Series against Houston

[CubfaninCA]

This series shapes up pretty well, as there's no mismatches like the one on Saturday w/ Williams vs. Carpenter, and the Cubs miss Clemens. Woo hoooo.

 

Game 1 - Rodriguez vs. Rusch. Rodriguez gave up 4 runs in 6 innings vs. the Cubs early in the year. His ERA is over 6, so the Cubs should be able to get some runs off him. Was hoping Wood wouldn't have to be used tonight, so he could relieve Rusch, but oh well. Hopefully, Rusch can go 6, and the Cubs get a strong outing from the pen.

 

Game 2 - Maddux v. Petitte. Petitte's been great this year, so the Cubs need a huge game from Maddux. Good thing about this game is that Wood should be ready for 30 or 40 pitches again.

 

Game 3 - Z v. Oswalt. Cubs got their best going against a really good.

starter.

 

Altogether a great series shaping up, and Houston's been spinning their wheels the the past 10 games, while the Cubs just took 3 of 4 from the best team in the NL. Also, good to see Nomar, Lawton & Patterson gettign it going.

[Brian]

I think Pettite is due for a trip to the DL :lol:. how many starts has he gotten against the Cubs in the last 2 years... 1 and he left early due to pain right?? he's always scheduled to pitch against the Cubs and is scratched.

[ZMovieman]

I know this is optimism talking, but each of those matchups are doable. If we sweep them (always a difficult task, but possible), we are only 3.5 games back of the 'stros. That's not bad at all. We're not out of it, especially with so many other teams involved. But a large part of our fate is in our hands.

[CubfaninCA]

I know this is optimism talking, but each of those matchups are doable. If we sweep them (always a difficult task, but possible), we are only 3.5 games back of the 'stros. That's not bad at all. We're not out of it, especially with so many other teams involved. But a large part of our fate is in our hands.

 

A sweep is possible indeed. It's not like there's a matchup of Williams vs. Clemens or Rusch vs. Oswalt. With Washington playing Philadelphia, I think the Cubs could get within 4 games of the wildcard leader, if they sweep Houston. I'll take 2 of 3 and be happy. Still got a ways to go, and I can't see any team running away with it. Jmo but I think Kerry has given the team a huge lift w/ his dominant performances out of the pen.

[CubsHawks25]

I know this is optimism talking, but each of those matchups are doable. If we sweep them (always a difficult task, but possible), we are only 3.5 games back of the 'stros. That's not bad at all. We're not out of it, especially with so many other teams involved. But a large part of our fate is in our hands.

 

Jmo but I think Kerry has given the team a huge lift w/ his dominant performances out of the pen.

 

 

And Corey/Nomar with their bats this weekend, and DLee & Aramis' bats reawakening (hopefully just in time for a big Cubs playoff push).

[CubfaninCA]

I know this is optimism talking, but each of those matchups are doable. If we sweep them (always a difficult task, but possible), we are only 3.5 games back of the 'stros. That's not bad at all. We're not out of it, especially with so many other teams involved. But a large part of our fate is in our hands.

 

Jmo but I think Kerry has given the team a huge lift w/ his dominant performances out of the pen.

 

 

And Corey/Nomar with their bats this weekend, and DLee & Aramis' bats reawakening (hopefully just in time for a big Cubs playoff push).

 

Agree. Just seems like Kerry's the heart of the team. They nearly fell off the planet after his latest departure from the rotation. Him absolutely manhandling teams for 2 innings every other game could really get this team rolling.

[Flames24Rulz]

dont we always hit Oswalt well? I remember we faced him in Houston earlier this year, but that was the game Prior gave up the GS in the 5th inning i think.

 

Maddux was great the last time we were in Houston when he beat Clemens. He has another tough opponent in Petitte. It's going to be tough to sweep, but definitely not impossible.

[Omar]

Maddux is in his second half form.. CG last time out. and Cubs usually own Oswalt. They gave him his first loss in August last year, and before that, he was undefeated in the month.

 

I think we have a good chance of sweep and getting back in this race.

[CubsHawks25]

I think we have a good chance of sweep and getting back in this race.

 

 

Let's win the first game tomorrow night before getting too crazy there. :wink:

[10man]

It's put up or shut up time for the Cubs.

 

I would compare this series to where Houston was late last year before they came to Wrigley in the series that turned their season around. Except this time it's the Astros who are leading the WC and the Cubs who are trailing. Let's see what kind of life is still in these Cubbies.

[halplm]

what would a sweep of the Astros accomplish?

 

Seriously... yeah, we'd only be 3.5 back of them, but we'd still be what, 6 back of Philly?

 

Cubs will need to win about 18 of their next 20 to be back in this race...

[Tracer Bullet]

And Corey/Nomar with their bats this weekend, and DLee & Aramis' bats reawakening (hopefully just in time for a big Cubs playoff push).

 

I don't want to rain on the parade, but does Corey really have a hot bat? Someone in the game thread yesterday also mentioned Corey's bat. He's 6/22 since his return (.273 AVG) w/ 1 walk (for a .304 OBP). Granted those number are much better than the .235 he's hitting for the year, but 6/22 isn't a hot streak in my book.

 

I'm glad he's playing b/c we need his defense and his offense has been acceptable, but a guy hitting .270 doesn't push this team into the playoffs.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

It's put up or shut up time for the Cubs.

 

I would compare this series to where Houston was late last year before they came to Wrigley in the series that turned their season around. Except this time it's the Astros who are leading the WC and the Cubs who are trailing. Let's see what kind of life is still in these Cubbies.

 

It was put up or shut up time a long time ago for the Cubs. And they definitely shut up. Halplm is right. Even if we sweep Houston, which will NOT be as easy as some think, we could still be 6 behind in the wild card race. All we'd do is hurt Houston's chances a little bit. Sure this is a big series, but we can't start talking sweep until we at least win one game in the series.

[brinoch]

Agreed. Let's just worry about winning tonight and getting back to .500; thinking anything else at this point is akin to drinking the blue kool-aid.

[David]

Agreed. Let's just worry about winning tonight and getting back to .500; thinking anything else at this point is akin to drinking the blue kool-aid.

 

The thing is, getting back to .500 is more of a long-term goal than sweeping the Astros... (I don't know whether to laugh or cry about that...)

[PackLandVA]

With 46 games remaining last year, the Astros were 4 games under .500 . They ended up going 36-10 and jumped over 5 teams to win the Wild Card. How many games under .500 are the Cubs? And how many do they have left?

 

A sweep is not necessary. Winning the series would be really good. They still have 7 left with Houston after this series. And the other WC teams from the East will be beating each other up until October!

 

The Cubs need to pick up a game each week the rest of the year heading into the final weekend.