This is very frustrating.

[erik316wttn]

Yes, we're in first place, but we've been hanging around for a while now. We have had probably half a dozen opportunities to put some real space between us and the Brewers, and every single time we haven't capitalized. Good teams take advantage of those opportunities and win those games.

 

I see this like it was around this time in 2004. We can't beat the teams we need to beat and win the games we need to win.

[Derwood]

yeah, this season is gonna be a heartbreaker

[Sammy Sofa]

This team isn't nearly as awesome as the 2004 should have been. That team should have been a friggin' worldbeater, especially at the end.

[erik316wttn]

This team isn't nearly as awesome as the 2004 should have been. That team should have been a friggin' worldbeater, especially at the end.

 

As I said in the game thread, if the Cubs win the division it's not because they were the best team, it'll be because they sucked the least.

[kente777]

Good teams take advantage of those opportunities and win those games.

 

Is there one of those in the NL Central?

[Peoriaman]

The Cubs were the worst team in the NL last year. 96 losses. I think we are all expecting too much. We have made a quantum leap to a contender. Enjoy it.

[kente777]

The Cubs were the worst team in the NL last year. 96 losses. I think we are all expecting too much. We have made a quantum leap to a contender. Enjoy it.

 

I think we're all lowering our expectations so when the inevitable comes, we're not let down.

[erik316wttn]

The Cubs were the worst team in the NL last year. 96 losses. I think we are all expecting too much. We have made a quantum leap to a contender. Enjoy it.

 

I think we're all lowering our expectations so when the inevitable comes, we're not let down.

 

That's how you have to be. Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

[MikeyLikesCubbies]

As I said in the game thread, if the Cubs win the division it's not because they were the best team, it'll be because they sucked the least.

 

I think we have a new slogan:

 

WE SUCK LEAST

 

better than "it's gonna happen"

[Peoriaman]

No need to lower expectations. Anybody with any sense of realism went into this season expecting improvement and a chance to contend. We have gotten all of that.

[DivineBovine]

In the beginning of the year, I gave up on them. Now, I'll be really bummed if they don't make the playoffs.

[Bruno7481]

They took 2 out of 3, do the same in Arizona and that is a very successful trip.

 

They aren't going to go undefeated the rest of the way.

 

Go into the series against Milwaukee with a lead and then you have a chance to clear some space.

[Illini Iceman]

This team isn't nearly as awesome as the 2004 should have been. That team should have been a friggin' worldbeater, especially at the end.

 

As I said in the game thread, if the Cubs win the division it's not because they were the best team, it'll be because they sucked the least.

 

Ummmm, wouldn't sucking the least mean they were the best team?

[Sosa21MVP]

Yes, we're in first place, but we've been hanging around for a while now. We have had probably half a dozen opportunities to put some real space between us and the Brewers, and every single time we haven't capitalized. Good teams take advantage of those opportunities and win those games.

 

I see this like it was around this time in 2004. We can't beat the teams we need to beat and win the games we need to win.

 

The Cubs seemed to take advantage of opportunities in the first two games of the series. You are talking like they just lost the series. They have won 5 of 7 and if they win every remaining series then the NL Central title will be won with some margin to spare.

[Electron Blue]

This team isn't nearly as awesome as the 2004 should have been. That team should have been a friggin' worldbeater, especially at the end.

 

As I said in the game thread, if the Cubs win the division it's not because they were the best team, it'll be because they sucked the least.

 

Ummmm, wouldn't sucking the least mean they were the best team?

 

yeah, but calling it "sucking the least" allows us Cubs fans to retain our pessimism ;)

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah, this season is gonna be a heartbreaker

 

it's only heartbreaking if you expect much out of the cubs, which i don't

[erik316wttn]

This team isn't nearly as awesome as the 2004 should have been. That team should have been a friggin' worldbeater, especially at the end.

 

As I said in the game thread, if the Cubs win the division it's not because they were the best team, it'll be because they sucked the least.

 

Ummmm, wouldn't sucking the least mean they were the best team?

 

Not really.

 

Every team in this division sucks, and if they were in any other division in baseball, they'd be hopelessly out of any race by now. It's just that whoever wins sucks the least.

 

Got it?

[Soul]

I didn't expect a division crown so I'm happy we're in first. But I agree it's a frustrating season to watch when your chief rivals stumble and you can't take advantage.

 

Then watching the Cards creep up.......the sense of "here we go again" starts to become more prominent.

[RynoRules]

Yes, we're in first place, but we've been hanging around for a while now. We have had probably half a dozen opportunities to put some real space between us and the Brewers, and every single time we haven't capitalized. Good teams take advantage of those opportunities and win those games.

 

I see this like it was around this time in 2004. We can't beat the teams we need to beat and win the games we need to win.

 

This looks like 03' and 04'. The result was just better in 03'.

[erik316wttn]

I didn't expect a division crown so I'm happy we're in first. But I agree it's a frustrating season to watch when your chief rivals stumble and you can't take advantage.

 

Then watching the Cards creep up.......the sense of "here we go again" starts to become more prominent.

 

It reminds me of late in '04 when we were struggling with the lowly Expos like they were the 1927 Yankees.

[Soul]

I didn't expect a division crown so I'm happy we're in first. But I agree it's a frustrating season to watch when your chief rivals stumble and you can't take advantage.

 

Then watching the Cards creep up.......the sense of "here we go again" starts to become more prominent.

 

It reminds me of late in '04 when we were struggling with the lowly Expos like they were the 1927 Yankees.

 

It does remind me of '04, but my expectations for this season were considerably lower than in '04, so if it ends up the same way I won't feel nearly as bad.

 

It'll still hurt though. I want playoff baseball this year.

[Fred Hornkohl]

This CUBS team is the definition of frustration.........

 

CUBS are 5-7 vs. Cincinnati

CUBS are 4-5 vs. Houston

CUBS are 4-5 vs. Pittsburgh

 

CUBS are 7-5 vs. Milwaukee

CUBS are 7-4 vs. St. Louis

 

We keep losing to the lesser teams while beating the better teams.

 

It just ain't supposed to work this way.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[erik316wttn]

This CUBS team is the definition of frustration.........

 

CUBS are 5-7 vs. Cincinnati

CUBS are 4-5 vs. Houston

CUBS are 4-5 vs. Pittsburgh

 

CUBS are 7-5 vs. Milwaukee

CUBS are 7-4 vs. St. Louis

 

We keep losing to the lesser teams while beating the better teams.

 

It just ain't supposed to work this way.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

 

That's been going on for as long as our struggles with mediocre lefties has. Do they just not get pumped up enough to play the Reds, Pirates, etc? If so, that falls on Piniella, although it was like that under Dusty as well. It's like they don't think they have to play as hard against those teams, and a lot of the time it looks like they're half-assing it.

[Elrhino]

If you would have told me on July 4th that the Cubs would have been in 1st place heading into September with Soriano missing all of August, Zambrano posting an ERA over 7 in August, ARam hitting 3 HR's in August and July combined ... I would have taken it and said Lou performed some miracles. Edited August 24, 2007 by Elrhino

[jersey cubs fan]

Yes, we're in first place, but we've been hanging around for a while now. We have had probably half a dozen opportunities to put some real space between us and the Brewers, and every single time we haven't capitalized. Good teams take advantage of those opportunities and win those games.

 

I see this like it was around this time in 2004. We can't beat the teams we need to beat and win the games we need to win.

 

This looks like 03' and 04'. The result was just better in 03'.

 

Yeah, it's funny that the general consensus is 2003 was better, when in fact, they won one more game in 2004. The difference is the competition. It's sort of similar to serving praise on a clutch hit by a guy who puts a dribbler through the hole or being pissed at a guy who hits are sharp grounder right at somebody.

 

If this team wins the division with 85 wins, people are going to place it well above the 2004 team and say they "came through".