Baseball Update: NL Central

The Baseball Update is a look at the happenings around Major League Baseball

Don't look now, but there are three teams within 1.5 games behind the first place Cardinals. The Brewers, Reds, and Cubs are right on the heels of St. Louis. Of course though the Cardinals haven't helped their own case by going 4-6 in the last 10 games, while the three other teams have each gone 7-3.

Let's take a look at the three teams on the heels of St. Louis.

Power!: Milwaukee has improved their record with power. They are fourth in the Majors with 44 home runs and ninth in the league with 162 RBI's. While they have a poor team batting average at .258, but they haven't really needed a great average, because they are fourth in the league in walks. Also they are getting a huge boost from Trevor Hoffman. After starting the year on the DL, Hoffman has saved six games while giving up no hits or runs.

Who needs a home?: The Cincinnati Reds haven't needed a home. They have gone 7-9 at home and 12-5 on the road. One of the biggest reason's why the Reds have succeeded on the road, is because of their pitching. The pitching staff has an 2.82 ERA on the road with only a .242 batting average against the.

The most surprising thing about the Reds is Dusty Baker not over-working his pitching staff. Baker was infamous for doing this while with San Francisco and Chicago. But with Cincinnati, Baker hasn't been afraid to use the hook and try his luck with the bullpen. If he would have done this in San Francisco, they would have won the World Series in 2002. Not that I am bitter or anything.

/Dusty Baker'd

Revolving door: With the news that Aramis Ramirez will be out two months with a dislocated shoulder, the Cubs will have to use a revolving door at third base. Mike Fontenot started at third yesterday, but you could Ryan Freel, Aaron Miles, and Bobby Scales each spend some time at third. Lou Piniella has always done a great job at managing lineups, so I don't think the Cubs will have to worry too much.

They will though miss Ramirez's production at the plate. In the games Ramirez has played, he has a .364 batting average with four home runs and 16 RBI's. Fontenot has the best chance to duplicate Ramirez's production at third.

Chris Carpenter Update: The ever revolving door known as Chris Carpenter's career, is looking good. Carpenter was able to throw a bullpen session without any pain. Next he will throw a simulated game and if that goes well, Carpenter could be pitching with the team over their next home stand. Till he gets hurt again, of course.

What has happened to the Puma?: Lance Berkman has been set back all year with injuries. Berkman has been able to play in thirty games, but a bad wrist has dampened his production at the plate. Berkman is hitting below the Mendoza Line at .187, but he has been able to hit seven home runs. Of course though, the majority of those home runs have been hit at the bandbox.
A look ahead:
The Cubs play a home series with the mediocre Astros this weekend.

The series of the weekend though will be between the Cardinals and Brewers in St. Louis. With Milwaukee a game behind St. Louis, the Brewers could possibly take the division lead.

The battle of losers will take place this weekend as Pittsburgh travels to Colorado to play the Rockies.