 | ||
mrschroeder08 partyvancaptain pee_callus25 Tags 2010 Preview 5 Million Dollar Black Hole AAAA Aaron Heilman Aaron Miles Alfonso Soriano Andres Blanco Angel Guzman Aramis Ramirez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves B.J. Ryan Baltimore Orioles Bob Brenly Bobby Scales Bonehead Booing Boston Red Sox Brett Jackson Bullpen Canadian Concoction Captain Kneejerk Cardinals Carlos Marmol Carlos Silva Carlos Zambrano Chad Fox Chad Tracy Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Cold War Colorado Rockies Contracts Cubs-Cardinals Rivalry Cubs sale Cubs Curtis Granderson Daniel Herrera David Patton Derrek Lee Designated Hitter Detroit Tigers Disabled list Dominance ERA+ ERROR Esmailin Caridad ESPN Sucks Eternal frustration Eternal Optimism Farewell Farney Florida Marlins Free Agency Future Gatorade Geovanny Soto Geovany Soto Gerald Perry Grades Houston Astros I-Cubs Injuries Jake Fox Jason Marquis Jason Waddell Jeff Gray Jeff Samardzija Jim Hendry Jim Wolf Joey Gathright John Grabow Jose Ascanio Kansas City Royals Kerry Wood Kevin Gregg Kevin Hart Kevin Millar Koyie Hill LaTroy Hawkins Legendary Lineup Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Lou Piniella Luis Vizcaino Man Crush Mark DeRosa Marlon Byrd Micah Hoffpauir Middle Infield Midwestern Bias Milton Bradley Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins Minor Leagues MLB 2K9 Neal Cotts New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics October Offseason Opening Day OPS+ Payroll Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Playoffs Randy Wells Rant Rich Harden Ryan Dempster Ryan Freel Ryan Theriot Sam Fuld Sam Zell Sammy Sosa San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Sandy Alderson Sean Marshall Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Steroids Strikeouts Suckiness Tampa Bay Rays TBS Texas Rangers Tom Gorzelanny Tom Ricketts Toronto Blue Jays Trade Tribune Company Tyler Colvin Von Joshua Waivers Walks Washington Nationals WTF Xavier Nady RSS Feed Guess which team is being predicted as a HEAVY favorite to win the NL Central again. Yep, it's the St. Louis Cardinals 2009 Record: 91-71 (1st, NL Central) Key Additions: Felipe Lopez (2B), Brad Penny (SP), Rich Hill (SP) Key Losses: Mark DeRosa (INF/OF), John Smoltz (SP), Rick Ankiel (OF), Joel Pineiro (SP), Todd Wellemeyer (SP/RP), Julio Lugo (INF), Troy Glaus (3B/1B), Khalil Greene (SS), Brad Thompson (RP) Summary: Another year, another good team in St. Louis. When you have the best player in baseball, Albert Pujols, it is pretty easy to build around him. When you have another all star like Matt Holliday than it is just unfair. When you add two Cy Young candidates in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, you get a team that EVERYONE expects to win the division. The Cardinals have four amazing talents there and have a bevy of role players. Ludwick and Molina are good, and Colby Rasums could take another step towards stardom this season. Brad Penny is a prime candidate to return to all-star form under Dave Duncan. They are brimming with talent, even if their bullpen is shaky. Cubs Connection: The rivalry. With all the press staying out east, the rivalry has gotten pretty good in the last few years. The Cubs and Cardinals have combined to win (or tie for) the last 10 NL Central titles. Guess which team has 7 of the 10. This year, there is a good chance we will have 11 straight between these two, and there is a good chance the Cardinals will be the ones to do it again. BIBGLBOOPSARG(tm) 2B Skip Schumaker SS Brendan Ryan 1B Albert Pujols LF Matt Holliday RF Ryan Ludwick CF Colby Rasmus C Yadier Molina P Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Brad Penny, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia 3B David Freese (LaRussian lineup) Closer: Ryan Franklin Predicted Finish: First place in the NL Central. I don't think this is as much of a slam dunk as most do. You cannot bet against all the talent this team has. What you can question though is the health. Carpenter has dealt with injuries a lot lately, and pitchers' arms do not all of a sudden become sturdy. No, they deteriorate over time. And the one thing about this team is it is not deep. One injury to the big four, and suddenly they are on the level of the Cubs, Brewers and Reds. Two injuries, and it could be ugly. With that said, you have to assume they will be healthy, and if so, it is the Cardinals to win again this year. Posted in: 2010 Preview, St. Louis Cardinals Holy crap... so that's what it was like to be a Cardinals fan in October '07 and '08. I am now convinced there is a TBS playoff curse on the NL Central (1-12 record for NL Central teams in playoff games on TBS- the one win being Milwaukee last year.) In a couple of days, I will finally do my post-mortem on this year from a Cubs perspective. But for now I am actually enjoying October. It is sad when you can enjoy October more when your team is NOT in the playoffs. Posted in: Cardinals, Playoffs, TBS | ||