sethuel1

In order to take the wild card, the Cubs need to go at least 36-16 over our last 52 games. We're playing St. Louis and Houston 20 times in that stretch. We're also throwing Williams, Maddux and Hill 3 out of every 5 games. Derrek Lee is coming back to earth quickly. Burnitz is reverting to his last three years self. In my opinion, any gains from Nomar and Lawton will probably be mostly offset by those two. Thus, I don't see a wild-card berth in the future.

I have been throughout the last few pages. This team has shown that they have the ability to come back after a losing streak with an equally good winning streak. They have a very good roster and have been underperforming so far this season. They have just added Lawton and Nomar to the offense and Williamson and Wood to the bullpen and there are good reasons, statistical reasons to think that their additions can positively affect the ability of this team to win games. Do you need more? See, I don't think the offesne has been underperforming at all this year. if anything, the offense has been overachieving statistically. The only players I think have underperformed are Zambrano and Prior, and they haven't underperformed to the extent that Lee has overachieved.

Also, if it were just the Astros ahead of us, i wouldn't be "pessimistic". But the truth of the matter is the Cubs have 6 teams ahead of them. The Marlins have underachieved, and I expect them to do better. Philly has underachieved. For the Cubs to pass 6 teams is a monumental task.

Ok, here's what i see. A team with 2 great hitters (Ramirez, Lee), one of whom is slumping, and another solid top of the order guy that's slumping right now (Walker). We have a question mark coming back at short who I don't expect much out of. Everyone else on the offense is average at best hitting-wise and has trouble getting on base (save the newly acquired Lawton). overall, our offense is average, as the higher than average power is offset by the lack of OBP. In terms of pitching, we have two solid top-of-the-rotation starters in prior and Zambrano who are slightly underachieving this year. We have another top-of-the-rotation starter that's injured and has to throw from the bullpen, making him a question mark. All of our other starters are either unproven or below-average. Our bullpen gives up more walks than any other bullpen save one, and our closer is very solid. it has a couple of bright spots in ohman and Dempster, but other than that cannot be leaned on at all. Our bullpen would be closer to middle-of-the-road if played correctly, which it is not. Our bench would also be middle-of-the-road if played correctly, which it is not.

I personally have the expectation that if the Cubs play a game as crappy as the one they just played, the game thread will almost always belong in rants at the end. Why? Because each single game tells us how the next one is likely to go? How the rest of the season is going to go? No, because when the Cubs play like crap everyone sits in the game thread and bitches about them. No, not everyone, only the ones that can't see the forest for the trees... Look, I know you think I'm unrealistic here. I don't really care. If you want me to stop posting in game threads because I'm depressing you, just say so. No, I don't want you to stop posting in game threads or any other for that matter. And I don't know why you think that I would. Just because someone calls your opinion unbalanced towards the negative doesn't mean that they want you to stop saying it. If there is anything I do want is for you to acknowledge that your opinions expressed in the last few pages of this thread were in fact not balanced out by any of the positives about the Cubs, thats all. But I certainly don't expect that to happen. please name the positives.

I personally have the expectation that if the Cubs play a game as crappy as the one they just played, the game thread will almost always belong in rants at the end. Why? Because each single game tells us how the next one is likely to go? How the rest of the season is going to go? No, because when the Cubs play like crap everyone sits in the game thread and bitches about them. No, not everyone, only the ones that can't see the forest for the trees... Look, I know you think I'm unrealistic here. I don't really care. If you want me to stop posting in game threads because I'm depressing you, just say so.

I personally have the expectation that if the Cubs play a game as crappy as the one they just played, the game thread will almost always belong in rants at the end. Why? Because each single game tells us how the next one is likely to go? How the rest of the season is going to go? No, because when the Cubs play like crap everyone sits in the game thread and bitches about them.

I personally have the expectation that if the Cubs play a game as crappy as the one they just played, the game thread will almost always belong in rants at the end.

I'm not talking about the apocalypse. I'm talking about the fact that the Cubs will not go to the playoffs. I'm sorry. if you want me to stop because it's dragging people down, i will do so. But I've hit the wall in the last couple days, and stopped drinking the kool-aid, and I feel like other people should stop drinking it, too. Oops, I wrote "fact" again. I'm talking about my newfound opinion that the Cubs will not go to the playoffs.

I'm not talking about the apocalypse. I'm talking about the fact that the Cubs will not go to the playoffs. I'm sorry. if you want me to stop because it's dragging people down, i will do so. But I've hit the wall in the last couple days, and stopped drinking the kool-aid, and I feel like other people should stop drinking it, too.

"Chevy and baseball, they just go together." Who comes up with this crap?

Wheeeeeeee

Whereas I agree that you have a lot of very good reasons to have that opinion, it is still just an opinion. To call it a fact, and a simple one at that, is just inaccurate. It's a fact. So basically what you are saying by being contradictory is, " Hey, you, stop balancing out my negativity with reality." Sorry, no, I won't stop. Feel free to ignore reality if you like. But I won't stop meeting overly-negative, pessimisitic reactions by reminding them of what the reality of the situation is. Rightly or wrongly, I care about whether Cubs fans believe in their team or not. Thats just me. Your "reality" is a bit delusional. I still love the Cubs, believe me, but this team is not playoff bound. Keep fighting the good fight, though. I ask that you read a little more closely so that you don't wind up putting words in my mouth or anyone else's please. Find for me where I said or even implied that the Cubs were playoff bound. All I have been saying is that they have been streaky and that they still have a chance at making the playoffs. Keep fighting the bad fight, though. :roll: And I'm telling you that the chance of the Cubs making the playoffs, as currently constructed and with Houston 5 games ahead of them as well as 5 teams ahead of them, and their brutal upcoming schedule with 20 games against Houtson and the Cards, is nil. Not gonna happen. Go ahead and tell me I'm not a Cubs fan because I don't "believe" in this team, since believing in this team obviously means clinging to distant playoff hopes. I love the Cubs, but I've given up hope for this season. Boy are you reading into things. Please read more carefully and stop putting words into my mouth or anyone else's. Find where I accused anyone of not being a Cubs fan. You wouldn't need to protect your heart by giving up hope long before the Cubs are out of it if you weren't a real and true Cubs fan. Come on, respond to what is written please.

leave Hill in there and get him some experience.

The series in Florida, the series vs. Pitts (minus Duke, but he's really good) & the first two games vs. The Reds stretch that came before and after the ASB. You're right. that was a good stretch. i'd forgotten about that one.

I have a question. other than the West Coast swing, when have the Cubs really been hot this year? I honestly can't think of another time.

No, it is your version of reality that says that the Cubs are a team that continues to lose. I want fans to believe in a team that has shown that can follow a cold streak with a hot streak. I want fans to believe in a team that has the roster to put together a great run and get back in it. Whether they will or not, no one knows. So why are you acting as if you know already? keep waiting for that next hot streak. I think it ain't gonna happen.

Aww c'mon, I'm running out of depressing things to say. Oops, I mean, I'm running out of realistic things to say.

Cameron has a cannon and Blanco is slow. I thought it was deep? How slow is he.............. :lol: yeah, he probably could have made it just fine. But I understand not sending him, since we need 2.

Cameron has a cannon and Blanco is slow.

Whereas I agree that you have a lot of very good reasons to have that opinion, it is still just an opinion. To call it a fact, and a simple one at that, is just inaccurate. It's a fact. So basically what you are saying by being contradictory is, " Hey, you, stop balancing out my negativity with reality." Sorry, no, I won't stop. Feel free to ignore reality if you like. But I won't stop meeting overly-negative, pessimisitic reactions by reminding them of what the reality of the situation is. Rightly or wrongly, I care about whether Cubs fans believe in their team or not. Thats just me. Your "reality" is a bit delusional. I still love the Cubs, believe me, but this team is not playoff bound. Keep fighting the good fight, though. I ask that you read a little more closely so that you don't wind up putting words in my mouth or anyone else's please. Find for me where I said or even implied that the Cubs were playoff bound. All I have been saying is that they have been streaky and that they still have a chance at making the playoffs. Keep fighting the bad fight, though. :roll: And I'm telling you that the chance of the Cubs making the playoffs, as currently constructed and with Houston 5 games ahead of them as well as 5 teams ahead of them, and their brutal upcoming schedule with 20 games against Houtson and the Cards, is nil. Not gonna happen. Go ahead and tell me I'm not a Cubs fan because I don't "believe" in this team, since believing in this team obviously means clinging to distant playoff hopes. I love the Cubs, but I've given up hope for this season.

Shut up, Steve lyons.

Seo's not a rookie. Replace rookie with crappy pitcher and my point still stands. in 2003 he wasn't too bad. But i understand what you're saying. however, i believe that Seo was less outstanding than the Cubs were bad today.

Seo's not a rookie.

Whereas I agree that you have a lot of very good reasons to have that opinion, it is still just an opinion. To call it a fact, and a simple one at that, is just inaccurate. It's a fact. So basically what you are saying by being contradictory is, " Hey, you, stop balancing out my negativity with reality." Sorry, no, I won't stop. Feel free to ignore reality if you like. But I won't stop meeting overly-negative, pessimisitic reactions by reminding them of what the reality of the situation is. Rightly or wrongly, I care about whether Cubs fans believe in their team or not. Thats just me. Your "reality" is a bit delusional. I still love the Cubs, believe me, but this team is not playoff bound. Keep fighting the good fight, though.