Will the class of the National League Central please step forward...Anybody?
The NL Central is nothing short of confusing in 2009. It's been dubbed the Comedy Central in year's past, but this year's race could be the most interesting in recent memory. Are all six teams that bad? Or are they all that good? Who knows?
Only five games separate the pack in the central with only a month left until the All-Star break. So who is actually going to claim the coveted NL Central crown? Each team has its respective exclamation points and question marks.
Milwaukee Brewers
Coming off last years Wild-Card Playoff berth, the Brew Crew is looking to take it a step further in 2009.
Exclamation point: Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and company hands-down have the best lineup in the division.
Question mark: Their starting pitching is staff is Yovanni Gallardo and four has-beens. Bad news for the second half stretch run.
St. Louis Cardinals
After bowing out of the race late in 2008, the Birds are teetering between redemption and repeating last year's last season slide.
Exclamation point: Albert Pujols is as automatic as the sunrise. Pitching coach Dave Duncan has starters and revamped bullpen overachieving.
Question mark: Injuries have led to a cast largely comprised of rookies surrounding El Hombre in the order. Much to the chagrin of General Manager John Mozeliak, an offensive upgrade is paramount to St. Louis playing ball in the fall.
Chicago Cubs
Winners of the last two division crowns, the Cubbies need right the ship to make it three in a row.
Exclamation point: Though they have to yet to put it all back together, this is still essentially the same dangerous team from last year that won 97 games.
Question mark: The injury to Aramis Ramirez has seemed to cause the Cubbies to spiral a bit of late. His timetable for return is still unclear. Cardinal bias notwithstanding, Milton Bradley is exactly what Cubs fans and General Manager Jim Hendry feared—a $30 million hot-headed bust.
Cincinnati Reds
Loaded with young talent everywhere, the Reds are the most unpredictable division team.
Exclamation point : Young stars Johnny Cueto and the injured Edinson Volquez have as nasty of a repertoire of any pitchers in the division and the emerging Reds' hitters are capable of filling up the stat sheet.
Question mark: Joey Votto was en route to a breakout year before being placed on the disabled list for anxiety and bouts of inconsistency could derail the Reds sneak attack on the rest of the division.
Houston Astros
Judging by recent history, letting the 'Stros hang around in the standings is an invitation for them to crash the party in the Central.
Exclamation point : Houston has the lumber to make the second half push to move up in the standings after the break. Average seasons for Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee are Herculean efforts by conventional standards.
Question mark: Outside of Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez, the Houston pitching rotation is not going to exactly intimidate any teams. Also, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence are the only regular starters not planning their impending registration with the AARP.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Oh, those crazy Bucs...at least they had the early 90s with Bonds and Bonilla.
Exclamation point: The Pirates find themselves in a strange position in mid-June—less than 10 games of the division pace.
Question mark: I honestly wonder what was going on in manager John Russell's head when he was informed that the Pirates' front office traded All-Star and Gold Glove winner Nate McLouth in the first week of June. I bet he subconsciously wondered when he could start applying for unemployment.
West Frankfort, Ill. —
