Who will win the NL Central?

[CoreyR]

The NL Central is one of the best divisions in baseball and I am going to feature this poll on the front page. Who gets your vote to win the NL Central?

[Buccos13]

Oh, how much it pains me not to vote for the Pirates. But I'm going with the Reds. I think they'll be the team that is still playing good down the stretch.

HOWEVER: Watch out for the Cubs. They're my long-shot pick to win the Central.

[Mr. Baseball]

If it weren't for Wainwright's injury, I would surely have the Cardinals penned into my playoff bracket. However, Wainwright went down, and he won't be getting back up, giving the Reds and Brewers the competitive edge in the Central.

Call me bias, but I feel the Brewers have the most balanced team in the division (if not the entire league). We managed to acquire three aces (Marcum, Greinke, and Gallardo), to go along with the All Star caliber bats of Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Casey McGehee, and talented relievers John Axford, Kameron Loe, and Takashi Saito.

On the other hand, you can never count St. Louis out, and the defending National League Central champs (Reds), have brought back nearly all their key players from last season. And seeing how they're so young, they should get even better with age (scary thought)!

[BrewCrewFan]

Very tough question, and one of four teams could very well win it. The Cardinals are starting to heat up, Berkman is carrying the load for them but Pujols is starting to heat up as well. If Wainwright wouldn't have gotten hurt, I probably would have picked them. They need Carpenter to pitch a full season, effective season as well. Will that happen? I don't think it will. I have them as 3rd place in the division.

Now, I think this division is going to be between the Reds and Brewers. Yes, the Reds did sweep the Brewers in Cincinnati, but the Brewers were in every game pretty much except for Sunday. Axford blew a 3 run save as well. I think you will see the Brewers really start to heat up once we get fully healthy. Hart/Greinke should be back by the end of April and then we will take off. I still have questions about the Reds bullpen, considering Chapman has been injured a bit, and Cordero is pretty old.

Here is how I see it shaping up:

1. Brewers: 90-72
2. Reds: 88-74
3. Cardinals: 85-77
4. Cubs: 80-82
5. Astros: 75-87
6. Pirates: 70-92

[Mudge]

I like the Brewers and all that, but the bottom of their order is very weak and their defense is problematic. That said, the pitching could save them, and therefore I'll take them over the Reds.

[RickD]

REDS....I just thought it would be fun to not vote BREWERS!

[JoshRedcay]

I'm sticking with my original prediction and went with the Reds here. I originally thought the Cardinals would take the division, but with Wainwright out it's most likely not going to happen. I can see the Brewers falling just short of the Reds down the stretch, but we'll have to wait and see. Either way, it's either going to be the Reds or Brewers, although it's the MLB, anything can happen.

[Mr. Baseball]

REDS....I just thought it would be fun to not vote BREWERS!

Where's the thumbs down button when you need it! :irked:

[diehardbrewgirl]

Brewers are certainly going to make a run for 1st place this season, don't let the Reds series fool anyone we have been on fire since then! Every single one of our starting pitchers have had quality starts. Sure our bullpen has been a little shaky but who's hasn't? Once Hart and Greinke are back we will have an even stronger team. I've been really impressed with Morgan so far as well. I love that he goes out there and takes whatever chance he can get to score even if at times he maybe shouldn't be as aggressive. I may be biased as well but we've got it all on paper and the last week we have really come together.

[DieHard]

If the Cubs could play with good consistency they could dominate the division

[Old Sweater]

I don't project that much but I voted Reds edging out the Brewers.

Like Mr Baseball, if Wainwright hadn't gone down due to injury I would have picked the Cardinals.

Hoping for the Cubs to snap it off.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Where's the thumbs down button when you need it! :irked:

There is also an ignore option.... ;)

[Brauny]

I'm going to say the Brewers. Homer pick? Maybe. :tongue1:

Once Greinke is back and healthy I feel that we'll have one of the best rotations in all of baseball.

Greinke
Gallardo
Marcum
Wolf
Narveson

Narveson has been very good so far if you don't count his 6th inning blowup the other day. It's not often you can find a fifth starter of his talent level. We basically have three aces to start off the rotation too, meaning we can hang with any team out there in any given series.

To go along with the added pitching talent we still have our damaging offense from last season. Fielder is back for probably his final and contract year. He'll need to perform well to get his big payday. Braun, Weeks, McGehee, and Hart will also be solid in their roles and drive in countless runs. I'm slightly worried about the bottom of the order, but we should be fine overall.

So hometown pick or not... I've got the Brewers winning the NL Central!