Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 4, 2021 21:13:56 GMT -5
Overall the NL Central can be anyone’s game if the managers know how to run their team right. In the end I see the battle come down to Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers showing who can have the best bats or bullpen that will decide it all.
1) Milwaukee Brewers:
2024: 90-72, 2nd Place NL Central
Who They Were: Milwaukee was middle of the pack in terms of runs scored and runs allowed in the NL, but in a top-heavy league, that still led to a strong team. Milwaukee had the second best zone rating in the league, and got good production from a number of regulars 25-years-old or younger.
Season Preview: The Milwaukee Brewers are entering 2025 with a chance to compete for the NL Central. Louis Grimmelbein is entering his fourth season with the Brewers and he is trying to make his team as good as possible. The goal of the team should be to use Edwin Diaz as much as possible. He was the 2024 NL Relief Pitcher of the year, with a 1.29 ERA and 35 saves in 62.2 innings. His numbers last year are 64 games 1.29 era with 35 saves with 62.2 innings pitch. If Milwaukee can keep Edwin Diaz as there closer for this season and Diaz repeats his numbers from 2024 the Brewers would be in shape to make the playoffs.
On the Farm: The Brewers are starting to graduate an armada of high-impact starters. Mike Arnold, AKA, Hawkeye, debuted last year, with the game’s #2 prospect Tim Kierstead set to debut this year. Scruffy Andexler might need some more seasoning in Triple-A, but is very close to being a third young ace. In Double-A, if Mike Gaylord develops his Circle Change, he could be ace number four. The position player talent is generally much farther away, but Mike Perches is ready to be a star after destroying every level of the minors.
Best Case Scenario: The Brewers pitch and field their way past Chicago to grab the NL Central crown.
Worst Case Scenario: The youth still need a little bit more development and the team’s offense isn’t top notch. Milwaukee takes a small step back to 85 wins.
Key Questions: You have such a deep staff. What five pitchers will be in the rotation to start the year?
You have a deep outfield with a few young players popping the last two seasons. Who will be your starting outfielders this year?
2) Chicago Cubs:
2024: 105-57, NL Central Champion. Defeated Philadelphia 4-3 in NLDS. Lost to Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in NLCS.
Who They Were: Chicago once again had an ultra-talented roster and once again won the NL Central. The addition of Dominic Smith reinvigorated the club’s offense as Dominic Smith’s 43 home runs and 124 RBIs gave the team some juice to make up for a slightly down year from Manny Machado. The team wasn’t as spectacular as several other NL teams though, leading to them getting swept in the NLCS.
Season Preview: OOTP predicts that Chicago will finish the season with a record of 88-74, seventeen games behind the first place Milwaukee Brewers. Francisco Lindor is expected to be one of the best players in the game, with OOTP predicting a 33-home run, 107-RBI, 12-steal, .886-OPS campaign. The Cubs are also expected to get great production from Kris Bryant and Manny Machado. Bryant is expected to hit 55 home runs with 118 RBIs and Machado is expected to have a triple slash of .290/.363/.552. One thing that the Cubs will need to make sure of is that their rotation is healthy and injury-free. The Cubs have a god set of players and their only small concern is depth. Their 40-man roster does not have a lot of outfield depth, which could be a problem if injuries hit.
On the Farm: Chicago’s farm system is utterly barren. The team lacks high-end talent as well as Triple-A depth, and will need to rely on their stars to carry them.
Best Case Scenario: Gregory Polanco provides more of an infusion into Chicago’s sensational lineup and the team wins a ninth-straight NL Central title.
Worst Case Scenario: An underwhelming staff leaves Chicago an 84-win team.
Key Questions: You don’t have a frontline starter with Steven Matz elsewhere and Marco Gonzales hurt. How will you get by?
You have a bunch of players with expiring contracts. Will you look to resign those free agents?
3) Pittsburgh Pirates:
2024: 49-113, Last Place NL Central
Who They Were: Pittsburgh made a lot of acquisitions prior to the season and almost none worked out. Joey Rickard, Ryan O’Hearn, and Jason Heyward each had -1.0 WAR or worse, with O’Hearn and Casey Gillaspie the only hitters with at least 20 home runs. No starter had an ERA better than the mid-4s, and seven pitchers had at least 40 innings pitched and negative WAR. With so many terrible players and no stars, it’s easy to see why the club lost 113 games.
Season Preview: The Pittsburgh Pirates have finished last three of the past four seasons. The team is trying to embark on a rebuild. Mike McAvoy’s Minor League teams look good and perform well, which will help with that. The one standout player they should try to focus to build their team around is Yoan Mocada. With their key minor leaguers close to the majors, they can try to bring them up late in the year to make a splash moves in the big club. According to the predicted in the game the Pirates to Finished the season 61-101. They might outcome the odds and show the game they are better than that.
On the Farm: There are some high-risk prospects, perhaps none more so than Chris Currie. If Currie’s secondaries can come around, the Pirates will have an impact arm in two years. If not, they have a reliever. Most of the best prospects are in the mid-minors.
Best Case Scenario: The veterans who remain rebuild and the team has a respectable season.
Worst Case Scenario: The Pirates realize that they actually lost production this offseason and didn’t add talent.
Key Questions: You added a bunch of guys in the Rule V. Will all of them stick this year?
Which of your rotation members will be starters in 2026?
4) Cincinnati Reds:
2024: 68-94, 4th Place NL Central
Who They Were: After a strong 2023, Cincinnati got off to a rough start in 2024 and sold off their talent, beginning a rebuild. Evan Skoug still had a great season, but the team didn’t have much supporting talent. Josh Carlson had a 5.78 ERA as he still hasn’t put it together in his career. In fact, only one pitcher had more than 1.0 WAR. Chris Beradelli had 15 home runs, 30 doubles, and an .802 OPS that shows he can be a piece for the future.
Season Preview: The Cincinnati Reds are entering 2025 in a rebuild after finishing 4th in the NL Central despite trying to be a playoff team. New GM Mike Neugebauer is planning to make his team strong in his first season. If Doug Syverson and Evan Skoug remain on the active roster, then the Reds are planning to have some good potential and be a competitive club. They are planning to build their team around Second Basemen Vinny Escuerdo and Chris Beradelli, Shortstop Wander Samuel Franco and Starting Pitcher Josh Carlson, all of whom are young. The goal is to build towards a successful future.
On the Farm: It’s not a great farm for a rebuilding team, but they’re still early in the process. Andrew Knutsen, more frequently known as Hoss, is a huge prospect, but he’s a million years away, while Vinny Escuerdo and Wander Samuel Franco have made the majors already. It’ll take a few years and some high draft picks to replenish the talent base.
Best Case Scenario: Jose Quintana rebounds from a dreadful year, Josh Carlson finally has the big season scouts have dreamed about, and the team is a competitive 79-win team.
Worst Case Scenario: Carlson continues to be lost on the mound, Quintana proves he’s lost his stuff, and an offense with only one tentpole hitter struggles and the club loses 96 games.
Key Questions: You have three intriguing middle-infield prospects. Who will be the starters and who will have to play on the bench?
Josh Naylor is full of contradictions. He has a big swing, but a terrible approach. He has no speed but can steal a base. What will his role be this year?
5) St. Louis Cardinals:
2024: 85-77, 2nd Place NL Central
Who They Were: The stars played well, but injuries and a lack of a supporting cast dragged the Cardinals down. Too many at bats went to hitters like Jose Adolis Garcia (0.0 WAR, 524 AB), Kenny Hernandez (.169 BA/3 HR/18 RBIs, 320 AB), and Edmundo Sosa (.209/.293/.356, -1.1 WAR). The bullpen was outstanding, but an injury to Michael Wacha dragged the rotation down. Despite Nick Pratto and Addison Russell having sensational seasons St. Louis missed the playoffs.
Season Preview: The St. Louis Cardinals are going to try to make the team a playoff team with pieces like Buster Posey and Joc Peterson. If Steve Cox can keep Joc Peterson healthy the team can perform. Cox also has a really good closer in former scouting discovery, Luis Contreras. Last year he pitched 56 games and 70 innings with a 1.67 ERA and 32 saves. Overall, the team has talent and if they can perform well and keep their closer healthy the team can do something. OOTP predicts the Cardinals to finish with a record of 76-86, third in the NL Central.
On the Farm: It’s a bleak system with few impact players. Josh Weyer may be the top prospect, but he may start the year as the club’s Third Baseman and is already 27. Nobody else appears to be a difference maker.
Best Case Scenario: An improved supporting cast gets the Cardinals into the playoffs
Worst Case Scenario: The Cardinals continue to lack the firepower needed to dethrone the Cubs
Key Questions: Anderson Cosma used to be a big part of the team’s future. What role will he play for your team?
Will Josh Donaldson or Josh Weyer start at Third Base this year?
1) Milwaukee Brewers:
2024: 90-72, 2nd Place NL Central
Who They Were: Milwaukee was middle of the pack in terms of runs scored and runs allowed in the NL, but in a top-heavy league, that still led to a strong team. Milwaukee had the second best zone rating in the league, and got good production from a number of regulars 25-years-old or younger.
Season Preview: The Milwaukee Brewers are entering 2025 with a chance to compete for the NL Central. Louis Grimmelbein is entering his fourth season with the Brewers and he is trying to make his team as good as possible. The goal of the team should be to use Edwin Diaz as much as possible. He was the 2024 NL Relief Pitcher of the year, with a 1.29 ERA and 35 saves in 62.2 innings. His numbers last year are 64 games 1.29 era with 35 saves with 62.2 innings pitch. If Milwaukee can keep Edwin Diaz as there closer for this season and Diaz repeats his numbers from 2024 the Brewers would be in shape to make the playoffs.
On the Farm: The Brewers are starting to graduate an armada of high-impact starters. Mike Arnold, AKA, Hawkeye, debuted last year, with the game’s #2 prospect Tim Kierstead set to debut this year. Scruffy Andexler might need some more seasoning in Triple-A, but is very close to being a third young ace. In Double-A, if Mike Gaylord develops his Circle Change, he could be ace number four. The position player talent is generally much farther away, but Mike Perches is ready to be a star after destroying every level of the minors.
Best Case Scenario: The Brewers pitch and field their way past Chicago to grab the NL Central crown.
Worst Case Scenario: The youth still need a little bit more development and the team’s offense isn’t top notch. Milwaukee takes a small step back to 85 wins.
Key Questions: You have such a deep staff. What five pitchers will be in the rotation to start the year?
You have a deep outfield with a few young players popping the last two seasons. Who will be your starting outfielders this year?
2) Chicago Cubs:
2024: 105-57, NL Central Champion. Defeated Philadelphia 4-3 in NLDS. Lost to Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in NLCS.
Who They Were: Chicago once again had an ultra-talented roster and once again won the NL Central. The addition of Dominic Smith reinvigorated the club’s offense as Dominic Smith’s 43 home runs and 124 RBIs gave the team some juice to make up for a slightly down year from Manny Machado. The team wasn’t as spectacular as several other NL teams though, leading to them getting swept in the NLCS.
Season Preview: OOTP predicts that Chicago will finish the season with a record of 88-74, seventeen games behind the first place Milwaukee Brewers. Francisco Lindor is expected to be one of the best players in the game, with OOTP predicting a 33-home run, 107-RBI, 12-steal, .886-OPS campaign. The Cubs are also expected to get great production from Kris Bryant and Manny Machado. Bryant is expected to hit 55 home runs with 118 RBIs and Machado is expected to have a triple slash of .290/.363/.552. One thing that the Cubs will need to make sure of is that their rotation is healthy and injury-free. The Cubs have a god set of players and their only small concern is depth. Their 40-man roster does not have a lot of outfield depth, which could be a problem if injuries hit.
On the Farm: Chicago’s farm system is utterly barren. The team lacks high-end talent as well as Triple-A depth, and will need to rely on their stars to carry them.
Best Case Scenario: Gregory Polanco provides more of an infusion into Chicago’s sensational lineup and the team wins a ninth-straight NL Central title.
Worst Case Scenario: An underwhelming staff leaves Chicago an 84-win team.
Key Questions: You don’t have a frontline starter with Steven Matz elsewhere and Marco Gonzales hurt. How will you get by?
You have a bunch of players with expiring contracts. Will you look to resign those free agents?
3) Pittsburgh Pirates:
2024: 49-113, Last Place NL Central
Who They Were: Pittsburgh made a lot of acquisitions prior to the season and almost none worked out. Joey Rickard, Ryan O’Hearn, and Jason Heyward each had -1.0 WAR or worse, with O’Hearn and Casey Gillaspie the only hitters with at least 20 home runs. No starter had an ERA better than the mid-4s, and seven pitchers had at least 40 innings pitched and negative WAR. With so many terrible players and no stars, it’s easy to see why the club lost 113 games.
Season Preview: The Pittsburgh Pirates have finished last three of the past four seasons. The team is trying to embark on a rebuild. Mike McAvoy’s Minor League teams look good and perform well, which will help with that. The one standout player they should try to focus to build their team around is Yoan Mocada. With their key minor leaguers close to the majors, they can try to bring them up late in the year to make a splash moves in the big club. According to the predicted in the game the Pirates to Finished the season 61-101. They might outcome the odds and show the game they are better than that.
On the Farm: There are some high-risk prospects, perhaps none more so than Chris Currie. If Currie’s secondaries can come around, the Pirates will have an impact arm in two years. If not, they have a reliever. Most of the best prospects are in the mid-minors.
Best Case Scenario: The veterans who remain rebuild and the team has a respectable season.
Worst Case Scenario: The Pirates realize that they actually lost production this offseason and didn’t add talent.
Key Questions: You added a bunch of guys in the Rule V. Will all of them stick this year?
Which of your rotation members will be starters in 2026?
4) Cincinnati Reds:
2024: 68-94, 4th Place NL Central
Who They Were: After a strong 2023, Cincinnati got off to a rough start in 2024 and sold off their talent, beginning a rebuild. Evan Skoug still had a great season, but the team didn’t have much supporting talent. Josh Carlson had a 5.78 ERA as he still hasn’t put it together in his career. In fact, only one pitcher had more than 1.0 WAR. Chris Beradelli had 15 home runs, 30 doubles, and an .802 OPS that shows he can be a piece for the future.
Season Preview: The Cincinnati Reds are entering 2025 in a rebuild after finishing 4th in the NL Central despite trying to be a playoff team. New GM Mike Neugebauer is planning to make his team strong in his first season. If Doug Syverson and Evan Skoug remain on the active roster, then the Reds are planning to have some good potential and be a competitive club. They are planning to build their team around Second Basemen Vinny Escuerdo and Chris Beradelli, Shortstop Wander Samuel Franco and Starting Pitcher Josh Carlson, all of whom are young. The goal is to build towards a successful future.
On the Farm: It’s not a great farm for a rebuilding team, but they’re still early in the process. Andrew Knutsen, more frequently known as Hoss, is a huge prospect, but he’s a million years away, while Vinny Escuerdo and Wander Samuel Franco have made the majors already. It’ll take a few years and some high draft picks to replenish the talent base.
Best Case Scenario: Jose Quintana rebounds from a dreadful year, Josh Carlson finally has the big season scouts have dreamed about, and the team is a competitive 79-win team.
Worst Case Scenario: Carlson continues to be lost on the mound, Quintana proves he’s lost his stuff, and an offense with only one tentpole hitter struggles and the club loses 96 games.
Key Questions: You have three intriguing middle-infield prospects. Who will be the starters and who will have to play on the bench?
Josh Naylor is full of contradictions. He has a big swing, but a terrible approach. He has no speed but can steal a base. What will his role be this year?
5) St. Louis Cardinals:
2024: 85-77, 2nd Place NL Central
Who They Were: The stars played well, but injuries and a lack of a supporting cast dragged the Cardinals down. Too many at bats went to hitters like Jose Adolis Garcia (0.0 WAR, 524 AB), Kenny Hernandez (.169 BA/3 HR/18 RBIs, 320 AB), and Edmundo Sosa (.209/.293/.356, -1.1 WAR). The bullpen was outstanding, but an injury to Michael Wacha dragged the rotation down. Despite Nick Pratto and Addison Russell having sensational seasons St. Louis missed the playoffs.
Season Preview: The St. Louis Cardinals are going to try to make the team a playoff team with pieces like Buster Posey and Joc Peterson. If Steve Cox can keep Joc Peterson healthy the team can perform. Cox also has a really good closer in former scouting discovery, Luis Contreras. Last year he pitched 56 games and 70 innings with a 1.67 ERA and 32 saves. Overall, the team has talent and if they can perform well and keep their closer healthy the team can do something. OOTP predicts the Cardinals to finish with a record of 76-86, third in the NL Central.
On the Farm: It’s a bleak system with few impact players. Josh Weyer may be the top prospect, but he may start the year as the club’s Third Baseman and is already 27. Nobody else appears to be a difference maker.
Best Case Scenario: An improved supporting cast gets the Cardinals into the playoffs
Worst Case Scenario: The Cardinals continue to lack the firepower needed to dethrone the Cubs
Key Questions: Anderson Cosma used to be a big part of the team’s future. What role will he play for your team?
Will Josh Donaldson or Josh Weyer start at Third Base this year?
