Reverse Pennant Race - 2011 #1 pick edition

[Iceblink]

Sports fans, we sit with a month and a half left in another exciting race for futility.

 

Pittsburgh has surged into the lead with a 7 game losing streak, showing the rest of these wannabes how a team that's been here before closes this race.

 

By all accounts, Baltimore should have had this puppy locked up...but then they go and hire Showalter and actually have a winning record over their last 10.

 

There are then a couple tiers of teams: Seattle and Arizona fighting it out for the #3 and #4 spots, and a group of 5 teams within 3 games of each other. That second group includes our beloved Cubs, fighting hard to catch Cleveland and Kansas City and jump two teams. Those three spots could mean the difference between drafting a small college guy nobody's heard of and drafting that same guy three spots higher! (I keed, I keed.)

 

We were smoking hot before giving up these two games against St Louis this weekend. I've got faith that we can get back on track and get this pain train rolling again.

 

It'll be a fun race to watch.

 

UPDATE:

 

September 24th standings:

Team		   W-L	   PCT	GB
Pittsburgh	53-100	.346	0
Seattle	   58-95	.379	5
Baltimore	 61-92	.399   8
Arizona		62-92	.403	8.5
Cleveland	 63-91	.409	9.5
Kansas City  63-90   .412	10
Washington	66-88	.429	12.5
Cubbies 	  69-84	.451	16
Milwaukee    72-81	.471	19

[davell]

I've been keeping up with this every day for the last week actually. :lol: I think it's possible to finish anywhere from 3-9 personally. The thing I'm pulling for right now is top 4, but definitely not 7-9, since you're going to drop another spot with Arizona most likely getting the 7th pick, with the Loux thing happening the way it appears to be.

 

The reason I'm pulling for top 4(and all this can certainly change obviously) is that you have Rendon, Purke, Cole, and Norris, who seem to me to be a cut above the rest. but, it's looking like a very talented and deep draft class, so who knows how things look come draft time......

[Jake]

Finally, we're winning something.

[javy knows my name]

Hahaha this is actually kind of great

[RammyFanny]

Cubs at 6 and only 3 out of the 3rd pick. I spoke to soon in the other thread when I said that pick 5 was our best case scenario.

[davell]

I'm not putting anything past this bunch at this stage. Lou is not interested whatsoever and we just traded the one guy considered to be a lockerroom leader. 41 games left. Team is apathetic, fans are not showing up and we still have 20 games against teams competing for the playoffs. I'm thinking we have a relatively decent shot at finishing top(or bottom) 3.

[illiniguy]

I really wish we could end up with Rendon.

[Tryptamine]

I really wish we could end up with Rendon.

 

I definitely like the other options, but Rendon is the only one I think has franchise changing possibilities.

[Outshined_One]

I really wish we could end up with Rendon.

 

I definitely like the other options, but Rendon is the only one I think has franchise changing possibilities.

 

Given his injury history, I worry about his future. I just have visions of the Cubs selecting him, he becomes the #1 prospect in baseball over a year and a half-long stint in the minors, he has a three month stretch with the Cubs after his callup where his OPS is over 1.000...and then he shatters a femur when an errant piano falls on him.

[Guest]

I really wish we could end up with Rendon.

 

I definitely like the other options, but Rendon is the only one I think has franchise changing possibilities.

 

Cole, Purke, Jungman and Gray certainly have elite ace potential - not sure what you mean by franchise changing, though.

[shnsajax]

I really wish we could end up with Rendon.

 

I definitely like the other options, but Rendon is the only one I think has franchise changing possibilities.

 

Given his injury history, I worry about his future. I just have visions of the Cubs selecting him, he becomes the #1 prospect in baseball over a year and a half-long stint in the minors, he has a three month stretch with the Cubs after his callup where his OPS is over 1.000...and then he shatters a femur when an errant piano falls on him.

 

I feel like that has already happened before

[Rob]

Cubs are only 2.5 games back of Arizona for the #3 pick right now.

[Iceblink]

Cubs are only 2.5 games back of Arizona for the #3 pick right now.

 

Ah know! That reverse sweep of the Padres was clutch. An indifferent manager, a roster full of rookies and under-achieving veterans...the formula is there for a stretch run.

[RammyFanny]

We rule at this game. Cubs at 5 and only 2 games out of 3 with Arizona's late inning comeback tonight.

[Iceblink]

We rule at this game. Cubs at 5 and only 2 games out of 3 with Arizona's late inning comeback tonight.

 

And only a half game out of #4 with Seattle's 3 game "winning" streak. Those amateurs. Cleveland & Washington are both 3-7 in their last 10, but only the Pirates are showing our kind of commitment here.

[Iceblink]

Morning of August 21:

Team		   W-L	   PCT	GB
Pittsburgh	40-82	.328	0
Baltimore	 43-80	.359	2.5
Arizona		48-75	.390	7.5
Seattle		49-73	.402   9
Cubbies		50-73	.407	9.5
Cleveland	 50-72	.410	10
Kansas City	51-70  .421	11.5
Washington	52-70	.426	12
Houston		53-68	.438	13.5

[RammyFanny]

Rendon/Purke/Cole here we come. Though I like Jungmann alot as well, mostly since I was clamoring over him when he was in high school.

[davell]

This actually makes you pay attention to teams that just have never interested ANYONE. I was following the Indians-Royals series, for instance.

 

I don't think we have any chance oif catching Pittsburgh, but I don't think Baltimore can breathe easily right now. They let up one little bit and we can catch them.......

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cubs are only 2.5 games back of Arizona for the #3 pick right now.

 

Ah know! That reverse sweep of the Padres was clutch. An indifferent manager, a roster full of rookies and under-achieving veterans...the formula is there for a stretch run.

 

Yeah, but those rookies could end up hurting the cause. They could play their buts off trying to prove themselves and end up going on a meaningless hot streak and knock us down to 7 or 8.

[NCCubFan]

The Cubs' blowpen gave it their best shot today, but the lead was just too much to overcome. Oh well, they can still wrap up a productive 1-6 week tomorrow.

[illiniguy]

We want RENDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wvcbxl]

This thread seems to have jinxed the Cubs. 8-)

[Little Slide Rooter]

Yeah, that sweep is no way to run a reverse pennant race. Hopefully we can bounceback next series.

[NCCubFan]

I'm not too concerned, yet. It was the Nationals. If we start beating REAL major league teams then it may be time to start worrying. This weekend in Cincinnati may be a key to our chances.

[NCCubFan]

Back on track after stumbling against the Nationals.