Is it just me....
by MorePiePlease on May 29, 2008 8:16 AM CDT
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Printor did the series against the Dodgers feel like October baseball?
Between the weather, the intensity of the crowd and the close scores that was some of the most exciting baseball I've seen all season. Add to that the fact that our guys swept the series and it was really awesome.
So what I am interested in knowing from all of you is this. Do you think playing in a series like this gives the Cubs a little bit of a feel for what it will take to win should they make it in to the postseason or does the fact that this series was played in May negate that?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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Agreed
To be fair, the Cubs haven’t had the most difficult of schedules so far. And we have played too big a share of home games for this early in the season. So yes I think it was good to go up the Los Angeles Dodgers. At some level it is hard to gauge just how good you are when 35% of your games have been against the Pittsburgh Pirates and you’ve played a ton at home.
"It is never too early to start beefing up your obituary."
See, I don't mind that we've played most of our games...
at home or vs. the Pirates. First of all, I don’t think the Pirates are all that bad.
We have the best record in the major leagues right now. Is it a mirage? Probably, but only by 2-3 games.
If nothing else, winning like we have gives us great momentum going into the tougher stretch of our schedule: road games, games against the likes of the NL East.
Never underestimate the role of confidence in baseball: I’d rather have this frontloaded schedule and win early than have the opposite.
"This is the kind of thing … that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose." Marty Brennaman
You didn't really answer the question.
The question is: Did the Dodgers series feel like October baseball? I don’t think it did. The Dodgers don’t really look like a playoff-caliber team right now. They’ve been decimated by injuries. They’re not really much of an offensive threat. I guess the series maybe-kinda-sorta resembled the postseason in that it was very pitching-focused and low-scoring. But, speaking purely as an external observer (I wasn’t at any of these games), I would say the D’Backs and Mets series both had a more playoff-like atmosphere.
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
Actually,
the first question I asked is more rhetorical in nature. Opinions on the second question is what I am more interested in.
"I'm not giving him a high-five ever again." - Sammy Sosa, joking about Moises Alou's personal habits
by MorePiePlease on May 29, 2008 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, my answer would probably be the same.
The Dodgers don’t “feel” like a playoff-caliber team (to me, at least); therefore, I don’t think the Cubs got much of a feel for postseason baseball from this series, besides maybe being reminded of what it’s like to play in cold weather. I still think the D’Backs series was better preparation (if very, very EARLY preparation) for a playoff run.
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
yeah, those Mets
and Diamondbacks, they sure stink. I bet they haven’t been to the post in years.
Oy.
2008: The year we put it all together.
by drewishdrewid on May 29, 2008 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Right Im tired of the whole Pirates sucks crap
Want to use that stupid arguement. Fine but if the Pirates didnt play the Cubs theyd have a much better record. And IMO, theyre a good team
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
It was a great sweep!
However, I’ll probably remember this series more for the cocky umpire crew and their BS strike zone, than anything else.
We had home plate umpires yelling into our dugout… questionable strike zone management, and last night… Z could get a called strike on the corner to save his life. And this is Z we’re talking about. The guy’s an ace. When an ace paints the corner like he was painting it last night… you give him that call.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
interesting that Sutcliffe had a different view of the umpire last night
I always wonder when an analyst goes over the top complimenting those getting paid to call the game. Best ump’s/ref’s are those never noticed.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Peaking early, not good for players, but worse for fans and fanatics
Cubs are playing well at home, in part because this club is finally being built to play well at home. They possess versatility, power in 4 players who conceivably hit more than 25 HR’s (possibly 30 HR’s if Soto does not wear down), they keep the defensive miscue’s to a minimum and have learned as a club to get on base and depend on those coming up to score runs. Lastly and overlooked they possibly have the best bullpen in the NL, they need one more insert, (LHP, giving them two), but until they get stronger up and down the staff going deeper into the games they need long reliever more.
They will have to grow playing on the road, but possessing a top 3 record in MLB is a good start….
But as fan, you cannot win the pennant in May or even June, but you sure can lose it. Don’t get overcooked as a fan.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Are we peaking?
or are we plateauing?
2008: The year we put it all together.
by drewishdrewid on May 29, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, I almost "climaxed" last night when Soriano hit that single.
Have I said too much?
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
LOL
Thanks for the laugh. This is what I like about this site. I never fail to get a good laugh from all the clever and humorous posts each day.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
by tucsoncubsfan on May 29, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you just take credit for my joke?
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
I believe I did.
Its something Jerry Seinfeld used to say all the time. Hahaha, I was just messin
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
No prob. And might I add (in a Jerry voice)...
...WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
Sort of.
For May, it had quite a bit of intensity. But a fair amount of the crowd left after the 9th inning. You’d never see that in a postseason game.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
The Cubs seem to have the NL West's number
10-2 against that division. They swept the division leading Diamondbacks earlier.
If they play their cards right, they could start pulling away this month.
"I don't think anybody's paying attention to the Cubs." - Prince Fielder
Agreed.
The D’backs, I believe, aren’t as good as their record… they’ve just lost two in a row to the woeful Giants, allowing them 17 runs in two games.
The rest of the West is mediocre to poor.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Agreed
But….anytime you can trot our a starting rotation like that one then you maintain formidablity. They have by far the best starting rotation in the National League. For the D’Backs its all a matter of Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, Connor Jackson and Chris Young continuing their positive development.
They did make one gigantic mistake though. Carlos Quentin is incredibly impressive looking as a run producer for the Sox. And he is a plus outfielder as well. They kept Eric Byrnes over him? Ouch.
"It is never too early to start beefing up your obituary."
I would have to agree...
Quentin has looked like a brilliant move for the Sox. he is clutch, he hits for power, and he is a decent fielder (perhaps better but I have paid more attention to his offense).
Calm down.
by Kinky Reggae on May 29, 2008 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Actually I wouldnt call it a bad move
If you first guessed it you could. But keeping proven talent over a young kid with nothing at all to show for himself is par for the course with most baseball teams not dumping salary.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
That one giant mistake is
very similar to the Cubs’ situation with Felix Pie. Carlos Quentin was lost last year with Arizona, was sent down to the minors and is now succeeding. Same with Pie and the Cubs this year. Now, Quentin’s getting a chance to play everyday. Quentin’s the perfect example of why you don’t give up on good, young, talent.
"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07
Ironic
For once we can beat people outside the division but we need to get better within our division. Sure we might have The Pirates # (although they might have gotten our # the last 2 games) we shouldn’t be losing series to Brewers, Astros and Cardinals like we have.
Only the celebration on the field
gave any inkling of post-season play to me. I’m sure the players love it when they gut out a win like that. I also think the players were genuinely happy for Soriano. I got a feeling Soriano gets really down on himself and the other players recognize that. They need him confident.
I was happy for Soriano as well ..
he cost us a game in Pittsburgh but helped us gain one back here in this series. Yes, they do need him confident and it seemed like the rest of the team was ecstatic to see him come through in the clutch. Not that they wouldn’t been happy for anyone else.
"My body is a temple.... a temple of doom." -source unknown
Does it help?
The more you come from behind, the more individuals deliver big key hit the more the confidence grows. You bet it helps. Winning is a habit and so is losing. We should know. This team continues this and their confidence that they can beat anybody, anytime, will be the best in baseball.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
What makes rhe cubs such a good team this year IS that they are beating under .500 teams. How many times in the past have we had a good team that gets whooped by the Pirates and Houston,and the Reds. What makes a good team great is winning three out of four games against the celler dwellers.
I really got that playoff feel last year...
When the Cubs played the Brewers in September.
"You know they're not going to lose 162 games." Harry Caray
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 29, 2008 3:17 PM CDT reply actions
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