NL Central Update: NLC Owns 3 of 4 Best Records in Baseball

Approaching 50 games in the 2013 season and the National League Central has a familiar look at top of the division when you consider what those prognosticators prognosticated. The Cards, Reds and Prates occupy the division’s top three slots with the Brewers and Cubs on the minus side of things.

Look a the standings. Not just in the division, but for all of baseball. St. Louis (30-16) has MLB’s best record. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh (29-18) share baseball’s third best record. The Texas Rangers (30-17) is the team that breaks the NLC stronghold. Texas owns baseball’s largest division lead at 5.5 games.

The update starts with the Cubs…

May 22, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; So Alfonso Soriano is tired of losing. If he had agreed to the trade, he could be in San Francisco. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

Chicago Cubs

We know that the majority of folk who are not Cubs fans cite the words “Cubs suck” on a daily basis. Well, seeing as the Cubbies are in the cellar of the division, those in agreement may grow, but there is a slight bit of light.

How’s that? They’re only a half-game behind the struggling Milwaukee Brewers. More on the Brewers in a bit.

That light could fade as Chicago hits GABP for a three-game series against our beloved Redlegs. The Reds have eon 9 of the last 10 games between these two teams including 5 of the 6 this season. The losing is grating on one Alfonso Soriano.

Wait. During last year’s trade deadline-mania, wasn’t there a potential deal that could have sent Soriano to the Giants? If Soriano is frustrated by the losses (as Carrie Muskat of MLB.com notes), why did he nix that deal? He would only go to one West Coast team: the Dodgers. That is according to an August 2012 note from Phil Rogers.

Considering the state of things in LA right now, he would be in the same situation only with a better record.

Milwaukee Brewers

Yesterday, Reviewing the Brew’s Lou Olsen went through a bit of pain to bring this to our attention…

"Well the last month has had almost nothing good, but there has been plenty of bad and ugly. As of this morning (05/23) the team is 9-23 since the last Brewers Banalities installment. Essentially, they have won 9 games in the past month. That is so bad that I am pretty sure Clint Eastwood would rather team up with an orangutan then the Brewers."

One issue has been the Brewers starting rotation. Milwaukee starters own a combined record of 11-19, an ERA of 5.28 along with a WHIP that reads 1.498. The Reds added to that during their last homestand. Cincy outscored the Brewers 22-11 in sweeping the three games.

Now, the Pirates are coming into Miller Park.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Reds fans note certain bats that are “struggling”, but the Pirates have a few in their fold, too. Tom Smith from Rum Bunter informs us that the Pirates offense needs to “come to life”.

In a video interview I did prior to the Brewers visiting GABP (which can be found on BRM’s home page), I stated that I thought if the Pirates got the arms in the right frame of mind, they would be a difficult team to face. Scratch that as the bats have not produced.

Hmm… Strange thing is that the Buccos head to Miller Park with the same record as the Reds and their overall offensive numbers aren’t that far from what the Reds’ bats have produced.

St. Louis Cardinals

For every pitcher that goes down, the Redbirds sprouts another. Redbird Rants states that the newest addition to the Cards rotation is Tyler Lyons. All Lyons did in his debut was go 7 innings and allowed one whole run. One.

Starters Chris Carpenter (who began the season on the DL), Jake Westbook, Jaime Garcia are all on the DL. Carpenter has shown positive signs during his rehab. It is unknown when Westbrook will reappear. Garcia’s 2013 is done due to needing surgery. Closer Jason Motte, done for the season. Fernando Salas is on the DL as well.

No worries by the Arch. They score enough, but will it eventually catch up to them?