Cubs are barely holding onto 1st place, and only 6 games separate the Cubs, Brewers, Cards and Pirates.
Cubs pitching has been suspect, and they almost blew it today against the Padres.
What do you think?
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Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
August 3, 2018 at 6:55 pm
I can’t get a read on this team, Genre. Some days they look like they’re starting to get together and make a run. Other days, they look like they don’t care. I still don’t like Maddon as manager, even though he was at the helm during that magical 2016 season. Too many lineup changes and dopey decisions. But, I also blame Hoyer and Theo for not getting the pitching they needed in the offseason. There is still plenty of time to get this thing turned around, but they have to start making their move soon. Milwaukee, St.Louis, and Pittsburgh aren’t going away this year.
August 4, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Ernie,
Let me start by saying that I’m bummed that you find yourself in a financial “pickle” and unable to jump on a flight to Chicago to join up with “the boys”. If/when we come to an agreement that we will be meeting in Chicago, I will cover your airfare (within reason – we’ll need to plan to purchase it in advance)…fair enough. From there, we’ll have to come up with a plan for lodging while you’re here. It just wouldn’t be a party without you. I think I remember you being a little older than me (I’m 56), so we need the “crotchety, old codger” representation of you, me, Scott/Genre, and hopefully Mac (from Madison). I think Genre and Mac are both a couple years ahead of me.
Now, onto my post:
To some extent, I agree with you. In my post, the other day, I stated that we won the WS in spite of some really ruhtarded decision making by Joe Maddon. I do like what he’s accomplished, but I still shake my head at some things. BUT, consider this: he moved Rizzo into the lead-off spot a couple weeks ago and Rizzo (who had been having a less than pedestrian season to that point) is absolutely “killing it”. Maddon is also NOT fucking with Baez (who’s “en fuego”) and it’s starting to look like Javy may be a front runner for MVP in the NL. He doesn’t “meddle” too much, but sometimes it’s easy to question him. (I agree with the perpetual line-up changes, but see my point about Rizzo above – and that Heyward is batting almost .290 in the 3 hole).
Look we’re all fans of this cursed team. Therefore, we just have to accept that they will tend to drive us “batty”. But, keep it real and in perspective. There are only 3 teams in all of baseball that have less losses at this point in the season (roughly 2/3 of the season). 2 of them are in the AL East and the other is the defending WS Champs. They will all get to beat in each other’s respective brains…come playoff time. We DO NOT suck.
Yes, our starting pitching is not terrific. Hopefully we’ll get more of the old Cole Hamels (like what we saw the other day) and perhaps Yu Darvish (I’m not counting on anything at this point) will finally pan out/pay off.
Yes, our bullpen drives us nuts (from time to time). But, overall, we’re doing pretty darn good. I really don’t think the Brewers have the staying power to go the distance (this year). I’ll be at Miller Park in September for a couple critical games between the Cubs and the Brewers. I truly believe that we’ll have a pretty good cushion by that time (the Brewers have a much more difficult schedule over the rest of the season).
Regardless, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. We got to witness a WS Championship team (still gives me a shiver to say/type that). That’s more than many who came before us ever had the chance to say. Now, we’ve been competitive (really competitive) for a few years…without any certain end of this run in sight. All we can ask for is a chance to get to the playoffs. From there, ANYTHING can happen.
We shall see.
Later,
Jimmy D.
P.S. I’m serious about the airfare. We’d need to have you join “the group” if we were ever to put this thing together on a large scale.
August 5, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Jimmy D,
RESPECT THE OPTIMISM.
Go Cubs Go! (but O4FS, SPs fix yourselves!!!)
August 5, 2018 at 5:09 pm
Another classic performance by the Cubs bullpen. Dammit.
August 11, 2018 at 5:38 pm
WTF is wrong with Jon Lester?
NO WAY the Cubs win a WS – hell, no guarantee they even make the playoffs – if the starting pitching isn’t “fixed” soon.