Olney: Second Half Schedule Favors Brewers

[Joe_Cub]

from his espn blog (nl central stuff only)

- http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3485850&name=olney_buster

 

We saw last year how a patsy schedule could help to launch a team into the playoffs, when the Yankees steamrollered over a weak slate of teams to go 51-25 in the second half of the season and ascend into the postseason. With that in mind, there is a team among the National League Central contenders with a distinct scheduling advantage: the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Milwaukee has 67 games remaining, and of those, just 23 are against teams with records of .500 or better so far this season, by far the fewest in the division. Home games remaining: 33.

 

The hurdle that could derail them: In mid-September, the Brewers play a stretch of 10 road games, including four games in Philadelphia and three games against the Cubs in Wrigley Field.

 

The big finish: The Brewers close the season with six home games -- and end the year with three against the Cubs.

 

Among the other NL contenders:

 

Chicago Cubs (67 games remaining)

Games against teams with records of .500 or better: 34. Home games: 32.

 

The hurdle that could derail them: The end of the Cubs' schedule is a potential killer -- their last 13 games are against teams with records over .500.

 

The Big Finish: Seven road games -- four in New York against the Mets, three in Milwaukee. A big advantage to the Brewers, on paper.

 

St. Louis Cardinals (66 games remaining)

Games against teams with records of .500 or better: 28. Home games: 34.

 

The hurdle that could derail them: The Cardinals have a tough 10-game road trip in mid-August that takes them through Wrigley Field, Florida and Cincinnati.

 

The Big Finish: Seven home games, against the Diamondbacks and the Reds.

 

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everyone plays their schedule. one thing i don't like is having 13 straight at the end of the season.

[CubsGM]

The Brewers just came off a 6-4 homestand against the Pirates (15-28 on the road) (3-0), the worst road team in baseball Rockies (14-36 on the road) (2-2), and Reds (20-31 on the road) (1-2) and this is with a completely healthy team.

[otis89]

The Brewers just came off a 6-4 homestand against the Pirates (15-28 on the road) (3-0), the worst road team in baseball Rockies (14-36 on the road) (2-2), and Reds (20-31 on the road) (1-2) and this is with a completely healthy team.

 

Until they have Gallardo back, they're not completely healthy.

[mhuber92211]

Am i the only one not concerned about a road game in Milwuakee? It is like Wrigley north right? At least 20K of the fans will be Cub fans. At least a 50/50 split

[Ender]

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks each only play 14 games against teams over .500 the rest of the season. That will have a pretty big impact on the wild card as well.

[abuck1220]

The Brewers just came off a 6-4 homestand against the Pirates (15-28 on the road) (3-0), the worst road team in baseball Rockies (14-36 on the road) (2-2), and Reds (20-31 on the road) (1-2) and this is with a completely healthy team.

 

Until they have Gallardo back, they're not completely healthy.

 

well, they're not getting him back this year, so they're as healthy as they're going to get this season.

[CubInOK]

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks each only play 14 games against teams over .500 the rest of the season. That will have a pretty big impact on the wild card as well.

Aren't those two teams under .500?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks each only play 14 games against teams over .500 the rest of the season. That will have a pretty big impact on the wild card as well.

Aren't those two teams under .500?

 

LA is 6.5 games out of the wild card, and Arizona 5.5(they lead the West).

[javy knows my name]

Am i the only one not concerned about a road game in Milwuakee? It is like Wrigley north right? At least 20K of the fans will be Cub fans. At least a 50/50 split

Not even close. At this point, the city of Milwaukee has been rallying (I'm serious) to get Brewer fans to the Cubs games to keep us out. I've gone to Cubs games there each of the last four years and last year there was a significant increase in Brewer fans (it was NEVER close to 50/50) and the atmosphere is more militant. Now it seems that they care more about keeping us out/seeing us lose than we care to get there. Reminds me of another one-sided rivalry involving the Cubs...

Oh, and most importantly, Milwaukee is really good at home and are starting to sell out more games now that Sabathia is in town. Those games aren't gonna be easy but they're gonna be a helluva lot of fun

[SouthSideRyan]

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks each only play 14 games against teams over .500 the rest of the season. That will have a pretty big impact on the wild card as well.

 

Neither them have a chance at the wild card.