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| Forum Opinions On the NL |
Tue, 26 June 2012 10:54  |
 Rob_Veno
Messages: 4129
Registered: July 2005 |
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I was just asked in a radio interview to list in order what I thought were the Top 5 NL teams at this present time (trade deadline could obviously change things) in a playoff series scenario. Their reason for the question was because of how wide open the league is right now. Here's how I ranked them and for the sake of general conversation at this point of the season, would like to see how everyone else in the forum would stack them up. Here's how I went:
Favorite - San Francisco
#2 - St. Louis
#3 - Atlanta
#4 - Los Angeles
#5 - Cincinnati
The exclusion here in my mind was Washington but just felt like the Reds held a slight all around edge.
Current Longshot to watch out for - Arizona
[Updated on: Tue, 26 June 2012 10:57]
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| Re: Forum Opinions On the NL |
Tue, 26 June 2012 14:55  |
Rob_Veno
Messages: 4129
Registered: July 2005 |
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Good stuff guys, lots of cases can be made for a host of teams which is why the NL is a good league to run this type of generic question with. I'll sum up why I went with them the way I did.
San Francisco - In my opinion, offense is really under rated, bullpen is deep and diverse, figure Lincecum at some point to piece things together.
St. Louis - Offense is off the charts (5 regulars with OPS over .820 & one at .798) and good enough to ride to a short series victory. I know Texas is the yardstick by which we measure offenses currently but I really believe that if St. Louis playd their home games in Arlington, they'd put up better numbers than the Rangers do. Starting pitching & closer are obvious ? marks but good enough to let the offense do the rest.
Atlanta - I know I could be over-reacting but that Jurrjens start in Boston the other night is sticking with me. Guess work on my part but I'm thinking he holds up (Andrew has a blog up which shows the other side of the Jurrjens coin). Tim Hudson's ERA is down 2.5 runs from last month's...so is Tommy Hanson's. Minor's killing them but the rest are steady enough, bullpen is still really good (Venters only 6H allowed to 36 BF this month), and while the offense isn't spctacular, it's steady and has shown it can catch fire in stretches.
LA Dodgers - Once Kemp comes back the offense will go up a couple notches again. Love the back end of the pen, especially Bellisario's return to form and Jansen in the 9th. Starting staff still has me a bit nervous but the home park will always benefit Harang and if Capuano keeps it up, they're tough in any short series.
Cincinnati - Hate their table setters and not quite sold on any starter aside from Cueto. However, their bullpen (despite Chapman's recent slip ups) is as solid as any and the lineup has a ton of pop.
Washington and Cincy were seperated by a hair but in the end, the Ryan Zimerman shoulder injury keeps me off them. He says he can go the rest of the way with cortisone injections and pick up his offensive numbers. If he can, then they threaten anybody in best of seven. Without him at his peak like he is now their offense is miserable and if he can't go at all, their defense suffers. Storen coming back should enhance already strong bullpen if he's right but in 2-2 affairs in the 7th, their offense can't beat any of the 5 teams listed above.
Arizona - Found some young arms, got the bullpen rounded into decent form (55 K-15 BB this month) for a short series and with Steven Drew coming back they could make a run. This offense is dangerous and last year's playoff appearance should give them some added maturity.
These were just general thoughts and there's likely top be things upcoming that will make me alter my current stance. It does however seem to me more than ever that because these NL teams are so close, the playoff landscape will be changed dramatically by the orgaizations that make the best personnel moves by July 31...and of course, injuries.
[Updated on: Tue, 26 June 2012 14:59]
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| Re: Forum Opinions On the NL |
Tue, 26 June 2012 21:26 |
Gimbeaux
Messages: 2293
Registered: October 2005 |
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First of all, the NL absolutely stinks right now, so I don't see a ton of separation among any of the teams, perhaps with the exception of the bottom feeders like the Cubs, Rockies and Padres. But if I had to rank now (though July 31 will loom VERY large)
Nationals - I still would like to see Strasburg and Zimmermann stretch out more to get more seven-inning starts, especially if there are lingering questions about the back end of the bullpen. It remains to be seen what the plans for the top two are, but having them with Gonzalez as a very good No. 3 option, means quality depth, in addition to Jackson, who can also be plugged in as a swingman in a playoff three-man rotation. The offense has been sporadic, but there is still talent there, and it isn't like anyone else in the NL is the '27 Yankees.
Reds - This is a team that can get real streaky in one way or the other. I stil like the offense, but I'm not sure why Baker insists on sticking with Cozart and the like at the top of the order with the subpar OBP. Votto, Phillips and Bruce should always have ample opportunities to drive in runs, and they often come up with limited opportunities, even though their numbers aren't horrible. I'm still holding my breath on the pitching, but if the Reds can solve their issues at the top of the order, this may be one team that can out-slug opponents in the playoffs. Aside from Cueto and an occasional Latos moment, the starting pitching is primarily mirrors.
Giants - The key will be a Certain Someone in the rotation. He was adequate last time, and right now, the Giants will take that. I will definitely be watching him in tomorrow's day game. The offense still doesn't have a lot of thump, but maybe Belt has finally found the stroke that a lot of supporters still thought he had. Cabrera looks like he's keep steady, though he doesn't have a lot of home-run power. I'm not sure if Sabean has anything left to move, but this could be a team that is one key acquisition away from sticking its neck out in front of the pack.
Dodgers - This is the team that most will have their eyes on come July 31. That, to me, will dictate where things end up. There are holes both within the lineup and in the starting pitching. What is Billingsley going to give them? Do they treat Kemp's July return as their big offensive addition and maybe stabilize the pitching instead with a Garza or maybe even a Greinke (if they can string up the right package)? The Herreras and Hairstons of the world are starting to turn into pumpkins. I'd also prefer to have this team with home-field advantage in any potential series, as they kick it up a notch there.
Cardinals - I guess like the Reds, this could be a team that rides offense to a run through the playoffs, but there are some guys playing above their heads. You always have to be concerned with Beltran and Furcal, given their injury history. Wainwright looks like he's turning the corner and is shifting towards being a front-line pitcher again, but you still never know with guys like Lohse and Westbrook. The NL isn't loaded with very many Connie Macks, but Matheny is still a rookie manager who has made an occasional gaffe here and there.
Others:
I'm still not a big Braves guy (and yes, I have the UNDER season wins as well). I still question the stability with the starting pitching, as Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, etc. all have injury history. The offense has some flexibility, but Heyward and Uggla are still susceptible to streaks. I'm also not a big Freddi Gonzalez guy. The Diamondbacks are interesting, especially if Bauer Mania lives up to its billing. However, Kennedy and Hudson still aren't on track, and although I believe Upton has it in him to turn it around and start producing monster numbers with the bat again, the offense as a whole can't bail out mediocre pitching. Try as I might, I still can't bury the Phillies just yet. Yes, a lot of the recent wins have come against weak NL outfits, but if Utley and Howard can provide a spiritual lift, maybe the rest of the team can get a spark going. Hamels is still pitching for huge dollars, and although Lee hasn't been dominant, he's still plenty capable of handling a big workload in July and August.
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| Re: Forum Opinions On the NL |
Wed, 04 July 2012 01:09 |
Ryan Express
Messages: 875
Registered: December 2005 |
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1) Washington
2) Atlanta
3) Dodgers
4) Mets
5) Cincinnati
Hon) Pittsburgh
SF is a team that has been fortunate. Not their fault, but they have feasted on weak oppenents (NL Cent), successful in 1 run games (12-7), and dealt with Lincecum not being an ace anymore. Lincecum is ultimately why I think they finish closer to .500 then they are now. He just can't get batters to miss. Either they hit him right away or work him to 100 pitches in 5 innings.
I nearly put Pitt 5 because of their starting pitching (esp McDonald). But until they are more consistant its not honest to put them ahead of Cincy.
Atlanta and the Dodgers will look better once they start hitting again. At least Atlanta will. I'm not sure the dodgers like to score, runs anyway
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