Who will win the NL Central in 2009?

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The Bucs just took 2 out of 3 from the Brew Crew. Take that Overbraun.

Lets Go Pirates!!!

Not to mention our gem of a player Garrett Jones who now has 9 home runs in 15 games.

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Benjamin P. Glaser, M. Div, Licentiate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Member Fairmount ARP Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Deo Vindice

I voted for who I would like to win the NL Central, not who I think actually will win. The only time I pay any attention to baseball is the playoffs, and that is only if at least one good potential outcome remains: the Cubs winning and the Yankees losing. Usually it's just the latter that I get to cheer for.

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Daniel
PCA
Memphis, TN

Houston is only 2 back, and they have just taken 2 from St. Louis. The combo of Wandy and Roy is hard to beat.

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Fred Greco
Senior Pastor, Christ Church PCA (Katy, TX)
Christ Church Blog

"The heart is the main thing in true religion...It is the hinge and turning-point in the condition of man's soul. If the heart is alive to God and quickened by the Spirit, the man is a living Christian. If the heart is dead and has not the Spirit, the man is dead before God." (J.C. Ryle)

Indeed, Houston is always good for a late-season charge, but I have to point to the Cubbies. A tremendous amount of (to this point, underperforming) talent, plus a strong starting rotation. Not to mention the fact that we have a strong history of late-season and post-season success to draw on .

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Kipp Soncek
Pastoral Ministry Apprentice--Grace Church of Dupage
Student--Midwest Center for Theological Studies
Illinois; 1689 LBCF
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

This hurts me. Who will and who do I want? Because I stay true, I must go with the Cubs...

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Rev. Andrew J. Barnes
Husband of Dena
Father of Oliver
Master of Bruce
Pastor of Tchula Presbyterian Church

What can I say, I like blogs!

Too bad they just traded LaRoche to Boston for prospects. Red Sox nab first baseman LaRoche | MLB.com: News

LaWhiffe as he was affectionately known in Pittsburgh was 3 for his last 30 at-bats and was batting .240.

No big loss, in fact it clears a place on the 25-Man Roster to bring up Lastings Milledge. We are getting warm at the right time.

Beat 'Em Bucs!!!

LaWhiffe! Love it!

Yeah ole Adam earned that nickname for his mindbogglingly awesome ability to strike-out with men on base.

I remember sitting behind the dugout in Greenville (when they were a Braves franchise) and watching LaRoche play 1B. My, how the mighty have fallen.

I hear that is available. Maybe the Pirates can pick him up.

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Tim Phillips
Pastor, Midlane Park Presbyterian Church (ARP)
Louisville, KY
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"Wherever the gospel is preached, it is as if God Himself came into the midst of us." ~ John Calvin

You are dead to me.

Yeah, haven't seen that many holes in a swing since Alphonso Sor....oh, wait he is the team I voted for....never mind.

I like how the only disclaimer was needed for the Bucs. Hahahaha: )


ugh. whatever sound reasoning they may have, i just cannot buy it. i think their aiming to be good in 2020.

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Shalom,
jessi
PCA
Steelers fan exiled to Virginia


“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”
Martin Luther

Trust me. I read Baseball America almost as much as I read A'Brakel and I can tell you for the first time in 17 years the Pirates are actually on the right track.

By the way do not believe anyone who uses the phrases "salary dump" or "lining Nutting's pockets" in a sentence.

Bob Nutting has spent more money on the organization in the past three years than were spent in the previous 10.

There is reason to be exited in da burgh!

(by the way did I mention I am a Post-Millenialist???)

Looks like the Red Sox are finally beginning to adopt Patriots views on athletes who are versatile.

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Curt Lovelace
Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church (CBA)
Acton, Maine
Director, Lifework Forum
Sermons at SermonAudio.com/CBCActon
Blogging at Coffee with Curt

Just for you, Benjamin...

Here come the 'Stros! Beat St. Louis again in the 9th (clubbed their closer).

Now only 1 game out after the sweep.

One thing's for sure... tightly-packed mediocrity sure makes for exciting theater.

True! No one posted a poll about who will win the NL West.

Game over! Cards pick up Matt Holliday to hit behind Pujols!

Cardinals acquire Holliday from A's | MLB.com: News

Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce to you the first place Cubs?!?!

For those that are lifelong fans like me, this news at the end of July often conjures up sickening feelings. Now a huge home series looms against Fred's Astros, who are just 2 back and lead-off with 10-win, 2.72 ERA Wandy in the opener!

On a side note, I have contacted the Cubs' front office and asked for them to put Rich Harden in a hyperbolic chamber until the end of August, to prevent yet another trip to the DL.

Pirates GM Neil Huntington should be put in prison for Armed Robbery for what he received from the Seattle Mariners for an over-the-hill SS and a headcase RHP.

Pirates trade Jack Wilson, Ian Snell to Seattle

Might actually be a good case for that if what Pittsburgh got was actually worth something. The pitchers *might* develop, but Cedeno isn't worth much at all, and Clement is at best a middle-talent player.

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
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Well, I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.

What about that DeRosa HR? Bye, bye Dodgers!

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Lawrence Underwood, Jr.
Pastor - Providence Family Fellowship / Mobile, Alabama
1644/46 LBC
My Blog - Imprimis

Jack is a light-hitting excellent defensive SS that is 32 and has missed 170 games over the last three years and Ian Snell is the proverbial "Ten Million-Dollar Arm, Ten Cent Head-type player.

Clement was the third overall pick in 2005 and will benefit from being at a steady position in Pittsburgh.

Cedeno is a stop-gap till next year and he is only 26.

Jack's defense is why Seattle took him. They've not relied much on the shortstop position for hitting for a LONG time. As for head-case pitchers, Seattle isn't concerned, I expect - they've had a few of them and I think know how to deal with them. That said, they are aiming to strengthen an already strong starting rotation with someone who can step in at #4 or #5.

Clement was indeed the third overall pick in 2005, but I don't think you want to look at the history of "top five" draft picks. It's not pretty. He's shown himself to lack the "wow" qualities that would make a 3rd-overall pick that you want to shout about.

Cedeno's 26, but he's quite a mediocre player.

The other players in the deal are early minor leaguers who in all likelihood may never even reach the majors.

So, in other words, pretty even. If anything, I think Seattle got the better end of the deal.

It is also worth noting that Jack may be a UFA next year. So for 5 prospects the Mariners got a rent-a-player that is on the downside of his career and a RHP that asked the Pirates to send him to AAA because he could not take the pressure of MLB.

This is why I don't engage in such discussions often.... there's always an answer when obviously hyperbolic statements (e.g. "Pirates GM gets away with Armed Robbery") are made

Well some us took Journalism classes in College and were taught how to write Headlines that draw people's attention.

I'm still waiting to see the results (in a few years). I hate to be cynical about the Bucs and I hope to be proved wrong. Either way, I'll be a fan for life, as will most of their fans, so they know they are safe to do whatever they want.

Brother, I have already enjoyed it. See, I am a Cubs fan, remember? The whole fleeting-taste-of-success thing comes with the territory. I fully realize that it is only late-July and there is plenty of time for them to fold up like a chair and finish 10 back. Seen that movie too many times.

That said, I love our starting pitching (my obligatory 'Cubs--hope springs eternal statement')...

We can take solace in this fact Jessi. That for the first time in 17 years the Bucs are actually interested in rebuilding. It has been a half-way covenant between rebuilding and doing just enough to break .500 for the last 15 years. Finally we have an ownership (remember Bob Nutting did not become controlling owner till September of 2007) that is willing to spend money (see the massive new Dominican facility and Pedro Alvarez and soon to be Pirate, Miguel Sano) and is dedicated to doing the right baseball moves to put us in a place to compete. Because let us be honest, the Bucs will never be the Yankees or Red Sox. We can only hope to be Oakland or Cleveland in terms of regular success.

Well even better now.

We got San Francisco's 4th-best prospect, Tim Alderson.

Freddy Sanchez's knee hold up possible trade between Pirates and Giants - ESPN

But as soon as Alderson has a 16 win season he will be traded for prospects as well. In order to rebuild you have to at some point actually pay players.

Who have the Pirates had that is actually worth paying in the last 17 years?

Even more to the point is the fact what good does it do to lock up complimentary players? You cannot win with no pitching and a team full of #6, #7, and #8 hitters. Look where Nate McLouth and Jason Bay are batting in their respective lineups (both are hitting at .260). The Red Sox valued Adam LaRoche so much they traded him away a week after receiving him from the Pirates for a guy who they thought would be a better bench player.

Like I have noted before do not pay any attention to the National Media. They think Bob Nutting has been in charge for the whole 17 years when in fact he has only been principal owner since Oct. of 2007 and has spent money where it counts, in Latin America, Asia, and in the Draft. Places the previous management team refused to spend money. Take a look at the Strasburg fiasco in D.C. The Pirates ponied up the money for a Scott Boras client a year ago when they signed Pedro Alvarez for #1 money for a #5 pick. Previous regimes tried to win on the cheap and doing it by signing over the hill Vets like Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa to fill in the gaps.

It cannot be overstated how bad the Pirates Farm System was prior to the present GM, Owner, and CEO coming to power. Buster Olney said back in 2007 when they took over that there were only six prospects in the entire farm system that had a shot at being even role players in the Majors. Neil Huntington has taken our farm system from being the worst in all of MLB to being a Top 10 system in less than two years.

Things are finally looking up in Bucco land.

I personally never understood why MLB tolerates 6 teams in the NL Central. I would think it'd at least be protested by the 6 themselves since it makes it that much tougher to compete for the postseason.

Some years ago Milwaukee came over from the AL and I didn't exactly get that either. Seems they need to go back to the AL Central. Kansas City could then be shipped off to fill the shallow end of the pool (AL West) and everything would be fairly symmetrical with each division having 5 teams.

But at this rate with baseball it'll likely take an act of Congress....

-----Added 7/31/2009 at 09:49:43 EST-----

BTW, I vote Cubbies this year.

I'm sorry Ivan. Truly, I am.

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Michael Turner
Christ Reformed Church | Independent [WCF]
Georgia

LOL

MLB - Chicago Cubs/Florida Marlins Box Score Friday July 31, 2009 - Yahoo! Sports

The Cubs, in the end, will always lose. IF, and I mean IF, they get into the playoffs, they will be mercilessly and swiftly put to death. These Cubs have no claws.

-----Added 7/31/2009 at 11:14:15 EST-----

MLB - Houston Astros/St. Louis Cardinals Box Score Friday July 31, 2009 - Yahoo! Sports

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Ivan R. Schoen, B.A., M.A., M.L.I.S.
Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church (SBC)
Poplar Grove, IL, USA
http://maranatha-sbc.org