Top Prospects in National League Central Division – Part 1
National League Central is the only division in Major League Baseball, having six teams. Each division forms with five clubs, except the two, NL central with six and AL West with four teams. Accumulatively the AL has 14 clubs while NL has 16. It has been
reported, the Major League administration is looking to move one club from the National League to American League to create a balance. Houston Astros might be the club, as leaked by some of the internal sources.
Although changes are being carried out, the NL central clubs heading towards 2012 season with some new faces. It was somewhat competitive season for the Milwaukee Brewers. The club reached the National League Division Series and moved forward to the National
League Championship Series after overpowering the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brewers went out of the World Series race after losing to St. Louis Cardinals, who then snatched the title defeating the Texas Rangers.
Prince Fielder was a major contributor in the Brewers success, but now, if the Brewers fail to hold him under a multi-year multi-million deal, which he is hoping for, then they will have to take the 26-year-old hitter Mat Gamel into account. Fielder is likely
to move forward into high salary market and it will open a spot for a destructive hitter. Gamel is waiting in Triple-A for the last four years and each time he was called, Fielder made his comeback to force him back to the minor league. Now however, the path
seems to be clearing, as Fielder still has not accepted arbitration offer, last date is December 7, by the club.
During Triple-A stint, Gamel launched 28 home-runs, 96 RBIs with a .310 batting average. In 2011, he also played 10 games for Milwaukee in the big leagues, but he could only get three hits, two RBIs and one run with a batting average of .115. However, the
left-hander has everything in him required to be a part of the Brewers first base camp in 2012 season.
Unlike the Brewers, the Chicago Cubs had a humiliating season. They lost 91 games and made up only 71 wins, just five more than the games the Brewers lost this past season. Where things went wrong, the Cubs might have not analysed, but some of the expert
writers have written the exact reasons of their bad performance. Among these was a lack of offensive brilliance.
The club is equipped with Carlos Pena, Aramis Ramirez, Starlin Castro and others, but none of these could form a perfect combination and keep their side going. Carlos made 28 home-runs, but failed with runs and RBIs while Starlin Castro made runs, but was
not able help in RBIs and Aramis Ramirez scored the most RBIs in the club, but there was still a problem with the combination.
With all these problems, the Cubs still has to move forward and this time their eyes have landed to their 23-year-old prospect Brett Jackson. The right-handed outfielder played the 2011 season with Triple-A Iowa and posted a .297 batting average with 20
home-runs and 26 RBIs. It will be a good time for Jackson, as the new management is now administrating the Chicago organisation. However, his promotion will depend on his performance in Spring Training. Coming days may bring some new things in line for the
Cubs’ line-up.
Continued in Part 2
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