Forget the Cardinals

[Jehrico]

Everyone has been focusing on how the Cardinals are playing over their heads and exceeding expectations. Has anyone noticed that Houston has all but quietly caught up to them? They're only a half game behind them now, while the Brew Crew is sitting in fourth. And they've done it without a dominant Oswalt to boot. What is going on here?

[17 Seconds]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/2004_sched.shtml

[TruffleShuffle]

lance berkman hitting like roid-era bonds could have something to do with it

[wekse]

very soft spot on their schedule.

[JGalt73]

Small sample size alert, but BP recently listed the NL teams with the easiest schedules to date. The numbers are +/- predicted wins based on opponent strength vs peripheral stats alone. Higher numbers suggest easier than average opponents. I still only feel the Brewers are serious contenders - that team will eventually hit - see Braun's 4 HRs in 2 days.

 

Cardinals 2.3

Marlins 2.1

Braves 1.7

Cubs 1.5

Phillies 1.0

Diamondbacks 0.6

Dodgers 0.4

Giants -0.1

Mets -0.2

Astros -0.2

Padres -0.7

Reds -0.9

Pirates -1.4

Brewers -1.7

Rockies -1.7

Nationals -1.8

[Soul]

I noticed they were climbing in the standings. Nobody's really been talking about it. Sounds like a soft spot in the schedule, but then again I think we can all say that we've seen cases where a team gains confidence by beating up on a bunch of crap teams and it carries over to some degree to the tougher parts of their schedule.

 

I'm pretty sure the Crew are still the team that will be there with us in the end though. Cardinals seem to be showing their stripes alot more lately. I can't wrap my mind around the Stros being significantly above .500 by September. If it happens it will be chalked up as a big suprise.

[XZero771679666304]

I noticed they were climbing in the standings. Nobody's really been talking about it. Sounds like a soft spot in the schedule, but then again I think we can all say that we've seen cases where a team gains confidence by beating up on a bunch of crap teams and it carries over to some degree to the tougher parts of their schedule.

 

I'm pretty sure the Crew are still the team that will be there with us in the end though. Cardinals seem to be showing their stripes alot more lately. I can't wrap my mind around the Stros being significantly above .500 by September. If it happens it will be chalked up as a big suprise.

 

Houston will fall off, their pitching just isn't good enough. Same with the Cards, who began to show their true colors in Milwaukee.

 

The Brewers are the team to fear, though I think losing Gallardo might have cost them their chance at the division, barring someone unexpected breaking out it a big way. Their offense can carry them if it gets going, but not enough to overcome their pitching woes. If anything happens to Sheets, they can pack it in.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Astros have been pretty lucky with both schedule and timing.

 

BP has them 3.3 wins ahead of their third-order adjusted standings, which accounts for things like schedule and timely hitting.

 

They aren't going to hit .292 with RISP and .299 with men on all season. When they stop, the runs will stop piling up. Their lineup has a few good parts, but it also has some black holes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Name the Astros starting rotation, and if you aren't unafraid of them then, I don't know what to tell you.

[SouthSideRyan]

Name the Astros starting rotation, and if you aren't unafraid of them then, I don't know what to tell you.

 

If you can name the Astros rotation off the top of your head, I don't know what to tell you.

[Jehrico]

Name the Astros starting rotation, and if you aren't unafraid of them then, I don't know what to tell you.

Ummm...Oswalt, um........

 

um......

 

Crap, I don't know.

[Garage Party]

Oswalt, Backe, Wandy Rodriguez, ...?

[otis89]

The Astros rotation currently consists of Oswalt, Backe, Moehler, Sampson, and Chacon.

 

Yes, I cheated.

[Soul]

OK, forget the Cards, and forget the Stros (whenever they come to the realization that they aren't good).

 

But, as expected, here come the Brewers.

[sneakypower]

forget the entire rest of the division

 

they all stink