As the all star break approaches for Major League Baseball we continue to ask questions. Yesterday we took at look at some questions that needed to be asked and answered in the American League. Today, we take a look at the National League.
1. Is the National League as mediocre as it appears to be? Yes it is! Pitching in the league has been less than mediocre. There are only six teams in the entire league that are playing .500 baseball. There are no teams in the N. L. West over .500. Once again this season, the N. L. was dominated by the A. L. in inter-league play.
2. Who’s the team to beat in the N. L. West? I still think it’s the Diamondback. After an encouraging start, Arizona has been sputtering. But they still seem to be the most solid team in the division.
3. Will the trade for C. C. Sabathia vault the Brewers into the playoffs? Anything less than a playoff spot would be a disappointment for the Brewers. They’ve been playing good baseball and are challenging the Cubs and Cardinals. The N. L. Central has become the most intriguing division in the league.
4. Are the Philadelphia Phillies the best team in the N. L. East? They appear to be! The Mets are disappointing, the Braves have a number of surprising problems and he Phillies certainly can hit. They should win the N. L. East.
5. Who should be the starting pitcher for the National League in the all-star game? It should be Tim Lincecum of the Giants and Edinson Volquez of the Reds. Volquez has the best ERA in the league and is one of the best strikeout pitchers in all of baseball. The Reds – Texas trade involving Volquez and Josh Hamilton has been remarkable for both teams. Lincecum is keeping a bad Giants team in the race and he may be the most underrated pitcher in the game.
Frank Giardina
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