Predictions?

[Southpaw191679666239]

This is my post on another Message Board, where I discuss the 1st half stats, and look ahead at the 2nd half:

 

This is with the understanding that odds are Dusty Baker will be this team's manager through 2006.

 

They are currently 34-54 (.386) and 15 GB. They have a 14-25 (.358) record at home and a 20-29 (.408) road record. They have losing streaks of 5, 6 (twice), and 8; totaling 25 losses. They have never won more than 3 in a row.

 

Kerry Wood is out for the rest of the year and could be finished as a Cub. Prior is always iffy at best, and is 0-4 since returning from the DL. If Prior can't go this Sunday, he will return to the DL. The rest of the rotation features Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Sean Marshall, Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman, and Glendon Rusch sprinkled in sporadically.

 

There are 74 games remaining on their schedule, 42 of which are at home. 30 games are against teams with a .500 record or better; although there are a few teams who are 1-2 games above or below at this point, which could always change.

 

Their offense ranks last in runs (357), doubles (139), home runs (77- tied with the Dodgers), RBI (335), total bases (1214), walks (216), OBP (.317), SLG (.404), XBH (240), and OPS (.720).

 

That's 10 categories...

 

All that being said... my prediction for the 2nd half is that they will have a 2nd half record of 25-49... and that's being generous! This outcome would bring their overall record for 2006 to 59-103 ... a paultry 44 games under .500 baseball.

 

Awesome.

[soccer10k]

The Cubs are easily a 90 loss team which is very bad. They finished 34-54 in the first half which is a .386 winning percentage. To avoid finished with 90 losses (i.e. 73-89) the Cubs would need to finish the year 39-35 which is a .527 winning percentage which would obviously be a significant improvement over the first half of the year. So even with that huge improvement the Cubs would still finish the year 16 games under .500. This team is bad and only an A's like streak will get them to .500 for the year.

 

BTW, I don't mind the optimism Scott because it provides a debate for the board.