The National League After the All Star Break
Last week, I considered where teams were in the American League when it came to making the 2009 playoffs. In this blog, with less than 60 games left in the season, I take a look at the National League. Here’s the way that things are shaking down on the senior circuit.
NL East
The Philadelphia Phillies have the second best record in the National League and are five ahead of the Florida Marlins and seven on top of the Atlanta Braves. The New York Mets are trailing by almost 10 and the Washington Nationals are a full 27 games out of the hunt. In the division, the Marlins are playing the best ball, going 7- 3 over their last 10 and 9- 3 in their last dozen. Eight of those wins are by three runs or less. In that time, Florida took three-of-four from Atlanta, two-of-three from the Los Angeles Dodgers and teo-of-three from the Chicago Cubs. The bad news is that two of their loses came in extra inning games. But prior to their run, they lost three straight to the division leading Phils.
The Phils have proven to be barely adequate at home, going 27- 25, but they have been massive winning 32 and losing 19 on the road. For Philadelphia, the difference has been in runs scored as they have crossed the plate a total of 547 times. However, Philly pitching has allowed 510 runs, which is one of the worst totals amongst NL clubs.
This division is between the Marlins and the Phils. With four guys who play long ball and three looking to post 100-plus RBI seasons, the team from the City of Brotherly Love looks to take the division with some of the best hitting in the league and pitching that is good enough. Phils’ closer Brad Lidge has struggled through injuries this season. If he can get back to last year’s perfect form, it will really help this team in the stretch.
NL Central
The Central Division is still extremely tight. Although the St. Louis Cardinals are in first, the Chicago Cubs are on the doorstep, just one-half game out of first. Both teams post a RS/RA of plus-35, while the Cards are 6-4 over 10 and the Cubbies are 7-3. Since the All-Star break, Chicago is 12-5. In that same time, the Cardinals are 9- 8. Both teams are evenly matched. The Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros are both 4.5 games out, with the Brew Crew posting a RS/RA differential of minus-23 and the Astros putting up a RS/RA differential of minus-49. Both teams have severe pitching problems, but Milwaukee has the amazingly productive bat of Prince Fielder, which helps to compensate for their weak pitching. Ryan Braun also has a massive bat. For the Cards, Albert Pujols is putting up MVP numbers and could be the difference maker in this division. St. Louis save artist Ryan Franklin has 24 saves and a ERA of 1.33. This is a tough division to call, but somehow I think Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella will get Chicago to the post season again.
NL West
The West Division of the National League is still the Los Angeles Dodgers to lose. They are a full seven games ahead of both the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies, The Dodgers have been “the team” in the West all season. They possess a home record of 34- 17 and an impressive road mark of 31- 23. Their plus-108 RS/RA differential and their 408 runs allowed are both the best of any team in the majors. The Giants continue to hang in there due to the fact that their pitching has been dominant. The team’s 3.46 ERA is best in the NL and their BAA of .238 is second to only Los Angeles’ .233. They are also fourth in saves with 28. Colorado and Los Angeles have both posted 30 and Milwaukee has 29 saves. Giant starters Matt Cain (12 W- 2 L, 2.12 ERA, 112 SO) and Tim Lincecum (12 W- 3 L, 2.18 ERA, 191 SO) have been superlative. Brian Wilson has posted 27 saves but has also blown four and has a hefty 3.04 ERA. In his last two save opportunities, Wilson is 2- 0 with an ERA of 0.00. The Giants are 7- 3 over the last ten while the Dodgers are 4- 6.
The Rockies, who are 6- 4 over the last ten, have four guys with 14 or more homers this season, Todd Helton and Brad Hawpe are both hitting over .300 and both have 60 or more RBI. Closer Huston Street has posted 28 saves and blown just one. His ERA stands at 2.38 and he’s notched 53 Ks in 45.1 IP. They are 11- 6 since the All-Star break. Of the three teams in contention, they have the best record since the break.
I still think that the Dodgers will definitely take the West and the Giants will earn the Wild Card spot.
The Rest
Are the New York Mets out of it? The answer is “no.” But god are they not the team that they should be. They better wake up soon. The Nationals at 33- 72 and 27 games out are done. In the West, the Arizona Diamondbacks (-19) and San Diego Padres (-22.5) are both looking to next season. In the Central, despite the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates (45- 59) are 11 games back, they have proven to be a solid home team, going 28- 20. They could certainly be dangerous next season. The Cincinnati Reds are also 11 games out, but their RS/RA differential is minus-89, while the Pirates’ stands at just minus-23.
With less than two months to go in the regular season, the West and East are starting to take shape while the Central is in flux.
Related posts:
- The American League After the All Star Break Each year
- National League: How Hot is Hot? It’s early
- National League Win Totals Arizona Di
Tags: Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals
