National League Midterm Grades
By C.G. Morelli
Love of Sports Correspondent
Since most schools aren’t in session for at least another month, I’m sure textbooks, tests and report cards are the furthest things from your mind.
But we at The Love of Sports like to hold our athletes accountable for their performances - even during summer vacation.
I guess you can think of us as the screechy-grammar-teacher-with-the-hairy-mole-on-her-nose of sports blogs.
Wait a minute … scratch that.
Instead, why not let your mind drift away to the land of baseball while you enjoy our official midterm report card for the National League.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
New York Mets
Sure, the Amazin’ Mets won 10 straight heading out of the All-Star break and are right back in the hunt for a division crown. But even at 53-46, and having battled their way back to a tie for the division lead, this is a team that’s simply underachieving. They went out and mortgaged their future on the arm of Johan Santana, then the organization handled the firing of Willie Randolph very poorly, so there’s no way you’re pulling an “A” in this teacher’s class. Still, my bitterness isn’t enough to distract me from the team’s recent string of success. The Mets have proven they’re a player in the East.
Midterm Grade: B+
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phils were able to weather an abysmal April from slugger Ryan Howard with offensive outbursts from Chase Utley and Pat Burrell, who finished the first half with more than 20 homers a piece. Then Howard picked up his game to the tune of a league-leading 28 home runs. The Phils ran their division lead to 4.5 games at one point by clubbing 132 homers as a team. But a disappointing starting rotation, that has already seen opening day starter Brett Myers sent to the farm, has since coughed it up. Fans in Philly hope the addition of Joe Blanton will strengthen the staff in the second half so the team can fend off New York and repeat as division champs.
Midterm Grade: A-
Florida Marlins
After trading Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers, it looked like Florida was ready to enter rebuilding mode. But a surprising young staff, and the gutsy play of Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla, has kept the upstart Marlins in the thick of the NL East race. You have to tip your cap to manager Fredi Gonzalez for getting what he has out of his team up to this point.
Midterm Grade: A-
Atlanta Braves
Injuries to key players like John Smoltz and Chipper Jones have put a damper on Bobby Cox’s spirits these days. I’m sure he‘d like to know why he’s staring a 47-52 record in the face at the season’s midpoint. Well, Bobby, it’s probably because Mark Texeira and Jeff Francoeur have done their best impressions of the invisible man all year. If the Braves don’t pick it up fast, the Phils, Mets and Marlins will turn them into nothing more than a little speck in the rear view.
Midterm Grade: C
Washington Nationals
There’s not a whole lot of talent on this team, but 60 losses at the break? What happened to the team that came out of the gate in April with so much fire? The Nats are 16 games back and lost eight of their last 10 heading into the All-Star break, which leaves only one question for sports fans in our nation’s capitol: When do the Skins open training camp?
Midterm Grade: D
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks
The D-Backs finished April with the best record in baseball (20-8), and analysts were ready to proclaim them World Series champs. Now they’re a game under .500 and tied for first place in the division with the Dodgers. Brandon Webb’s been utterly dominant all season, but Arizona will need to find another reliable arm in the rotation and a more consistent offense if they want to be serious contenders in the National League.
Midterm Grade: B-
L.A. Dodgers
The arrival of Joe Torre and Andruw Jones in Los Angeles was supposed to ring in a Dodgers dynasty, was it not? Well, not exactly. The Dodgers have a meager 49-50 record, yet are still tied for first, despite Andruw Jones hitting a paltry .164 with just 10 RBI. Russell Martin’s been the sole force keeping the team afloat with his steady play behind the plate. Regardless, the Dodgers certainly have the ability to win the division if they can somehow find their rhythm in time to take advantage of the recent D-Back collapse. Bottom line, I’d put my money on Torre.
Midterm Grade: B-
San Francisco Giants
Is it just me, or has San Fran become one of the most mediocre franchises in the league? Frankly, without Barry Bonds on the roster and sitting seven games behind the D-Backs in a very weak division, there’s just not a whole lot to be excited about. Tim Lincecum’s been San Francisco’s only savior, winning 11 games and notching 135 strikeouts. Still, it seems highly unlikely the Giants will come from 15 games below .500 to take the division crown. But then again, this is the NL West. Anything is possible.
Midterm Grade: C
Colorado Rockies
This is the team that represented the NL in last year’s World Series? Based on their performance in the first half, there’s no wonder they got shelled by the Red Sox in October. The Rox are 15 games under .500, boast an embarrassing team ERA of 4.91 and a pathetic 14-36 mark on the road. Matt Holliday’s been the team’s only real bright spot. Don’t hold your breath waiting for another late season run in Colorado.
Midterm Grade: D
San Diego Padres
Midterm Grade: D-
Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux. Line these three up in your rotation and the NL West is yours. Unless, of course, you have the Padres’ offense. San Diego doesn’t have a player on the club who can legitimately hit above .300. They’re batting only .246 as a team, which ranks higher than only Washington in the NL. What’s worse is that, at 38-62, what’s the point of trying to land a big bat this season? Fans in San Diego may be packing it in a little early this year.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have a century-long hunger for the World Series trophy, and they haven’t made it a secret to anyone. Proud owners of the second-best record in baseball, at 58-41, the Cubbies are looking like the team to beat in the NL. New center fielder Kosuke Fukudome’s come back alive of alive, although fans at Wrigley probably dig the name a little more than the .279 average and 36 RBI. Regardless, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez continue to crush National League pitching. The two have already combined for 124 RBI and 30 home runs. Chicago also made a bold move when they added ace Rich Harden to a staff that already ranks second in the NL in ERA (3.89) and first in wins (57).
Midterm Grade: A
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cards lost half their starting lineup from last year, including Juan Encarnacion and Mark Mulder to injury. But they still have Albert Pujols and his .348 average. And they still have the mastermind that is Tony LaRussa lurking around the dugout. Most importantly, they have one of the most surprising records in baseball at 57-44, just two games behind the Cubs. Guys like Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel, each with 21 homers at the mid point, have really stepped it up. Even veterans, like Jason Isringhausen, have accepted diminished roles to help the team. If St. Louis can somehow get Mark Mulder healthy, this team can make life miserable for a lot of people in Chicago.
Midterm Grade: A-
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brew Crew’s talented brat pack of Corey Hart, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and J.J. Hardy have provided much of the offensive firepower and have helped staff ace Ben Sheets notch 10 wins in the first half. At 56-43, they trail Chicago by only two games and are more than capable of surprising the Cubs or Cardinals, especially after the big trade that landed CC Sabathia in beer town.
Midterm Grade: A-
Cincinnati Reds
Big surprise, the Reds are once again a ho-hum ballclub content to hover near the .500 mark. Unless Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey, Jr. are hitting bombs, this team and its .248 team batting average and 4.49 team ERA (despite Edinson Volquez’s 12 wins and 2.21 ERA) just isn’t going to win. Barring a blockbuster move in the next week or so, I don’t see Cincinnati making any noise in the division down the stretch.
Midterm Grade: C
Houston Astros
Midterm Grade: D
You have one of the best hitters in the league in Lance Berkman and guys to protect him in the lineup in Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada. You have reliable starters in Roy Oswalt and Brendon Backe. Michael Bourn is third in the league with 32 stolen bases. So, why are you still 12 games out of first? Because NL Central opponents have been using the rest of your pitching staff as a punching bag.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Skidding into the break 13 games back and in dead last in the division is hardly something to be proud of, right? Well, if you’re the Pirates you take what you can get. The fact that a team with no real pitching is only nine games under .500 is testament to young talent like Xavier Nady, Nate McLouth and Jack Wilson stepping things up this year. Get this team a few free agent pitchers in the offseason and the Buckos may show signs of life.
Midterm Grade: C-
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