NL Central

[shanedog19]

6 1/2 games behind the Cubs, who appear to have a better team than us (certainly offensively). It will be interesting how hard we push for a wildcard spot or trade away veteran pieces and look forward to a very bright not-too-distant future.

[Brian]

37 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

6 1/2 games behind the Cubs, who appear to have a better team than us (certainly offensively). It will be interesting how hard we push for a wildcard spot or trade away veteran pieces and look forward to a very bright not-too-distant future.

We are only one game out of a WC spot as of today, if we are sellers I would be one pissed Brewer fan. The Giants are buyers and have just about the same record as we do. 

[MoreTrife]

1 hour ago, shanedog19 said:

6 1/2 games behind the Cubs, who appear to have a better team than us (certainly offensively). It will be interesting how hard we push for a wildcard spot or trade away veteran pieces and look forward to a very bright not-too-distant future.

Other than trading Peralta, I don't see anyone we trade bringing back anything other than a weak lottery ticket. And I don't want to trade Peralta. I'd rather just ride the year out and see what happens and let the team organically grow. 

[LouisEly]

On 6/16/2025 at 7:24 PM, Underachiever said:

I hope not talking me in about this poster of whom you speak of.

Of course not.

Your correct spelling plus usage of punctuation was a dead giveaway.

[Samurai Bucky]

4 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Thought that name sounded familiar, and it turns out he was traded by the Reds (along with the 41st pick in this year's draft) for Gavin Lux - who Cincy has played primarily at LF (29 games of -3 DRS | -4 FRV) and DH (24 games) so far this year.

Lux played for RJ at hitters.  That gives him at least another 100 points to his wRC+.

[sveumrules]

Reds gave Jeimer Candelario $45M for three years of baseball before 2024.

Out of 236 players with 500 PA since then Jeimer has a 74 wRC+ (224th) and -1.0 WAR (233rd).

Reds DFA Jeimer Candelario.

[Playing Catch]

13 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Reds gave Jeimer Candelario $45M for three years of baseball before 2024.

Out of 236 players with 500 PA since then Jeimer has a 74 wRC+ (224th) and -1.0 WAR (233rd).

Reds DFA Jeimer Candelario.

Helps to put the Hoskins contract into context, for sure.

[Underachiever]

22 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Reds gave Jeimer Candelario $45M for three years of baseball before 2024.

Out of 236 players with 500 PA since then Jeimer has a 74 wRC+ (224th) and -1.0 WAR (233rd).

Reds DFA Jeimer Candelario.

So you’re saying Brewer third base problem is solved?

[jay87shot]

C=Kelly 2.1 WAR 48 games (platoon with Amaya 1.0 WAR 27 games), 1B=Busch 2.2 WAR 72 Games, 2B=Hoerner 2.7 WAR 73 games, SS=Swanson 2.3 WAR 76 GAMES, 3B=Shaw 0.9 WAR 47 games, OF= Happ 1.8 WAR, 68 games, PCA 4.1 WAR 76 games, Tucker 3.4 WAR, 76 games DH=Susuki 1.7 WAR, 73 games.

I agree that the Cubs offense has been amazing but also they haven't had any injuries and basically everyone is overachieving. That is a lineup achieving at 4-8 WAR pace at every position.  Yes, the Cubs are really really good, however the bench isn't very good (AAA does have good young prospects) and their pitching staff is iffy. But at some point they are due for a rough 10 game stretch where we can catch up.

Tallion isn't scary, Boyd is on pace to pitch more innings than in the past 3 years combined and still not overly scary (but has been great), Horton and Brown have good stuff but haven't been overly effective, and Imanaga is solid no shade there. There pen is also overachieving I like Palancia but after that, meh. Drew Pomeranz hasn't given up a run in 22 games, I doubt he can even throw another 22 games with all the injuries he has had.

Add in that their farm system hasn't been quiet lived up to the pre-season hype, still pretty solid but more like a borderline top 10 system as compared to a mostly unanimous top 5 before the year.

 

[sveumrules]

14 minutes ago, Underachiever said:

So you’re saying Brewer third base problem is solved?

Not just solved....WHOA SOLVDD

[Fear The Chorizo]

39 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

C=Kelly 2.1 WAR 48 games (platoon with Amaya 1.0 WAR 27 games), 1B=Busch 2.2 WAR 72 Games, 2B=Hoerner 2.7 WAR 73 games, SS=Swanson 2.3 WAR 76 GAMES, 3B=Shaw 0.9 WAR 47 games, OF= Happ 1.8 WAR, 68 games, PCA 4.1 WAR 76 games, Tucker 3.4 WAR, 76 games DH=Susuki 1.7 WAR, 73 games.

I agree that the Cubs offense has been amazing but also they haven't had any injuries and basically everyone is overachieving. That is a lineup achieving at 4-8 WAR pace at every position.  Yes, the Cubs are really really good, however the bench isn't very good (AAA does have good young prospects) and their pitching staff is iffy. But at some point they are due for a rough 10 game stretch where we can catch up.

Tallion isn't scary, Boyd is on pace to pitch more innings than in the past 3 years combined and still not overly scary (but has been great), Horton and Brown have good stuff but haven't been overly effective, and Imanaga is solid no shade there. There pen is also overachieving I like Palancia but after that, meh. Drew Pomeranz hasn't given up a run in 22 games, I doubt he can even throw another 22 games with all the injuries he has had.

Add in that their farm system hasn't been quiet lived up to the pre-season hype, still pretty solid but more like a borderline top 10 system as compared to a mostly unanimous top 5 before the year.

 

They've played 0.500 ball in their last 10, including a split in a rain-shortened Brewer series, and the Brewers have basically cut their division lead in half over that stretch of games.  

 

So much baseball left to be played - a 3.5 game lead is nothing in late June for a baseball season.  The Cubs will need to make some moves to pick up more pitching if they hope to be a runaway favorite for the division, and that assumes their offense continues overperforming.  Throw in a couple significant injuries at the wrong positions and who knows what will happen in the standings a month or two from now.

[folly412]

2 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Reds gave Jeimer Candelario $45M for three years of baseball before 2024.

Out of 236 players with 500 PA since then Jeimer has a 74 wRC+ (224th) and -1.0 WAR (233rd).

Reds DFA Jeimer Candelario.

It feels like there have been many of these puzzling Reds signings over the years when they needed to fully rebuild but for some reason can't help themselves from wasting money.

[wallus]

5 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Reds gave Jeimer Candelario $45M for three years of baseball before 2024.

Out of 236 players with 500 PA since then Jeimer has a 74 wRC+ (224th) and -1.0 WAR (233rd).

Reds DFA Jeimer Candelario.

Reds888 called it a needle mover for them in 2024.

[markedman5]

Just when people think the Cubs pitching is a problem they get back,to back shutout wins in St Louis.

ups and downs of the season 

[SeaBass]

13 hours ago, markedman5 said:

Just when people think the Cubs pitching is a problem they get back,to back shutout wins in St Louis.

ups and downs of the season 

With as close as the Cubs, Brewers and Cards are in the standings I'll take a split series between the Cubs and Cards all day long (or 4 days long I guess). Brewers just gotta keep on winning.

[Frisbee Slider]

Pirates swept the Mets and go for sweep against Cardinals tomorrow, outscoring both opponents 38-4. 🏴‍☠️

[titanrick]

18 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Pirates swept the Mets and go for sweep against Cardinals tomorrow, outscoring both opponents 38-4. 🏴‍☠️

And beat the Cards today, 5-0.  I remember us being swept badly in the past but I don't recall ever being shut out in an entire series! 😶

[da swedish german]

nl central has best winning percentage in baseball. not usually the case

[gregmag]

I just noticed something quirky, mildly interesting. The Brewers and Cardinals are four and 5 1/2 games out of the division lead. In all of MLB, no other team is between 1 1/2 and 6 1/2 games out.

[markedman5]

 Cubs lose again……Cards down 8-2 in the 9th.

[edfunderburk]

About to watch the Cubs postgame just to enjoy Counsell mumbling nothing & rubbing his hair 

[edfunderburk]

On 7/2/2025 at 3:47 PM, da swedish german said:

nl central has best winning percentage in baseball. not usually the case

And oddly enough the Pirates have given up fewest runs in the division 

[Fear The Chorizo]

This is going to sound insane right now...I get it with the season-long worship of their overperforming offense, but...

The Cubs aren't going to make the playoffs this year.

They are still scoring alot of runs over the course of a week of games - but instead of 5-8 runs nightly it's been feast or famine with them lately - and their pitching isn't good enough collectively to win more than they lose when their bats don't score 10 runs in a game.

I can see them gradually falling back in the standings enough for the brewers to overtake them for the division (just 1.5 gb now), and teams like the Padres and Giants to get hot enough to make the NL Central a 1 team playoff division. 

[RedStickBrew]

Someone get the Magic Number thread dusted off and ready for action. We’re gonna need it 

[markedman5]