7/22 Other Games

[Fred Hornkohl]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

[UMFan83]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

 

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

[bcl412]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

 

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

 

I think we have good enough pitching to beat anyone. I'm just afraid our offense will never wake up from their season long nap.

[cubstitlelives]

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

 

Well, I'm sure not many people thought we'd get swept out of the playoffs when we were easily the best team in the NL all year. If the Cubs hit, they'll win. The pitching is there.

[Keener98]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

 

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

 

I would think after last year a Cubs fan would basically ignore the reg season success when it comes to the playoffs. If we get to the playoffs we have as good as chance as anyone to win a series, let alone a game.

[Guest]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

 

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

 

I'd guess this is going to be similar to 2007, where if the Cubs play well enough to be in the lead of the Wild Card, it probably won't matter since they'll probably be in first place in the NL Central anyway.

 

Also, yes, I could see the Cubs winning a playoff series. Would they be favored? Maybe not. But the favorite doesn't always win and with a rotation of Lilly-Z-Harden-Dempster and the bullpen pitching as well as it has now, it's certainly possible.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

 

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

 

I'd guess this is going to be similar to 2007, where if the Cubs play well enough to be in the lead of the Wild Card, it probably won't matter since they'll probably be in first place in the NL Central anyway.

 

Also, yes, I could see the Cubs winning a playoff series. Would they be favored? Maybe not. But the favorite doesn't always win and with a rotation of Lilly-Z-Harden-Dempster and the bullpen pitching as well as it has now, it's certainly possible.

 

Right, the pitching would be the key to winning the playoff series. Given how much they come down to being a crapshoot even this team offensively could get hot at the right time in the playoffs. Hell, look at the 2003 Cubs: awesome pitching but on paper who is picking them to beat the Braves? This obviously isn't the ideal team right now to go into the playoffs but so long as they cna get there anything can happen in those short series.

[UMFan83]

Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Colorado        52      43     0.547     ---
San Francisco   50      44     0.532     1.5
CUBS            48      45     0.516     3.0
Houston         49      46     0.516     3.0
Atlanta         49      46     0.516     3.0
Florida         49      47     0.510     3.5
Milwaukee       48      47     0.505     4.0
Cincinnati      44      49     0.473     7.0
NY Mets         44      50     0.468     7.5

 

A lot of teams bunched up there, but for the Cubs to make the playoffs, they would have to play very good baseball anyways so the number of teams shouldn't be a problem. The thing that scares me right now is that the projected playoff teams are very scary. Can anyone see the Cubs winning a playoff game against Philly or LA let alone a series? We may be able to beat someone like SF or COL, but its highly likely we'd be matched up with them.

 

I would think after last year a Cubs fan would basically ignore the reg season success when it comes to the playoffs. If we get to the playoffs we have as good as chance as anyone to win a series, let alone a game.

 

Here's why I'd worry that even as a crapshoot, we'd have bad odds of succeeding in the postseason:

 

1) The offense doesn't seem to hit good pitching at all (going off memory).

2) The offense hasn't had a prolonged hot streak all year

 

If neither of those 2 things happen and we still somehow make the playoffs, I won't feel good going in. But it doesn't matter what I feel, so whatever. There would definitely be less pressure on the Cubs than last year if we stumbled into the playoffs with like 85 wins. Everyone would be expecting us to get swept badly because of how bad our offense has been and because of how the last 2 playoffs have gone, so maybe we'd loosen up and surprise people.

[Fred Hornkohl]

 

Here's why I'd worry that even as a crapshoot, we'd have bad odds of succeeding in the postseason:

 

1) The offense doesn't seem to hit good pitching at all (going off memory).

2) The offense hasn't had a prolonged hot streak all year

 

If neither of those 2 things happen and we still somehow make the playoffs, I won't feel good going in. But it doesn't matter what I feel, so whatever. There would definitely be less pressure on the Cubs than last year if we stumbled into the playoffs with like 85 wins. Everyone would be expecting us to get swept badly because of how bad our offense has been and because of how the last 2 playoffs have gone, so maybe we'd loosen up and surprise people.

 

You can argue what constitutes a prolonged hot streak, but consider this......

 

04/06 - 05/17      AB    R    H   2b   3b   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
CUBS             1221  182  312   61    5   46  521  171  144  268  0.256  0.339  0.427  0.766

 

Through 36 games, the CUBS were 21-15, scoring 5.06 runs per game.

 

If we can put up another offensive streak like that one, we'll be in pretty good shape !

[UMFan83]

 

Here's why I'd worry that even as a crapshoot, we'd have bad odds of succeeding in the postseason:

 

1) The offense doesn't seem to hit good pitching at all (going off memory).

2) The offense hasn't had a prolonged hot streak all year

 

If neither of those 2 things happen and we still somehow make the playoffs, I won't feel good going in. But it doesn't matter what I feel, so whatever. There would definitely be less pressure on the Cubs than last year if we stumbled into the playoffs with like 85 wins. Everyone would be expecting us to get swept badly because of how bad our offense has been and because of how the last 2 playoffs have gone, so maybe we'd loosen up and surprise people.

 

You can argue what constitutes a prolonged hot streak, but consider this......

 

04/06 - 05/17      AB    R    H   2b   3b   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
CUBS             1221  182  312   61    5   46  521  171  144  268  0.256  0.339  0.427  0.766

 

Through 36 games, the CUBS were 21-15, scoring 5.06 runs per game.

 

If we can put up another offensive streak like that one, we'll be in pretty good shape !

 

The crazy thing about that is they did it while Bradley and Soto were hurt/in a horrific slump, and Lee was hitting terribly. How the heck did they score those runs?

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Here's why I'd worry that even as a crapshoot, we'd have bad odds of succeeding in the postseason:

 

1) The offense doesn't seem to hit good pitching at all (going off memory).

2) The offense hasn't had a prolonged hot streak all year

 

If neither of those 2 things happen and we still somehow make the playoffs, I won't feel good going in. But it doesn't matter what I feel, so whatever. There would definitely be less pressure on the Cubs than last year if we stumbled into the playoffs with like 85 wins. Everyone would be expecting us to get swept badly because of how bad our offense has been and because of how the last 2 playoffs have gone, so maybe we'd loosen up and surprise people.

 

You can argue what constitutes a prolonged hot streak, but consider this......

 

04/06 - 05/17      AB    R    H   2b   3b   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
CUBS             1221  182  312   61    5   46  521  171  144  268  0.256  0.339  0.427  0.766

 

Through 36 games, the CUBS were 21-15, scoring 5.06 runs per game.

 

If we can put up another offensive streak like that one, we'll be in pretty good shape !

 

The crazy thing about that is they did it while Bradley and Soto were hurt/in a horrific slump, and Lee was hitting terribly. How the heck did they score those runs?

 

Aramis got of to a good start, Fukudome was hitting great and Soriano looked like he was going to have one of the best years of his career.

[Fred Hornkohl]

 

The crazy thing about that is they did it while Bradley and Soto were hurt/in a horrific slump, and Lee was hitting terribly. How the heck did they score those runs?

 

CUBS                 R   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS  BABIP  P/PA   IsoD  BDI  LOB   RBI%
04/06 - 05/17      182  144  268  0.256  0.339  0.427  0.766  0.293  3.97  0.083  125  551  0.185
05/19 - 07/22      211  183  418  0.244  0.313  0.383  0.696  0.286  3.78  0.068  150  858  0.149

 

With .026 more OBP, .070 more OPS, 0.21 more P/PA, .015 more IsoD, and .036 more RBI% than what they've given us since.

[SouthSideRyan]

I was definitely 'rooting' for the Astros to lose this one (not the Cards to win). Cardinals have @ Philly, @ LAD (i think @), vs. HOU coming up. They would have taken care of themselves. Houston is red hot and looks like it's gonna take this if everyone keeps sitting around in mediocrity.

 

On the other hand, the Astros aren't a good baseball team.

[UMFan83]

I was definitely 'rooting' for the Astros to lose this one (not the Cards to win). Cardinals have @ Philly, @ LAD (i think @), vs. HOU coming up. They would have taken care of themselves. Houston is red hot and looks like it's gonna take this if everyone keeps sitting around in mediocrity.

 

On the other hand, the Astros aren't a good baseball team.

 

Yeah I said that in 04, 05, hell even 08 when they made a run and finished 9 games over despite looking like an awful baseball team on paper. For some reason, they just make second half runs all the time, so mentally I worry about them making another run even though on paper they look like garbage.

[TruffleShuffle]

russ ortiz, mike hampton, brian moehler. who are three guys who are not likely to hold up well during the second half of the seasons?

[UMFan83]

Wow...the Reds and Dodgers were tied at 2 in the 6th...with the bases loaded and 1 out the Dodgers sent Manny up to PH (he didn't start because of a small injury). First pitch he knocks one directly into Mannywood for a grand slam.

 

In other news, the Reds are heading downhill in a hurry.

[TruffleShuffle]

Wow...the Reds and Dodgers were tied at 2 in the 6th...with the bases loaded and 1 out the Dodgers sent Manny up to PH (he didn't start because of a small injury). First pitch he knocks one directly into Mannywood for a grand slam.

 

In other news, the Reds are heading downhill in a hurry.

 

they've been heading downhill since october 13, 2007. i suppose this season is headed downhill in a hurry though.

[UMFan83]

Wow...the Reds and Dodgers were tied at 2 in the 6th...with the bases loaded and 1 out the Dodgers sent Manny up to PH (he didn't start because of a small injury). First pitch he knocks one directly into Mannywood for a grand slam.

 

In other news, the Reds are heading downhill in a hurry.

 

they've been heading downhill since october 13, 2007. i suppose this season is headed downhill in a hurry though.

 

Yeah I was reading the Reds message board for their game tonight, and I'm seeing them complain about the same things we did regarding Dusty. His time has gotta be short there if the Reds continue to fall.

[SouthSideRyan]

Only the Pirates and Orioles have longer streaks of sub-500 seasons than the Reds.

 

Only the Pirates, Royals, Blue Jays, and Nats have longer playoff droughts.

[laurens]

Wow...the Reds and Dodgers were tied at 2 in the 6th...with the bases loaded and 1 out the Dodgers sent Manny up to PH (he didn't start because of a small injury). First pitch he knocks one directly into Mannywood for a grand slam.

 

In other news, the Reds are heading downhill in a hurry.

 

I think the Cubs will be happy to push them further down this series