Baseball Reflections (Monday)

So I didn't get the chance to blog in depth yesterday (had to study for my last final of the year), but two dominant starts deserve to be touched on, as do how I feel about the team they affect.

Brad Penny and the Los Angeles Dodgers (19 - 14)

First things first, Brad Penny's performance on Monday was nothing short of masterful. 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 14 strikeouts. For a guy that walks a lot of batters and doesn't strike out many, this game was certainly uncharacteristic; in a great way for Dodger fans.

I have mixed feelings from what I've seen from the Dodgers. The team that was a popular World Series pick before the season started just doesn't do it for me. They are a good team. They have a good offense, a good pitching staff, a good bullpen. Good. Not great. I think that good/consistent may very well win them the race in the NL West, where the teams with great pitching also have BAD offenses (San Fransisco, San Diego). But at this point if I were picking teams out of the NL West, I would definitely put the Mets ahead of the Dodgers, and you could make a case for the Braves. But one team I'd definitely take over the Dodgers right now is...

Chris Capuano and the Milwaukee Brewers (23 - 10)

Monday's 8 innings pitched, 7 hits, o runs, and 9 strikeouts improved Capuano's season to 5 - 0. I've gotten into a few arguments over the last few days over the Brewers and whether or not they are legit. Get used to them, because they are.

Needless to say, they can't keep up this torrent pace, or they will win 113 games. They will, however, take the NL Central.

I knew coming into the year that this team would have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Ben Sheets is a true ace that when healthy is nearly impossible to hit. Capuano is almost as good. Rounding out the rotation are Jeff Suppan, a veteran that may not have the best stuff, but is a leader and a winner, Dave Bush, who I still feel will improve as this season goes on and pressure is taken off of him, and Claudio Vargas, who is a more than able 5th pitcher. If anyone goes down with injury, young Carlos Villanueva (currently in the bullpen) will make an excellent replacement starter.

My question was on offense... who does this team have? Well, it seems that young guns Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, and JJ Hardy are ready to be key players RIGHT NOW. The offense is young and explosive. You could argue that Hardy will cool down, but I would then argue that Weeks and Bill Hall are due to heat up. A couple of capable veterans round off the lineup of a team that I think will take the NL Central.

No? Who will? The Cards will have a tough time doing it with their aging bats and without Chris Carpenter. The Astros don't have the talent. The Pirates don't have the offense. The Reds don't have the bullpen. The Cubs? Well, somehow they've been blowing fantastic pitching; and I don't
think Lilly and Marquis can keep it up, anyways.

Look out; the Brew Crew just might be legit.