Not playing at a 130 win pace isn't mediocrity. Prior to the Cards series the Cubs had played at a 108 win pace since May 1st, and at a 114 win pace since June 1st. just because the stretches you listed start on the 1st days of the month don't make them less arbitrary than the one i referenced. i really don't think it's making any kind of leap to say that a 26-24 run is a good stretch of mediocrity. even if they play the rest of the season at that pace they still likely make the playoffs and then it's all crapshoot from there anyways.