Don't look now, but...

[A New Era]

Last time I was affraid to look. (superstitous about karma). But I'm in full on gaze mode. I love it!!

[A New Era]

i won't be optimistic until the cubs win or at least make the world series

 

I took the cautious approach before. But I've turned to the light side. Come on truffle, it's alot more fun on this side! WOHOOO!!!

[Twiggy]

Lets Go Cubbies!

[Drew Doughty]

The NL Central's yours, Cubs! Brewers' gonna choke!

[JimSorgi]

I didn't realize how close we were to the Mets.

[Rob]

The Cubs have the best pythagorean record in the NL.

 

Yeah, but their 3rd order winning percentage places them behind the Mets, Braves, and Dodgers.

[Fro]

We've been on an insane run... hopefully we make a big trade to keep it going.

[soccer10k]

The Cubs have the best pythagorean record in the NL.

 

Yeah, but their 3rd order winning percentage places them behind the Mets, Braves, and Dodgers.

 

What's the difference between the two?

[Rob]

The Cubs have the best pythagorean record in the NL.

 

Yeah, but their 3rd order winning percentage places them behind the Mets, Braves, and Dodgers.

 

What's the difference between the two?

 

Essentially, you substitute predicted runs based on how everybody is hitting, ballpark, pitching staffs faced, etc... instead of actual runs and runs allowed.

 

It pretty much takes Aramis's .325/.438/.600/1.038 line with 2 outs and RISP and adjusts it down to his normal line and sees what we would have hit against a neutral staff in a neutral park... and then does the same for pitchers that have been unlucky or lucky based on their numbers with 2 outs.

[jersey cubs fan]

To continue the theme of positive feelings, perhaps last night's disaster will wake Jim up to the fact that all is not peachy keen and status quo isn't quite good enough.

[Electron Blue]

To continue the theme of positive feelings, perhaps last night's disaster will wake Jim up to the fact that all is not peachy keen and status quo isn't quite good enough.

 

I'd hate to think he's so knee-jerky . . . but I do dislike our status quo, so I too hope he "fixes" what he saw last night (which, IMO, was nothing special -- the occasional, unfortunate blowout that just happens from time to time, even to the best of teams).

[jersey cubs fan]

To continue the theme of positive feelings, perhaps last night's disaster will wake Jim up to the fact that all is not peachy keen and status quo isn't quite good enough.

 

I'd hate to think he's so knee-jerky . . . but I do dislike our status quo, so I too hope he "fixes" what he saw last night (which, IMO, was nothing special -- the occasional, unfortunate blowout that just happens from time to time, even to the best of teams).

 

He was quoted by multiple sources saying that whether or not they make a move probably depends on how they hit this week. I think it's pretty clear Jim makes moves based on short term observations (Izturis hit .288 for two months in 2004, Kendall looked good when Gary Hughes saw him, etc). It's a stupid idea. They should trade because over the course of the season their C, SS, CF and RF positions have all been seriously lacking productivity. But if it works in our favor, the results could still be good.

[Bergy92]

For those on this forum who say that Jim Hendry makes rash decisions should read this thread from the beginning. We had euphoria about ready to erupt and then the post after losing last night was something like depression...

 

every team has a bad night, overall we are playing very good baseball. No need to react one way or another - let's just keep playing well

[NCCubFan]

every team has a bad night, overall we are playing very good baseball. No need to react one way or another - let's just keep playing well

Agreed. It was one game. The Cubs still won 2 of 3, and I'll always be happy with 2 of 3 in a road series regardless of who the opponent is. 2 of 3 the rest of the way = playoffs.

[jersey cubs fan]

For those on this forum who say that Jim Hendry makes rash decisions should read this thread from the beginning. We had euphoria about ready to erupt and then the post after losing last night was something like depression...

 

It's one thing for fans to live and die with each win and loss, and quite another for the GM to make decisions based on short-term fluctuations in performance, including "how we hit in the next week".

[soccer10k]

The Cubs have the best pythagorean record in the NL.

 

Yeah, but their 3rd order winning percentage places them behind the Mets, Braves, and Dodgers.

 

What's the difference between the two?

 

Essentially, you substitute predicted runs based on how everybody is hitting, ballpark, pitching staffs faced, etc... instead of actual runs and runs allowed.

 

It pretty much takes Aramis's .325/.438/.600/1.038 line with 2 outs and RISP and adjusts it down to his normal line and sees what we would have hit against a neutral staff in a neutral park... and then does the same for pitchers that have been unlucky or lucky based on their numbers with 2 outs.

 

So the pythag W/L is solely runs scored/runs allowed with nothing else like park factors factored in?

[seanimal]

Well it appears this thread has single-handedly sent the Cubs into a season-ending slide.

[David]

Well it appears this thread has single-handedly sent the Cubs into a season-ending slide.

 

Nah, this little stumble is just what the Dr. ordered to get Hendry to make a move on a big bat before the deadline.

[Soul]

Well it appears this thread has single-handedly sent the Cubs into a season-ending slide.

 

Nah, this little stumble is just what the Dr. ordered to get Hendry to make a move on a big bat before the deadline.

 

Oooohhh you did not just say that. Little stumble? We're finished now.

[Sosa21MVP]

No matter what happens this weekend, the Cubs will be playing meaningful games in August and that is one of the minimum things I ask for every season. Be in the race in August so I can stay excited about baseball instead of entertaining myself with NFL preseason games. :lol:

 

The Saturday game is huge now, beating Harang would set the Cubs up nicely for a series win with Big Z pitching on Sunday but it won't be easy beating the Harangatang.

[abuck1220]

No matter what happens this weekend, the Cubs will be playing meaningful games in August and that is one of the minimum things I ask for every season. Be in the race in August so I can stay excited about baseball instead of entertaining myself with NFL preseason games. :lol:

 

i seem to have different standards than most people on this board.

[Soul]

No matter what happens this weekend, the Cubs will be playing meaningful games in August and that is one of the minimum things I ask for every season. Be in the race in August so I can stay excited about baseball instead of entertaining myself with NFL preseason games. :lol:

 

i seem to have different standards than most people on this board.

 

Yeah, that seems to be a bit low of a bar to set for happiness to me as well.

 

Merely playing meaningful games in August is, well, meaningless. To me, at least.

[anabiono]

No matter what happens this weekend, the Cubs will be playing meaningful games in August and that is one of the minimum things I ask for every season. Be in the race in August so I can stay excited about baseball instead of entertaining myself with NFL preseason games. :lol:

 

i seem to have different standards than most people on this board.

 

Yeah, that seems to be a bit low of a bar to set for happiness to me as well.

 

Merely playing meaningful games in August is, well, meaningless. To me, at least.

 

exactly...who cares if they are in the hunt if they don't make it...seriously...i would much rather have my teams suck then make a mad dash at the finish line and then fall on their faces...that SUCKS

 

btw...we lost to a muppet tonight...a FREAKIN MUPPET

 

i am jaded at the moment

[Sosa21MVP]

No matter what happens this weekend, the Cubs will be playing meaningful games in August and that is one of the minimum things I ask for every season. Be in the race in August so I can stay excited about baseball instead of entertaining myself with NFL preseason games. :lol:

 

i seem to have different standards than most people on this board.

 

Yeah, that seems to be a bit low of a bar to set for happiness to me as well.

 

Merely playing meaningful games in August is, well, meaningless. To me, at least.

 

I said it's my MINIMUM bar of expectation. I didn't say it's the be all and end all standard that I set. With all the 90 loss seasons I've endured in the last 20 years, yes I appreciate seeing the team actually contend into August. It beats playing to try and avoid 90 losses.

 

Making the playoffs is the ultimate goal for me, but being in contention is the minimum goal. That's just the way I look at things.

[Sosa21MVP]

No matter what happens this weekend, the Cubs will be playing meaningful games in August and that is one of the minimum things I ask for every season. Be in the race in August so I can stay excited about baseball instead of entertaining myself with NFL preseason games. :lol:

 

i seem to have different standards than most people on this board.

 

Yeah, that seems to be a bit low of a bar to set for happiness to me as well.

 

Merely playing meaningful games in August is, well, meaningless. To me, at least.

 

exactly...who cares if they are in the hunt if they don't make it...seriously...i would much rather have my teams suck then make a mad dash at the finish line and then fall on their faces...that SUCKS

 

btw...we lost to a muppet tonight...a FREAKIN MUPPET

 

i am jaded at the moment

 

So would you have rather seen the Cubs miss the playoffs in 2003 as opposed to what actually happened? Just curious to see your response.