Jim Caple's NL Central comments

[mikechamp]

From an ESPN chat. He usually writes for Page 2 of espn.com.

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=15083
=============

Am I the only one that is completely and ridiculously tired of Interleague play? The concept of it was a good idea to get fans back into the seats after the strike of 94 and before the juiced ball era with Mark, Sammy, and Barry. Now though, all it does is prevent teams from playing other teams in their division an even number of times. This year, the reds may play 19 games against the cubs, 11 against the brewers and 6 against the indians. That is insane. Give me the way it used to be please where winning against teams in your own league is how you got to play a team from the other league.

Jim Caple
You are absolutely right. The worst part of interleague play is not how it affects the division races bt how it affects the wild card. Given that the wild card now reaches the World Series as often as a division champ, how is it right that teams playing considerably different schedules are competing for the same wild card slot? I prefer the old system as well. Every time you gain an interesting matchup form interleague play, you also gain a series against the Royals or Pirates and lose a series against the Giants or Yankees.
---------------------------

What do you make of Griffey as a RF? Seems like the move was long overdue. WIll Hamilton have a chance at some pt in center?
Jim Caple
It is long overdue. Even more overdue is trading him back to the AL where he can DH and rest his legs to stay healthy.
---------------------------

What do you see happening for the Brewers this year? Will Ryan Braun eventually start at 3rd some point in the season?

Jim Caple
I have a story next week on the Brewers and their fans. They have now gone 25 years without even reaching the postseason, which takes some doing with the expanded playoffs. But for once, they look like they could win the division. I'm not saying they will (though I am picking them just to be different), but at least they have a chance for the first time in a long while.
---------------------------

Who do you believe should be the highest paid player, and if it were up to you, how much is he worth?

Jim Caple
He's worth whatever anyone is willing to pay and not a penny more or less. But if i were able to sign anyone? I'd sign Pujols.
---------------------------

Hey Jim how about my 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals?

Jim Caple
Your 2006 Cardinals were the least deserving World Series champ in recent memory. Sorry, but Detroit completely threw away that series.
---------------------------

Over/under on the amount of time before the LaRussa DUI hubbub blows over? I say 2 weeks.

JIM CAPLE
Under. It will be forgotten by St. Louis fans by opening day.
---------------------------

Shut up you East Coast Homer!! CARDS are the Champs and VERY DESERVING of the Championship. GET OVER YOURSELF AND YOUR PRECIOUS AL EAST!!!

Jim Caple
East Coast homer? I grew up and live on the West coast, and also lived a decade in Minnesota.
---------------------------

Would the cubs winning the world series be good or bad for the franchise? Good or bad for the league?

Jim Caple
Good for the Cubs. Insufferable for the rest of us. Look what happened to the Red Sox and their fans.
---------------------------

I'm tired of people saying the Cardinals are the worst world series champs ever, but it is what it is I guess. Atleast we got the championship. I've heard a lot of people picking the Brewers to win the Central this year. What do they have this year that they haven't had in the past few?

Jim Caple
A little more experience for the younger players and a divison that doesn't look quite as strong as it did last year when the Cardinals appeared to have better pitching.
---------------------------

Could the move of Papelbon to the bullpen be a by product of the Red Sox desire for Clemens to retire as a member of the Red Sox?

Jim Caple
They may desire it, but I don't think they would base their rotation around it without knowing Clemens' plan for sure. I would bet on him returning to Houston.
---------------------------

[cardinalkarp]

Hey Jim how about my 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals?

Jim Caple
Your 2006 Cardinals were the least deserving World Series champ in recent memory. Sorry, but Detroit completely threw away that series.

Suck it Jim!!

[Cronos]

Jim Caple
Your 2006 Cardinals were the least deserving World Series champ in recent memory. Sorry, but Detroit completely threw away that series.

Funny, I always thought it was because the pitching staff held the collective bats of the Tigers to a .190 average.

But silly me, who am I to argue with the Worldwide Leader In Sports (tm)?
:thumbdown:

Errors don't decide series'.

[ThatGuy]

I agree with CK. Jim can go jump off a cliff.

I suppose the Cardinals should give the trophy to the more deserving team. You know, the team that choked when it counted the most. The team that choked when good teams are NOT supposed to choke.

[Phyrkrakr]

---------------------------

What do you see happening for the Brewers this year? Will Ryan Braun eventually start at 3rd some point in the season?

Jim Caple
I have a story next week on the Brewers and their fans. They have now gone 25 years without even reaching the postseason, which takes some doing with the expanded playoffs. But for once, they look like they could win the division. I'm not saying they will (though I am picking them just to be different), but at least they have a chance for the first time in a long while.
---------------------------

So, he's not saying they'll win the division, but he's picking them to win the division? I'm confused.

Combined with the asshattery of saying that Pujols is the best player in the game, but the Cards didn't deserve to win the series; and that the pitching rotation last year is better than the rotation this year, methinks Caple needs to get a recto-cranial reversal.

[stlmark]

Hey Jim how about my 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals?

Jim Caple
Your 2006 Cardinals were the least deserving World Series champ in recent memory. Sorry, but Detroit completely threw away that series.

Suck it Jim!!

I get tired of hearing numnuts say we are the least deserving of a World Championship. If the Mets,Yankees,Red Sox or Cubs won the WS with only 83 wins you would never hear that.

[Cronos]

He did get one thing right, though:

Would the cubs winning the world series be good or bad for the franchise? Good or bad for the league?

Jim Caple
Good for the Cubs. Insufferable for the rest of us. Look what happened to the Red Sox and their fans.

[ToughGuy_BlueShirt]

That's ok. The Tigers or the Mets can have the Championship this year. But, I guess that means the Cards won the Championship in 04 and 05. They had the best team and best record, so I guess that makes them the most "deserving." I'd take two World Championships over one anyday. So, YEAH the Cards have 11 WS! WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[heyzeus]

He did get one thing right, though:

Would the cubs winning the world series be good or bad for the franchise? Good or bad for the league?

Jim Caple
Good for the Cubs. Insufferable for the rest of us. Look what happened to the Red Sox and their fans.

There are really few differences in the two, actually.

Cramped, old stadiums that have tons of character (and odor): check
Old, long-standing teams dating back to the early days of MLB: check
Equally old, long-standing traditions of losing: check
Last championship around the era of the Titanic (pre 2004, check)
insufferable fans: check
Ability to throw sacks full of million dollar bills around as payroll: check
ability to do so and not win anyway: check
fanbase with funny accents: check

[ghostrunner]

Did anything happen the Sox fans? Or did they pick up a bunch of bandwagoners?

Their suffering was insufferable before they won.