Next Three weeks Could wrap it Up

by Rick B on Aug 16, 2008 8:18 AM CDT

And should wrap it up. The Cubs should leave Florida with at least 76 wins, with Dempster throwing Sunday.

The next 13 of 16 are at home with 12 of 16 against Cincy, Washington, Pitt. and Houston. A nice 12-4 run would give them 88 wins with 22 to play. They actually have a chance to have more wins at the end of August than they did all of last year.

This next homestand is huge. Alot has been written about their September schedule being tough.They have a chance to make it a moot point with a strong homestand to finish off August.

If they rock and roll the next three weeks they could have 96 wins before they even leave for the last road trip to NY and Milwaukee.

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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It's going to be a big game for Dempster

Isn’t it the first time pitching as a starter on Marlins turf since 2002?

by daeviant on Aug 16, 2008 8:27 AM CDT reply actions

Yes.

In fact, he did not start vs. Florida at all when he was a member of the Reds, nor did he start for the Cubs vs. the Marlins in the handful of starts he had at the beginning of 2005.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 16, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

If they have finally figured out

how to win consistently on the road, I cannot yet predict how many wins this team will compile. 100 sounds too optimistic, but one never knows, they could exceed that. They appear to be building to a strong finish—hope it keeps up till October!

"Why does that man drop his club before he runs? I would bring it with me." ~Stewie Griffin

by Goodie1969 on Aug 16, 2008 9:03 AM CDT reply actions

100 wins...

They only need to go 25-15 to win 100. I think that is completely doable. 100 wins would be nice but just as long as they win at least one more game then anyone else in the central I’ll be happy. 11 post season wins are much more important to me.

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Aug 16, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

Keep in mind, as I mentioned in the recap, that NO teams have done well on the road this year. 30-30, the Cubs’ road record as of this morning, is the FIFTH-BEST road record in the majors.

That’s pretty impressive.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 16, 2008 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

I had thought the same thing.....

but, I don’t want this team to get complacent. A good homestand is a must and it should happen realizing how we’ve won at home and the teams we are facing. As I looked at the Angels gaudy lead I wondered how they stay sharp for another month and a half before the playoffs. It would be nice to have a double digit lead but I would rather go into the playoffs focused and HOT. The players have a lot of off days during this time and last year it killed us. I hope we all take the approach (especially the players) that the only game we have to win is the next one. That would serve us all well.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Aug 16, 2008 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

Another reason not to get complacent

It’s so damn fun when they win games like last night — I never gave up, but I’d be lying if I said I expected them to win in the 9th. If we expect them to win all the time, games like that aren’t as exciting!

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 16, 2008 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Renewed Road Strength

This will be a key to September success. Not that the Cubs will go undefeated on the road from here on out, but if they’re at least able to sustain a .500 clip then it puts more pressure on StL and the Brewers trying to catch us.

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Aug 16, 2008 9:28 AM CDT reply actions

don't count our chickens before they hatch. lest we forget that....

the angels led by 11.5 on aug 9, 1995…and collapsed
the dodgers led by 13.5 on aug 11, 1951…and collapsed
the mets led by 7 on sept 12, 2007…and collapsed

Or the Cubs collapse and “Met Miracle” that I unfortunately was old enough to suffer through. According to Baseball Prospectus this ranks as the 5th worst collapse in baseball:

At 71-41, they [the Cubs] had the best record in the National league, although the Orioles were better in the AL. They won the league 98.0% of the time in the simulations, but objective computer simulations, by their very nature, know nothing about Miracles.

Having suffered through 1969, call me a nervous nellie….

by zevkalman on Aug 16, 2008 12:28 PM CDT reply actions