The NL at the break

[huh?]

The three best records in the NL all reside in the Central (so it is written, so it shall be). Two of the three made significant improvements to their already solid starting rotations. The Cubs and the BBQ's have a very solid 1, 2; the 314's may get some help if they can clear up their DL a bit.

To date, the Cubs have been on a tear offensively. In the NL they are first in AVG., SLG %, OBP, walks, total bases, RBI, hits, and runs. Their team ERA ranks third behind Atlanta and L.A., neither of which seems likely to make the playoffs at this time.

The Cubs have been relatively fortunate in regards to the injury bug... Soriano has missed a month or so Zambrano missed a few starts, but the nucleus has remained intact...so far. They have a great mix of young and veteran players. The home field advantage at Wrigley is palpable even through the WGN telecasts.

Bold prediction......I just can't do it. I will however say that I've never seen a Cub team this good, this well positioned to make it to the World Series.

Curses be damned...oh wait I didn't mean that.

[Bizzarofelice]

To date, the Cubs have been on a tear offensively. In the NL they are first in AVG., SLG %, OBP, walks, total bases, RBI, hits, and runs. Their team ERA ranks third behind Atlanta and L.A., neither of which seems likely to make the playoffs at this time.

They are also #1 in being a bunch of Cubs.

They will falter.
They will fail.

[huh?]

So tell me, base, who are your division winners and who makes it through the NL to the World Series?

[TheJON]

I don't think even the Cubbies can screw it up this year. Plain and simple.......they're just that much better than the rest of the NL. I think it will be a major upset if the Cubs don't make it to the World Series. Past history has absolutely nothing to do with this year. There's no such thing as a curse. If there was the White Sox and Red Sox wouldn't have combined to win 3 of the last 4 World Series titles.

I've always said......the Royals are my favorite team, the Cubs are my 2nd favorite team, but if I had a choice of which team wins the World Series it would be the Cubbies.

I just hope Harden stays healthy. Would love to see the Cubs make a run at Ron Mahay, though I'm not sure I can think of a trade the Royals would accept. The Cubs pretty much gave anyone of value to Oakland for Harden. But the Cubs desperately need bullpen help. Marmol is not durable and the Cubs need another reliable pitcher to take some pressure off of him......Mahay would be perfect especially since they have no good left handed relievers.