Post by joshsbix on Oct 16, 2023 8:39:20 GMT -5
Not only is the NL Central near and dear to my heart in HOFFBL but as a rl baseball fan. I want to take a look at the NL Central from a fan's point of view. In particular, a Pirate fan's perspective. Is anyone in the HOFFBL NL Central doomed to 25 years of being terrible?
#1 The Cubs.
Obviously, this team has better management than the rl Pittsburgh Pirates. If this management wanted to run the Pirates, we would not complain. The Cubs have a 9 game lead with 58 games to play. They need to stay injury bug free in August but September should be a time where they find time to rest players. While they are a little prone to the longball, which could hurt them in October, they are near the top of the league in most of the pitching categories. They don't run as much as Philadelphia but their hitting also ranks them at the top of the league.
Ruiz is leading the NL in hitting is 2nd only to Melky Cabrera in the AL. JJ Hardy and Shane Victorino also appear in the top 10 in avg. Troy Glauss shows up for Hardy on the top 10 slg % list. Glauss also shows up on the top 10 HR list, with 20 round trippers. In the immortal words of Kansas State basketball coach, Jerome Tang, "They got dudes." And they have young dudes with only 7 rostered players over 30. They look to be the standard in the NL Central for a minute.
#2 The Cardinals
St. Louis is putting up a valiant effort to not lose any more ground on the Cubs. They have put together a solid year but it appears that SF is going to run away from them in the Wild Card race. The window may be starting to close on the Cards as they are starting to age and there doesn't seem to be much help coming from the minor leagues. The front office is in good shape so fans can expect the Cardinals to make some moves to try to close the gap at the top. Maybe not at the deadline, but in the offseason, certainly. There could be a long winter coming here, but I doubt it will be a 25 seasons consecutive losing streak.
#3 The Astros
Management went all in under the guidance of a cat and then changed course mid stream. Joe Price has been solid but the Astros acted illogically in their blind ambition for the playoffs and have noticeably been adding to their minor league systems. This is a good indicator that a rebuild is coming. Anyone that knows this Houston ownership, there is nothing they love more than a rebuild. Likely hard times ahead but shouldn't last 25 years.
#4 The Buccos
Stool is another owner that would do a better job with the rl pirates. He has vocally been in a rebuild and jet continues to linger in the middle of the pack. This rebuild won't last long and they will likely contend for a playoff position again before the rl Pirates do.
#5 Who Dey? The Reds
The Reds are in the middle of their 2nd losing season. However, that seems likely to turn around in the next 2 and 1/2 decades. They have a top 10 minor league system. If I didn't loathe the city of Cincinnati so much for being so hard to spell, I would consider it. With the number 9 ranked farm system, there is hope in their minor leagues but someone needs to take the reigns to build on that wealth. Likely lean days ahead, but with some savvy trading, they could solidify the future.
#6 The Brewers
The Brewers have been mired under .500 for 15 consecutive years. When will the misery end for Brewer fans? They have entered the danger zone for joining rl Pirate fans in the Club of Misery. However, the cavalry is coming over the hillside, or at least it better be. With the 2nd best farm system in the league, the next 10 years should be an upward ride straight to competing for a championship. From a fans perspective this is one of the teams that will be fun to watch as the minor leagues begin to develop.
#1 The Cubs.
Obviously, this team has better management than the rl Pittsburgh Pirates. If this management wanted to run the Pirates, we would not complain. The Cubs have a 9 game lead with 58 games to play. They need to stay injury bug free in August but September should be a time where they find time to rest players. While they are a little prone to the longball, which could hurt them in October, they are near the top of the league in most of the pitching categories. They don't run as much as Philadelphia but their hitting also ranks them at the top of the league.
Ruiz is leading the NL in hitting is 2nd only to Melky Cabrera in the AL. JJ Hardy and Shane Victorino also appear in the top 10 in avg. Troy Glauss shows up for Hardy on the top 10 slg % list. Glauss also shows up on the top 10 HR list, with 20 round trippers. In the immortal words of Kansas State basketball coach, Jerome Tang, "They got dudes." And they have young dudes with only 7 rostered players over 30. They look to be the standard in the NL Central for a minute.
#2 The Cardinals
St. Louis is putting up a valiant effort to not lose any more ground on the Cubs. They have put together a solid year but it appears that SF is going to run away from them in the Wild Card race. The window may be starting to close on the Cards as they are starting to age and there doesn't seem to be much help coming from the minor leagues. The front office is in good shape so fans can expect the Cardinals to make some moves to try to close the gap at the top. Maybe not at the deadline, but in the offseason, certainly. There could be a long winter coming here, but I doubt it will be a 25 seasons consecutive losing streak.
#3 The Astros
Management went all in under the guidance of a cat and then changed course mid stream. Joe Price has been solid but the Astros acted illogically in their blind ambition for the playoffs and have noticeably been adding to their minor league systems. This is a good indicator that a rebuild is coming. Anyone that knows this Houston ownership, there is nothing they love more than a rebuild. Likely hard times ahead but shouldn't last 25 years.
#4 The Buccos
Stool is another owner that would do a better job with the rl pirates. He has vocally been in a rebuild and jet continues to linger in the middle of the pack. This rebuild won't last long and they will likely contend for a playoff position again before the rl Pirates do.
#5 Who Dey? The Reds
The Reds are in the middle of their 2nd losing season. However, that seems likely to turn around in the next 2 and 1/2 decades. They have a top 10 minor league system. If I didn't loathe the city of Cincinnati so much for being so hard to spell, I would consider it. With the number 9 ranked farm system, there is hope in their minor leagues but someone needs to take the reigns to build on that wealth. Likely lean days ahead, but with some savvy trading, they could solidify the future.
#6 The Brewers
The Brewers have been mired under .500 for 15 consecutive years. When will the misery end for Brewer fans? They have entered the danger zone for joining rl Pirate fans in the Club of Misery. However, the cavalry is coming over the hillside, or at least it better be. With the 2nd best farm system in the league, the next 10 years should be an upward ride straight to competing for a championship. From a fans perspective this is one of the teams that will be fun to watch as the minor leagues begin to develop.
