|
2009 MLB National League Central - 09 Season Preview
Chicago Cubs
2008 Record: 97-64
Pythagorean W/L: 98-63
Key Additions
Milton Bradley, OF
Aaron Heilman, RHP
Joey Gathright, OF
Paul Bako, C
Aaron Miles, 2b
Luis Vizcaino, RHP
Key Losses
Jim Edmonds, OF*
Jon Lieber, RHP*
Daryle Ward, 1b/OF*
Henry Blanco, C
Mark DeRosa, 2b/UTL
Rich Hill, LHP
Bob Howry, RHP
Jason Marquis, RHP
Garrett Olson, LHP
Ronny Cedeno, SS/2b
Felix Pie, OF
Kerry Wood, RHP
Michael Wuertz, RHP
Even with the signing of Milton Bradley, the trade of Mark DeRosa, and the loss of Kerry Wood in free agency, the Cubs offseason was defined by two things: not trading for Jake Peavy and the Tribune Company’s bankruptcy.
The two tied into each other, as Jim Hendry has a seemingly unsure payroll budget. When the Cubs made any move, it seemed like the status of the Peavy trade was analyzed long before the move itself.
Signing Bradley did something that has been misrepresented. While Bradley technically hits from the left hand side most the time, the perception that the signing gave the Cubs “power from the left hand side” is a fallacy.
The switch-hitting Bradley hit 22 homeruns, 11 from each side. Bradley hit half of his homeruns from the left hand side, despite more than double the amount of at-bats from the left handed batters box. He slugged 137 points higher from the right side.
Trading Mark DeRosa will certainly hurt the team, but he’ll be 34 when the 2009 season ends, and is coming off a career year. The chances of him duplicating that type of season are probably not good.
Losing Kerry Wood will have an impact, as the team loses some stability at the back of the bullpen, but it won’t be catastrophic. The closer position is overrated by most GM’s, and Carlos Marmol should be an adequate replacement.
Prediction: 94-68
Cincinnati Reds
2008 Record: 74-88
Pythagorean W/L: 72-90
Key Additions
Ramon Hernandez, C
Arthur Rhodes, LHP
Willy Tavarez, OF
Key Losses
Kent Mercker, LHP*
Javier Valentin, C*
Jeremy Affeldt, LHP
Paul Bako, C
Ryan Freel, UTL
The hapless Reds had a pretty quiet offseason. After trading Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox last season, the team was able to avoid the minor circus that would have ensued on his departure after a disappointing career in Cincinnati.
While the Reds have some young talent, they’d probably need it all to develop quickly in order to contend for an NL Central title, which is one of the weaker divisions in baseball.
A trade of Josh Hamilton brought Edinson Volquez into a rotation already headed up by decent starters Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.
However, Harang, who finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting in 2007, capping a three year stretch where he had an ERA under four, pitched 200 innings, and won at least 10 games, met none of those marks in 2008.
Prediction: 74-88
Houston Astros
2008 Record: 86-75
Pythagorean W/L: 77-84
Key Additions
Ivan Rodriguez, C
Aaron Boone, INF
Mike Hampton, LHP
Jason Michaels, OF
Key Losses
Randy Wolf, LHP
Mark Loretta, INF
Ty Wigginton, 3b/1b
Last season, though they didn’t make the playoffs, over-achieved mightily. The team was 11 games over .500 despite being outscored by 31 runs for the entire season.
All of this was done with Miguel Tejada’s legal issues somewhat on the backburner. Now, the former star shortstop and steroid user has his work status in question.
he Astros brought in Aaron Boone, who promptly had open heart surgery.
Mike Hampton, once a horror story of hundred-million-dollar contracts will provide a solid veteran arm in the team’s rotation, but isn’t an upgrade over a healthy Randy Wolf.
Ty Wigginton was one of the most underrated free agents this offseason. Guys who slug .526 and play a respectable third base are hard to come by. Wigginton only got a two-year, $6 million contract, wasn’t even tendered by the Astros.
Without significant upgrades, already an over-achiever, the Astros are in line for a significant drop off, but could be in the Ben Sheets sweepstakes if they are competitive until June.
Prediction: 72-90
Milwaukee Brewers
2008 Record: 90-72
Pythagorean W/L: 87-75
Key Additions
Trevor Hoffman, RHP
Jorge Julio, RHP
R.J. Swindle, LHP
Key Losses
Eric Gagne, RHP
Ray Durham, 2b
Jason Kendall, C
Ben Sheets, RHP
CC Sabathia, LHP
Russell Branyan, 3b/1b
Joe Dillon, INF
Guillermo Mota, RHP
Gabe Kapler, OF
Brian Shouse, LHP
The Brewers had an awful offseason. The team expected to receive type A compensation for both CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, and won’t get either.
While the team will technically be compensated for Sabathia, they’ll get the Yankees second-round pick, because the team signed Mark Teixeira also, who ranked higher among type A free agents.
Ben Sheets has an elbow injury that the Brewers got to pay for. He’ll likely be sidelined until after the amateur draft, meaning the Brewers won’t receive any compensation for him.
The Brew Crew brought in the ageless Trevor Hoffman to solidify their closer spot, but it remains to be seen how many save situations the Brewers will be able to facilitate for the all-time saves leader.
Prediction: 75-87
Pittsburgh Pirates
2008 Record: 67-95
Pythagorean W/L: 67-95
Key Additions
Eric Hinske, OF
Jason Jarmillo, C
Ramon Vazquez, 3b
Key Losses
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1b
Jason Michaels, OF
Ronny Paulino, C
The poor got poorer this offseason as the Pirates continue to mismanage their way to what will likely become their 17th straight losing season, and their fifth straight 90-loss season.
The Pirates, once a reasonably proud franchise, has been in shambles for nearly two decades, and there doesn’t appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Unlike other low-budget teams, the Pirates have done a poor job drafting, signing international free agents, and re-tooling. The team trades its once-promising prospects too late, and not often enough.
Prediction: 60-102
St. Louis Cardinals
2008 Record: 86-76
Pythagorean W/L: 86-76
Key Additions
Khalil Greene, SS
Trever Miller, LHP
Royce Ring, LHP
Key Losses
Juan Encarnacion, OF
Randy Flores, LHP
Jason Isringhausen, RHP
Braden Looper, RHP
Mark Mulder, LHP
Ron Villone, LHP
Cesar Izturis, SS
Felipe Lopez, INF
Aaron Miles, INF
Russ Springer, RHP
Tyler Johnson, LHP
The Cardinals quietly had a very good offseason. After dumping mostly broken parts, the team upgraded its infield by picking up Khalil Greene.
Greene, who once took second-place in the rookie of the year voting, had a rough 2008. He went .213/.260/.339, struggling to find the stroke that helped him become one of the league’s better shortstops.
Losses of Jason Isringhausen, Mark Mulder and Braden Looper represent the loss of broken parts. All three have had serious arm injuries in their careers, and have been ineffective of late.
If Chris Carpenter can come back as a starter, without the salaries of the aforementioned oft-injured pitchers, the Cards may be in place to make a move in July, or perhaps sooner, and create a formidable rotation.
Prediction: 83-79
Home 09 MLB Season Preview
|
