IST: Cubs @ Pirates

[TC in Mississippi]

Quintana outing was huge last night and exactly what he needed for himself and what the team needed..

No more pressure situation then matching the opposing team Ace with zeros when your team struggling a bit and needs a big win..

Hopefully that will be a pick me up for rest of rotation today and heading into brewers series

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

While I certainly hope they do well today, and going forward, I'm not sure that one days performance has any effect on the next day. I really want to see that Lester is completely healthy and effective tonight, he was OK in his first start back but he needs to be sharp if we're going to do anything in the playoffs.

 

[chibears55]

While I certainly hope they do well today, and going forward, I'm not sure that one days performance has any effect on the next day. I really want to see that Lester is completely healthy and effective tonight, he was OK in his first start back but he needs to be sharp if we're going to do anything in the playoffs.

And you say I'm a downer and think the worse of a situation ..
?????

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[brett05]

You have to get to the playoffs to do well in them.

Short of a utter collapse by more than just Q, it would be almost impossible for the Cubs to miss.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

And you say I'm a downer and think the worse of a situation ..
����������

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Ha! Well, I'm an optimist but you never know on health, especially with pitchers. One area of soreness can throw off their entire array of stuff, not to mention command or risk of further injury. If everyone is healthy I like this team's chances in the playoffs, at least in terms of having a fighting chance, if they're not they won't make it far and Lester and Arrieta are the keys.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Short of a utter collapse by more than just Q, it would be almost impossible for the Cubs to miss.

StL 4 games back. MIL 4.5 back. Utter collapse? No. This race is fairly close and the Cubs play the majority of their games the rest of the way against both of those teams.

 

[PickSix]

chibears55....you keep on blurting. I like your approach.

And let's pray for a much improved Lester from his last outing vs Pitt. 10 runs in .2 innings.

Agreed, that our post season chances rest on Lester getting back to Ace form. Looking like anything but that lately.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

StL 4 games back. MIL 4.5 back. Utter collapse? No. This race is fairly close and the Cubs play the majority of their games the rest of the way against both of those teams.

I think the Cubs are better than both. I'm honestly not worried about either of those teams. St. Louis has played about as well as they can play in the last 10 games and didn't pick up a single game on the Cubs. They were 4 games back 10 days ago and they're 4 games out now.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I think the Cubs are better than both. I'm honestly not worried about either of those teams. St. Louis has played about as well as they can play in the last 10 games and didn't pick up a single game on the Cubs. They were 4 games back 10 days ago and they're 4 games out now.

I'm sure you do think that. I just saw the Cubs lose 12-0 and also lose 2 games to the Pirates. Baseball is a lot about when you catch teams. Right now, they are kind of meh. Do I think they will win the division? Sure, but if they don't, I also wouldn't call it an "utter collapse", which is the point I wss specifically addressing. Now 13 game lead at the beginning of September would be another story.

 

[TL1961]

chibears55....you keep on blurting. I like your approach.

And let's pray for a much improved Lester from his last outing vs Pitt. 10 runs in .2 innings.

Agreed, that our post season chances rest on Lester getting back to Ace form. Looking like anything but that lately.

Lester did not pitch that game. That was the game Arrieta started. Lester went Saturday vs Atlanta.

 

[beckdawg]

Well then i guess that difference from being a fan of game and a die hard fan of a team, if here we are in September wirh division and playoff on line and you have no care if they win or lose you just wanna see a good game played by both teams.

I mean maybe. Like I said I'm not trying to tell anyone how to watch entertainment but I would say I find it puzzling for someone professed to be a diehard of the team and then essentially is talking about ways that team was going to throw away a win. That seems counter intuitive as I'd expect someone who's a diehard to be the biggest homers of all. That's why I brought up the cardinal fan comment. Like them or hate them, their fans always assume their team will win even when it's illogical to think so. Seems like a number of cubs fans in general are just waiting for them to lose which has never made sense to me.

And I wouldn't say I don't care about losses. As any other fan I'd just assume see them win. I'd say it's more a case of losses not irritating me as much as you. It's not because I'm zen or whatever and just love watching baseball... ok well maybe it's a little of that but it's more a case of me not placing value on wins/losses and rather how a team has played. You can play a great game and lose 1-0 or some other form of 1 run loss if you run into a pitcher like Cole last night. That happens all the time. Over a long enough span of time if a team plays good baseball the wins will come. It's why I said prior to the all star break that this still was a 90ish win team. And as I said then, regular season wins are fun and all but the are just a means to an end to get to the playoffs. Whether you win 100 games or 82 or whatever if you make the playoffs it's a new "season."

The cubs are 33-18 in the second half with a +82 run diff. The dodgers by contrast are 31-18 with a +22 run diff. Houston is 26-24 with a +8 run diff. Washington is 33-18 with a +65 run diff. Cleveland is 36-16 with a +116 run diff. Boston is 29-22 with a +16 run diff. Those are the 6 division leaders and I'd wager the only team with a better run diff than the cubs is Cleveland headed into the playoffs. So, when the cubs blow a late lead sure I'm disappointed but that's baseball and the cubs are still playing very good baseball and keep and mind that's without having access to Russell and Contreras for a lot of that.

 

[PickSix]

Lester did not pitch that game. That was the game Arrieta started. Lester went Saturday vs Atlanta.

What are you talking about? I'm well aware of Lester's last game vs ATL. I was there. I said his last outing against Pitt when he got blown up in the first inning. I have no clue what Arrieta's last outing vs Pitt has to do with my post.

 

[DanTown]

It's amazing people care about the size of the lead for the division. There's a chance it's over in nine days if the Cubs simply win their next three series.

Next ten games:

7+ wins: O.V.E.R
5-6 wins: Quite safe
4 wins: Meh
3 wins or less: Panic time

So I guess this all falls on how much confidence you have for the Cubs to win their next 10 games, 9 at home.

 

[chibears55]

Ha! Well, I'm an optimist but you never know on health, especially with pitchers. One area of soreness can throw off their entire array of stuff, not to mention command or risk of further injury. If everyone is healthy I like this team's chances in the playoffs, at least in terms of having a fighting chance, if they're not they won't make it far and Lester and Arrieta are the keys.

You're right if healthy..

Lester Arrieta Quintana Hendricks
Will match up well with any team..

My main concern is the up and down bats this year, even more so over the pen which i believe come playoff Maddon will tighten up as far as who he uses..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[chibears55]

I mean maybe. Like I said I'm not trying to tell anyone how to watch entertainment but I would say I find it puzzling for someone professed to be a diehard of the team and then essentially is talking about ways that team was going to throw away a win. That seems counter intuitive as I'd expect someone who's a diehard to be the biggest homers of all. That's why I brought up the cardinal fan comment. Like them or hate them, their fans always assume their team will win even when it's illogical to think so. Seems like a number of cubs fans in general are just waiting for them to lose which has never made sense to me.

And I wouldn't say I don't care about losses. As any other fan I'd just assume see them win. I'd say it's more a case of losses not irritating me as much as you. It's not because I'm zen or whatever and just love watching baseball... ok well maybe it's a little of that but it's more a case of me not placing value on wins/losses and rather how a team has played. You can play a great game and lose 1-0 or some other form of 1 run loss if you run into a pitcher like Cole last night. That happens all the time. Over a long enough span of time if a team plays good baseball the wins will come. It's why I said prior to the all star break that this still was a 90ish win team. And as I said then, regular season wins are fun and all but the are just a means to an end to get to the playoffs. Whether you win 100 games or 82 or whatever if you make the playoffs it's a new "season."

The cubs are 33-18 in the second half with a +82 run diff. The dodgers by contrast are 31-18 with a +22 run diff. Houston is 26-24 with a +8 run diff. Washington is 33-18 with a +65 run diff. Cleveland is 36-16 with a +116 run diff. Boston is 29-22 with a +16 run diff. Those are the 6 division leaders and I'd wager the only team with a better run diff than the cubs is Cleveland headed into the playoffs. So, when the cubs blow a late lead sure I'm disappointed but that's baseball and the cubs are still playing very good baseball and keep and mind that's without having access to Russell and Contreras for a lot of that.

Again..
it's just frustration talk when things are looking bleak..

Seriously you haven't watched a game with a bunch of friends, family and You or someone in your group never blurted out damn were gonna lose this game like yesterday or the other day..
Something like that
I mean come on... we're die hard fans of sports teams in chicago, there no way you just calmly sit and watch games just for enjoyment and not get aggravated..lol

Yea maybe most Cardinals fans probably stay calm when their down but they have quite a history of winning..
Us Cubs fans, not so much







Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[chibears55]

It's amazing people care about the size of the lead for the division. There's a chance it's over in nine days if the Cubs simply win their next three series.

Next ten games:

7+ wins: O.V.E.R
5-6 wins: Quite safe
4 wins: Meh
3 wins or less: Panic time

So I guess this all falls on how much confidence you have for the Cubs to win their next 10 games, 9 at home.

It more that their playing the Brewers and Cardinals on those games..

So yea you're right they win it over cause it'll be a 2 game swing..
But
If they don't then their in trouble because they lost games to the 2 teams chasing them and that 2 game swing goes against them..

So it not like ok they lost to pirates but catch a break cause brewers lose to reds..

There are no breaks if you lose head to head..
14 of next 19 are head to head against Brewers and Cardinals..

So a bigger lead going into that stretch would of been helpful..[emoji6]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[TL1961]

What are you talking about? I'm well aware of Lester's last game vs ATL. I was there. I said his last outing against Pitt when he got blown up in the first inning. I have no clue what Arrieta's last outing vs Pitt has to do with my post.

You wrote "Lester's last outing vs Pittsburgh"

I read it as "Lester's last outing, vs Pittsburgh", since we just gave up a ton to them this week.

My mistake. Sorry.

 

[TL1961]

Again..
it's just frustration talk when things are looking bleak..

Seriously you haven't watched a game with a bunch of friends, family and You or someone in your group never blurted out damn were gonna lose this game like yesterday or the other day..
Something like that
I mean come on... we're die hard fans of sports teams in chicago, there no way you just calmly sit and watch games just for enjoyment and not get aggravated..lol

Yea maybe most Cardinals fans probably stay calm when their down but they have quite a history of winning..
Us Cubs fans, not so much







Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

What's bleak about a 4 game lead with 23 to play?

 

[TL1961]

It more that their playing the Brewers and Cardinals on those games..

So yea you're right they win it over cause it'll be a 2 game swing..
But
If they don't then their in trouble because they lost games to the 2 teams chasing them and that 2 game swing goes against them..

So it not like ok they lost to pirates but catch a break cause brewers lose to reds..

There are no breaks if you lose head to head..
14 of next 19 are head to head against Brewers and Cardinals..

So a bigger lead going into that stretch would of been helpful..[emoji6]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Before you go sticking your head in the oven, look at it this way:

If Cubs win only one of three against Brewers or against Cards, three games come off the schedule, and the other team gains ONE. Magic number drops two. That's if we lose 2 of 3.

Win 2of 3, and rest easier.

Avoid a sweep and it is tough on the other guy.

Best option. Sweep them out of contention.

Cubs need to play Cards as though it is a playoff series and don't let them squeak out a win with their crap youngsters who aren't really any good.

 

[beckdawg]

Again..
it's just frustration talk when things are looking bleak..

Seriously you haven't watched a game with a bunch of friends, family and You or someone in your group never blurted out damn were gonna lose this game like yesterday or the other day..
Something like that
I mean come on... we're die hard fans of sports teams in chicago, there no way you just calmly sit and watch games just for enjoyment and not get aggravated..lol

Yea maybe most Cardinals fans probably stay calm when their down but they have quite a history of winning..
Us Cubs fans, not so much

I don't generally watch games with others but from my memory when I have the outbursts are more <x> happened and now we're mad rather than dread about what may happen. Now sure if you give up a walk off home run in a close game that's frustrating or when you blow a lead late. But giving up 3 runs in the first or whatever doesn't faze me because there's 8 innings to play. I'm also generally unfazed by tie games and impending dread they may botch it.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I don't know maybe I'm weird though. I don't hate winning. I don't hate losing 2012-13 levels so long as there's a long term plan behind it. In fact I may find that more interesting than the winning because building teams is interesting to me. But the mediocrity of the 10-11 years bug me because it's not good baseball and it's not really building the future. Probably why I've been less interested in the NFL of late because that's sorta where the bears have been the past several years.

 

[chibears55]

What's bleak about a 4 game lead with 23 to play?

Oh geesh..lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk