CubsHawks25

I guess Bob Brenly or Dusty Baker has never heard of "extra innings"... Bob: "Its a good bet that Aramis Ramirez' spot in the order won't come up again in this game...". OH REALLY? And this is Coors Field right? The park that gives up more runs that any other each year? And speaking of thus... how the bleeping hell does a team only score 2 runs vs crap pitchers!?!?!? YOU SUCK, CUBS!!! [/rant]

With still 40 games left, a 1/2 game made up is a 1/2 game made up. :)

Don't most series-opening games start at 7p CST in Colorado? Some sort of event planned they took into account or just a weird scheduling anomaly?

It aint pretty, but its better than an empty bottle... Ugh! That can't/couldn't taste good coming back up! (if it did or were to)

Whereas your statement is accurate that the season is probably done for the Cubs, I'm not too interested in what is probable anymore. It is painfully clear what is probable. The team is 5 back in the loss column with 41 games to play, it doesn't take a genius to see what is probable. I'm interested in what is still possible. And the fact that there are 5 teams to climb over isn't as bad as you are making it out because 4 of those teams are in the same division and will be playing each other a lot in the last 40 games. They could cancel each other out. Having those 4 teams go .500 against each other will actually make it easier for the Cubs to pass them. So the number of teams isn't really the issue. The Cubs winning enough games to pass them is. Who is hot amongst those 5 teams? If Houston loses tonight, they will have dropped 5 of their last 6 all at home. The Phillies just split a 4-game series at home against the Nationals, which is exactly what we wanted them to do. Ditto for the Nats. The Mets just got shut out by Pittsburgh at home and are 4-5 over their last 9. The Marlins are the hottest team of the bunch having won 4 of their last 5, but in their last 11, they are just 6-5. Any one of them could get hot and if they do it will be that much tougher for the Cubs to catch them. Thats why it is not probable for the Cubs to make the playoffs. And if the Cubs fail to get hot, then it doesn't much matter what the other teams do. However, funny things happen in baseball and they happen quite often. Hey, sorry for the "raining on the parade" commentary. I'm hoping as much as the next guy that the Cubs can do this and win the Wild Card... but I'm also keeping an eye on realism, which is that, when there's 5-6 teams between you and the leader(s), that makes the climb seem twice as much as just the games-back deficit. No problem, Hawks. And the key word is that the 5 teams to climb over only seems like a big problem. Again, the fact that the 4 NL East teams play each other so much and the fact that the Cubs have so many games left against Houston makes this thing doable. The problem is being 5 back in the loss column with only 41 to play, that and the Cubs have yet to get hot over a long stretch of games which is exactly what they will have to do to have any chance of winning this thing. Its official. Houston loses at home again. Way to go, Brewers. Shades of '03. Oh, I agree, its definitely possible - although (right now!), the odds make it seem not so probable. If the Cubs can go on a 7-8-9+ win streak, they can turn this race around quick. Seeing as how they got Colorado, then ATL and FLA, a big win streak may have to wait a week or so. Hopefully they can still go 7-2 over the next 3 series though. But I guess 7 or 8 out of the next 10 would be a nice enough streak in itself. :)

Great job Milwaukee, getting this series off on the right foot AND beating The Rocket. ... but not so fast, one Mr Brewer PBP Guy, don't be so quick with that "... and the Milwaukee Brewers leap-frog the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card race." While true, the Cubs have the MUCH easier schedule this weekend and that "leap frog" stuff may not apply for very much longer, maybe be re-leapfrogged by the end of play tomorrow. :wink:

Whereas your statement is accurate that the season is probably done for the Cubs, I'm not too interested in what is probable anymore. It is painfully clear what is probable. The team is 5 back in the loss column with 41 games to play, it doesn't take a genius to see what is probable. I'm interested in what is still possible. And the fact that there are 5 teams to climb over isn't as bad as you are making it out because 4 of those teams are in the same division and will be playing each other a lot in the last 40 games. They could cancel each other out. Having those 4 teams go .500 against each other will actually make it easier for the Cubs to pass them. So the number of teams isn't really the issue. The Cubs winning enough games to pass them is. Who is hot amongst those 5 teams? If Houston loses tonight, they will have dropped 5 of their last 6 all at home. The Phillies just split a 4-game series at home against the Nationals, which is exactly what we wanted them to do. Ditto for the Nats. The Mets just got shut out by Pittsburgh at home and are 4-5 over their last 9. The Marlins are the hottest team of the bunch having won 4 of their last 5, but in their last 11, they are just 6-5. Any one of them could get hot and if they do it will be that much tougher for the Cubs to catch them. Thats why it is not probable for the Cubs to make the playoffs. And if the Cubs fail to get hot, then it doesn't much matter what the other teams do. However, funny things happen in baseball and they happen quite often. Hey, sorry for the "raining on the parade" commentary. I'm hoping as much as the next guy that the Cubs can do this and win the Wild Card... but I'm also keeping an eye on realism, which is that, when there's 4-5 teams between you and the leader(s), that makes the climb seem twice as much as just the games-back deficit.

Basically we just gotta hope that after beating each other up, the Braves beat the crap out of all the rest of their Eastern counterparts. And the Stos/Brewers lose the majority of their remaining games. I don't think we have to worry about the Brewers stealing the Wild Card from us. Better to be safe than sorry. :wink: (last year's WC collapse for the Cubs is still too fresh in my memory)

Basically we just gotta hope that after beating each other up, the Braves beat the crap out of all the rest of their Eastern counterparts. And the Stos/Brewers lose the majority of their remaining games.

We'd still have teams in front of us, but if that 8-game skid was only even 5-games, we'd be tied with NYM at 2.5 back right now. That 8-gamer will probly do the Cubs in, no matter how hard they try to push for the Wild Card between this weekend and the end of the year.

The Cubs will still be 5.5 back if the Astros lose because the Phillies are tied with the Astros for first. If only it was so simple... its not the lead between the Cubs and the Phillies/Astros, its all the other teams between those 3. Cubs really screwed the pooch with that last 8-game skid.

Damian Miller not even a Cub anymore but helping out his former team! :)

Here's what's left for the Cubs this year, 13 series/41 games (3 4-gamers, 9 3-gamers, and a 2-gamer) and here's what I think they'll need to do to have the best shot at winning the WC; 8/19-21(3); @ COL -- sweep, 3-0 8/22-24(3); vs ATL -- win series, 2-1 8/26-28(3); vs FLA -- win series, 2-1 but must go for sweep, 3-0 8/29-31(3); vs LAD -- sweep, 3-0 9/2-4(3); @ PITT -- sweep, 3-0 9/5-7(3); @ STL -- maybe could afford to lose series 1-2, but want to win it, 2-1 9/8-11(4); @ SFG -- need series win, 3-1, but must go for sweep, 4-0 9/12-14(3); vs CIN -- sweep, 3-0 9/15-18(4); vs STL -- maybe could afford to go 2-2, but want to win it, 3-1 9/20-22(3); @ MIL -- 2-1 series win or 3-0 sweep 9/23-25(3); vs HOU -- 2-1 series win at least 9/27-28(2); vs PITT -- sweep, 2-0 9/29-10/2(4); @ HOU -- depends on where everyone is at this point, 3-1 at least hopefully win all 4 and the take the Wild Card So, even if they do the worst I outlined, what I see as maybe being "affordable", that would put them at 31-10 (.756 winning %) and 90-72 overall. Next best would be 33-8 (.805 winning %) and 92-70. The very best we could hope for would be 34-7 (.829 winning %) and 93-69. A +.800 winning % is probly too much to ask for, but they need to be between .750 and .800 to give themselves a realistic shot at it. I realize that even the "worst scenario" I have planned out would be miraculous to pull off considering its the Cubs, but if things miraculously came together for them... their remaining schedule is doable - assuming they play everone else, from here on out, like they do/did StL and HOU.

There's still light and still hope, but we're at the point now, that if we go on anything more than a 2-game losing streak, its over - literally - at that point, no matter the opponent(s) we lost to and games upcoming.

But better than losing a game or 3 in standings as well, too.

No its not. That's the usual MO for this Cubs team.

Biggest problem right now, besides 5 teams in front for the WC, is the big gap between 1-5 and 5-6. Right now, just 2.5 games separate HOU and the NYM, but you jump from 2.5 back for the #5 NYM to 5.5 back for 6th place Cubs. We need some losing streaks to run through the other 5 teams while we win series/go on a tear. #s1 A&B HOU and PHI are 8 over with 42 left. #3 WASH is 7 over with 43 left. #4 FLA is 5 over with 43 left. #5 NYM is 3 over with 43 left. --------------------------------------------------- #6 CHC is 3 under with 41 left. The odds are definitely not in our favor as within that group, the Cubs have the farthest to climb and the least amount of games to do it in.

Well, 5.5 back going to Colorado, not (real) bad, but wish it was just 3.5 back. [That 12-4 game on Monday is still eating at me! ARGH!!] Thursday; Washington @ Philly (DH) - GO Wash in both! SD @ Florida - GO Fathers! Pittsburgh @ NYM - GO Pirates! Dodgers @ Atlanta - Go Braves! (just to be safe) D'backs @ StLouis - Go Cards! (just to be safe) (Thurs-Sun)Milwaukee @ Houston - 4 games (GO Brewers, 3-1 or 4-0!!) Friday-Sunday; CHC @ Rockies - GO CUBBIES!!! Pitt @ Phillies - GO PIRATES! Arizona @ Reds - Go Cincy! (just to be safe) Nationals @ Mets - Go Washington! [2-1 series win at least] LAD @ Marlins - GO DODGERS! SD @ Atlanta - who cares SF @ StLouis - GO GIANTS!

Here's to hoping that Dusty doesn't revert back to his old ways... I don't know why, but this little voice in the back in my head is saying there's a good chance we're gonna see a "dumb" lineup tonight, something like; LF Lawton 2B Walker 1B Lee RF Burnitz 3B Ramirez CF Patterson SS Perez C Barrett P Zambrano *shudders in horror* Compared to what the right lineup would be; RF Lawton 2B Walker/LF Murton 1B Lee 3B Ramirez SS Nomar C Barrett LF Murton/2B Walker CF Patterson P Zambrano I don't care if Burnitz is a lefty, the only way that guy can reach base is if the opposing defense screws up and lets him.

I'm holding out hope cause, Houston, Florida, Washington & Philly don't look too hot. Houston could really use Kent, Beltran and Bagwell. Just be blunt: Houston's lineup sucks. I'm ashamed - as a fan - that the Cubs got trounced 12-4 last night. Pathetic, when every game counts when playing the WC leader, and a divsional rival. Ensberg IS Houston's offense recently and their whole lineup tee'd off on Rusch and Wellemeyer last night.

And, you're a Cubs fan. Its only natural to be that way. :P

89 :( Just goes to show just HOW BAD that both Rusch and Wellemeyer really were last night. Not that Maddux and Woody aren't pitching lights out currently, but man... 12 runs to that offense?? Ouch. :cry:

Well, we're halfway there with tonight's win. Cubs' season once again "hanging by a thread". Lose tomorrow night though - especially if lose big - and I think it'll officially be "stick a fork in 'em" time.

Its antacid time. Dempster vs Houston's 3 best hitters.

Wood better come back out to start the 9th... we NEED!!!!! to win this game and he's his usual nast-filthy self (since coming back and in the pen). Not saying Dempster can't close it out... but since he's on and threw a quite minimal amount of pitches, let Woody try and close it out!!!