Views
5
Comments
5
  • May 21, 2007 04:53 PM ET

The NL Wildcard will come from the NL West.

panthersfan10 (24-5-0) vs RedSoxMania (21-32-1)
11
Votes
9
Votes
11
Votes
9
Votes


The NL West is arguably the most complete division in baseball, and is surely the most complete in the NL. I would say all three of the top runners for the division are some elite teams in baseball, and San Francisco is not that bad, either. The Dodgers have great pitching, and their 3.58 ERA is third behind the Padres and Mets right now. The Padres are getting by, since they're 8-10 in one-run games, but they are still catching the Dodgers. Justin Germano s also pitching great, 2-0 in three starts with a 0.47 ERA. Randy Johnson is may be back to his elite self, with 28 K's in last three starts, 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA, and this keeps the Diamondbacks up there. The division is also just way to close to count the Giants out, too, and the overall talent level is there, top to bottom. The wildcard came from this division last year, and will again.


I disagree, I think the wild card will come from anywhere but the West. It can come from the Central, possibly the Cubs if the bullpen can get it together. Also, the Braves and Phillies are both solid teams. They can beat the Padres or the Giants. The Mets will win the division in the East and the Braves will win the wild card, they are good.


The Braves and Phillies are good teams, but the other teams in the NL West don't have many problems, and odds are that they will be the ones with the better records, since they will be trying to keep up with the Dodgers. They are also relying on pitching to get them their wins, which is what teams need to move to the postseason, and the Cubs will probably not get their bullpen together.


Last year San Diego finished with a record right around .500, this year the Braves and Phillies will finish well above that mark. The Braves are always real good and have made the playoffs 14 of the last 15 years. The Phillie just have too much firepower for any team in the West. The Giants aren't good enough all around, the pitching is way to weak. The Dodgers will win the division. The D-Backs can't get it together. The Padres are pretty decent but they aren't quite as good as the teams from the East.


The Padres may have not had too great a record last year, but they will also finish well above that mark this year, too, due to great, solid pitching, and more competition from others around them. I think that San Diego is able to block all of that out and focus on what really matters, winning one more game than the next best team that doesn't win their division. The Braves and Phillies will rival them, but the wildcard will come out of the NL West, especially if the Padres win it, since I'm sure the Dodgers can at least get wildcard.


Padres are hittin just .241 as a team, while the Braves and Phillies are both hitting .266. With a .241 team average, you are not going anywhere. To win games you have to score, to score you need to hit, and the Padres can't do that. The Padres have 185 runs scored, the Braves have 217, and the Phillies have 220. Their offenses are much more powerful. You have to score to win, and both the Braves and Phillies do this much better than the Padres.

Comments (5) Add A Comment

May 21, 2007  04:59 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

tHE dIAMONDBACKS WILL WIN THE WILD CARD

May 21, 2007  05:03 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Braves or Mets, whoever doesnt win the division. And the most complete division is definately not the NL West. Try the AL Central. Indians, White Sox, Tigers, and Twins.

May 21, 2007  05:24 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

If the West has fewer problems than the Braves or Mets, why do they have worse records?

May 21, 2007  08:26 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

RedSoxMania, please keep arguing.

 
May 22, 2007  05:11 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Of course everything is subject to change, but it certainly appears that the second place team in the NL East will win the Wild Card. It would take a major shift for a team from the West to win it. The only certainty is that it won't come from the Central. That's the worst division in baseball.

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Leaderboard

  Fan W L T Win %
1 Porkins: Tortured by the BCS 154 14 1 91.4%
2 YODA 48 4 2 90.7%
3 Baun-de... 68 7 2 89.6%
4 The Ram 149 17 4 88.8%
5 FoosBal... 84 12 2 86.7%
6 Hyped78 132 19 5 86.2%
7 PhillyE... 78 11 4 86.0%
8 Dookie: Here We Go Steelers 119 19 8 84.2%
9 [The] Coach 106 18 5 84.1%
10 Sooner in WA- Rightful Champ 55 13 3 79.6%

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Plaxico laughs off gun arrest
    Views
    24424
    Comments
    2203
  2. 2
    Giants can get out of Burress contract
    Views
    6949
    Comments
    1611
  3. 3
    Is Pettitte a phony?
    Views
    5033
    Comments
    666
  4. 4
    Tazawa chooses Red Sox over Rangers
    Views
    3711
    Comments
    270
  5. 5
    Marbury rips teammates, coach on way out
    Views
    8466
    Comments
    184

Most Active Users

Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns

  1. 1
    _ _ _ _ _
  2. 2
    bcoltrinari
  3. 3
    Epoch1
  4. 4
    Dyhard: Big 10/ACC Challenge
  5. 5
    Mr Fancypants

Message Boards

  1. MMA > Fight Club

    Fight of the year?
    Views
    495
    Replies
    11

  2. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    Has everyone forgotten how…
    Views
    85
    Replies
    15

  3. NFL > New York Giants

    Let Burress go
    Views
    84
    Replies
    3

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

Larisa & Marisa CoyLarisa & Marisa Coy
Irina ShaykIrina Shayk

SI Photos

College Superfans: Week 14College Superfans: Week 14
NFL Players Who DeliveredNFL Players Who Delivered