The NL Central has been one of the most surprising and competitive divisions in the Major Leagues this season. Surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Pirates are the leaders of the pack, but St. Louis, Cincinnati and Milwaukee all have very reasonable chances of taking the division.

Although all of these teams are playing very good baseball and are determined to make it back to the playoffs, there is only one team that seems as though they could be legitimate contenders in the National League.

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin has put together a balanced team that seems to be one of the few serious contenders to take down the Philadelphia Phillies, who are of course the strong frontrunner to make the World Series.

Though the standings don’t reflect it at the moment, this roster undoubtedly has the talent and camaraderie to make a late summer push.The one thing this Brewers squad has that past one’s didn’t? A reliable rotation.In the playoffs, teams need their aces to go out there and shut down some of the most power packed lineups in the game. This rotation has a few guys that can do that.

The addition of former Royals ace Zack Greinke has made all the difference. Though his ERA is a bit high, sitting up over five this season, all of the rest of the numbers are there. With a low WHIP, high strikeout to walk ratio, and the ability to go deep into games, Greinke has finally snatched the opportunity to be a playoff ace. The post season experience is non-existent for him, but anyone with that good of stuff is bound to find some success.

In adding Greinke at the top of the rotation, Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum are able to move to the two and three spots and face some easier competition on the mound. Both pitchers also have low WHIP’s, comparable to the Brewers ace, and have the ability to rack up strikeouts in key situations.

Even Randy Wolf, the veteran journeyman is having a pretty successful season and is able to give Milwaukee some good starts to keep the rest of the starters fresh on a week-to-week basis.

Although Trevor Hoffman, the all-time major league saves leader, is a indeed a tough arm to replace in the bullpen, John Axford has done an admirable job in following up the future hall of fame pitcher. He has quickly become one of the better closers in the National League, and possesses both a cannon for an arm and a curveball which will leave hitters spinning themselves into the ground late in games.

Up until recently this season, Milwaukee’s biggest problem was finding someone to bridge the cap from the starters to the young gun in the ninth. Now, after acquiring Francisco Rodriguez from the New York Mets, they’ve got that too.

“K-Rod” was not too long ago the most feared closer in the game. In 2008 he set the single season saves record for Anaheim with a whopping 62. After a few up and down years with the Mets, and a gigantic contract, he began to become somewhat of an unnecessary piece for New York, allowing them to move him. Though the Brewers were forced to pay a hefty contract and give up two future prospects, they made a great move for the present, and it could land them atop their division at the end of the year.

The funny thing about how good Milwaukee’s pitching is, is that it’s probably not even the best attribute of their team. For a National League lineup, the Brewers pack a serious punch.

Led by first baseman Prince Fielder, a perennial 40 home-run, 100 RBI guy (at least) and one of the best outfielders in the game, Ryan Braun, the middle of this lineup is sure to wreak havoc on any opposing pitcher.The team had always struggled to put solid role players around these two in the past few years, but as their young talent grows, as does their wins total.

Corey Hart, Nyjer Moragn, and first-time all star Rickie Weeks have provided sparks for Ron Roenicke’s ball-club that he probably didn’t even expect.The biggest problems for these Brewers is their struggles on the road early on in the season, and their uncanny ability to go on long streaks for both wins and losses. Fortunately, their manager has confidence that as the team gel’s and the season comes toward its end, these guys will figure it out.

“They expect to win every day,” Roenicke said, “and that’s really what I appreciate from them.”

That attitude creates the kind of team that makes it deep into the playoffs. Look for a late season win streak from Milwaukee and some serious contention in the National League.

Keith Bell / Shutterstock.com

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Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, with help from his dad, hit a record twelve home runs in the final round of the 2011 MLB Home Run Derby to take home the trophy in his first ever derby appearance.

The MLB couldn’t write a script any better than what happened at Chase Field Monday night. In the most sentimental part of the contest, Cano chose his father, former major league pitcher Jose Cano to pitch to him in the derby.

The MLB chose a different approach in choosing the competitors in 2011. They named the past two years champions, David Ortiz in 2010 and Prince Fielder in 2009 as the captains of their respective leagues. Each of them were able to hand pick three other members from their league to join them in the derby. Ortiz went with an all AL East roster of Jose Bautista, Robinson Cano and Adrian Gonzalez while Fielder chose his teammate Rickie Weeks along with Matt Kemp and Matt Holliday.

The American League roster seemed to be a bit more impressive than the National League from the get-go, and proved to be just that after the bats began to swing.

Adrian Gonzalez is the runaway favorite halfway through the season for the American League MVP, and he kicked off the derby looking like just that. Gonzalez pounded nine homers through his first ten outs including a few mammoth blasts.

Matt Holliday struggled a bit at first, but still found a way to get five balls out of the park.

Cano stepped up next and the father-son connection worked out pretty well for the Yankees second baseman notching some of the furthest shots of the first round including a ridiculous 472 ft. blast to center field. Cano ended up with eight homers, punching his ticket to the second round.

Rickie Weeks stepped up fourth to the plate probably as the biggest underdog in the field of competitors. Unfortunately, Fielder’s loyalty in picking his teammate to join him in representing the NL did not work out all that well and Weeks was only able to muster three dingers.

The much anticipated Home Run Derby debut of Jose Bautista came next and the spotlight was bright on him. Bautista led the league in homers in 2010 and leads again halfway through the year again this season, notching a remarkable total of 85 homers since the start of last season The Blue Jays outfielder, nicknamed “Joey Bats” unfortunately went quiet in his first derby appearance. Nerves probably got the best of him and he ended up with a paltry four balls out of the park.

Matt Kemp, like Gonzalez is an arguable MVP favorite for his league. The center fielder that has the tools to do everything on the baseball field also wasn’t able to get in a rhythm. Solid contact wasn’t his problem crushing line drives down the foul line, but he was unable to get enough lift on the ball. Kemp made nine outs before hitting a long ball but was able to get the monkey off his back on his last few swings and finished with two bombs.

Defending champion and American League captain David Ortiz stepped up next and made a shocking decision. He left the Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry in Boston and also chose Robinson Cano’s father to throw to him in the derby. “Big Papi” ended up with an appropriate five homers in his fifth Home Run Derby.

The National League captain and Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder uncorked his long powerful swing for a total of five home runs as well.

Since Fielder, Ortiz and Holliday all ended with five dingers, and there was only two spots to fill in the second round, the three of them were thrust into a “swing off” to determine who would get those two spots. In a “swing off” each competitor gets five swings, regardless of outs or home runs to see who can put the most out of the park. The two former champions got the best of Holliday including five homers in five swings for Fielder, advancing them to the second round, leaving Prince as the lone national league representative remaining in the contest.

The total home runs combined between the first and second round for each player would determine who would advance to the finals.

Cano, one of the most pure hitters in the game today blasted twelve homers in round two to lock up his spot in the finals. Gonzalez was then able to pound eleven of his own to put the pressure on the former champions. Ortiz faltered, eliminating him, and though Fielder was able to blast the longest home run of the contest at a “Ruthian” 474 ft., his low first-round total held him back allowing fans to see a Yankees – Red Sox rivalry in the finals.

In the final round, scores reset and the remaining two players duke it out to see who would get the honor of lifting the iconic silver trophy in the end.

Ultimately, after a great show from both men, the Yankees slugger was able to edge out his opponent and take home the crown.

Cano joins the ranks of names like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire as champions of one of the most exciting events in sports today.

The consolation prize for 2010 champ Ortiz? His 77 career derby home runs eclipses the former record of 74 held by none other than “the kid,” Ken Griffey Jr.

And hey, at least he picked some great hitters.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/

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