FanPost

Day Games an Issue?

Recently during a Cubs broadcast, Bob Brenly made a comment about the Cubs playing more day games than anyone in Major League Baseball, which we already know.  He said it in passing, but suggested maybe the history of the Cubs playing day games adds to the history of the Cubs as a loosing franchise.

I tend to somewhat agree with this, in that the Cubs are the team with the 2nd most wins of all franchises just passing 10,000 behind the Giants, yet they just can't get it done in the post season.  Perhaps the long season of waking up early and playing ball wears a player down by October causing the Cubs to falter in the playoffs.  Is it the midday summer heat? Waking up early? Not having a full days worth of proper meals in the system? Long nights at the clubs in Wrigleyville?

The Cubs have 58 remaining day games, 40 of them at the Friendly Confines and 6 TBD. Personally, I believe that the day games only have a negative effect on the team if it is following a night game.  In this circumstance, the Cubs play 25 day games following night match ups.  Most notably, the Cubs travel from playing a night game in Tampa Bay on June 19 to playing a day game at Wrigley against the Chicago White Sox on the 20th, who only travel across town 24 hours after their previous  game.  Also, there is a night game in St. Louis on the 4th of July, and a day game on the 5th.  Yes, I realize this is an away series, but when a team such as the Cubs have a home schedule consisting of a majority of day games, the away games add to the wear and tear of the season.  Let's hope the boys don't spend a night out on town celebrating our nations birthday! We got to beat those Cardinals.

Eleven of the Cubs day games that follow night games are during a home series, 13 of those such games are away and 1 game is a home day game following an away night game.  So, it seems it would be more of a problem during away series because of the consistency of night games scheduled, rather than just having consecutive day or night games.  So is this really a problem to the Chicago Cubs, are their day games really hindering the outcome of the season?

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