9/12 best team in the division (anderson) @ cubs (_|_) 705 abc7

[ScrubMD]

we get to see Brian horsefeathering Duensing

 

What are the alternatives?

 

Any other pitcher on the roster, and probably 3-4 of the position players.

[gobigred]

Can we just send like 15 guys to DC and rest everyone else back in Chicago

[PackLandVA]

I like Maddon’s strategy of limiting the relievers pitch counts tonight. Keep ‘em fresh for tomorrow and the weekend. You really don’t want to burn Kitzler and Deunsing in a loss.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Horrible. Still winning the division, though.

 

Hope you are right, Duker. Would be your greatest performance yet.

 

That said, I think the undisputed heavyweight champion for predictions is finally going to get knocked out.

[UMFan83]

[Soul]

I always thought it was weird that the cubs had the best record in the National League. Key injuries combined with top players who are underperforming and a starting pitching staff that just got its act together after the All-Star break. A bullpen that’s pretty much completely collapsed.

 

It would be nice if the Cubs won the wildcard game and got to a real playoff series but I can’t see it going any further than that.

 

Let’s be honest the Cubs have been extremely lucky in the second half. They have a negative run differential over a 60 game stretch. They have not played consistently good baseball and they have been an average team at best in the second half

 

Shirley

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I always thought it was weird that the cubs had the best record in the National League. Key injuries combined with top players who are underperforming and a starting pitching staff that just got its act together after the All-Star break. A bullpen that’s pretty much completely collapsed.

 

It would be nice if the Cubs won the wildcard game and got to a real playoff series but I can’t see it going any further than that.

 

Let’s be honest the Cubs have been extremely lucky in the second half. They have a negative run differential over a 60 game stretch. They have not played consistently good baseball and they have been an average team at best in the second half

 

You keep saying this, but it's cherry picked and doesn't mean much. Our RD for the whole season is over +100. We had a bad week or two of RD right out of the break, then we played well for awhile, and now we've had a bad RD stretch the past week. Extend the time frame more or cut it smaller and you can make it say whatever you want. The Cubs are good. They've played well over the course of the season. No amount of SSS cherry-picking is going to change the fact that this is a mid-90 win team.

[ScrubMD]

 

But isn't that like 2nd best on the team in that stretch?

[bcl412]

Weird that just a playoff birth is a letdown as a cub fan.

[Derwood]

Remaining schedule:

 

1 @ WSH

3 vs. CIN

3 @ ARZ

3 @ CHW

4 vs. PIT

3 vs. STL

[Bryants Disco Ball]

 

I have to say, I'm disappointed. I was really, really confident he was going to help make the offense unstoppable once KB came back.

[chibears55]

I don't care how meatball-y it is; I kinda want the whole coaching staff gone.

I really believe more then 50% chance Maddon gone and even moreso if they blow the division and dont go deep in playoffs

 

The world series that Maddon did everything in his power to lose will earn him a couple more years.

He got 1 year left on his contract, my guess is if Epstein who has 3 yrs left, dont want to extend him and feels a change is necessary, then he'll do it this offseason ..

 

He can then give the next manager at least a 3 yr deal to match him, and i dont know if he still wants him but Girardi still available...

[Cubswin11]

It’s an even year, we can just wild card it like those dumb Giants teams.*

 

 

 

*But we’re still going to win the division anyways.

Edited September 13, 2018 by Cubswin11

[imb]

I always thought it was weird that the cubs had the best record in the National League. Key injuries combined with top players who are underperforming and a starting pitching staff that just got its act together after the All-Star break. A bullpen that’s pretty much completely collapsed.

 

It would be nice if the Cubs won the wildcard game and got to a real playoff series but I can’t see it going any further than that.

 

Let’s be honest the Cubs have been extremely lucky in the second half. They have a negative run differential over a 60 game stretch. They have not played consistently good baseball and they have been an average team at best in the second half

 

You keep saying this, but it's cherry picked and doesn't mean much. Our RD for the whole season is over +100. We had a bad week or two of RD right out of the break, then we played well for awhile, and now we've had a bad RD stretch the past week. Extend the time frame more or cut it smaller and you can make it say whatever you want. The Cubs are good. They've played well over the course of the season. No amount of SSS cherry-picking is going to change the fact that this is a mid-90 win team.

 

Ok if they win 95 games I won’t post here the entire playoffs.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Horrible. Still winning the division, though.

 

Hope you are right, Duker. Would be your greatest performance yet.

 

That said, I think the undisputed heavyweight champion for predictions is finally going to get knocked out.

 

It's not that great of a performance to pick the team with a lead to hold onto their lead over an inferior team.

[chibears55]

Can we just send like 15 guys to DC and rest everyone else back in Chicago

I did see a tweet earlier that Maddon is planning on leaving some guys here...

Maybe it just in case they cant fly back Thursday night or Friday morning [emoji16]

[Soul]

I always thought it was weird that the cubs had the best record in the National League. Key injuries combined with top players who are underperforming and a starting pitching staff that just got its act together after the All-Star break. A bullpen that’s pretty much completely collapsed.

 

It would be nice if the Cubs won the wildcard game and got to a real playoff series but I can’t see it going any further than that.

 

Let’s be honest the Cubs have been extremely lucky in the second half. They have a negative run differential over a 60 game stretch. They have not played consistently good baseball and they have been an average team at best in the second half

 

You keep saying this, but it's cherry picked and doesn't mean much. Our RD for the whole season is over +100. We had a bad week or two of RD right out of the break, then we played well for awhile, and now we've had a bad RD stretch the past week. Extend the time frame more or cut it smaller and you can make it say whatever you want. The Cubs are good. They've played well over the course of the season. No amount of SSS cherry-picking is going to change the fact that this is a mid-90 win team.

They’re not good man. It’s been a weird season. I’m trusting my eyes right now. I see a mediocre team. What do you see, just separate from the stats? It’s incredibly frustrating

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Weird that just a playoff birth is a letdown as a cub fan.

 

It's for sure a good place to be. But now that we are hopefully like a Yankees or Red Sox team in the NL, winning divisions and being in the playoffs is going to be what is expected and anything else considered a mediocre season.

[chibears55]

Remaining schedule:

 

1 @ WSH

3 vs. CIN

3 @ ARZ

3 @ CHW

4 vs. PIT

3 vs. STL

They could and probably need to win 12 of those games at most

[Perd]

I almost want them to blow the whole thing. This team isn’t fun. And kinda deserves that dubious noteriety.

[Brian]

gutless choking dogs

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Horrible. Still winning the division, though.

 

Hope you are right, Duker. Would be your greatest performance yet.

 

That said, I think the undisputed heavyweight champion for predictions is finally going to get knocked out.

 

It's not that great of a performance to pick the team with a lead to hold onto their lead over an inferior team.

 

Nah, man. You aren't giving yourself enough credit. If they hold onto this, I don't care what teams they hold off, you are going into the Hall of Fame even before you retire.

 

This isn't a head to head type race where everything is equal. I hate when people use the tired thing as an excuse, but there is a good chance it's real. And it isn't getting better any time soon. Add in injuries, etc., and if you are right about this, it's a lot better call than just picking the more talented team.

[UMFan83]

I always thought it was weird that the cubs had the best record in the National League. Key injuries combined with top players who are underperforming and a starting pitching staff that just got its act together after the All-Star break. A bullpen that’s pretty much completely collapsed.

 

It would be nice if the Cubs won the wildcard game and got to a real playoff series but I can’t see it going any further than that.

 

Let’s be honest the Cubs have been extremely lucky in the second half. They have a negative run differential over a 60 game stretch. They have not played consistently good baseball and they have been an average team at best in the second half

 

You keep saying this, but it's cherry picked and doesn't mean much. Our RD for the whole season is over +100. We had a bad week or two of RD right out of the break, then we played well for awhile, and now we've had a bad RD stretch the past week. Extend the time frame more or cut it smaller and you can make it say whatever you want. The Cubs are good. They've played well over the course of the season. No amount of SSS cherry-picking is going to change the fact that this is a mid-90 win team.

 

 

Do you agree that more weight should be placed on recent results than what happened in April? The offense has the 19th best wRC+ since the break and it’s been a consistent decline - 13th in July, 18th in August and 23rd in September.

 

As for RD they were +0 in July (which includes pre-ASB), +13 in August and -4 in September so sure we can find little 1-2 week stretches where they’ve been good but overall the results to me show an average team for an extended period of time

[bcl412]

horsefeathers it. I’m still calling a (sorta) unexpected, “this team just knows how to win” playoff run. It’ll be cool and fun and we will come back to these posts and make fun of each other forever

[PackLandVA]

 

Hope you are right, Duker. Would be your greatest performance yet.

 

That said, I think the undisputed heavyweight champion for predictions is finally going to get knocked out.

 

It's not that great of a performance to pick the team with a lead to hold onto their lead over an inferior team.

 

Nah, man. You aren't giving yourself enough credit. If they hold onto this, I don't care what teams they hold off, you are going into the Hall of Fame even before you retire.

 

This isn't a head to head type race where everything is equal. I hate when people use the tired thing as an excuse, but there is a good chance it's real. And it isn't getting better any time soon. Add in injuries, etc., and if you are right about this, it's a lot better call than just picking the more talented team.

 

 

No offense to Duke, but what is really so amazing about what he’s predicting? He’s got a 50% chance of being right? They’ll either win the division or they won’t.

 

What am I missing?