The Chicago Cubs found the gutter in the NL Central in 2006, while Milwaukee finished in fourth place, just 8.5 games out of first in the tight Central. There are high hopes for the Brewers in 2007 with a highly talented rotation, and stock-rising sticks. Many analysts have the Brew Crew finishing second behind the Cards this season, but was Chicago’s series victory at Miller Park a sign that the Brewers may now have another hurdle?
The Cubs beat last season’s team wins leader, Dave Bush, in game one, and ace Ben Sheets in game two before dropping the final game of the series. Rich Hill pitched brilliantly in game one, picking up right where he left off last season, bringing a perfect game into the sixth inning and Carlos Zambrano re-established himself as the Cubs’ road warrior with a five-hit performance in game two.
We know Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez will put up staggering power numbers, but Mark DeRosa, with two early homeruns, appears to be another tough out. The Cubs want to make him their regular everyday second baseman, which would be the first consistent work at a spot in his career. I think it will only help his confidence to grow and make the Cubs’ top of the order, perhaps, the best in the NL Central. For Milwaukee, Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, and Prince Fielder are all All-Star caliber guys, but they are still young and developing while the Cubs’ core of sluggers are all in their prime.
I know it’s early, but this may be the best time to start the worst to first talk. If the Cubs lose their next ten games, I might bow out gracefully, but I don’t think that will be the case. You are probably saying, “wait a minute, you were just talking about them beating the Brewers not winning the division.”
The Cardinals are off to a slow start and it looks to me that the key pitching losses or Jason Marquis to the Cubs and Jeff Suppan to the Brewers may affect St. Louis more than many speculated. With Mark Mulder likely not back until July, the Cardinals will be going to battle everyday with one ace, Chris Carpenter, and a bunch of unproven guys.
The Cardinals still have a nice offensive lineup, but with the addition of Soriano, the Cubs should have better power numbers which should put them at a dead heat with St. Louis who will likely have more team hits with their cast of role hitters. With Houston giving us the early impression of a struggling team and Pittsburgh and Cincinnati inevitably falling off as the weeks go on, the Cubbies’ year may be sooner than many anticipated. I think it all depends on pitching, as is always the case, and the Cubs may just have the most of it in 2007.
NEW YORK YANKEES: +350
BOSTON RED SOX: +650
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: +650
OAKLAND ATHLETICS: +900
LOS ANGELES ANGELS: +700
MINNESOTA TWINS: +1200
DETROIT TIGERS: +700
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: +900
CLEVELAND INDIANS: +1200
TEXAS RANGERS: +3800
NEW YORK METS: +480
ST LOUIS CARDINALS: +700
SAN DIEGO PADRES: +1250
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: +900
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: +900
FLORIDA MARLINS: +1400
ATLANTA BRAVES: +1900
HOUSTON ASTROS: +1300
CINCINNATI REDS: +3000
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: +3800
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: +4000
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: +4700
CHICAGO CUBS: +1000
COLORADO ROCKIES: +4300
KANSAS CITY ROYALS: +6400
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: +3800
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: +5000
SEATTLE MARINERS: +4300
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: +6400
WASHINGTON NATIONALS: +7000
