MILWAUKEE BREWERS: After a fair campaign in 2017 with 86 victories and a wild card touched the Brewers are decided to improve especially as regards the defense and the lineup, in fact with the arrival of left fielder Christian Yelich from Marlins and former center fielder world champion with the Royals Lorenzo Cain should have made great strides in that department, improving in defense both in range and in arm power and in attack contact and speed on the bases. In addition to one of the best outdoor groups in the league there is the very strong Ryan Braun who has already demonstrated in the past that he can do very well, especially if well protected by a decent order of batters. The infielders remained the same as last year with the only difference from Pina who is presumed to be the owner catcher in front of the expert Vogt, will alternate Villar and Sogart for the second base and Thames will be the first fixed base.
As for the rotation of the starters will be composed of Anderson, Nelson, Davies, Chacin and one between Gallardo and Suter. The rotation leaves a lot to be desired, counting that it is not known under what conditions Nelson will return after the Thommy John surgery, as far as the bullpen is concerned the situation is even worse because the Corey Knebel closer are not many other launchers that can produce competitive numbers for the postseason in the perspective of a whole season.
I see the Brewers a dangerous team from the offensive point of view but with some serious gaps in the pitchers department as a result I can say that they can win from 78 to 81 games this season.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: The 83 victories of 2017 have left the Cardinals fans very disappointed that, seeing their standards in the last 15 years, they expected much better, why the front office led by Mozeliak brought quite radical changes, via Grichuk, Piscotty and most likely Lynn to make room for other players, primarily Marcell Ozuna who will play left fielder to follow Luke Gregerson as closer to replacing a very bad Oh and probably Flaherty as the fifth starter. The lineup is a good mix of contact and power with the only flaw of not having an authentic superstar that can make a difference in key moments, defensively you should see improvements from last year especially in the exteriors. From the point of view of the starting pitchers a lot will depend on which Wainwright will play next season, if it will be the excellent pitcher who has always been capable of excellent matches and to be a reference point for the many talented youngsters or the player in the declining phase seen last season. The bullpen weak spot last year especially in the last few innings with Gregerson should improve but many doubts remain on the other components see Tuivalala, Cecil, etc. The best news of all may be the return to May of Alex Reyes the phenomenal prospect outside of a year and a half that could change the fate of the franchise in Missouri.
I see the Cardinals improving with a good chance to win the division and I can say that they could win between 90 and 93 games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS: The champions of NL Central in 2017 have more lost than earned by this offseason seen the departures of Davis, Rondon and now that of Arrieta that will hardly renew. Their substitutes are Morrow, Cishek and Darwish, respectively; are all three good players of course but the level of play of those who will have to replace has been very high in recent years, especially Arrieta that despite a slight decline last season had a crazy period in the Cubs, almost record. The lineup remained the same last year available to Joe Maddon with the only difference of an increasingly low use of Zobrist in the exterior for the benefit of greater use of Almora Jr especially as a center fielder. As for the rotation is the same as last season's final with only Darwish to make a new entry in place of Arrieta, most likely in the number two position of the rotation while the number 5 position will be given to one between Chatwood and Montgomery. The bullpen that in recent seasons was a security for the Cubs this season I foresee I can do a lot of effort especially to close the games as the set up pitcher Strop and closer Morrow have never been very continuous in their career and in this role the continuity It is essential to be able to aspire to the World Series.
Despite a disappointing offseason the Cubs remain very competitive, which is why I feel like saying that they will fight for the victory of the division with a number of victories that can range from 89 to 92.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: The sales of McCutchen and Cole in this offseason say everything about the moment of the Pirates, the company no longer believed in this group and decided to monetize in my opinion too much weakening not only the lineup but also its own rotation. A move that in the short term will bring back into the limbo in which they were after their last World Series and for the future the certainties at the moment are very few. To replace McCutchen Dickerson has arrived from the Rays and this could improve the statistics regarding the power, instead in the diamond there are no news while as regards the rotation of the starting pitchers sees Musgrove and Williams probably number 3 and 5. The bullpen that in recent seasons it was in the excellence of MLB given the recent sales and replacements not up to has literally collapsed and there is only the closer Felipe Rivero as a relief to the star rating, the arrival of Feliz via trade from the Astros could give depth in the role of mid and long reliever but the holes as set up pitchers are important. The Pirates will be in my opinion the rear end of the division with a number of victories that can vary from 67 to 70.CINCINNATI REDS: The Reds of the 2018 season will be almost the same as the 2017 season, the front office is carrying out a process of growth of young people that seems to give its first fruits, above all for what concerns the lineup of the hitters, a lineup led by Votto but with interesting players also in future key as Duvall, Suarez and Schebler. The rotation of the starters is a sore point for the Reds because Homer Bailey is no longer the same after the Tommy John's surgery and launchers like Finnegan and DeSclafani have not yet emerged, a rotation that is completed by the 25 year old Castillo and the Italian national Sal Romano that will finally be able to find the stability of a fixed place in rotation. The Bullpen in my opinion is unobtrusive and with powerful arms see Lorenzen and Peralta, the strong point is the closer Iglesias that can boast a 28 out of 30 in salvation. Given the likely inconsistency of the rotation the key roles of the bullpen will be the long reliever and the middle relievers where players like Reed, Hughes and Brice do not seem up to a team that point to finish at 50% of wins. The improvement of the Reds in my opinion will continue in 2018 with a number of victories from 71 to 74 thanks to an explosive game regarding the lineup but with big problems in the rotation of the starters.
As for the rotation of the starters will be composed of Anderson, Nelson, Davies, Chacin and one between Gallardo and Suter. The rotation leaves a lot to be desired, counting that it is not known under what conditions Nelson will return after the Thommy John surgery, as far as the bullpen is concerned the situation is even worse because the Corey Knebel closer are not many other launchers that can produce competitive numbers for the postseason in the perspective of a whole season.
I see the Brewers a dangerous team from the offensive point of view but with some serious gaps in the pitchers department as a result I can say that they can win from 78 to 81 games this season.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: The 83 victories of 2017 have left the Cardinals fans very disappointed that, seeing their standards in the last 15 years, they expected much better, why the front office led by Mozeliak brought quite radical changes, via Grichuk, Piscotty and most likely Lynn to make room for other players, primarily Marcell Ozuna who will play left fielder to follow Luke Gregerson as closer to replacing a very bad Oh and probably Flaherty as the fifth starter. The lineup is a good mix of contact and power with the only flaw of not having an authentic superstar that can make a difference in key moments, defensively you should see improvements from last year especially in the exteriors. From the point of view of the starting pitchers a lot will depend on which Wainwright will play next season, if it will be the excellent pitcher who has always been capable of excellent matches and to be a reference point for the many talented youngsters or the player in the declining phase seen last season. The bullpen weak spot last year especially in the last few innings with Gregerson should improve but many doubts remain on the other components see Tuivalala, Cecil, etc. The best news of all may be the return to May of Alex Reyes the phenomenal prospect outside of a year and a half that could change the fate of the franchise in Missouri.
I see the Cardinals improving with a good chance to win the division and I can say that they could win between 90 and 93 games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS: The champions of NL Central in 2017 have more lost than earned by this offseason seen the departures of Davis, Rondon and now that of Arrieta that will hardly renew. Their substitutes are Morrow, Cishek and Darwish, respectively; are all three good players of course but the level of play of those who will have to replace has been very high in recent years, especially Arrieta that despite a slight decline last season had a crazy period in the Cubs, almost record. The lineup remained the same last year available to Joe Maddon with the only difference of an increasingly low use of Zobrist in the exterior for the benefit of greater use of Almora Jr especially as a center fielder. As for the rotation is the same as last season's final with only Darwish to make a new entry in place of Arrieta, most likely in the number two position of the rotation while the number 5 position will be given to one between Chatwood and Montgomery. The bullpen that in recent seasons was a security for the Cubs this season I foresee I can do a lot of effort especially to close the games as the set up pitcher Strop and closer Morrow have never been very continuous in their career and in this role the continuity It is essential to be able to aspire to the World Series.
Despite a disappointing offseason the Cubs remain very competitive, which is why I feel like saying that they will fight for the victory of the division with a number of victories that can range from 89 to 92.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: The sales of McCutchen and Cole in this offseason say everything about the moment of the Pirates, the company no longer believed in this group and decided to monetize in my opinion too much weakening not only the lineup but also its own rotation. A move that in the short term will bring back into the limbo in which they were after their last World Series and for the future the certainties at the moment are very few. To replace McCutchen Dickerson has arrived from the Rays and this could improve the statistics regarding the power, instead in the diamond there are no news while as regards the rotation of the starting pitchers sees Musgrove and Williams probably number 3 and 5. The bullpen that in recent seasons it was in the excellence of MLB given the recent sales and replacements not up to has literally collapsed and there is only the closer Felipe Rivero as a relief to the star rating, the arrival of Feliz via trade from the Astros could give depth in the role of mid and long reliever but the holes as set up pitchers are important. The Pirates will be in my opinion the rear end of the division with a number of victories that can vary from 67 to 70.CINCINNATI REDS: The Reds of the 2018 season will be almost the same as the 2017 season, the front office is carrying out a process of growth of young people that seems to give its first fruits, above all for what concerns the lineup of the hitters, a lineup led by Votto but with interesting players also in future key as Duvall, Suarez and Schebler. The rotation of the starters is a sore point for the Reds because Homer Bailey is no longer the same after the Tommy John's surgery and launchers like Finnegan and DeSclafani have not yet emerged, a rotation that is completed by the 25 year old Castillo and the Italian national Sal Romano that will finally be able to find the stability of a fixed place in rotation. The Bullpen in my opinion is unobtrusive and with powerful arms see Lorenzen and Peralta, the strong point is the closer Iglesias that can boast a 28 out of 30 in salvation. Given the likely inconsistency of the rotation the key roles of the bullpen will be the long reliever and the middle relievers where players like Reed, Hughes and Brice do not seem up to a team that point to finish at 50% of wins. The improvement of the Reds in my opinion will continue in 2018 with a number of victories from 71 to 74 thanks to an explosive game regarding the lineup but with big problems in the rotation of the starters.
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento