Will An NL Team Win the World Series in '06?

I'm a Cardinals fan. So, after the last two weeks I happen to think the answer is no. But that might just be me. Which NL team do you think has a chance to win the World Series against the any of the formidable AL squads that could make the classic?

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Date

Wed 06/28/06, 1:59 pm EST

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Madproof9Red-Shirting

1254 days ago

Score 0

The Mets are the only team I can see beating an AL team right now. All 5 teams in the NL West are awful, and the only reason they are all around .500 is because they play each other so often. Houston and St. Louis are struggling, and they are the only real threats in the central, and the NL East is awful besides the Mets, with the second place Phillies 12 games behind.

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Bleeding GreenVarsity

1254 days ago

Score 1

There are no NL teams. Maybe the Astros because they might have the pitching to shut down one of these mammoth AL lineups... No other team in the NL is going to stand a chance.

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Awrigh01All-Star

1254 days ago

Score 2

Who thought the Florida Marlins would slay the Yankees in 2003, they had a pretty crappy lineup and a decent/mediocre starting staff. They got hot in the playoffs and played small-ball. That's how you win championships, not with mammoth AL lineups.

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PeanMajor Leaguer

1254 days ago

Score -1

the marlins probably

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1253 days ago

Score 1

The Astros pitching this year is not nearly as good as last year.

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Bleeding GreenVarsity

1253 days ago

Score 0

NO it's not as good as last year, but come playoff time I think it will be back in form. Pettite is money at that time of year, so is Oswalt. If Clemens is healthy, which is more likely after his late start... They will be scary. Of course if they don't make a trade to add a bat, they'll only be scaring themselves.

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All~In~ChicagoVarsity

1254 days ago

Score -1

Hands down the Mets...wish it was the Cardinals, something very very big would have to happen there

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All~In~ChicagoVarsity

1254 days ago

Score -1

meant Mets to be the only NL contender

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ChristofMVP

1254 days ago

Score 2

The NL will win this year as soon as the Devil puts on a parka.

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DNLLegend

1253 days ago

Score 1

In a best of 7, literally anything can happen. I'm not writing off an entire league.

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JustjudithWaterboy

1253 days ago

Score -1

I know what you mean -- but the BoSox MOWED down the Cardinals in 04 and the White Sox did the same to the Astros in 05. It's hard to watch an NL squad dominate all season and then have the AL team just destroy them. I hear these things run in cycles and I'm ready for the NL to return to dominance.

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1253 days ago

Score -1

Exactly...there are no NL teams that stack up with the AL teams in terms of talent and ability. But anything can happen in a 7 game series. The best team doesn't always win.

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ChachiOSUDraft Pick

1253 days ago

Score 1

Fun stats from Jim Caple's article on ESPN.com Page 2. The NL is 70-117 in interleague play. Florida and Colorado are the only 2 NL teams above .500 in interleague play history. This year even the Royals are 8-5 against the NL. Also, DNL, half of the last 8 World Series have been AL sweeps and another won in 5. The World Series rarely goes to 7 games anymore.

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DolphinfanTee-Baller

1253 days ago

Score 1

The NL could win if they were playing the Athletics, Rangers or Angels. LOL

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JuTMSY4Legend

1253 days ago

Score 3

After sitting in the stands and watching pedro get rocked at fenway, I'm officially ready to declare the winner of the ALCS world champions...

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TartanVarsity Captain

1253 days ago

Score 3

I think this begs a larger question about the disparities between the two leagues. An American league team is built around 9 hitters and a pitching staff. A National League team only has 8 hitters in its lineup. In a closely contested series, a NL team has to produce a 9th hitter for at least 3 possibly 4 games. An NL team can't afford to buy high priced talent at the All-Star break for them to play in 3 games, and never wear a glove. Look at the best records in the NL and who they would likely have as their DH:

NY Mets: Eddie Chavez (Decent hitter with no power) St. Louis Cardinals: Hector Luna or Aaron Miles (Okay hitters) Cincinatti Reds: Ryan Freel (Okay) Three best records in NL, not so hot DH's. Now look at the AL DH. Think about what the AL has to offer out of its top three teams: Detroit Tigers: Omar Infante (Worst of the 3, still better than any NL guy) Chicago White Sox: Jim Thome (Point) Boston Red Sox: (David Ortiz)

Point is, everything else even, the obvious domination of an AL with that extra power hitter over the course of time will give the AL a distinct advantage, amking it very difficult for the NL to win.

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JustjudithWaterboy

1253 days ago

Score 1

Great points, Tartan. But how do you explain the theory that these things run in cycles? Or do you think the formula of power hitter as DH along with the overpowering pitching is so tried and true that now they won't give it up and the leagues will remain lopsided?

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SteaksammichRed-Shirting

1253 days ago

Score 2

The Mets are the best team in the NL....but so far I'm not so impressed with them after a couple of beatings at the hands of the Sox.

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