramis Ramirez
SS - Jean Segura
LF - Khris Davis
CF - Carlos Gomez
RF - Ryan Braun
SP - Matt Garza, Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers, Jimmy Nelson.
Closer - Jonathan Broxton
Gomez and Braun are a pretty lethal outfield 1-2 punch. Lucroy is a good offensive catcher. A lot of questions otherwise, particularly with pitching. Garza is good, Peralta had a good year, but Kyle Lohse isn't anything special Nelson and Fiers aren't great in the back end. Broxton as the closer is a great thing for Pittsburgh, as they seem to own him for whatever reason.
Pittsburgh Pirates
C - Francisco Cervelli
1B - Pedro Alvarez
2B - Neil Walker
3B - Josh Harrison
SS - Jordy Mercer
LF - Starling Marte
CF - Andrew McCutchen
RF - Gregory Polanco
SP - Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano, AJ Burnett, Jeff Locke, Vance Worley.
Closer - Mark Melancon
The way the past two seasons go, If the Pirates are going to be successful, a hero from out of nowhere might have to emerge. Catcher is a big question, nobody knows if Pedro will regain form, can Harrison stay hot? Other than that, the Pirates have the most dynamic outfield in baseball from an athletic standpoint, and McCutchen is the best player in the division and he can carry the team through some deficiencies. The Pirates usually go as far as their pitching goes, and they have a pretty solid rotation and some live arms waiting in the minors. They also have one of the best bullpens in baseball.
St. Louis Cardinals
C - Yadier Molina
1B - Matt Adams
2B - Kolten Wang
3B - Matt Carpenter
SS - Jhonny Peralta
LF - Matt Holiday
CF - John Jay
RF - Jason Heyward
SP's - Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez.
Closer - Trevor Rosenthal
Adding Jason Heyward is a big acquisition, and he helps sure up the lineup. St. Louis is not a powerful lineup, but they just seem to get the big hits when they need them. We have all watched how this team operates with the Pirates going toe to toe with them for the past few seasons. The have a good bullpen, a great Ace pitcher and good secondary starters. They are the favorites in the division.
So with all that, does anyone change their picks for the NL Central?
Chicago Cubs
C - Miguel Montero
1B - Anthony Rizzo
2B - Javier Baez
3B - Tommy La Stella
SS - Starlin Castro
LF - Chris Coughlin
CF - Dexter Fowler
RF - Jorge Soler
SP's - Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, Kyle Hendricks
Closer - Hector Rondon
Anthony Rizzo is a stud, Starlin Castro is inconsistent and talented, and Miguel Montero is a good offensive catcher. Beyond that, the Cubs are banking on some role guys and unproven younger guys to make this offense go. The rotation led by Lester is fairly good. Arrieta, Hammel, and Wood are decent. Hendricks is a promising young guy. Still not sure they make the big jump everyone says they are going to, but it's possible.
Cincinnati Reds
C - Devin Mesoraco
1B - Joey Votto
2B - Brandon Phillips
3B - Todd Frazier
SS - Zach Cozart
LF - Marlon Byrd
CF -Billy Hamilton
RF - Jay Bruce
SP - Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, Tony Cigrani, Anthony Desclafini
Closer - Aroldis Chapman
The Reds have six guys in their lineup that have the ability to hit 20 home runs, the only problem is keeping guys healthy. Brandon Phillips got old really quickly it seems, Votto and Bruce can't stay in the lineup for a whole year. Cozart and Hamilton can't really hit at all. The back end of the rotations seems shaky to me, but they have a huge weapon with Chapman if they can get to him. Cueto is really good, can he duplicate last season though?
Milwaukee Brewers
C - Jonathan Lucroy
1B - Adam Lind
2B - Scooter Gennett
3B - Aramis Ramirez
SS - Jean Segura
LF - Khris Davis
CF - Carlos Gomez
RF - Ryan Braun
SP - Matt Garza, Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers, Jimmy Nelson.
Closer - Jonathan Broxton
Gomez and Braun are a pretty lethal outfield 1-2 punch. Lucroy is a good offensive catcher. A lot of questions otherwise, particularly with pitching. Garza is good, Peralta had a good year, but Kyle Lohse isn't anything special Nelson and Fiers aren't great in the back end. Broxton as the closer is a great thing for Pittsburgh, as they seem to own him for whatever reason.
Pittsburgh Pirates
C - Francisco Cervelli
1B - Pedro Alvarez
2B - Neil Walker
3B - Josh Harrison
SS - Jordy Mercer
LF - Starling Marte
CF - Andrew McCutchen
RF - Gregory Polanco
SP - Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano, AJ Burnett, Jeff Locke, Vance Worley.
Closer - Mark Melancon
The way the past two seasons go, If the Pirates are going to be successful, a hero from out of nowhere might have to emerge. Catcher is a big question, nobody knows if Pedro will regain form, can Harrison stay hot? Other than that, the Pirates have the most dynamic outfield in baseball from an athletic standpoint, and McCutchen is the best player in the division and he can carry the team through some deficiencies. The Pirates usually go as far as their pitching goes, and they have a pretty solid rotation and some live arms waiting in the minors. They also have one of the best bullpens in baseball.
St. Louis Cardinals
C - Yadier Molina
1B - Matt Adams
2B - Kolten Wang
3B - Matt Carpenter
SS - Jhonny Peralta
LF - Matt Holiday
CF - John Jay
RF - Jason Heyward
SP's - Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez.
Closer - Trevor Rosenthal
Adding Jason Heyward is a big acquisition, and he helps sure up the lineup. St. Louis is not a powerful lineup, but they just seem to get the big hits when they need them. We have all watched how this team operates with the Pirates going toe to toe with them for the past few seasons. The have a good bullpen, a great Ace pitcher and good secondary starters. They are the favorites in the division.
So with all that, does anyone change their picks for the NL Central?