Revisiting Preseason WV23 Predictions

As we've just passed the quarter pole of the 2008 season, let's revisit the official Wrigleyville23 NL Central projections. Here is the predicted order of finish, with records:

1. Cubs, 89-73
2. Brewers, 85-77
3. Reds, 83-79
4. Cardinals, 76-86
5. Pirates, 75-87
6. Astros, 74-88

Here are the current standings:

1. Cubs
2. Astros
3. Cardinals
4. Brewers
5. Pirates
6. Reds

So ... two out of six correct. Which is pretty good, because I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Insight From Brewerland

The Brewers finally win a couple of games and the commenters get a little sassy, such as:

The Cubs weren't able to solve the Gagne riddle during the last series at Wrigley...so no, I don't think all opposing teams know what's wrong with him.

Um, Gagne is sporting a 6.89 ERA overall. And a 9.00 ERA against the Cubs.

Moving on:

Perhaps the Cubs just failed to execute against Gagne in that last series.

Typical Brewer fan mentality. Three games a season make. As long as they beat the Cubs, the season is apparently a success. As long as Gagne pitches well against the Cubs (for a change), hitters can't figure him out. That's a recipe for an 16-146 season.

Moving on:

Don't worry about wrigleyville - he's just worried that the Cubs have been playing way over their heads these first 6 weeks and still couldn't put any distance between themselves and the rest of the division... things will even out and then they'll be in trouble.

Um, before the Diamondbacks sweep, the Cubs had lost four series in a row. Despite that mess, they lead the Central. Yes, the favorites "have been playing way over their heads" by slumping. Genius.

And the strange thing is, I agree with the premise of the post: Eric Gagne is bad at baseball - just as I said when he signed and in spring training. Welcome to the party, boys.

Who Was Right About Eric Gagne?

FireJoeMorgan, for one. Here's a look back to a little Chuckie Hacks mockery. Care to compare closers' ERA now?

(Even though Gagne's was 27.00 that day, too, oddly.)

Closers Atop The NL Central: Not So Good

Worried about Kerry Wood? Perhaps, but it could be worse. And it is for the other alleged favorites in the National League Central:

Jason Isringhausen, St. Louis Cardinals, 1-4, 7.47, 11 Ks, 8 BBs, 11 saves, 5 blown saves.

Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs: 2-1, 4.00, 17 Ks, 3 BBs, 6 saves, 3 blown saves.

Eric Gagne, Milwaukee Brewers: 1-1, 6.14, 17 Ks, 10 BBs, 9 saves, 5 blown saves; UPDATE: 1-2, 6.89, 11 BBs after today (all other numbers the same).

Not only that, the Cubs have a more than viable substitute should Kerry not work out.

Edging Toward The Ledge

As grumpy as Cubs fans have been lately - excluding our fine site, where it's always 72 degrees and sunny - it's important to remember it could be worse.

Fire Ned Yost Now

I think there is one thing everybody can agree on in the wake of the Yovanni Gallardo injury: Ned Yost should be fired. Today. Without delay.

As Maddog points out at Another Cubs Blog, the 2007 Cubs MVP left Yo - a 22-year-old future star - in the game for the rest of the fifth inning and the sixth inning after he mangled his leg. Genius.

Gallardo's Injury In Pictures*

This is what has Brewers fans saying the season is over. Video also available here.

*Changed headline, as we did not mean to imply we were pleased by this. We do not wish ill upon any Brewer.

(Photos via the Chicago Tribune)

Cubs Are Half A Game Out: Time To Panic

Matt at Chuckie Hacks does a nice job summing up the overpaid, under-interesting screaming ninnies that are the columnists for the major metropolitan dailies in Chicago.

And, by the way, tough break for Yo - also via Chuckie Hacks.

Handsome...

...and jobless.

But He's Still Handsome

The Journal-Sentinel is asking the tough questions:

Chicago - Does anybody out there think Derrick Turnbow can be salvaged?

It certainly didn't look like it tonight when manager Ned Yost asked Turnbow to get the final three outs in what at the time was a 13-5 rout by the Cubs in the eighth inning. But Turnbow couldn't get three outs, allowing six runs on four hits and four walks to turn the game into a 19-5 debacle.

Yost said the previous day that he couldn't trust Turnbow enough to use him in a close game. Apparently, he can't trust him to finish off a lop-sided game, either.

"He had a rough night," said Yost. "But he wasn't the only one who had a rough night."

Hard to believe he wouldn't perform well a day after his manager essentially said he was bad at baseball.

Blue Is Slimming

Aside from the fact Jason Marquis went 2-0 on 73 consecutive batters, the most striking thing about last night's game was how svelte and trim Prince Fielder looks. Maybe it's the blue, maybe it's the lighting at Wrigley, maybe it's the "No meat."

Whatever it is, he looks positively divine.

Wherein We Solicit Feedback

Wrigleyville23 has two official favorite blogs of other teams in the NL Central: Chuckie Hacks, which is quite entertaining even though I hate so much the things they choose to be, and Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke?, which is well-written and somehow makes the Pirates almost interesting.

That said, we do not have official favorite blogs from the Cardinals, the Astros or the Reds. Suggestions? Nominations? Please leave them in the comments.

If you can't come up with any from the Astros, I understand.

Around The Blogs: Milwaukee Brewers

Checking in on the Brewers blogs before the second Cubs-Brewers series of the year shows ... well, not much is going on over there:

Chuckie Hacks has comparatively little on the Brewers, worried more about the Packers draft, though does take some time to mock Alfonso Soriano's injury (and salary - jealous bastards).

Fire Ned Yost would like Ned Yost to be, well, fired. They are on vacation in Vegas. Bastard.

Breaking Down The Brewers Blog seems to have been vacated.

And Brew Crew Ball is just Bleed Cubbie Blue with different colors.

Derrick Turnbow Is Handsome, In A Way

Consider this the Cubs-Brewers II preview for the week.

A Google War: Prince Against Big Pants

The first-ever Wrigleyville23 Google Search battle pits Prince Fielder vs. Big Pants.

So close!

Oh, and here's your Fat Prince picture of the week:

NL Central All-Time Records

For those wondering what the all-time records are for each of the NL Central teams, we are here to help:

St. Louis Cardinals: 9,856-9,203 .517
Chicago Cubs: 9,999-9,465 .514
Cincinnati Reds: 9,681-9,388 .508
Pittsburgh Pirates: 9,632-9,397 .506
Houston Astros: 3,661-3,684 .498
Milwaukee Brewers: 2,931-3,274 .472

For perspective sake:

The Cubs would have to finish 20 games below .500 for 27 consecutive years to fall to .500. The Cubs have to win their next 113 games to reach the Cardinals' level of .517. Seems doable.

The Brewers would have to finish 20 games above .500 for 17 consecutive years to (almost) reach .500. They have done this five times, though none since 1992.

The Astros merely need to finish the remainder of this season 23 games over .500 to reach .500 (unlikely).

Ben Sheets To Miss Start

No word on a visit to the DL yet. I, for one, believe he wouldn't get hurt so often if he didn't try to throw the ball so hard. Maybe drop his fastball down into the mid-80s. No breaking stuff. He could pitch for years if he did that.

Eric Gagne, Doing What Eric Gagne Do

If you ask me, we're all getting our money's worth for Eric Gagne this year.

Even In A Contract Year ...

The sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and in between there is this.

Craig Counsell Is Skinny

I hope this doesn't upset anybody.