And also think they have a GREAT chance at winning the World Series. I know that I am not going out on a limb here, however I just do not see how someone else from the NL will win the pennant. Cardinals have the best hitting in the NL. The middle of their lineup is scary with Walker, Pujols, Edmonds, and Rolen. Love Eckstein leading off. Also love the bats towards the end of the lineup, Grudzy and Sanders. They are great defensively. Starting pitching, although not dominant, has been very good this year. Moulder has been up and down, overall probably a little dissapointment. However, their top 3 of Carpenter, Morris, and Moulder stack up against any other team's top 3. One can argue Atlanta and Florida have a better top 3, however the Cards are better everywhere else. Their bullpen is above average. Very good closer in Izzy. I would take them at this point over any team in the AL as well. I am on them heavy to win the NL pennant and also on them, a little lighter, to win the World Series. Any reasons why I should be worried about these plays?
I would still worry a great deal...what makes this team any different than their teams recently? They may be a bit better because of Carpenter and Morris being healthy...but Mulder hasn't done anything special.
In the playoffs, it is all about having a dominant #1 and strong #2. Carpenter has proved me wrong so far this year and has been a pretty dominant #1, but I am not sold on him matching up against another teams ace and winning a majority of the time.
When Houston gets in...yes, the Houston Astros will win the Wild Card...Clemens and Oswalt at #1 and #2 will give any team fits.
In the playoffs, it is all about having a dominant #1 and strong #2. Carpenter has proved me wrong so far this year and has been a pretty dominant #1, but I am not sold on him matching up against another teams ace and winning a majority of the time.
When Houston gets in...yes, the Houston Astros will win the Wild Card...Clemens and Oswalt at #1 and #2 will give any team fits.
I'd be worried about Rolen's health. If he's 90% of the player he was last year, they have a tremendous chance. If not, they might struggle, they rely on him for RBIs, but if you look at his #s since he came off the DL, they've been poor at the very best. I don't think he'll have a healthy 2nd half, which hurts their chances and gives a team like the Nationals (if their pitching holds up) or Marlins (i wouldn't want to face this team in a 7-game series, period).
Go Nats
Go Nats
OMNIVOROUS FROG said:
FROG,
Not great odds on either play FROG. Played both too late into the season. I have the Cards to win the NL pennant at various prices, ranging from +3.20 to +1.60. Have them to win the World Series at different prices as well, from 6:1 to 4.5:1. Also played them at +4.00 to win the WS with the "local". These are not great odds by any means, however I just love them to win the NL. Only team that worries me is the Braves for some reason. But they usually choke in the playoffs, so I am not overly concerned. Cards just seem to have distanced themselves from the rest of the field, similar to how the Spurs did in the NBA. Just think that is is their year. We shall see in a couple months.
Cardinals were a better ballclub last season. And I don't think they're built for playoff success. But anything can happen. Like OF says, all depends on the odds...
I'd give them:
34% chance of winning pennant
14% chance to win world series
NL Pennant, roughly:
Cards 34%
Padres 15%
Braves 14%
Nats 12%
Marlins 8%
Cubs 7%
All Others 10%
I'd give them:
34% chance of winning pennant
14% chance to win world series
NL Pennant, roughly:
Cards 34%
Padres 15%
Braves 14%
Nats 12%
Marlins 8%
Cubs 7%
All Others 10%
Clip Joint said:
CJ,
Not sure what makes them better than any of their previous teams. Carpenter has been the best that I have ever seen him. Morris has been very impressive. Moulder is the X Factor in my opinion. It also has a lot to do with the other teams in the NL and their weaknesses. Florida just does not have it this year for some reason. Beckett can not stay healthy. Leiter has been a disgrace. Their middle relief is a complete joke. Lowell and Pierre underachieving big time. They cannot hit HR's. San Diego does not worry me a bit. Yes, Oswalt and Clemens would be a great 1,2 in the playoffs, but I just do not see them beating the Cards. Didn't they lose to them last season with Clemens and Oswalt? Look, I could be totally wrong on this one. I have never claimed to be a baseball expert. However, from what I have seen so far at the midpoint, I think the Cards are the best team this year overall. Form hitting to pitching to defense. But anything can happen. I mean who would have though the Clips would have taken that Russian at #12???????
Well with short odds you are unable to hedge. Plus they could get blasted by AL in World Series again. The Spurs are ring proven, the Cards are not. Plus bases is just about worthless the first 81 games. They are in a poor performing division, and I agree with the two pitcher guideline in the playoffs. Right now, best in NL. But All Star break is not October. Forms can change drastically between now and October, even more so in the second, meaningful season. But good luck either way.
Best Wishes...OF:howdy:
Best Wishes...OF:howdy:
spreadbeater said:I mean who would have though the Clips would have taken that Russian at #12???????
Nothing the Clippers do is surprising....lol
I posted on here a couple weeks before the draft that they were taking him. They promised him and his agent in person 2 weeks before the draft that they would pick him.
:sad3:
Good luck with your bets. They are definitely looking strong, but I just don't see them as being built for the playoffs. They are a great regular season team and dominant at that. But when it comes to facing each ace in the playoffs, I think they are on a level playing field with their offense being better, but not having the dominant starters that other teams will throw at them.
OMNIVOROUS FROG said:
Thanks FROG. Not worried about the Cards not being "ring proven". No team is "ring proven" until they win it. Red Sox last year and Pistons championship are recent examples of that. I just think that the best team will win it. And in my opinion, the Cards are the best team in the NL. More worried with them winning the NL, as that is where the majority of my bet is. If they do win, I will be more than happy to let the rest of the play ride.
D2bets said:
Curious as to why you think they were better last year, and why you think they are not built for success in the playoffs? I mean, they did get to the WS last year, and that was without their ace for the entire playoffs. He's back, starting the All Star Game, and Morris has been lights out as well. They don't have Renteria or Womack, but I think the people that they picked up are doing just fine. Bullpen has the lowest ERA in the majors, and we all know that Mulder is a better pitcher than what he has shown so far this year, which hasn't been terrible. This lineup is stacked as well. I don't see how anyone could say they are more than a 1 to 1 shot at winning the NL. I am a Cards fan, but this team is pretty damn good.
D2bets said:
I don't think those odds are right. They are pretty much are set to make the playoffs. And they are clearly the Class of the NL, hard to believe they shouldn't be even money to win the pennant right now.
I think the team with the best shot of knocking them off would be the Marlins.... but they may have a tough time even making the playoffs. Nat's at 12%? Seems too high.
spreadbeater said:
It will be interesting to see who makes a move trade-wise. I really like Houston right now. I think they have the pitching to get there. I also think they will be a much better offensive team in the 2nd half and Berkman will pick up his game.
Pettite has won 4 in a row and his ERA is down to 3.09. He has been through plenty of pennant races and will be a big asset down the stretch.
Oswalt, Clemens, and Pettite will have big 2nd halves.
Wheeler and Lidge are a great combo in the pen.
With all that being said, St. Louis is obviously the team to beat. But I will take a shot on Houston with great odds.
Illini said:
Illini,
I think they are better this year. They lost Womack and Renteria, however the guys filling in are doing just fine. Like you stated, their bullpen is very good. Carpenter and Morris are pitching the best that they have in a long while. If they stay healthy, they are surely the team to beat in the NL and maybe the team to beat in all of baseball. I do not see an AL team that I would favor over the Cards in the World Series. How about you?
spreadbeater said:
The Cards are definitely a better overall team. They are head and shoulders above everyone else in the National League in overall talent. But the playoffs are a different monster and I think Houston can play with them in a series because of pitching.
I would like to see Houston make a move and bring in a bat, but I don't think they will. Ensberg has become one of the elite power hitters in the National League. It would be nice to have someone on base in front of him more often.
