Do the Cubs have a chance?

[Sosa21MVP]

In 2003, after 76 games, the CUBS were 41-35. That's just 4 games better than our current 37-39. With a strong finish and a weak division..... well, you know.

They were actually below .500 (51-52) as late as July 26.

 

Didn't they fall to 51-53 before turning it around? I always have that in the back of my head about the 2003 team.

[Sosa21MVP]

After watching Ron Artest over the years, I'm almost positive that the show he puts on it all an act. He likes the negative attention too much. He's a perfect spokesman for the "There's no such thing as bad publicity" campaign.

 

Just look at Zambrano's eyes when they show dugout shots of him sitting on the bench by himself. It's scary. You start to wonder what could be going through his crazy head, and how many people he has in that head.

 

No, Artest is in fact actually THAT crazy.

[CubmanPi]

In 2003, after 76 games, the CUBS were 41-35. That's just 4 games better than our current 37-39. With a strong finish and a weak division..... well, you know.

They were actually below .500 (51-52) as late as July 26.

 

Didn't they fall to 51-53 before turning it around? I always have that in the back of my head about the 2003 team.

Their fortunes also turned around when Hendry landed Simon/Ramirez/Lofton from the Pirates. Obviously, this team didn't need any major roster move like that in order to put together a few wins, but I can't imagine this level of baseball will be sustained with those two roster spots being wasted coughizturisjonescough, especially considering that our best chance of the catcher's spot not being a black hole right now lies in Soto being called up, which doesn't seem terribly likely at this point.

 

Big time runs can come out of nowhere, the 03 team just happened to get hot in September and carry it into October. This year's team has finally proven they can step it up a level for more than just a game or two at a time, and they did it before any major move was made, so it's a definite plus right now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd still like to see us upgrade somewhere. That could be replacing Marquis with a more capable starter, getting a right-handed rightfielder, or an offensive upgrade at catcher or shortstop.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

Ok...we're back to .500. I can start believing in this team again.

 

My "Believe" bracelet is still laying on my dresser - wonder if I should break it out? Nah........................

hahaha....in a very odd coincidence mine has been on my wrist since the last walkoff homer for the cubs.....which to a lot of teams isnt long but for them its over 2 years....im surprised it hasn't ripped yet cuz its all faded, but hey...cubs have a chance cuz they havent done what previous teams have done....had more than one losing streak that was prolonged....

 

i think in 2005 they had like a 7 and 8 game losing streak...and we all know what happened last year. This years team has avoided that for the most part only having a 6 game losing streak, plus a year ago today the cubs were 20 under so ill take .500 for today haha

[CubmanPi]

I'd still like to see us upgrade somewhere. That could be replacing Marquis with a more capable starter, getting a right-handed rightfielder, or an offensive upgrade at catcher or shortstop.

Somehow, I have a feeling that Marquis and his 3/21 contract are going to be about as easy as Jocque's contract to move out of town, especially if eating all but the league minimum isn't really an option.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd still like to see us upgrade somewhere. That could be replacing Marquis with a more capable starter, getting a right-handed rightfielder, or an offensive upgrade at catcher or shortstop.

Somehow, I have a feeling that Marquis and his 3/21 contract are going to be about as easy as Jocque's contract to move out of town, especially if eating all but the league minimum isn't really an option.

 

I'm not holding out any hope that Marquis would be replaced, but I think he's going to be a drag on this team from this point forward.

[A New Era]

Fontenot will cool down. But I'm happy at SS right now. Either call up Soto or trade for a real good RF bat. Those are the 2 likely things that I think will happen. Think. .

 

Even if we were able to trade Izturis. We have Ronny (who is very hot in AAA) and Fontenot (who is very hot at MLB) for the SS position.

 

We have Bowen and Hill. As well as Soto at AAA.

 

RF seems like the most likely position to upgrade, if JH wants to make a splash.

 

But with the way Floyd is playing, I think catcher or SS would provide the biggest OF upgrade. But C is an important DEF position. In other words, I'm confused as always.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Floyd is hitting 304/379/424 right now. That's acceptable for RF, but he's bad defensively out there. I also worry about his ability to hold-up over the long haul. But with DeRosa's ability to play RF, I'm not sure we need a new RF. If a nice option presents itself, great...but we may be ok there.

 

If DeRosa is playing some RF, I still think SS is the place to look. Fontenot can play there some, but he can also play 2b when DeRosa is somewhere else. Theriot is fine as a bench player, but isn't an everyday option. Izturis is wasted roster space.

 

I'd personally like to see us look for an upgrade at shortstop and get rid of Izturis. Giving Ronny another shot might be prudent, but I'm not sure if we can risk giving him the at bats needed while we're fighting for a playoff spot.

[XZero771679666304]

Floyd is hitting 304/379/424 right now. That's acceptable for RF, but he's bad defensively out there. I also worry about his ability to hold-up over the long haul. But with DeRosa's ability to play RF, I'm not sure we need a new RF. If a nice option presents itself, great...but we may be ok there.

 

If DeRosa is playing some RF, I still think SS is the place to look. Fontenot can play there some, but he can also play 2b when DeRosa is somewhere else. Theriot is fine as a bench player, but isn't an everyday option. Izturis is wasted roster space.

 

I'd personally like to see us look for an upgrade at shortstop and get rid of Izturis. Giving Ronny another shot might be prudent, but I'm not sure if we can risk giving him the at bats needed while we're fighting for a playoff spot.

 

I'd like to see Hill swapped out for Soto. I see little risk in this, since catcher has become an offensive black hole.

 

I would bring Ronny back up when/if Fontenot cools off. For the time being, I think SS/2B has to be Fontenot/DeRo.

[inari]

While I think an upgrade at shortstop or catcher would be ideal, a thumper in right seems a lot more realistic as far as trading options go.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While I think an upgrade at shortstop or catcher would be ideal, a thumper in right seems a lot more realistic as far as trading options go.

 

Dunn!!!!!

[cjbucks]

I'd still like to see us upgrade somewhere. That could be replacing Marquis with a more capable starter, getting a right-handed rightfielder, or an offensive upgrade at catcher or shortstop.

Somehow, I have a feeling that Marquis and his 3/21 contract are going to be about as easy as Jocque's contract to move out of town, especially if eating all but the league minimum isn't really an option.

 

I'm not holding out any hope that Marquis would be replaced, but I think he's going to be a drag on this team from this point forward.

 

I wonder if Shawn Estes is available??? :)

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I'd like to see them go after one solid arm in the bullpen. I know the Cubs are supposedly in the Gagne sweepstakes, but I think this town has had enough of injury prone pitchers.

[killthegoat06]

We have no chance. We just aren't playing good baseball. :P

[CubmanPi]

I'd like to see them go after one solid arm in the bullpen. I know the Cubs are supposedly in the Gagne sweepstakes, but I think this town has had enough of injury prone pitchers.

Kerry Wood will be in the bullpen and healthy and producing by the end of the year, so I think that's the solid arm we're looking for right there.

 

 

 

 

 

hahahahahaha, okay sorry, I couldn't keep a straight face all the way through that post.

[killthegoat06]

Cubs suck.

[Magnetic Curses]

the brewers are very good.

[killthegoat06]

the brewers are very good.

[TruffleShuffle]

cubs have a GREAT chance to finish second this year!

[weis21]

The brewers are a very young team and they historically have the tendancy to fade towards the end of the summer. Even if not, the cubs are right at .500 so the rest of the season is there for the taking. Just play good baseball, win games and be competitive is all that I ask.

[cbbryan]

The brewers are a very young team and they historically have the tendancy to fade towards the end of the summer. Even if not, the cubs are right at .500 so the rest of the season is there for the taking. Just play good baseball, win games and be competitive is all that I ask.

 

Just win series. If the Cubs win the majority of three game sets the rest of the way they'll be in good shape.

 

They do have to play better at Wrigley Field, though.

[abuck1220]

The brewers are a very young team and they historically have the tendancy to fade towards the end of the summer.

 

the cubs, on the other hand, have a tendency to really start kickin' a right around september and totally not choke.

[bhogg]

The brewers are a very young team and they historically have the tendancy to fade towards the end of the summer.

 

the cubs, on the other hand, have a tendency to really start kickin' a right around september and totally not choke.

 

 

In my lifetime, the cubs have been in the chase in september on 6 times -- 84, 89, 95, 98, 01, 03 and 04. The only time they really tanked was 01 and 04.

 

All the other years, they did their tanking earlier in the year :)

[Soul]

The brewers are a very young team and they historically have the tendancy to fade towards the end of the summer. Even if not, the cubs are right at .500 so the rest of the season is there for the taking. Just play good baseball, win games and be competitive is all that I ask.

 

Just win series. If the Cubs win the majority of three game sets the rest of the way they'll be in good shape.

 

They do have to play better at Wrigley Field, though.

 

Hahaha. I'm guessing you forgot to go back and edit this post, right?

 

Brewers play what? 5 more series all year against opponents over .500?

 

The Cubs would need to go on a hellish winning streak, and the Brewers one hell of a losing streak, for us to catch them. Just winning 2/3 in a majority of series? That boat, as they say, sailed long ago.

 

Do the Brewers look poised to start dropping 10/11 or 12/15 any time soon? Best hitting in the division, and it's not close? Pitching right up there with us in the Central -- nobody else in the same zip code? Easy schedule the rest of the way?

 

I don't think so.