1 run the past series, and 10 in a 7 game season series. That doesn't scream "manager righted the ship after troublesome times against the cards."
Well Pat, he may have not righted the ship, but they are staying afloat regardless of who they are playing despite the whole team going into a funk which could have easily put them totally out of it. You have to beat those teams, and especially take advantage when another team isn't playing well.
I mean, the Rays have a long losing streak. The Tigers had one and also got swept by Pittsburgh. Detroit has hitting and still lost a lot.
The Cardinals just went 4 in a row, and eked out a 2-1 win yesterday against the Padres. They haven't been hitting either which I hope continues.
Take the Cubs for what they are which in your words was a "pleasant surprise" I believe, and before Miami, they did play 20 out of the last 29 games on the road.
They are getting a lot out of their system as far as adjustments, and still have some more coming when more people arrive. Russell and Bryant have already learned a ton, so that is good news moving forward.
If someone would have told me that halfway through the year that the Cubs would have this record with Soler, LaStella, Denorphia, Ramirez, and Grimm going down, along with Wood getting replaced by Wada in the rotation, I would have gladly taken it.
Sure some of those guys aren't big names, but you still replace them with bench players, and the bench players are being countered with AAA replacements.
To think that in every division in baseball, that the Cubs would only be a few games back cannot be all that bad. Who would have thunkit that the ass-hat Cardinals would have this kind of record. :dunno:
I still don't know how they are doing it? Of course they play sound baseball and have good pitching and defense, but their offense is nothing compared to what it used to be.
They are playing so far above their heads it is pathetic IMO, which just fuels the debate that they do absolutely nothing wrong.
I think Lynn goes today, and unless Martinez pitches on 4 days rest, they will probably see Lackey, Wacha, Garcia, and maybe Lyons in that double header game.
The Cubs will counter with Lester, Arrieta, Hammel, and ?.
Time for a little payback.