http://thecomeback.com/mlb/mark-prior-dusty-baker-cubs-arm.html
I was preparing to start this thread, when I saw our good friend Dave’s comment (in the previous thread):
http://www.si.com/thecauldron/2016/08/03/mark-prior-chicago-cubs-no-regrets
A good Mark Prior interview. No longer plays, but is a good pitching coach for a SD Padres farm team. His praise of Dustdick and Towel drill Rothschild, I could have done without, however.
Happy Anniversary, FDB.com!! And GO CUBS! – Dave
Thoughts? Drivel?
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
August 4, 2016 at 4:04 pm
…from the story: “I believe Dusty did the best he could, and anyone who thinks he is responsible for what happened to me or Kerry Wood, I would strongly disagree.” – Mark Prior
I saw it on the inter-webs, therefore it must be true…
August 5, 2016 at 9:23 pm
Me: Scratches his chin … looks down at his feet … checks his fingernails … finally looks up … sorry, Genre, I got nothin’!
August 7, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Cubs just blew golden opportunities to put runs on the board two innings in a row in today’s game against Oakland.
They will probably win the game because Oakland is a mess, but this is the kind of thing I was talking about in the other thread. This team still has glaring weaknesses that will get exposed in the playoffs against much tougher competition than Oakland.
Their biggest weakness, in my opinion, is what is happening today; leaving runners in scoring position over and over again. In other words, a glaring lack of clutch hitting.
If they can’t get that fixed, then I don’t care if they win the division by 14 games! They will be facing a quick exit in the playoffs.
August 7, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Wasn’t there a thread “here” a few years ago, debating on whether or not “clutch hitting” existed….? Yeti?
August 7, 2016 at 6:57 pm
There is ‘clutch hitting ” with the Cubs. And Kevin Gregg is a serviceable closer.
August 8, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Yep, I remember Yeti attempting to convince us that leaving runners in scoring position was really a sign of “clutch hitting” and blowing leads in the eighth and ninth innings was a sign of a “serviceable closer.” Yep! Good old Yeti.
Cubs have a large enough lead at this point, and with no other team in the Division showing any signs of offering a credible threat, I think the Cubs have the Division wrapped up.
But, that had better not be their goal!
August 9, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Kevin FUCKING Gregg. I just threw up in my mouth (again)…thx chucky! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Ernie, of course I was disappointed last year when the Mets steamrolled the Cubs in the NLCS…but I still deemed it a successful season, given that I didn’t expect the Cubs to compete for a couple more years.
Given last year, and their play this season, my expectations have shifted….nothing less than a World Series win is acceptable to me….1908 was a loooooong time ago.
tick tock…tick tock…tick tock…tick tock
August 10, 2016 at 11:45 pm
Genre, if this were any other team then I would be right there with you saying, “World Series here we come!” But, this is not any other team, this is the Cubs.
This team has the exact same record as the 1969 Cubs at about this same point in the season. They maintained that, even moving to 32 games over a little later. And, I, along with the vast majority of Cub fans were saying exactly the same thing we’re saying now, “it is over, finally we’re going to the World Series!” Then they began losing. First it was only four in a row. Then, it was eight in a row. After another four in a row, the Mets took over and never looked back.
Can this team be different? Sure they can. But will they? If they can get the past out of their head they’ve got a real shot. But, I’m not confident. Gotta do it on the field. I don’t see them losing the Division. They would have to go on an eight to eleven game losing streak, and I don’t think their pitching would allow that. This is the best pitching I’ve seen on the Cubs since I’ve been following them.
But, the question remains, can they continue this great pitching into October? It’s one thing to be winning on August 10, but can they win like this on October 10? They haven’t shown they can do it as of last year. That four game sweep in the NLDS was typical, not atypical. That’s the problem.
Every Cub fan is hoping for the same thing you and I are. Winning the Division is fine. Winning the first two playoff series is great. But, can they get past that barrier known as the NLDS? We will see.
August 10, 2016 at 11:46 pm
Whoops, I just noticed I said NLDS, and I meant NLCS. Sorry.