NL Central is looking ugly this year.

[GocubsGo223]

I really hope the Cubs can pull something out of their ass and be in contention this year, especially since the competition has declined as well. With two of the best 1st basemen in the game leaving the NL central, Braun staring down a 50 game suspension, both the Cardinals and the Brewers seem like less of a threat. The Astros have packed up and left as well, not that they were much of a threat as of late anyway. So it looks like that douchebag Votto and the Reds might be in line for another year like 2010. But what about the Pirates? I think Hurdle had things moving in the right direction last year. Al least of 2/3 of their season. If they could just learn to play that extra 1/3 to their potential I think they might end up as a threat. Cubs sure sucked against them last year. If the Cubs cant perform a miracle this year, then I think I'm gonna have to silently root for them. I mean better the Pirates than the Reds, Cardinals, or Brewers right? I haven't kept up on the Pirates transactions in the offseason, so I'm not sure how strong their roster is, but if they kept most of their good players from last year, and built a little more chemistry, then I don't see why they couldn't give the Reds a run for their money.

 

[bleacherbum54]

Reds Cards and Brew crew can have off years and still be better than us if we play great. We have no shot this year IMO.

 

[daddies3angels]

Cubs of course picked this year to rebuild when NLC is worst division in baseball

 

[bleacherbum54]

Cubs of course picked this year to rebuild when NLC is worst division in baseball

It is only gonna get worse next year Greninke likely will be gone and the year after Votto will be gone. We have time even if we didn't rebuild we weren't making the playoffs this year.

 

[GocubsGo223]

Yea I don't see it as a bad thing that they're rebuilding this year. I mean it has to happen sometime, and shit if they can get a few more wins doing it in a down year than they would when other teams are stacked, then cool. I just hope it all works out and they see some postseason action in a couple years.

 

[IvyPickin87]

The Reds could make a run at the record for wins in a season. The division is extremely pathetic.

 

[daddies3angels]

Yea I don't see it as a bad thing that they're rebuilding this year. I mean it has to happen sometime, and shit if they can get a few more wins doing it in a down year than they would when other teams are stacked, then cool. I just hope it all works out and they see some postseason action in a couple years.

If it was so easy to rebuild all losing teams would do it! Just my opinion but a big market like Cubs should never rebuild. Honestly they lost over 50 mil in contracts and spent what? 10 mil this year FA. I know they prolly wouldnt have signed enough to make team competitve but atleast could have signed some guys to help now and in future like FIELDER!!! I know they got Rizzo but again he a prospect. There is no guarntee he makes it. He could hit AAA like crazy and suck at MLB like LaHair.

 

[DewsSox79]

If it was so easy to rebuild all losing teams would do it! Just my opinion but a big market like Cubs should never rebuild. Honestly they lost over 50 mil in contracts and spent what? 10 mil this year FA. I know they prolly wouldnt have signed enough to make team competitve but atleast could have signed some guys to help now and in future like FIELDER!!! I know they got Rizzo but again he a prospect. There is no guarntee he makes it. He could hit AAA like crazy and suck at MLB like LaHair.

yeah, they may be the team this year.

 

[Northside_slugger]

Reds Cards and Brew crew can have off years and still be better than us if we play great. We have no shot this year IMO.

The only team i can say with a straight face that i am confident we can finish ahead of this season is Houston. And yes, i am aware the Pirates are still in our division. It's that bad.

 

[JosMin]

Who cares about our record? We're not going to be in the playoffs. Let's look forward to seeing Rizzo, Jackson, and what Theo decides to do with Garza. Hopefully, somebody has a starter go down and we can drive up the price on him and get some decent prospects in return.

 

[Rice Cube]

70 wins is about the max I'm looking at. I'd rather have the draft pick :lol:

 

[daddies3angels]

70 wins is about the max I'm looking at. I'd rather have the draft pick :lol:

What loser teams say. Rather have Draft pick then World Series

 

[Rice Cube]

What loser teams say. Rather have Draft pick then World Series

What realistic logic do you have that the 2012 Cubs can compete for a World Series?

And if they don't make it to the postseason, wouldn't a draft pick that was used wisely not help them achieve that goal in the future more so than an extra win here and there that didn't help them get into October?

 

[Northside_slugger]

70 wins is about the max I'm looking at. I'd rather have the draft pick :lol:

How good is the talent in next years draft ?

 

[Rice Cube]

How good is the talent in next years draft ?

Won't know until after this draft is done, methinks. Scouting reports are like slow leaks.

 

[Northside_slugger]

Won't know until after this draft is done, methinks. Scouting reports are like slow leaks.

Gotcha. Yeah, i didn't know if anyone had known of a web site dedicated to future baseball prospects. I've done some reading for the 2012 draft. Nobody strikes me as a sure pick, but the guys i really like are SP Lance McCullers and Micheal Wacha and 3B Trey Williams.

 

[Rice Cube]

I'd just Google stuff if I were you :lol:

MLB.com has a prospects list for this year's draft. Way too early for next year.

 

[Rice Cube]

Baseball America is a good read, too.

BaseballAmerica.com

 

[GocubsGo223]

If it was so easy to rebuild all losing teams would do it! Just my opinion but a big market like Cubs should never rebuild. Honestly they lost over 50 mil in contracts and spent what? 10 mil this year FA. I know they prolly wouldnt have signed enough to make team competitve but atleast could have signed some guys to help now and in future like FIELDER!!! I know they got Rizzo but again he a prospect. There is no guarntee he makes it. He could hit AAA like crazy and suck at MLB like LaHair.

I was pretty pissed they didn't go after Fielder as well, but I still dont think that its horrible the Cubs decided to clean house. If you still have guys who want to cling to the way things "used to be" its gonna be hard as hell to change the culture, like Theo is doing. Yes they should have signed a big name, but who knows, that free money may come in handy down the road. As bad as they're going to be, its gonna be a fun few years watching them develop.

 

[Capt. Serious]

I really hope the Cubs can pull something out of their ass and be in contention this year, especially since the competition has declined as well. With two of the best 1st basemen in the game leaving the NL central, Braun staring down a 50 game suspension, both the Cardinals and the Brewers seem like less of a threat. The Astros have packed up and left as well, not that they were much of a threat as of late anyway. So it looks like that douchebag Votto and the Reds might be in line for another year like 2010. But what about the Pirates? I think Hurdle had things moving in the right direction last year. Al least of 2/3 of their season. If they could just learn to play that extra 1/3 to their potential I think they might end up as a threat. Cubs sure sucked against them last year. If the Cubs cant perform a miracle this year, then I think I'm gonna have to silently root for them. I mean better the Pirates than the Reds, Cardinals, or Brewers right? I haven't kept up on the Pirates transactions in the offseason, so I'm not sure how strong their roster is, but if they kept most of their good players from last year, and built a little more chemistry, then I don't see why they couldn't give the Reds a run for their money.

I mean sooner or later the Pirates will have a winning season again, right? :lol: