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Hamels getting a HUGE contract.

Hmm..

The top three in the NL Central, Reds, Pirates and Cards are a combined 45-21 this month. Incredible record for one of the weakest divisions in the comp.

Isn't the fact that it's a weak division a big reason why there is such a good record?

It certainly contributes e.g. we had sweeps of the Cards, Brewers and Astros during July, although the Bucs won series with the Giants, Marlins and Rockies whilst losing to the Cubs (the Bucs were 7-0 vs the Astros in July), the Cards were 8-3 vs the Dodgers, Marlins and Rockies. Interestingly, the top three have the following records;

Reds 13-8 v NL East, 14-9 v NL West, 7-8 interleague play
Bucs 14-10 v NL East, 9-9 v NL West, 10-8 interleague
Cards 8-13 v NL East, 13-6 v NL West, 8-7 interleague

The Reds are second in the league in ERA with a first ranked bullpen.
The Bucs are third in the league in ERA with a second ranked bullpen.
The Cardinals are second in hitting, first in RBIs, third in runs scored, lead the league in walks,

The Bucs and Cards are third and fourth in the league hitting when on a full count.

I think the Bucs also have something like 19 come from behind wins with 11 being on the road, which is as many as they have had combined in the previous three seasons.

Both the Reds (17-16 in one run games) and Bucs (23-16 in one run games, which is also a league leading figure) are performing ahead of their expected W/L record whilst the Cards are six games behind their's (12-18 in one run games). The Cards do have the highest rated WAR in the league as well.

I can't speak for the other two teams but I know we've been relatively fortunate by keeping our rotation healthy. All five have, so far, started every game and I believe we are one of only two teams which has managed that this season. We're currently on our longest winning streak in 22 years too and the Pirates season is their strongest in twenty years as well too lol. Throw the current World Series champions in and that makes three teams who, if they can keep it up, should be hard to beat in October. At the moment I'm very confident with our pitching and we've seen the past few years that if you can pitch you can win it e.g. Giants, Phillies, Cardinals (last year's No.1 bullpen IIRC).

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Shane Victorino. Good luck to the rest of the National League.

Victorino
Ellis
Kemp
Ethier
Hanley

Great line-up and even better outfield.

Nice lineup but everybody knows you win the world series with pitching not with hitting.

Big series coming up tomorrow for us at home against the Pirates. Hopefully Phillips will be back. Think we'll need it because Cueto is hitting a bit of a wall which the ever excellent Tom Verducci pointed out might happen. He's hit a couple of rough spots earlier this year but has pulled himself back pretty much every next start. In July we were first in the league in wins and second or third in ERA which probably explains our MLB best record.

Wollyhood wrote: Isn't the fact that it's a weak division a big reason why there is such a good record? An article by Tom Verducci on this very subject http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... mlb_t11_a0

Wollyhood wrote: Isn't the fact that it's a weak division a big reason why there is such a good record? An article by Tom Verducci on this very subject http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... mlb_t11_a0

Great news. Votto starts his rehab on Tuesday in Dayton. When he went on the DL we had a one game lead, now it's seven games. Both Bailey and Leake are into career high innnings and that's a concern for me. Can't see us going all the way through to the playoffs with the same five guys. I'm actually a bit surprised that Baker hasn't rested any of them but I can understand why he wouldn't want to disrupt our groove. We're having a great season though and this was the fastest Reds team to win 70 games since The Big Red Machine in 1976.

Interesting with the Red Sox offloading a couple of mega contracts to the Dodgers. Makes the NL even harder now. I don't really follow the AL that much so not sure what it means for the Red Sox.

I'm informed that if we go 15-15 (.500) rest way (95-67):Cards must go 24-8 to tie. If Reds go 13-17 (.433) rest way (93-69): Cards must go 22-10 to tie. With a series down in Houston coming up this weekend I'm quietly confident that we can take our second division crown in three years or fifteen if you prefer lol.