Does the NL have a top team?

[LADTXR]

The AL has the Rangers, Yankees, Tigers. The NL has....Miami? Phillies? DBacks? Cardinals? None of the teams (at least early in the season) really look like a top team in the MLB. Who do you guys think could be a legit contender at the end of the season. I could see the Giants, Dbacks, Cards and Phillies possibly being contenders but definitely not right now.

[Nymfan87]

If the Phillies can get Howard/Utley back and healthy and productive, it's them.

[CHRISDODGERS]

Every team has ifs.

Dbacks just lost Chris Young and their top 2 pitchers are due to regress.
Giants can't hit, plus Lincecum looks like poop.
Phillies need Utley and Howard back... but who knows about them.
Cards need at least one of Carpenter or Wainwright to be their ace. Carp is hurt and Wain is struggling.

12 games in, it's hard to tell.

[VRP723]

The Rangers and Yankees are better than every NL team. The Tigers aren't.

[long ball]

Coming into the season it looked like the top 5-6 teams in the AL were better than the top teams in the NL. Cant really draw any conclusions from what's happened so far.

The cardinals have looked the best in the nl.

[AWC713]

The AL has the Rangers, Yankees, Tigers. The NL has....Miami? Phillies? DBacks? Cardinals? None of the teams (at least early in the season) really look like a top team in the MLB. Who do you guys think could be a legit contender at the end of the season. I could see the Giants, Dbacks, Cards and Phillies possibly being contenders but definitely not right now.

does the al have a top TEAM? not teams, like you mentioned?

yes, the al has top TEAMS with the rangers and tigers. I'm not ready to put the yankees in that category. will they be a playoff team? most likely. but their starting rotation is still spotty. freddy garcia? how will he hold up? can nova be more than a one year wonder? all im saying is, yes they are good, but the consistancy in their rotation is not there.

the nl likewise has top TEAMS with the cardinals and phillies when healthy.

[2-0-Niner]

Every team has ifs.

Dbacks just lost Chris Young and their top 2 pitchers are due to regress.
Giants can't hit, plus Lincecum looks like poop.
Phillies need Utley and Howard back... but who knows about them.
Cards need at least one of Carpenter or Wainwright to be their ace. Carp is hurt and Wain is struggling.

12 games in, it's hard to tell.

I am aware you said it's 12 games and it's hard to tell But seriously c'mon now. The D-backs have alot of Power. Even with Young out they still have upton, Goldschmidt, montero. They have a decent Bull pen and decent at the SP position.

The Giants are something else, Lincecum hasn't found himself yet, We lost wilson. We haven't really figured a more consistent Outfield rotation, We're hoping freddy comes back. But I think the Giants or the D-Backs end up winning the West or the Wildcard.

The Rockies don't have enough pitching, the Padres...Um Well...Yeah and The Doyers, Have Kemp and Ethier, When we get deeper in the the season, That'll be the Theme to the Dodgers Offense, JUST Kemp and Ethier LoL. Major props to Kershaw but if you think the Dodgers are going to run away with the West. The 2011 Division champs and the 2010 WS Champs have a thing to say about it.

[2-0-Niner]

To answer the Thread Question, I would say at this Point the Cards.

As the Season goes Along, It'll the the Cards cause they're balanced, Pitching and O. The Giants because of their Pitching and They'll have enough Hitting compared to last year to score enough to win. The D-backs because they have decent Pitching and an Explosive Offense. Phillies if they can Stay Healthy.

[stupidmop]

I don't think the NL has a team that is head and shoulders above the rest (this year). That's something I do like about the NL: while the best teams are generally in the AL, I do believe there is more competitive balance in the NL, which makes it more fun to follow as a fan of an NL team, in my opinion.

[SportsAndrew25]

To repeat a point I have made recently, I absolutely believe that the World Series winner this year will absolutely be from the American League. None of this season's National League teams can hold a candle to the teams of the American League. The Phillies offense looks like **** without Utley and Howard. The Giants score no runs at all. The Braves offense and pitching has been very questionable lately. The Reds pitching again has proven to be brutal and the Cards have two pitchers who are either hurt or not performing. The only team in the NL that can see having any chance of winning the World Series is the Dodgers. With Kemp and Eithier and Kershaw, they will likely be in the race for the pennant.

[mtf]

Philadelphia is the only team I would consider a true contender from the National League. That being said, I wouldn't have called the Cardinals a true contender last year after losing Wainwright, but they still managed to sneak their way into the playoffs and win just enough to get the trophy.

[Pinstripe power]

i dont think so. The NL seems wide open to me

[DrS16]

The Rangers and Yankees are better than every NL team. The Tigers aren't.

The Yankees won't even make it past the first round of the playoffs and that's if they make it past Tampa for the AL East champ. There pitching is suspect and Jeter and Rodriguez are past their date of expiration!

[Zander 77]

The Rangers and Yankees are better than every NL team. The Tigers aren't.

How do you figure that when the Tigers are an all around better team than the Yankees?

[Aphrum]

I don't see the Yankees as being in the top 3 of the American League....