Come on, Al, put the magic number up

by 3744nsheffield on Aug 25, 2008 7:32 AM CDT Comment 64 comments

The Cubs' magic number to clinch the division is 28 this morning. It's 24 to clinch the wild card. Cool Standings has the Cubs at 85.7 percent to win the division and 98.3 percent to make the playoffs. That's second best in baseball, behind only the Angels (99.9 percent in their pathetic division).

I realize, after my last post, that many of you are still a little gun shy about this, and see any mention of the magic number as putting the cart before the house, tempting fate, and playing into the hands of Cardinals fans, who will then be able to make tremendous fun of us. Perhaps. But let me ask you this: What would a Yankees fans do?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief (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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I say put it up when they get to 10

for the WC. That might be the second week of Sept.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by zambranofan on Aug 25, 2008 7:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Then you should come Vote

VOTE HERE!

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 25, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I said 20 and I'm sticking to that.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 7:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Second the motion..

I’m with Al, 20 is fine. I was wondering though, whats everyone’s prediction for total win’s?

ernie81

by ernie81 on Aug 25, 2008 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yet Another Revision-98

When the season started, I thought 90 wins. I have been revising it upward ever since. I’ll go with 98 wins now. I may revise it upward again. The Brewers won’t catch us.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Aug 25, 2008 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not making any predictions.

Just enjoying the ride.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm superstitious

Put it up when it’s 0

by daeviant on Aug 25, 2008 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun

by Bump Bailey on Aug 25, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Al posted a win prediction contest in a post a month ago

BCB Contest

I’m still sticking with my prediction of 96 wins.

"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."

by flachimesa on Aug 25, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

96 wins from this point

would only be .500 ball. I think we will play better then that.

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Aug 25, 2008 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

20 is too soon

I would go w/ 10. Why tempt fate? If people want to keep track of it on their own they can

"We've had our ups and downs, but as long as you have a reason, something to fall back on and a plan, that's all there is to it," Soto said.

by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 25, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW...

… the standings at Yahoo start counts at 20 — they did for the Angels, whose division magic # is now 16.

I haven’t seen magic #s posted anywhere else.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they can go to MLB standings

Here

If you like 20 games Cinci is down to 9 with Pitt once game back with 10, Houston who has pulled themselves over 2 games over .500 is down to 19 while StL is at 24 and Milw is28, way far off at 20.

It can fall to 24 if StL gets revenge in land of humidity and the Cubs win the Pitt series.

Meaning this weekend it could emerge…so what reality comes when it is single digits and falling.

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 25, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'd prefer it start...

…at 10, too, but it’s obviously your choice, Al. I promise not to go nuts when it goes up at 20.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember '69?

and the high water mark was just around Labor Day and the Cub’s went south in a hurry and the MMs were on fire. I say 10 would be reasonable and a balance between superstitios old Cub fans like me and the metric madness required by some stats junkies. My vote would be start when it goes into single digits…

Mike+Milton+Eamus Catuli = AC000000

by Cub's Paperboy on Aug 26, 2008 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No!

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 25, 2008 7:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Put it up

when the magic number is 1

by leothelip on Aug 25, 2008 8:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and PLEASE?

Let’s not model ourselves after Yankees fans.

by leothelip on Aug 25, 2008 8:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

"This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell outta here." --Michael Scott

by Reddevil on Aug 25, 2008 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed...

the Yankees organization used to be the model to aspire to but the fans leave much to be desired. I’m o.k with 20 games either for the division or WC but we all know that the way this season has gone, anything less than the division at this point would be a huge disappointment.

by CubFan81 on Aug 25, 2008 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

5 weeks to go

is too early. While this team (knocking on wood) has not had a bad week, we are a bad week away from second. I had a long debate with a fellow cub fan who wants our lead up to 9 going into the last two weeks. With the history of wild card teams and hot end of the season teams, I just want to stay ahead, stay sharp, stay focused, no matter what the standings say. I want the pitchers to bear down and be relentless and our hitters going into the NLDS hitting dead red. All this should happen with time to get our rotation in order and set for the playoffs. I’m not ready for that debate yet (Z or Harden or Lilly….who goes first?) but will welcome it mid September. For now, let’s keep winning series.

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 25, 2008 8:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How about we focus on this instead

Our magic number to eleminate the reds is 9 and the pirates is 10

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Aug 25, 2008 9:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's kind of fun and creative

by Arbusto on Aug 25, 2008 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Aug 25, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, cool.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where did you find that old Astros logo?

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did a GIS for MLB logos..

I was trying to find something that would give me uniform sizes

It’s here (blessed mother of linkation, don’t fail me now…)

Not sure why I didn’t go with the current ’Stro logo, probably ought to clean that up…

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Aug 25, 2008 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a cool site!

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff.

28/28/24

by Born Again Cubs Fan on Aug 25, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like this

And the Pad Squad is one loss/Cub win from being The Next to be Xed.

"Years of academy training, wasted"--Buzz Lightyear (not a flying toy)

by spoiledcubbage on Aug 25, 2008 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to the Snakes/Fathers game tonight....

my sign reads….

“We Should Have Built a Library”

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 25, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's awesome

Can’t wait to see them all X’d out

by chitownhawkeye on Aug 25, 2008 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That I would enjoy seeing

I agree it’s quite creative.

"We've had our ups and downs, but as long as you have a reason, something to fall back on and a plan, that's all there is to it," Soto said.

by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 25, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Al could

put the elemination number next to the teams in the standing when it gets below 10 or 20 or something. That wouldn’t work for clinching the wild card but when (or if, I don’t want to assume too much) the division and wild card number gets low enough he could put that somewhere else

"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"

by MerlinDog on Aug 25, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd suggest

We just keep recommending this post and update this post after every game. Al doesn’t have to post it for the rest of us to keep track.

by Arbusto on Aug 25, 2008 9:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Or go here every day

Cubs Magic Number

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Aug 25, 2008 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No reason to do it at all...

This year, it’s not about the number of games to win the division, if you’re going to put up a magic number, make it 11 once the Cubs get into the playoffs. That’s the number anybody really cares about.

by bergs55 on Aug 25, 2008 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What would Yankees fans do?

They would say their magic number is 11 — as in post-season wins, and not worry about the division.

Here’s why I don’t want it. Not just supersition or the appearance of arrogance:
There are 102 days until Christmas (and 99 to Hanukkah for Al). Should we start counting that down, too?

It’s just too damn early. Even if it hits 20 this week, August is just too soon.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 25, 2008 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What would a Yankees fans do?

I see no reason for us to get obscene.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 10:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Way too soon, way too early

Not even a point of discussion.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 25, 2008 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hardly, people have been counting down since day 1 of the season.

by Arbusto on Aug 25, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

FOr the heck of it

I figured it out after the Brewers sweep.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Aug 25, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um...

Guess not. 40 people would disagree since everyone is discussing it.

I’m either way on the subject.

by lamentir on Aug 25, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd prefer a countdown meter for...

How many more World Series victories before we clinch. I am waiting for that countdown meter.

Good Guys Wear Blue

by Cubskingdom on Aug 25, 2008 10:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i've said before and i'm with the poster on this one

i don’t mind counting down bc i don’t believe in jinxes, hexes, curses, etc….

so when a black cat stares you down, stare back

by cubswynn on Aug 25, 2008 1:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that's right before

he spits out the tooth, right? :P

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And slips on a banana peel.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

woop woop

nyuk nyuk nyuk… nothing up my sleeve…

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say 10..

Especially after reading the ’69 team had a 5 game lead on Aug. 25..their record? 79-50..

The journey is the reward!

by wicubfan on Aug 25, 2008 1:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When it gets to 10

When it gets to 10 sounds good to me.

Let’s hope that’s sometime around September 3rd. I think the earliest would be the 3rd or the 4th.

Most likely will be around the 10th.

The numbers I can’t wait to see change are the ones by the EAMUS CATULI sign. I want those to be all 0s sometime late October.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Aug 25, 2008 1:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Word

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Aug 25, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it's September 3

That means the Cubs and the opposition for the Brewers would go an aggregate 18-0.

Yeah, I don’t see that happening. September 10 would be an aggregate 18-12 . . . that’s possible. Unscientifically looking at the schedule, I’d say September 12 for it to hit 10 is a reasonable guess.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 25, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I want for Christmas

Is a picture of that at all being 0s!

by chitownhawkeye on Aug 25, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kind of funny

A coworker took a picture out of a book of the Four Horsemen of the Apoocolypse (Sp) and superimposed the faces of Zambrano, Harden, Dempster and Lilly over the faces.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Aug 25, 2008 1:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs