You know, we aren't really out of the wild card...

[illiniguy]

three weeks left. 5.5 if we can get it to 3 by this time next week with 2 to go I will start to get excited. Although the way we have played Cinn will put us out of our misery now.

[J.R.]

three weeks left. 5.5 if we can get it to 3 by this time next week with 2 to go I will start to get excited. Although the way we have played Cinn will put us out of our misery now.

 

We have to handle the Reds for once.

[Wheelimus]

Now this would make a great fundraiser, everyone donate a few bucks to NSBB and Tim place the donations as a bet on the Cubs to make the playoffs. If we pull off a mircale, it just might pay for this site for a few years :lol:

[muntjack]

three weeks left. 5.5 if we can get it to 3 by this time next week with 2 to go I will start to get excited. Although the way we have played Cinn will put us out of our misery now.

 

We have to handle the Reds for once.

 

We just need to PITCH. I think the offense is ready to explode this series. We have to avoid a slug fest. I have a really good feeling that after today Dusty is going to give up trying to bury Murton., so we might see

 

Hairston

Walker

Lee

Nomar

Burnitz

Murton

Barrett

Perez

 

tomorrow, which would open a big door, IMO.

 

I would love to see Aramis back and Matt hitting second, but for now.....

[CubfaninCA]

three weeks left. 5.5 if we can get it to 3 by this time next week with 2 to go I will start to get excited. Although the way we have played Cinn will put us out of our misery now.

 

We have to handle the Reds for once.

 

We just need to PITCH. I think the offense is ready to explode this series. We have to avoid a slug fest. I have a really good feeling that after today Dusty is going to give up trying to bury Murton., so we might see

 

Hairston

Walker

Lee

Nomar

Burnitz

Murton

Barrett

Perez

 

tomorrow, which would open a big door, IMO.

 

I would love to see Aramis back and Matt hitting second, but for now.....

 

Baker may give up on Patterson and start Murton in lf and Hairston in cf, but his beloved Neifi will continue to bat 2nd, while Murton bats 7th or 8th. Have to hope for Ramirez returning soon. That's the only way to remove Neifi from the 2 hole. Talk about wasting D. Lee.

[J.R.]

Baker may give up on Patterson and start Murton in lf and Hairston in cf

 

Looks like Baker might actually have a clue for once.

 

Patterson in limbo

 

Baker hinted he may start Jerry Hairston in center and Matt Murton in left down the stretch, limiting the at-bats of struggling Corey Patterson.

 

"Our primary focus is to win," Baker said. "Corey is not the primary focus right now. And if we can get Corey straightened out along the way, that's what we'll do."

 

Murton hit a solo home run off Brett Tomko in the fifth, his first in 22 at-bats against a right-hander.

[CubfaninCA]

Baker may give up on Patterson and start Murton in lf and Hairston in cf

 

Looks like Baker might actually have a clue for once.

 

Patterson in limbo

 

Baker hinted he may start Jerry Hairston in center and Matt Murton in left down the stretch, limiting the at-bats of struggling Corey Patterson.

 

"Our primary focus is to win," Baker said. "Corey is not the primary focus right now. And if we can get Corey straightened out along the way, that's what we'll do."

 

Murton hit a solo home run off Brett Tomko in the fifth, his first in 22 at-bats against a right-hander.

 

I was shocked to see Murton in the lineup versus a righty today. Dusty must have finally seen enough of Patterson..

 

I'm a huge J.R. fan btw. :)

[J.R.]

I'm a huge J.R. fan btw. :)

 

A great character played for nearly 15 years by a great man.

[IUBrian]

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/nfl/2001/0904/photo/s_mora_i.jpg

"PLAYOFFS?! Don't talk to me about... PLAYOFFS???! ARE YOU KIDDIN ME? PLAYOFFS?!"

[Electron Blue]

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/nfl/2001/0904/photo/s_mora_i.jpg

"PLAYOFFS?! Don't talk to me about... PLAYOFFS???! ARE YOU KIDDIN ME? PLAYOFFS?!"

 

"We just wanna win a GAME!!"

[David]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but how similar was the Giants' 1998 forcing of a one game playoff to what the Cubs would need to do to get in this year?

 

I can't remember how far out they were at what point and how many teams they had to surpass to get to game 163 with us...

[badger1679666666]

Man y'all need to give me the kool-aid you are drinking if you think we can leapfrog 5 teams and make the WC down 5.5 with 19 games to go. We'd have to go 17-2 to have a chance.

 

But I must admit, I love Cubs fans.

[AC016097]

Hope we can pull it out. Either way looks like I will be changing my username next year. AC0217098.

[CubfaninCA]

Man y'all need to give me the kool-aid you are drinking if you think we can leapfrog 5 teams and make the WC down 5.5 with 19 games to go. We'd have to go 17-2 to have a chance.

 

But I must admit, I love Cubs fans.

 

Take a look @ Philly and Florida's schedule. They're brutal. The Cubs have to play some great baseball, which is highly unlikely. But if they do, and beat up on Houston, they have a shot given what Philly and Florida face down the stretch. Hey at least the Cubs have caught Milwaukee and NY, and Washington's only a couple of games away. :o

[muntjack]

I am holding on to a thread, however, it IS bleak.

 

If we win the same amount as Houston, and head to head we win 6 of 7, we still lose.

 

On the other hand, if we win every remaining game :-), we can't lose the WC to Houston.

[J.R.]

Looks like Baker might actually have a clue for once.

 

Patterson in limbo

 

Baker hinted he may start Jerry Hairston in center and Matt Murton in left down the stretch, limiting the at-bats of struggling Corey Patterson.

 

"Our primary focus is to win," Baker said. "Corey is not the primary focus right now. And if we can get Corey straightened out along the way, that's what we'll do."

 

Murton hit a solo home run off Brett Tomko in the fifth, his first in 22 at-bats against a right-hander.

 

Maybe not.

 

"It depends on who Murton is facing,'' Baker said. "He hasn't faced a bunch of tough righties, so you don't really know that. I know what I'm doing with matchups.''

[Havoc 23]

The thing the Cubs need to start doing is winning at home. 33-36 at home, 38-36 on the road. New York and Milwaukee are 41-27 and 39-32 respectively at home. If the Cubs start playing better at home, then I don't see why there isn't a chance, though a slim one, to pull this off.

[Catman61]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but how similar was the Giants' 1998 forcing of a one game playoff to what the Cubs would need to do to get in this year?

 

I can't remember how far out they were at what point and how many teams they had to surpass to get to game 163 with us...

 

After 143 games, the Giants were 77-66 (.538), 2 back of NYM and 3 back of the Cubs. The Giants went 12-7 over their last 19 games (.632)

 

 

This scenario requires the Astros, Marlins & Phillies to all play .500 or below and the Cubs to go 15-4(.789) or 16-3(.842) to win 86 or 87 games

[Garwilly]

Hope we can pull it out. Either way looks like I will be changing my username next year. AC0217098.

 

You mean AC036198

[Houston_Cub_Fan]

If we're 3.5 out by this weekend, I might start to believe that there is a glimmer of hope. That means we have to sweep the Reds and win the first game against the Cards while the Marlins and Astros split their four-game series. Meanwhile, the Phillies have to lose a couple of games to make sure they don't take the WC lead.

 

If that happens, and if Ramirez comes back, and if Rusch and Williams can pitch like they did this weekend, and if Dusty benches Patterson, and if he plays Murton and Cedeno more, and if we can somehow go two weeks without an injury and if, and if, and if.......

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but how similar was the Giants' 1998 forcing of a one game playoff to what the Cubs would need to do to get in this year?

 

I can't remember how far out they were at what point and how many teams they had to surpass to get to game 163 with us...

 

After 143 games, the Giants were 77-66 (.538), 2 back of NYM and 3 back of the Cubs. The Giants went 12-7 over their last 19 games (.632)

 

 

This scenario requires the Astros, Marlins & Phillies to all play .500 or below and the Cubs to go 15-4(.789) or 16-3(.842) to win 86 or 87 games

 

We will never forget the Cubs holding a 3 game lead in the loss column to the Astros with 8 games to play last year. Stranger things have happened, but I don't think this Cub team is strong enough (at least relative to the 04 Astros) to go on a tear in these last three weeks. Additionally, they are the only club with a better record on the road than at home and with 12/19 games at home, that doesn't seem to bode well for their chances.

Edited September 12, 2005 by MembersOnlyJacket

[Havoc 23]

Additionally, they are the only club with a better record at home than on the road and with 12/19 games at home, that doesn't seem to bode well for their chances.

 

You mean they are the only team with a better road record. I mentioned this point a few posts up.

[gus_dog]

No, stop, don't do it. You are letting them suck you back into the mirage that this might be a good ball club. It's not.

 

The CuBorg..., resistance is futile. You WILL be assimilated.

[Derwood]

Not that I think it will happen, but we can break this down one series at a time.

 

Starting today, we have the Cubs vs. Cincy for 3, Florida at Houston for 4, Atlanta at Philly for 4. Starting tomorrow, we have Washington at the Mets for 3 and Milwaukee at Arizona for 3. Thursday sees the Cubs start 4 vs. St. Louis. Friday starts 3 game series with ATL at NYM, PHI at FLA, WSH at SD and MIL at HOU.

 

Monday:

 

Maddux vs. Harang (Derwood's Prediction: CIN)

Willis vs. Backe (FLA)

Hudson vs. Brito (ATL)

 

Result: 6.0 back

 

Tuesday:

 

Milton vs. Zambrano (CHC)

Thomson vs. Floyd (ATL)

Patterson vs. Glavine (WSH)

Beckett vs. Rodriguez (FLA)

Capuano vs. Vazquez (MIL)

 

Result: Still 5.5 back

 

Wednesday:

 

Hudson vs. J. Williams (CHC)

Ramirez vs. Lidle (ATL)

Loaiza vs. Benson (WSH)

Burnett vs. Clemens (HOU)

Davis vs. Webb (MIL)

 

Result: 5.0 back

 

Thursday:

 

Suppan vs. Prior (CHC)

Hernandez vs. Seo (NYM)

Ohka vs. Estes (MIL)

Vargas vs. Pettitte (HOU)

 

Result: 4.5 back

 

 

Granted, these are all "on paper" type predictions based on starting pitchers.

[Scott G. F.]

Not that I think it will happen, but we can break this down one series at a time.

 

Starting today, we have the Cubs vs. Cincy for 3, Florida at Houston for 4, Atlanta at Philly for 4. Starting tomorrow, we have Washington at the Mets for 3 and Milwaukee at Arizona for 3. Thursday sees the Cubs start 4 vs. St. Louis. Friday starts 3 game series with ATL at NYM, PHI at FLA, WSH at SD and MIL at HOU.

 

Monday:

 

Maddux vs. Harang (Derwood's Prediction: CIN)

Willis vs. Backe (FLA)

Hudson vs. Brito (ATL)

 

Result: 6.0 back

 

Tuesday:

 

Milton vs. Zambrano (CHC)

Thomson vs. Floyd (ATL)

Patterson vs. Glavine (WSH)

Beckett vs. Rodriguez (FLA)

Capuano vs. Vazquez (MIL)

 

Result: Still 5.5 back

 

Wednesday:

 

Hudson vs. J. Williams (CHC)

Ramirez vs. Lidle (ATL)

Loaiza vs. Benson (WSH)

Burnett vs. Clemens (HOU)

Davis vs. Webb (MIL)

 

Result: 5.0 back

 

Thursday:

 

Suppan vs. Prior (CHC)

Hernandez vs. Seo (NYM)

Ohka vs. Estes (MIL)

Vargas vs. Pettitte (HOU)

 

Result: 4.5 back

 

 

Granted, these are all "on paper" type predictions based on starting pitchers.

 

 

So 4.5 back by Thursday with 2 weeks left. I'll take that.