The One Thing: NL Central
With the season bearing down on us (only a month away!), I’m going to run through the divisions and pick out one thing that interests me for each team. This isn’t intended to be something that’s key to their season, or the most compelling story, but just something that caught my attention. It’s the one thing that first came to my mind when I thought of the team.
Here’s the NL Central:
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The Cubs
I’ll watch or listen to any Cubs home game for two reasons: Wrigley is the best sports venue in the western hemisphere, ads in the ivy or not, and Ron Santo is one of the more entertaining radio personalities you’re likely to find. When Santo groans after the Cubs make yet another blunder, you can’t help but smile. He’s a fan in the booth; one of the rare occasions where that’s not awful (see Harrelson, Hawk and Hudler, Rex.)
The Brewers
There are so many talented young players on this year’s Milwaukee team, but the ones that intrigue me the most are Prince Fielder and Tony Gwynn, Jr. The progeny of two of the top hitters of the late-80s and early-90s, Fielder and Gwynn possess some of the same qualities their fathers do. Fielder is a slugging first-baseman, while Gwynn is a slap hitter. Gwynn, though, hasn’t shown nearly the bat control that made his father a Hall-of-Famer.
The Astros
While this may not be fair, I don’t enjoy watching the Astros play. I think that the Crawford Boxes in left field are a joke, and the flagpole in centerfield is trying too hard to be a retro feature. The Roger Clemens saga is borderline nauseating. The only reason I’d like to see Houston play this year is to see the incredible defense of Adam Everett. I don’t think I’m overstating it when I say that there hasn’t been a finer defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith retired. Everett can’t hit a lick, but he’s one of the very few players that can make up for it with his glove-work.
The Cardinals
Will everyone please stop talking about David Eckstein being short/gritty/full-of-heart, etc.? That being said, I’m going to watch St. Louis this year for two reasons: Adam Wainwright’s curveball, and Albert Pujols at-bats. Pujols is incredibly hyped, but that swing of his is a thing of beauty. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Pujols might be the best thing going in baseball.
The Pirates
This abomination of a baseball club may finally be pulling their way out of the abyss, with some of the young talent they now have. Or not… they’re still the Pirates. It will be interesting to see if Adam LaRoche can live up to Pittsburgh’s high expectations. I’ve heard some prognosticating 40, and even 50 homers for the new Bucco first baseman. I’m not sure if I think he can hit that many, but I’ll watch and see. At least Pittsburgh has one of the best stadiums in the league, so if the game’s bad, the park is still pretty.
The Reds
How will the former A’s do this year? With Aaron Harang, Scott Hatteberg and Kirk Saarloos all suiting of for the Queen City nine, I feel like I’m watching the 2003 A’s. As much as I’m a fan of Kirk Saarloos, I’m not optimistic about his chances in Cincinatti. He’s really going to have to throw “heavy” balls to keep anything in that bandbox on the river. It’s nice to see Hatteberg finding success in the National League, too.