What happens when you take a team that's 20-11 since June 1st, currently sitting with the second best winning percentage in the National League, and add one Carsten Charles Sabathia to the mix? Ladies and gentleman, we've got a new favorite for the National League pennant. Maybe that's hideously reactionary, since we're talking about a team that's still 3.5 games behind the Cubs and tied with the Cardinals for the NL Wild Card at the moment, but I don't think so. OK, time for a breather. It's only July 6th. It's too soon to be talking about favorites. What's clear, though, is that the Brewers think that they can make a run at more than just a playoff spot this year. With Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder starting to come around at the plate and Manny Parra finally finding his footing in the rotation, they were going to be real contenders without Sabathia. Now they've added the reigning AL Cy Young winner to their mix without taking anything away from their Major League club. They've got to be liking their chances at Miller Park right now.
The question now? What does the rest of the National League do? The Cubs, lest we forget, are already a really good baseball team, with six regulars posting above average OPSs this year, four starting pitchers with above average ERAs, and a good bullpen, so maybe calling the Brewers the favorites is a wee bit premature. The Phillies are quite good, but their rotation is painfully thin. The entire National League West should probably start with a prayer. Remember all those NL Central jokes everyone made last year? Put 'em on the shelves, because right now it looks like it's going to take an upset for someone from another division to get to the World Series.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2008 @ 10:10PM
the cooker said...
Hey Pat, a few weeks ago all of you bloggers were writing how the Brewers were going to trade Prince, so why are you changing your tune????
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7-06-2008 @ 11:23PM
smitty said...
Good to get rid of C.C. Truly he is not an "ACE" pitcher. In all the years in Cleveland, he never showed up at spring training in shape. ALWAYS 50 plus pounds over playing weight. Takes 4 months to get him going. After turning down a great deal in the spring to sign ($72 million for 4 years) he stopped giving it his all. Weight ballooned and he couldn't wait to go elsewhere. No he was never our ACE. He is not a professional. Unlike Cliff Lee who after having the worst possible season last year trained harder and listened to coaches and proved he could be the ACE of Cleveland. This year Cliff Lee is 11-2 and going to the All Star gamme. That is a true professional. Kept his mouth shut and just did what he had to do to improve. You will never get that out of C.C. I hope Brewers dump him before next year. They will be glad they did.
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7-06-2008 @ 11:26PM
Pat Lackey said...
Cooker, you can search my archives for posts advocating trading Prince Fielder, but I'm fairly certain you won't find them.
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7-07-2008 @ 5:43PM
Don Galle said...
Brewers haven't had a lot chances to make to the post season play but getting Sabathia will definitely help get them over the top. Cleveland got some potentially great minor leaguers. Matt LaPorta will be a major league star some day. Good trade for both teams even though Milwaukee will only have him for the rest of this season. Small markets have to take chances when they can!
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7-07-2008 @ 6:13PM
imabuckeye84 said...
i was a indians fan my whole life up until now. i would have rather saw cc walk at the end of season, than to trade him for nobody's. i live in niles, ohio. as u all know cc started his career for the mahoning valley scrappers, there field is 10 minutes from my house. i am completly disgusted with this move. i am now a reds fan. shapiro....u suck, and should be fired!!!!
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