Changing Status
Throughout most of the season, the conventional wisdom was that there were two teams in the National League that shined brightest above everyone else, the Mets and the Cardinals. Well, it was half right. The Mets have continued their domination of their division, but the Cardinals have been exposed as a team with aging players and a lack of depth. In to replace them as the National League's clear number 2 team is the Los Angeles Dodgers. After GM Ned Colletti pulled off some great trades at the July 31 non-waiver deadline, the Dodgers have leapfrogged ahead of their NL West competition to take solid lead in that division.
The Dodgers have the deepest squad in the National League, which has become particularly evident as Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent have returned from the disabled list. They really have no weaknesses in their bench, with is something that few other teams can say. Even the Mets have given at bats to guys like Chris Woodward, and the rest of the National League is even worse. The Cardinals, one of the only other teams consistently over .500, have terrible offense from catchers Yadier Molina and Gary Bennett and no power out of reserve outfielder So Taguchi. David Eckstein may be a player you love to root for because of his small stature, but his offensive production compared to that of Jose Reyes and Rafael Furcal. The Mets and Dodgers have solid lineups all the way through, while the Cardinals are reliant on Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen to pick up the offensive slack.
Starting rotations provide an even starker image of how the Dodgers outclass St. Louis. The Cardinals give starts to Jeff Weaver (who is actually pitching worse in St. Louis then he did for the Angels, if that's possible) and Jason Marquis is nearly as bad, with an ERA in the upper 5's. To make matters worse, Jeff Suppan, who has fallen off his consistent track that he'd established in the previous three seasons. Now, Mark Mulder is on the disabled list. In most years, that would be a relief for Cardinal/A's fans. But not this year. Before he went on the DL, Mulder had an ERA over 6 and a WHIP not much better. That leaves the Cardinals going into the playoffs with only ace Chris Carpenter as a playoff-quality starter. Anthony Reyes started off the season well but has faltered lately.
In contrast, the Dodgers have proven veterans in Derek Lowe and Brad Penny who are having good seasons, a completely rejuvenated Greg Maddux, a rookie in Chad Billingsley who has put together 4 straight outings of giving up fewer than two runs, and Mark Hendrickson, who is good for a 5th starter and would be the 2nd best guy on the Cardinals staff, which says something about St. Louis' troubles.
The Dodgers also have a good bullpen, and while Jason Isringhausen has righted himself after a sluggish start, the Cardinals pen is nothing to brag about.
Expect a Mets/Dodgers NLCS, and don't be surprised if the Dodgers give the Mets a run for their money in that series.
The Dodgers have the deepest squad in the National League, which has become particularly evident as Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent have returned from the disabled list. They really have no weaknesses in their bench, with is something that few other teams can say. Even the Mets have given at bats to guys like Chris Woodward, and the rest of the National League is even worse. The Cardinals, one of the only other teams consistently over .500, have terrible offense from catchers Yadier Molina and Gary Bennett and no power out of reserve outfielder So Taguchi. David Eckstein may be a player you love to root for because of his small stature, but his offensive production compared to that of Jose Reyes and Rafael Furcal. The Mets and Dodgers have solid lineups all the way through, while the Cardinals are reliant on Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen to pick up the offensive slack.
Starting rotations provide an even starker image of how the Dodgers outclass St. Louis. The Cardinals give starts to Jeff Weaver (who is actually pitching worse in St. Louis then he did for the Angels, if that's possible) and Jason Marquis is nearly as bad, with an ERA in the upper 5's. To make matters worse, Jeff Suppan, who has fallen off his consistent track that he'd established in the previous three seasons. Now, Mark Mulder is on the disabled list. In most years, that would be a relief for Cardinal/A's fans. But not this year. Before he went on the DL, Mulder had an ERA over 6 and a WHIP not much better. That leaves the Cardinals going into the playoffs with only ace Chris Carpenter as a playoff-quality starter. Anthony Reyes started off the season well but has faltered lately.
In contrast, the Dodgers have proven veterans in Derek Lowe and Brad Penny who are having good seasons, a completely rejuvenated Greg Maddux, a rookie in Chad Billingsley who has put together 4 straight outings of giving up fewer than two runs, and Mark Hendrickson, who is good for a 5th starter and would be the 2nd best guy on the Cardinals staff, which says something about St. Louis' troubles.
The Dodgers also have a good bullpen, and while Jason Isringhausen has righted himself after a sluggish start, the Cardinals pen is nothing to brag about.
Expect a Mets/Dodgers NLCS, and don't be surprised if the Dodgers give the Mets a run for their money in that series.
posted by Alex at
10:27 PM
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