Old saying: It is not who you play but who you play when

by Ivy Walls on Aug 20, 2008 10:20 AM CDT

Cubs are hot, 8-2 in their last ten, 19-6 since Soriano returned (coincidence?), 20-10 since the All Star Break. Cinci is 3-7 in the last ten and falling fast into Baker oblivion, a place of strange worldviews and reasoning with many sore arms, shoulders and elbows.

Looking forward Cubs play Washington 0-10 in their last ten and even worse than the Reds, M's, or Padres.

Milwaukee is playing a resurgent Astros team now 7-3 in their last ten and 20-11 since the All Star Break where the Brewers are 6-4 in their last ten and 20-13 since the All Star Break, those two play a rubber game tonight.

St Louis is also 6-4 in their last ten, 17-15 since the All Star Break and slowly bleeding out of the division race now 10 games back in the loss column to the Cubs. They are playing the Pirates who traded away most of their OF before Aug 1st are 13-19 since the All Star Break and understandably 6-11 since the trading deadline, but StL lost to them last night.

Peaking forward Brewers get to play the Pirates (who then host the Cubs, and Brewers [again] a potentially murderous 12 games for the Buc's), and then the Cardinals while the Cubs play the Nat's followed by the Pirates.

Conceivably the Cubs could begin really separating here by a few more games before the calendar turns into September.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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A 10 Game Lead

That would be nice going in to the brutal September schedule. It’s probably too much to ask, but it sure would be nice.

by Kornchex on Aug 20, 2008 11:00 AM CDT 0 recs

I don't think that's too much to ask

To be 10 games in front of the Wildcard. I have a feeling 6 is the largest cushion we might have over Milwaukee (maybe 7).

by ak123 on Aug 20, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Sept schedule is NOT brutal

I was just looking and there are no games against teams that have a better record than the Cubs.

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

But it's also not easy

I take nothing for granted with any team with any lead until we are at Magic #0. However, no matter how good the other teams are you made the most valid point: none are better than The Cubs. They can take a series from us yes but our record shows we are the better team today.

I think the last week of the season is the only true rough patch. Mets are good lately. However their bullpen is not. The Cubs are a team who can get to a bullpen in 5-6 innings if they are patient. If The Cubs can do that then I think we can even sweep them! The other key to success in NY is not to have Dempster pitch there. He might be amazing this whole year but boy does he have bad luck against The Mets.

by ak123 on Aug 20, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's because the Cubs...

…are the best team in the National League, according to winning percentage. Nonetheless, most of next month’s games are on the road and the last seven are on the road and against contending teams. That is pretty brutal, all things considered.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 20, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Considering the last 7 games

are not going to matter much – I think the schedule is not that difficult at all.

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

I like the way you think!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 20, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Umm...

That’s probably because as of now there are no teams (NL or AL) that have a better record than the Cubs.

by John Q Freejazz on Aug 20, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

That was my point

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 3:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

we're not playing the Rays?

by daily2b on Aug 20, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'll take the 6 or 7 games

every time over what the White Sox/Twins fans are going through. I don’t think this board could handle that level of stress!!

"ROUS's? Rodents of Unusual Size. Don't worry, they don't exist."
http://margaritagirl11.spaces.live.com/

by iluvryno on Aug 20, 2008 11:04 AM CDT 0 recs

lord knows I couldn't

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Aug 20, 2008 12:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's what we had last year

With no wild card possibilities either.

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Over 162...

…all this stuff tends to even out for the most part. Certainly, it’s nice to catch good teams when they are in a bad stretch, but a long season takes care of this stuff.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Aug 20, 2008 11:11 AM CDT 0 recs

Agree, MPH

And sometimes, we can turn hot teams into ice cubes, as witnessed in the Miller Park Massacre, or turn cold teams into world-beaters.

Play your best, don’t worry about the opponent. It’ll all work out.

Pluto will always be a planet to me!

by DaBard on Aug 20, 2008 11:19 AM CDT 0 recs

AMEN

n/t

by Cajuncub on Aug 20, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think

either Len or Bob relayed a thought from Pinella last night. It was something along the lines that be careful with every team. You can catch anyone at the wrong time. Case in point. Last night Cueto was throwing lights out. I mean on paper prior to the game, you would have thought he is gone by the 5th. The kid showed up last night and pitched a whale of a game.

But in the end, the Cubs showed their stuff and put another one in the W colume.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 20, 2008 12:25 PM CDT 0 recs

As for the balance of

the schedule. Seeing that the Cubs have not only the best record in the NL, and tied for the second best in both leagues. You can be sure any contenders that have the Cubs on their schedule are bemoaning how tough they have it.

Gentlemen and ladies. No worries. I have said it before, this is the best Cub team that I have ever seen, dating back to the mid to late 60’s. They baring any freak injuries or major set backs tie this thing up around Sept 22nd.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 20, 2008 12:29 PM CDT 0 recs

It's also not the easiest

by ak123 on Aug 20, 2008 12:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Nothing for granted

correct. I like most of us older fans have endured many of failures and short comings from our team. We have grown used to let down after let down. This is why I make the point about this being the best team I have seen. They have such good balance. The lineup does not depend on one or two batters, nor does it only have one stud starter. This team is the true meaning of a team.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 20, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bill, there is no doubt about this review...

In fact my father and father-in-law say it probably goes back to ’45 or ’32 (they were 18 in ’45) and too young in ’32 as both say back then you had to win the pennant in the season, no playoffs.

But comparing this team to ,68-’71 and then ’84, ’89, ’03 and ’06 this team has more balance and more depth in both the offense and pitching by far. Its depth goes into role/secondary players where even Blanco and Cedeno have contributed mightily to the starting lineup.

And yet what separates this team is they go 4-deep in the rotation with two capable 5th-6th starters in Marquis and Marshall with a very deep bullpen. Only the [Just call me] Rays and White Sox have a middle relief to late inning relief corps where the Cubs are even a notch or two better (with Marmol and now Samardzija & Cotts) leading to Wood.

‘69 had a great 3-man rotation with Jenkins, Hands and Holtzman but Selma or Pappas were in Marquis’s class. ‘84 had a fair rotation with Sutcliffe, Eck, Sanderson & Trout but they didn’t compare with this year’s staff. ‘89 had Maddux, Sutcliffe (shadow if ’84), Sanderson & Bielecki a good 4-man and Lee Smith (’84), Mitch Williams ‘(89) were good to excellent closers, Reagan (’69) was workmanlike in a time of complete games.

This year’s team has the power and ability to score like the ’69 Cubs but better pitching all around. Better than ’03 and more so they are balanced all the way through.

Barring a significant injury this club should be clinching or nearing clinching the final homestand.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Aug 20, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

If memory

serves me correctly, Sanderson broke down in ‘84 often. Trout, wow there was a character. Remember when he threw back to back shutouts and than was traded? Now that I am thinking of it, and i am to lazy to look up, was Sanderson on the 84’ or 89’. I recall the 84’ team. Williams, the original wild thing. Heart stopping moments with that guy.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 20, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Both, I Believe

"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 20, 2008 10:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sanderson had back problems

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Aug 21, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

The 22nd? Why so late

Gotta do it at home and with the Cardinals in town – that will be perfect.

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Totally

plucked that one out of the air. I thought that maybe I would sound like I know what I am talking about.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 20, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

i try not to get too excited

but I look at the sidebar with the team records from over the years and I read comments from some of the older fans and I get chills…..

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Aug 20, 2008 12:39 PM CDT 0 recs

I hope Washington snaps their streak

BEFORE they come to town!

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

by SackMan on Aug 20, 2008 12:40 PM CDT 0 recs

True

Conversely if a team that is coming up on your schedule has been hot, you think it is time for them to cool down. I don’t care how bad a team is. I think it was Jack Brickhouse who used to say after either a pitcher or a bad hitter would get a key hit, “he is a major leaguer in the batters box”.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Aug 20, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up 0 recs