Optimism vs. Pessimism

[Schwarber Fan]

Reasons to be optimistic:

 

-We still have a 4.5 game lead in the division with both magic numbers below 20

-At least the offense is slumping now, and not in October

-At least we are getting the injuries out of the way now

-The Phillies are good and the Astros were red hot

-It's just a slump, every good team goes through one

 

Reasons to be pessimistic:

 

-The offense is brutal right now

-Lee has lost all his power

-Z and Harden's injuries seem to be suspiciously hidden

-Dempster's been less effective lately

-Bob Howry = LaTroy Hawkins

-We only have one home series left

-The Brewers play the Padres next

 

Which side are you on?

[TruffleShuffle]

aren't there a few more reasons to be optimistic, like "cubs have best record in national league" and "cubs have best team on paper in national league" and "the rest of the national league isn't especially good."

[Derwood]

here's hoping Dempster isn't finally hitting the wall due to workload. He has 35 more IP this year than 06 and 07 combined

[soapy]

I'd say I'm heavily on the optimistic side with a just a dash of pessimism starting to be sprinkled in re: Zambrano and Harden. I'm not worried about the offense.

[rynefan]

I prefer to think of where I am with it as neither optimism or pessimism, but REALISM. I'm not overly concerned, but be realisitic..... there are issues one way or other with the pitching staff, Lee shows no signs of coming out of it, Fukudome is no prize, Ramirez is hot and cold, who knows with Edmonds, Johnson has cooled off, etc. The good thing is that we do know the potential is there, and if they can find their way back, no problem. But to rely on the fact that they have the best record, etc., is old news... that was then, this is now. It means they have the proven potential to be that, but that's not where they are now. Haven't we all heard Santo's story about the epic collapse and the Mets rise? I think they're going to be fine, but I'm also not going to bury the realistic side of things.

[Little Slide Rooter]

aren't there a few more reasons to be optimistic, like "cubs have best record in national league" and "cubs have best team on paper in national league" and "the rest of the national league isn't especially good."

 

The Tigers were a pretty good team on paper. How that work out? Not so well. Anyway, Im not to worried just yet. After the next 6 games, we'll see what happens. Still, after the amazing 4+months this team put together, it would be a shame to have to backdoor their way into the playoffs.

[biittner77]

aren't there a few more reasons to be optimistic, like "cubs have best record in national league" and "cubs have best team on paper in national league" and "the rest of the national league isn't especially good."

 

The Tigers were a pretty good team on paper. How that work out? Not so well. Anyway, Im not to worried just yet. After the next 6 games, we'll see what happens. Still, after the amazing 4+months this team put together, it would be a shame to have to backdoor their way into the playoffs.

 

If the Cubs win the WC they don't have to play the D-Backs in the 1st round. How's that for optimism.

 

The Angels just went through the same type of slump. The Rays are currently in a similar slump. I would also remind everyone that the last time the Cubs slumped they followed that with a 4 game sweep of the Brewers. Also, before this slump started the Cubs had won 7 in a row.

[Soul]

I want to see how the Z & Harden things play out before making any judgments because that will affect my expectations once we do get into the playoffs.

 

It's not about winning the division or getting the Wild Card. It's about erasing that 100 year drought. I don't care how the hell we get in. I care about how much damage we can do once we're there.

[Old Style]

Still optimistic at this point. Ask me again in a week.

[TheDude]

It should be pointed out that during this 5 game losing streak, the Cubs have had 60 base-runners just counting Hits + Walks. The offense has struggled to score Runs, and the two shutouts looked especially bad, but the team's OBP has remained constant overall.

 

This streak is just a combination of diminished performance by the staff, the inability to score the when the lead-off gets on base, bad luck, and bad breaks.

[Little Slide Rooter]

aren't there a few more reasons to be optimistic, like "cubs have best record in national league" and "cubs have best team on paper in national league" and "the rest of the national league isn't especially good."

 

The Tigers were a pretty good team on paper. How that work out? Not so well. Anyway, Im not to worried just yet. After the next 6 games, we'll see what happens. Still, after the amazing 4+months this team put together, it would be a shame to have to backdoor their way into the playoffs.

 

If the Cubs win the WC they don't have to play the D-Backs in the 1st round. How's that for optimism.

 

The Angels just went through the same type of slump. The Rays are currently in a similar slump. I would also remind everyone that the last time the Cubs slumped they followed that with a 4 game sweep of the Brewers. Also, before this slump started the Cubs had won 7 in a row.

 

Phils, D Bags, and Dodgers not doing much better.

[Soul]

It should be pointed out that during this 5 game losing streak, the Cubs have had 60 base-runners just counting Hits + Walks. The offense has struggled to score Runs, and the two shutouts looked especially bad, but the team's OBP has remained constant overall.

 

This streak is just a combination of diminished performance by the staff, the inability to score the when the lead-off gets on base, bad luck, and bad breaks.

 

I'll put the losing streak aside. I'm more anxious about the reality of both Z and Harden's arms.

[RyneSandberg]

Bottom line is that pitching wins baseball games, and guess what we are losing?

[CuseCubFan69]

Weren't people just posting a little while ago about Z being the third best pitcher on the team? If he's out it'll be a hit but the team will still be very good as long as what has been going well stays that way.

[27up27down]

Demp might be having the better season than Z, but there's no way he's the more feared pitcher in a playoff setting.

[Flames24Rulz]

A little bit of both, like I always am.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Weren't people just posting a little while ago about Z being the third best pitcher on the team? If he's out it'll be a hit but the team will still be very good as long as what has been going well stays that way.

 

He's been the third-best pitcher, but our best hope for the postseason was that we had three great pitchers. Not our only hope, to be sure, but our best.

[cubman356]

I want to see how the Z & Harden things play out before making any judgments because that will affect my expectations once we do get into the playoffs.

 

It's not about winning the division or getting the Wild Card. It's about erasing that 100 year drought. I don't care how the hell we get in. I care about how much damage we can do once we're there.

 

 

+1

[SouthSideRyan]

Bottom line is that pitching wins baseball games, and guess what we are losing?

 

You can't win a single game without an offense.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I want to see how the Z & Harden things play out before making any judgments because that will affect my expectations once we do get into the playoffs.

 

It's not about winning the division or getting the Wild Card. It's about erasing that 100 year drought. I don't care how the hell we get in. I care about how much damage we can do once we're there.

 

 

+1

 

Given the difference our home and road records this season, pretending the two have no connection seems odd to me.

[CuseCubFan69]

Weren't people just posting a little while ago about Z being the third best pitcher on the team? If he's out it'll be a hit but the team will still be very good as long as what has been going well stays that way.

 

He's been the third-best pitcher, but our best hope for the postseason was that we had three great pitchers. Not our only hope, to be sure, but our best.

 

I agree but it won't be the end of the world either. They'll miss his bat though!

[hardcorecubfan]

I remember 1969.

 

Thank goodness MIl. lost as well

[Warren Brusstar]

It should be pointed out that during this 5 game losing streak, the Cubs have had 60 base-runners just counting Hits + Walks. The offense has struggled to score Runs, and the two shutouts looked especially bad, but the team's OBP has remained constant overall.

 

This streak is just a combination of diminished performance by the staff, the inability to score the when the lead-off gets on base, bad luck, and bad breaks.

 

 

Also, a complete lack of power.

[Derwood]

Optimism: The Cubs have lost 5 straight and knocked 4 games off their magic number

[Rob]

I'm on an even keel... same as I have been all season.