Do we really have a shot at Houston?

[LoneStarCubFan]

This team is completely incapable of winning 8-9 in a row or running off a ridiculously long hot streak like Houston has for one simple reason. This team has no heart. None whatsoever.

 

When they are put in an adverse situation they will do something incredibly stupid to cost themselves the game the majority of the time. Generally their late inning wins have been the result of the opposing team finding a way to screw up to the point that there's no way the Cubs can fail. But when the other team doesn't help them out, they're cooked.

 

That's an incredibly unfair statment to make. You can't just say a team has no heart because their close wins are because the other team screwed up. That's how the majority of close wins happen.

 

This team does not have the heart to win tight ballgames. Last night was a good example of that.

 

Theoretically they have a shot at the playoffs, in reality they don't have much of one because they aren't capable of doing what it takes to get the job done.

 

I also think it's kind of funny that the Cubs are selling us the same load of crap they sold us last year. "We're finally getting our guys back." Yeah, that worked so well last year. And of course these guys coming back coincides nicely with somebody else probably heading to the DL (Hairston) with no legitimate ML talent level replacement available.

 

Be prepared to see a lot of Jose Macias in CF is Hairston is out for awhile.

[Uncle Jim]

Anything is possible, but the way this season has gone for the Cubs I would say no. I think the Astros have a stronger pitching staff that has come together at the right time of the year.

 

Even with Wood & Garciaparra coming back I think there is just too much bad karma for the Cubs to overcome this year.

[10man]

Mathematically we have a shot but Psychologically we don't.

The actions of this team on the field speaks volumes about what is in their hearts. Apparently it's not enough.

[badgercub]

I expect it to stop because they are playing above their talent level right now. Also, what examples of fundamental baseball are the Astros executing? I don't understand why that phrase seemingly gets thrown in to describe a team any time they have a hot streak.

 

Clemens, Pettit, Oswalt, Lidge - those no talent bums. Pitching is what is carrying them, and they have a very talented pitching staff.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

To me the most overlooked problem the cubs have is that it's not enough for Houston just to get cold. They also need to play better (ie hotter) then Washington, Philadelphia, Florida and NY Mets. That's 4 other teams they need to pass and that's no small thing.

[CubfaninCA]

Since Lawton = no Murton, we are dead in the water.

 

Fire Dusty yesterday!!!

 

Wow and some say the Yankees overhype prospects. It's amazing how some turn 2 1/2 to 3 toolers into Wade Boggs, Sandy Kofaux and Manny Ramirez. Last I checked DuBois was batting 9th w/ Cleveland btw.

[CubfaninCA]

It all boils down to beating Houston. Any chance the Cubs resort to a 4 man rotation??

[wastra]

DP sorry Edited August 4, 2005 by wastra

[wastra]

It's over this year, folks. I hate to say it, but we're playing for pride from here on out. We'd have to catch, what 5 teams at least?

 

 

There should only be 4 players guaranteed a spot on the 25-man roster next year: Lee, Ramirez, Prio, and Zambrano.

 

Everyone else should be available for demotions, waivers, releases, trades, etc. That includes coaches.

[Peoriaman]

no, we are not nearly good enough.

[rawaction]

Astros playing more fundamental than the Cubs? They're giving up barely 2 runs a game since the break. The Cubs offense has a 30 point OPS advantage on Houston since the break, but Houston has scored 8 more runs.

 

The pitching is good.....but not THAT good. The offense has been lucky since the break. They will come back down to Earth. That being said, I don't know if they come down far enough for the Cubs to catch them unless they beat them up in the head-to-head.

[Jimy is a misspell]

Early in the season we knew Houston wasn't as bad as they were playing, presently they're not as good as they're showing, they're going to come back down to earth. When they do, the Cubs will have a shot but, they bettter get their collective heads out their collective asses real soon.

 

You just can't expect this to happen season after season. We waited for the Cardinals to "come back down to earth" last year, it didn't happen until the World Series. Houston is playing good baseball, they're getting great pitching, some timely hitting and executing fundamental baseball. Why would anyone expect that to stop? Plus they have the experience of last season when they went on a run to come within a game of the World Series.

 

The Cubs, as presently constructed, are not capable of stringing together a long winning streak or two to make a serious run at the WC.

 

 

 

I expect it to stop because they are playing above their talent level right now. Also, what examples of fundamental baseball are the Astros executing? I don't understand why that phrase seemingly gets thrown in to describe a team any time they have a hot streak.

 

The Cardinal pitchers were seemingly "pitching above their talent level" last season. We waited and waited for their staff to come back to earth, then we would pass them...never happened.

 

So why would the Astro's talent level cause them to start losing all of a sudden? They may not be as talented as this Cub team but they are supplementing it with hard work, fundamental baseball and yes, a little bit of luck. It happens in sports, the most talented teams don't always win, history is littered with teams that made the extra effort to overcome their deficiencies and beat the odds.

 

Houston has been playing well for about a month and a half, I hardly call that a hot streak. As for examples, find your own.

 

It most certainly is a hot streak. You're the one who made the claim that they were playing fundamental baseball, with hard work. Where's the proof of that? I ask, because it seems like people just assume a cliche like fundamentals every time a team does well. It's certainly possible the Astros are playing great fundamental baseball, which I'm not exactly sure what it is to begin with. However, to simply assume something like that because they are winning isn't right IMO.

 

The 'stros are 45-18 in their last 63. That's one hell of a "hot streak."

 

They are getting GREAT pitching, stealing bases, moving runners over, getting timely pinch hits and getting very solid defense. That's fundamental baseball. Will it hold up? Who knows, but there's more to it that a "hot streak."

[XZero771679666304]

 

The 'stros are 45-18 in their last 63. That's one hell of a "hot streak."

 

They are getting GREAT pitching, stealing bases, moving runners over, getting timely pinch hits and getting very solid defense. That's fundamental baseball. Will it hold up? Who knows, but there's more to it that a "hot streak."

 

That's true. Houston is playing great fundamental baseball. I would expect Clemens and Oswalt to continue as they have, but Pettitte, Rodriguez and Astacio are going to flame out at some point, as they are simply over thier heads right now. Pettitte is a good pitcher, but nowhere near as good as he has been pitching lately. Wandy and Astacio pitching like they have been is inexplicable. Those three have to come back to earth at some point. The question is, will it be too late for the Cubs when they do?

 

What I have seen lately tells me yes, but there is a ways to go yet.

[CubsFanNJ]

To make a run at the WC, the Cubs have to have a streak of winning 8-9 in a row, or something like 17 out of 20. I've seen optimistic posters who wonder why other teams can do it and not the Cubs. I agree with you, the manager is a problem, no fundamentals (what you stated plus we can't cover 1B on a ball to the right side and we can't perform a simple rundown-- both taught in Little League), can't adjust to pitchers they haven't seen, can't play "small" ball, can't steal a base, can't have consistent efforts from hitters, bullpen, and starters, etc. Does anyone really think we can get on a long winning streak with Maddux, Hill, and Williams at the end of our rotation?

 

This team is completely incapable of winning 8-9 in a row or running off a ridiculously long hot streak like Houston has for one simple reason. This team has no heart. None whatsoever.

 

When they are put in an adverse situation they will do something incredibly stupid to cost themselves the game the majority of the time. Generally their late inning wins have been the result of the opposing team finding a way to screw up to the point that there's no way the Cubs can fail. But when the other team doesn't help them out, they're cooked.

 

Their continued horrible approach against no-name slapdick pitchers they're seeing for the first time, their lack of any grasp of fundamental baseball, a manager who would rather use "his guys" in crucial situations in order to build their confidence instead of worrying about winning the damn game all assure this team will wallow in mediocrity while teams like the Cardinals and the Astros play with heart and professionalism run away with playoff spots that should belong to the Cubs.

 

I couldn't even get angry with the way the game ended last night because I knew it was over when Rollins doubled to start the inning. Good teams find a way to get that guy home. Mediocre teams find a way to help them. The Cubs are a mediocre team. I'm glad I'm going to be out of the country for a couple of weeks so I won't have to watch this disgrace of a ballclub.

 

I agree with everything you say, except for your statement that they can't win 8 or 9 in a row. They can....and have. BUT....they can also lose 8 or 9 in a row. Both have happened. Where does that get you? Right where we are. A .500 team. No matter how you do it, .500 can be accomplished. Win one, lose one. Win 7 in a row, lose 7 in a row. I may be over-simplifying things, but - no matter how you look at it, we are at best, mediocre.

Reasons why? Well, DUSTY, no small ball (i.e. fundamentals suck, i.e. obp, in-game management, lack of fundamentals, lack of speed, defense sucks, pitching is way over-rated, management made the decision to go with offense behind the plate vs. defense (i.e. "calling a good game and knowing what the hell you're doing is WAY more important than the occassional single, double, or even dinger you hit). Contrary to the tone of my post, I am a HUGE Cub fan....have been since the day I knew about baseball. But I am tired of it. I really feel like Dusty needs to go. I think he wants to go (not based on media, just a hunch). Gimme a hard-nosed, great "in-game" manager, and I give you the NLCentral Champs, or, at the least the wild card.

[Soul]

The Stros always were better than us. It took them awhile to get going, but we've seen them do this before.

 

Occasionally they'll flame out a little in September (like in '03). I don't think we'll be anywhere near them when those final games are played head to head though.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Astros were farther behind us than we currently are later than this last year. It is possible to catch them if we can put together a sustained streak.

[Soul]

The Astros were farther behind us than we currently are later than this last year. It is possible to catch them if we can put together a sustained streak.

 

How do you catch a team that doesn't lose? I must have missed that in statistics class 8)

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Cub fan boys, bless your heart, that aren't giving the Astros the credit they've earned are really living in a bubble. Their 1-2-3 starters are the best in baseball, and they have arguably baseball's best closer as well in Lidge. Once they got Berkman's big bat back and healthy, off they went.

 

In fact, in many ways these Astros are much like the 03 Cubs. If you have dominant pitching, you only need one or two quality bats to be successful. That was our recipe then, it's Houston's now. For crying out loud, they subtract Beltran, Bagwell and Kent and get BETTER, now that's scary.

 

Our offense stinks, our manager is functionally inept, this is true. But let's be honest here--this 05 Cubs team has underachieved because Wood has been AWOL, Prior has been inconsistent when not hurt, Maddux is nearly done, and Z has had bouts of wildness. Them's why this team is a 500 ballclub, despite the best 1-2 hitting combo in the league.

 

Fact is, if you focus STRICTLY on results, our pitching is league average at best. Not good.

[badger1679666666]

We have as much shot of catching Houston, as I do of landing Heidi Klum as my personal sex slave for the next 5 years.

 

And that's depressing. Both for Cubs implications and my prospects of landing Heidi Klum.

[OldHappyCubFan]

hahahahaha ^^^^

 

 

Good post.

[CubfaninCA]

Cub fan boys, bless your heart, that aren't giving the Astros the credit they've earned are really living in a bubble. Their 1-2-3 starters are the best in baseball, and they have arguably baseball's best closer as well in Lidge. Once they got Berkman's big bat back and healthy, off they went.

 

In fact, in many ways these Astros are much like the 03 Cubs. If you have dominant pitching, you only need one or two quality bats to be successful. That was our recipe then, it's Houston's now. For crying out loud, they subtract Beltran, Bagwell and Kent and get BETTER, now that's scary.

 

Our offense stinks, our manager is functionally inept, this is true. But let's be honest here--this 05 Cubs team has underachieved because Wood has been AWOL, Prior has been inconsistent when not hurt, Maddux is nearly done, and Z has had bouts of wildness. Them's why this team is a 500 ballclub, despite the best 1-2 hitting combo in the league.

 

Fact is, if you focus STRICTLY on results, our pitching is league average at best. Not good.

 

Have to disagree that the offense stinks. It's not great, but it's a little above average. You hit the nail on the head about Dusty and the pitching though. Wood has killed the Cubs and Maddux is nearing the end. Williams and Hill have posted nice ERA's for young guys, but they're only going 5-6 innings, and the pen isn't very deep. Jmo but Baker needs to start Rusch. His ERA is lower as a starter than Hill and Williams, and he averaged 6.2 innings as a starter.

[frostwyrm]

What really discourages me is that the Astros play a much softer schedule than the Cubs from here on out. I don't think we're out of the race yet but the situation is pretty bad. If the Astros go up by 8 games we're almost certainly finished.

[gflore34]

Wouldn't it be something if the Cubs(as the only other team in WC contention) go into that last series of the season trailing the Astros by 3 games and sweep it?

[USSoccer]

What really discourages me is that the Astros play a much softer schedule than the Cubs from here on out. I don't think we're out of the race yet but the situation is pretty bad. If the Astros go up by 8 games we're almost certainly finished.

 

I think we need to get on a roll, starting tonight. We need at least 8 out our next 10, and I don't care much which order they come in, with one qualifier:

 

We have to sweep the Mets.

 

We're missing their best 2 starters, and catching them after a series in which their pen was abused. We have Hill, Maddux and Z going. I feel good about Hill in Shea Stadium; it's a pitcher's park, and his biggest weakness is the home run. Maddux is due for a good outing against a team he's owned historically, and I'll take Z over almost anyone in baseball right now. Our pen gets a boost if for no other reason than Remmy is gone, and the lift the 3 returning guys could give should be huge. I think this series is make or break for us, as we need to start getting ourselves in a position to go 1 v 1 against Houston down the stretch, so we need to knock the Mets back a bit.

[frostwyrm]

I really wish we didn't have 11 more games vs. the Cards. The Astros only have 5.