Rank the NL for 2008

[Mephistopheles]

I can't believe there are this many people who have the Cubs as the 8th best team in the NL.

 

Why is that hard to believe? They were 6th in the based on record last season, and 2 teams were within 2 games of them. Some teams have improved, while some Cubs fans believe that the rotation really overachieved last season and is bound to regress.

 

They were also 2 games from having the 3rd best record, pythag-wise. We can debate progression/regression for every team until the end of time, but the Cubs were relatively easily among the Top 8 teams last year, and they've improved the roster. It's irrationally pessimistic to have them as low as 8th.

 

With the Cubs, irrational pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

This is very true. Its routed in cognitive research

[moochpuppy]

1. Mets

2. Dodgers

3. Diamondbacks

4. Phillies

5. Cubs

6. Brewers

7. Rockies

8. Braves

9. Astros

 

------------------contender line-------------------

 

10. Cardinals

11. Reds

12. Padres

13. Pirates

14. Nationals

15. Marlins

16. Giants

[Guest]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

[moochpuppy]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

[Keener98]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

[rawaction]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

The Padres offense is horrible outside of maybe Adrian Gonzalez and Khalil Greene.

[moochpuppy]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

Let's see, they have one of the most potent offenses in the NL (Berkman, Lee, Pence, Tejada) along with Oswalt and decent starters behind him (Backe, Wandy, Williams and Sampson). Their rotation was killed by injuries last season and these starters are all coming in healthy.

[CubinNY]

I'm really bad at this

 

1. Mets (If Willy doesn't over-manage)

2. Diamondbacks

3. Phillies

4. Dodgers (I think they will be worse than the ranking and not make the playoffs though. Joe's magic will be left in NY)

5. Brewers (If they fire Ned Yost by mid season, they will win the division)

6. Cubs

7. Padres

8. Rockies

9. Reds (If Dusty doesn't kill the young pitchers)

 

Who cares?

 

16. Giants (they will be lucky to win 45 games)

[Keener98]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

The Padres offense is horrible outside of maybe Adrian Gonzalez and Khalil Greene.

 

With that pitching staff they arent going to need to score many runs.

[Keener98]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

Let's see, they have one of the most potent offenses in the NL (Berkman, Lee, Pence, Tejada) along with Oswalt and decent starters behind him (Backe, Wandy, Williams and Sampson). Their rotation was killed by injuries last season and these starters are all coming in healthy.

 

Outside of the 4 names you mentioned their lineup is terrible. Also I think you are being very generous when you call the starters behind Oswalt "decent". They are all mediocre to below average starters that follow Oswalt.

[UMFan83]

I'm really bad at this

 

1. Mets (If Willy doesn't over-manage)

2. Diamondbacks

3. Phillies

4. Dodgers (I think they will be worse than the ranking and not make the playoffs though. Joe's magic will be left in NY)

5. Brewers (If they fire Ned Yost by mid season, they will win the division)

6. Cubs

7. Padres

8. Rockies

9. Reds (If Dusty doesn't kill the young pitchers)

 

Who cares?

 

16. Giants (they will be lucky to win 45 games)

 

Their pitching alone will give them 60 wins, especially if they can pull off that trade for Crede. Trading for Crede doesn't sound like much, but he would be replacing Rich Aurilla...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

Let's see, they have one of the most potent offenses in the NL (Berkman, Lee, Pence, Tejada) along with Oswalt and decent starters behind him (Backe, Wandy, Williams and Sampson). Their rotation was killed by injuries last season and these starters are all coming in healthy.

 

That rotation after Oswalt is not decent, unless your idea of decent is below average. Backe has a career ERA+ of 93, is coming off TJS, and has only made 13 starts over the past two seasons. To expect him to come back in 2008 and pitch at his career highs isn't likely. Wandy is nothing special either. He had his best season last year and still only posted an ERA+ of 96. His career ERA+ is 84. Sampson also is just blah. Woody Williams may have been good a few years ago, He'll be 41 next season and last season he posted an ERA+ of 83. Unless he finds some of Roger's HGH stash left behind at MMP, you can expect that number to get worse this year.

 

In addtion, there is no depth behind these guys. The players in the minors who would have been most likely to step up if one of the four falters or gets injured have all been traded. The Astros don't really have anyone in the system that could be looked to in the case of injury, unless you count Runelvys Hernandez.

 

So, while the Astros have a decent offense, their pitching is more like Oswalt and pray for four days of rain.

[17 Seconds]

I'm surprised how high most are on the Phillies.

 

Why? They'll have an elite offense. They essentially signed a quality #2 starter and have an elite closer.

 

Lidge's 19/27 certainly didn't look "elite" last season. Brad Lidge and Philadelphia sounds like a potential disaster.

[17 Seconds]

Mets

Phillies

Braves

Padres

Cubs

Dodgers

Dbags

Rockies

Brewers

 

who cares after that

[Friendly Confines]

Mets

DBacks

Cubs

Brewers

Phillies

Dodgers

Rockies

Padres

Braves

Reds

[AlwaysaCub]

I'm really bad at this

 

1. Mets (If Willy doesn't over-manage)

2. Diamondbacks

3. Phillies

4. Dodgers (I think they will be worse than the ranking and not make the playoffs though. Joe's magic will be left in NY)

5. Brewers (If they fire Ned Yost by mid season, they will win the division)

6. Cubs

7. Padres

8. Rockies

9. Reds (If Dusty doesn't kill the young pitchers)

 

Who cares?

 

16. Giants (they will be lucky to win 45 games)

 

Their pitching alone will give them 60 wins, especially if they can pull off that trade for Crede. Trading for Crede doesn't sound like much, but he would be replacing Rich Aurilla...

 

Have you seen their offense? Answer: no, because it doesn't exist.

Dave Roberts is the Starting LEFT fielder. Vizquel has nothing, and I mean nothing, left in the tank. Have you heard of Dan Ortmeier? Well, he's the starting first baseman. Ray Durham hit .218 with a .295 on-base.

 

They will be terrible, especially so when you consider the strength of their division.

 

And adding Joe Crede with his .305 OBP will not help anything.

[UMFan83]

I'm really bad at this

 

1. Mets (If Willy doesn't over-manage)

2. Diamondbacks

3. Phillies

4. Dodgers (I think they will be worse than the ranking and not make the playoffs though. Joe's magic will be left in NY)

5. Brewers (If they fire Ned Yost by mid season, they will win the division)

6. Cubs

7. Padres

8. Rockies

9. Reds (If Dusty doesn't kill the young pitchers)

 

Who cares?

 

16. Giants (they will be lucky to win 45 games)

 

Their pitching alone will give them 60 wins, especially if they can pull off that trade for Crede. Trading for Crede doesn't sound like much, but he would be replacing Rich Aurilla...

 

Have you seen their offense? Answer: no, because it doesn't exist.

Dave Roberts is the Starting LEFT fielder. Vizquel has nothing, and I mean nothing, left in the tank. Have you heard of Dan Ortmeier? Well, he's the starting first baseman. Ray Durham hit .218 with a .295 on-base.

 

They will be terrible, especially so when you consider the strength of their division.

 

And adding Joe Crede with his .305 OBP will not help anything.

 

I agree they will be terrible. Their offense might be the worst of all time. I'm just saying that they won't be lucky to win 45 games. The starting pitching is actually pretty good and will allow them to win 60 games this season.

[Guest]

The Giants are a bad team and are a lock to lose 90-95 games. I'm not sure they reach 100 though.

 

EDITED because I'm [expletive] and put "win" instead of "lose".

Edited February 15, 2008 by soccer10k

[Clem Fandango]

Not gonna predict the NL, but I will make this bold prediction that I'm almost positive won't happen, but if it does it will make me feel smart for saying it...

 

The Marlins will be a sleeper for the Wild Card.

 

No need to prove me otherwise, I know they're bad. I'm just saying... I got a weird feeling. It could be the baseball man crush I have on Hanley Ramirez, it could be the fact that I've been awake for almost 22 hours now and delirium is starting to set in, but that's my bold prediction

[rawaction]

The Giants are a bad team and are a lock to win 90-95 games. I'm not sure they reach 100 though.

 

Uh, what?

[DenverCubs]

According to Keith Law (FWIW):

1. Mets

2. Cubs

3. Snakes

4. Phillies

5. Dodgers

[Ding Dong Johnson]

According to Keith Law (FWIW):

1. Mets

2. Cubs

3. Snakes

4. Phillies

5. Dodgers

I'd flip 3 & 4, but that looks about right.

[Guest]

The Giants are a bad team and are a lock to win 90-95 games. I'm not sure they reach 100 though.

 

Uh, what?

 

Heh, oops. I was just about to explain what I thought I said, reread it, and realized what I actually said.

[17 Seconds]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

The Padres offense is horrible outside of maybe Adrian Gonzalez and Khalil Greene.

 

Their offense always is like that that and they sill wtin 80+. Anyways, their offense wouldn't look as bad if they didn't play at Petco.

[17 Seconds]

You think the Astros are contenders but the Padres aren't? That's, um, interesting.

 

It's called a prediction.

 

 

Id like to hear you basis for this prediction, cause the Astros rotation is horrible outside of Oswalt.

 

and decent starters behind him (Backe, Wandy, Williams and Sampson).

 

Decent? That's like having 4 Jason Marquis' after Zambrano.