Mid-Season Predictions

This week we saw the leagues cross the 81 game mark and begin the second half of the 2011 season. So
it's time to take a look at what we e!ect to see in the second half and where we think things will end
u! come !ost-season time.
NL Central
The "# $entral is definitel% going to be interesting in the second half. "o other di&ision in baseball has
more teams that seem ca!able of winning the di&ision. 'hat looked like a ( team race at the beginning
of the season has de&elo!ed into a four team race that looks like it ma% be too close to call.
The nature of the heated race means that %ou ha&e ) good teams beating u! on each other lea&ing little
chance that an% team will catch u! with the *ra&es or the Phillies and ha&e a chance at the wild card
s!ot. Most likel% +ust one team between the $ardinals, -eds, *rewers, and Pirates will see the !ost-
season. This +ust makes that battle that much more intense.
.f %ou look at the !la%ers that each team fields and look at some of the in+uries that ha&e ha!!ened it
would seem that the *rewers and -eds are still the fa&orites to win, +ust like the% were before the
season began. *ut ine!licabl% neither the *rewers or -eds ha&e showed the results that their stacked
lineu! cards would make %ou e!ect. *oth teams are far more talented then the $ards or Pirates and
either team would seem to be a !owerhouse with chances for a !ennant run. *ut des!ite all their talent
neither team has showed what the% should be ca!able of on the field. The fact that neither team could
!ut awa% the Pirates and the in+ur% laden $ardinals in the first half does not bode well for their chances
down the stretch. .n /ugust and Se!tember, %ou reall% see what a team is made off. . don't know if the
0fa&orites1 ha&e the guts and chemistr% to !ick each other u! on during a bad stretch and get the gritt%
wins that are needed to take a di&ision title in such a close race.
.f #a-ussa and $lint 2urdle are being considered for "# Manager of the 3ear for what the%'&e done for
their res!ecti&e teams, then 4ust% *aker and 4oug Mel&in ha&e to be battling it out for worst managers
of the %ear. The fact that the *rew $rew with a starting rotation of 5reinke, Marcum, and 5allardo and
hitting from *raun and 6ielder can't seem to get a lead in the "# $entral is baffling. /nd the -eds head
into the /ll-Star break with a losing record7 .'&e belie&ed for a long time that 4ust% *aker is &astl%
o&errated. 2e has been handed great teams on a sil&er !latter and has ne&er accom!lished an%thing.
The 5iants, $ubs, and now -eds ha&e all been hugel% talented teams that ne&er met u! to their
e!ectations.
M% !rediction is that within the last month the field will be narrowed to two teams with the $ardinals
and *rewers battling it out. Too close to call reall%, but ob&iousl% .'ll be rooting for the $ardinals.
/lthough . would lo&e it if the Pirates can hang on and somehow win this di&ision.