Do the Cubs have a chance?

[Backtobanks]

Obviously, what the Cubs need is consistency. You can't lose a series to Texas and then sweep the White Sox. The next 4 series will make or break the team (Rockies, Brewers, Nationals, & Pirates). A 9-4 or 10-3 record is what they need in the 13 games. I'm not sure they can sweep the Brewers, but if they did and beat up the Nationals and Pirates after that, they would definitely be right in the thick of things. With all of the impending sale talk, I can't see adding a really expensive player. All that being said, a 6-7 or 5-8 record would just about end any serious talk about catching the Brewers.

[BigbadB]

Obviously, what the Cubs need is consistency. You can't lose a series to Texas and then sweep the White Sox. The next 4 series will make or break the team (Rockies, Brewers, Nationals, & Pirates). A 9-4 or 10-3 record is what they need in the 13 games. I'm not sure they can sweep the Brewers, but if they did and beat up the Nationals and Pirates after that, they would definitely be right in the thick of things. With all of the impending sale talk, I can't see adding a really expensive player. All that being said, a 6-7 or 5-8 record would just about end any serious talk about catching the Brewers.

 

Agreed. Anything can happen over the next few months. The Brewers could get hit with injuries or they could add some key players to help their push become even stronger. It's critical for the Cubs to close the gap soon.

[Warren Brusstar]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

[BigbadB]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Who are the Brewers scheduled to face when the Cubs are facing Pitt and Wash?

[CubColtPacer]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Who are the Brewers scheduled to face when the Cubs are facing Pitt and Wash?

 

Unfortunately, they also face the Pirates and the Nationals. All the Cubs can do is beat up on those two teams though, and if the Brewers do the same at least the Cubs should be quite a bit closer in the WC race at that point.

[anabiono]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Who are the Brewers scheduled to face when the Cubs are facing Pitt and Wash?

 

Unfortunately, they also face the Pirates and the Nationals. All the Cubs can do is beat up on those two teams though, and if the Brewers do the same at least the Cubs should be quite a bit closer in the WC race at that point.

 

i don't know...i really think the only way that the cubs make the playoffs is by taking the division...they would have to start playing like a team possessed to win the wild card IMO

[rawaction]

Obviously, you want to get to .500 first. Obviously, you want to sweep the Brewers and gain 3 games on the weekend. However, if the Cubs are within 5 games at the break, that's doable.

 

A realistic expectation is 2/3 vs. Colorado, 2/3 vs. Milwaukee, 3/4 vs. Washington, and 2/3 vs. Pirates. That's a 9-4 record.

[jersey cubs fan]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Unless MIL goes 2-4, I'd be disappointed in a 3-3 home stand this week. At this point any loss of position is going to be disappointing. And if your goal is .500 by the all star break, 3-3 isn't going to cut it. They should pick up some games on .500 against Pitt and Washington, but they'd need to go 6-1 in order for it to be reached.

[A New Era]

I'll say this. If the Cubs sweep the brewers starting friday. I'll think they REALLY have a chance. (I'm going friday BTW). But until then I'm going to tell myself not to get too excited.

[waffle]

Sure we can. We are in shooting distance and lots of stuff that was aweful earlier is better recently.

 

D is better

Timely hitting has improved

Rosters have solidified

Baserunning??? well....

All phases of pitching, starting middle and closing, seems to be taking form

 

THis is starting to look like a baseball team rather than a bad third grade collage.

 

Of course, this could all fall apart this week. That's Cubs baseball.

[soapy]

Without an external offensive upgrade (i.e. a trade) I don't think they really have a chance. Stranger things have happened, but I'd be really surprised. This offensive upgrade most likely needs to be in CF (doubtful), RF or SS and preferably before Lee misses five games with his suspension.

 

I don't think it's likely, unfortunately.

 

Making moves like calling up Murton, calling up Soto and maybe calling up Cedeno are reasonable internal moves that should probably be made, but I don't think it would be enough.

[Warren Brusstar]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Unless MIL goes 2-4, I'd be disappointed in a 3-3 home stand this week. At this point any loss of position is going to be disappointing. And if your goal is .500 by the all star break, 3-3 isn't going to cut it. They should pick up some games on .500 against Pitt and Washington, but they'd need to go 6-1 in order for it to be reached.

 

We're playing the two hottest teams in the NL and the pitching matchups are not particularly favorable all week. If the Cubs can sneak out a win tonight (when the pitching matchup is definitely not favorable), I like our chances of going 4-2. If not, 3-3 would be swell.

 

FWIW, me miss both Vargas and Suppan against the Brewers, instead facing Bush, Gallardo, and Sheets.

[BigbadB]

FWIW, me miss both Vargas and Suppan against the Brewers, instead facing Bush, Gallardo, and Sheets.

 

I think I'd rather see the Cubs face Vargas and Suppan rather than the other 3.

[Warren Brusstar]

FWIW, me miss both Vargas and Suppan against the Brewers, instead facing Bush, Gallardo, and Sheets.

 

I think I'd rather see the Cubs face Vargas and Suppan rather than the other 3.

 

I agree. That's why I'm suggesting that the pitching matchups are unfavorable.

[Sarcastic]

FWIW, me miss both Vargas and Suppan against the Brewers, instead facing Bush, Gallardo, and Sheets.

 

I think I'd rather see the Cubs face Vargas and Suppan rather than the other 3.

 

I think that was his point -- showing that the Cubs have hard pitching matchups during the homestand.

 

EDIT: Nevermind, beat me to it.

[BigbadB]

Yeah. I read it wrong. When I originally read it, I thought he was saying "we miss Vargas and Suppan" as if that was a good thing.

[jersey cubs fan]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Unless MIL goes 2-4, I'd be disappointed in a 3-3 home stand this week. At this point any loss of position is going to be disappointing. And if your goal is .500 by the all star break, 3-3 isn't going to cut it. They should pick up some games on .500 against Pitt and Washington, but they'd need to go 6-1 in order for it to be reached.

 

We're playing the two hottest teams in the NL and the pitching matchups are not particularly favorable all week. If the Cubs can sneak out a win tonight (when the pitching matchup is definitely not favorable), I like our chances of going 4-2. If not, 3-3 would be swell.

 

FWIW, me miss both Vargas and Suppan against the Brewers, instead facing Bush, Gallardo, and Sheets.

 

Colorado lost 3 in a row. That's not all that hot.

 

Regardless, a 3-3 record makes reaching .500 by the all star break extremely difficult, and if go to be Sunday night no close to Milwaukee than they are now, it's going to be disappointing.

[BigbadB]

Well, they were hot when they swept the Yankees. I was very happy with the Rockies for doing that.

[Warren Brusstar]

The imminent goal should be .500 at the All-star break. This week is very difficult; I wouldn't at all be disappointed with a 3-3 home stand, particularly with the way the pitching matchups work out. The seven games in Pittsburgh and Washington provide a very good opportunity to pick up some games on .500.

 

Unless MIL goes 2-4, I'd be disappointed in a 3-3 home stand this week. At this point any loss of position is going to be disappointing. And if your goal is .500 by the all star break, 3-3 isn't going to cut it. They should pick up some games on .500 against Pitt and Washington, but they'd need to go 6-1 in order for it to be reached.

 

We're playing the two hottest teams in the NL and the pitching matchups are not particularly favorable all week. If the Cubs can sneak out a win tonight (when the pitching matchup is definitely not favorable), I like our chances of going 4-2. If not, 3-3 would be swell.

 

FWIW, me miss both Vargas and Suppan against the Brewers, instead facing Bush, Gallardo, and Sheets.

 

Colorado lost 3 in a row. That's not all that hot.

 

Regardless, a 3-3 record makes reaching .500 by the all star break extremely difficult, and if go to be Sunday night no close to Milwaukee than they are now, it's going to be disappointing.

 

They're 20-10 in the last 30 games. That's .667 baseball. That's pretty hot.

[TheDude]

The team needs to win the close games from here on out. Basically, if they can reverse the 1st half 1-and-2 run games record, they have a shot.

[jersey cubs fan]

They're 20-10 in the last 30 games. That's .667 baseball. That's pretty hot.

 

They were hot, but they just got swept. They are no longer hot. Hot and cold is all about streaks, and Colorado is on a 3-game losing streak. I wouldn't say they're struggling, or in a rut, but they aren't hot anymore.

[Warren Brusstar]

They're 20-10 in the last 30 games. That's .667 baseball. That's pretty hot.

 

They were hot, but they just got swept. They are no longer hot. Hot and cold is all about streaks, and Colorado is on a 3-game losing streak. I wouldn't say they're struggling, or in a rut, but they aren't hot anymore.

 

This is a really silly argument. If a team had won 100 games in a row and then lost three straight, would you say they're not hot? What if they had lost 100 in a row, but then won 3 straight? Is that team hot?

 

It's really maddening that you would quibble over whether a team that went 20-7, then 0-3, qualifies as "hot".

[jersey cubs fan]

They're 20-10 in the last 30 games. That's .667 baseball. That's pretty hot.

 

They were hot, but they just got swept. They are no longer hot. Hot and cold is all about streaks, and Colorado is on a 3-game losing streak. I wouldn't say they're struggling, or in a rut, but they aren't hot anymore.

 

This is a really silly argument. If a team had won 100 games in a row and then lost three straight, would you say they're not hot? What if they had lost 100 in a row, but then won 3 straight? Is that team hot?

 

It's really maddening that you would quibble over whether a team that went 20-7, then 0-3, qualifies as "hot".

 

Look who is doing the quibbling.

[Warren Brusstar]

They're 20-10 in the last 30 games. That's .667 baseball. That's pretty hot.

 

They were hot, but they just got swept. They are no longer hot. Hot and cold is all about streaks, and Colorado is on a 3-game losing streak. I wouldn't say they're struggling, or in a rut, but they aren't hot anymore.

 

This is a really silly argument. If a team had won 100 games in a row and then lost three straight, would you say they're not hot? What if they had lost 100 in a row, but then won 3 straight? Is that team hot?

 

It's really maddening that you would quibble over whether a team that went 20-7, then 0-3, qualifies as "hot".

 

Look who is doing the quibbling.

 

You started it. In post that had a bunch of other points, you decided to take issue with my assertion that the Rockies were "hot".

[Sarcastic]

They're 20-10 in the last 30 games. That's .667 baseball. That's pretty hot.

 

They were hot, but they just got swept. They are no longer hot. Hot and cold is all about streaks, and Colorado is on a 3-game losing streak. I wouldn't say they're struggling, or in a rut, but they aren't hot anymore.

 

This is a really silly argument. If a team had won 100 games in a row and then lost three straight, would you say they're not hot? What if they had lost 100 in a row, but then won 3 straight? Is that team hot?

 

It's really maddening that you would quibble over whether a team that went 20-7, then 0-3, qualifies as "hot".

 

Look who is doing the quibbling.

 

You started it. In post that had a bunch of other points, you decided to take issue with my assertion that the Rockies were "hot".

 

:lol:

 

Can you guys agree to disagree here?