Game 69 and Beyond

In Other Topics by Rice Cube103 Comments

I think I’m still not necessarily keen on Cody Bellinger playing first base (at least until he’s back to full strength) but given the alternatives, I’ll live for now, especially if the Cubs keep doing what they’re doing after a sweep of the division-leading Pirates. Of course, the Orioles come to town and they’re legitimately a good team (if not for the Rays in the same division), so we might be cranky once the weekend is done, but for now maybe it’s okay to be happy.

As we discussed in the latest Dreamcast, the division is trash and so is the rest of the league, and with plenty of time to catch up to the Pirates as they go up to Milwaukee to hopefully ensure mutual destruction with the Brewers, the Cubs have some time to make a move before Jed Hoyer and friends are “forced” to make moves. At 31-37, the Cubs are 3.5 games back of first and five games back of a wild card spot. The series opener against the Orioles is game 69, so it would be nice if they won that and then some. Along with game 69, there are 94 games remaining. The balanced schedule that irks berselius so means that it’s kind of a crapshoot how well the Cubs do, but if they can figure out the bullpen roles, get the bats as hot as they were against the Pirates (or at least drop in a hit or two here and there), let’s see what happens in the following scenarios…

  • If the Cubs can win 3 of every 5 games going forward (2 of 3 is a bit too ambitious), that is a .600 mark for rest of season and that’ll get them to 87-75 which may be on pace to snag a wild card spot, similar to what the Phillies did last season.
  • If the Cubs instead win 4 of every 7 games for the rest of the season, that is about a .571 (and change) mark and that gets them to only 84 wins.
  • If the Cubs win 5 of every 9 (.556) that’s 83 wins and is probably much more realistic.

That’s the rub of it, but the NL Central has been bad and it is entirely possible 83 wins snags the division crown, so just keep playing well, I guess.

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  2. Author
    Rice Cube

    So Michael Jordan is selling the Hornets and aside from thinking that it was inevitable, I was disappointed Woj didn’t use the Crying Jordan Meme

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  13. berselius

    (dying laughing) at Mancini drilling the O’s baserunner. Hit him right between the numbers. I wonder if he’s confused by the uniforms.

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  52. Perkins

    I still think they should have gone with white trousers for these City Connect unis. The hats are awesome and the jerseys are decent, but the navy from head to toe looks weird.

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  53. andcounting

    Hoerner comes through with the RBI WAG when Madrigal fails to hit it weakly enough. (dying laughing)

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  61. Perkins

    Rice Cube:
    Perkins,

    They probably need some contrast yes, maybe a different shade of blue? It isn’t offensive to my eyes but they do look like they got their stuff from Cintas

    Trousers in the powder blue accent color would probably also be fine. Or white/cream with powder blue piping could look good.

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  64. Perkins

    On the subject of uniforms, does anyone else wish the Cubs would wear more throwbacks? They have so many great designs in their history and could use them as a Sunday home alternate or something. The ones from the 40s through the 60s would look especially sharp.

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  66. Perkins

    Rice Cube,

    I’m still not a fan of only allowing the blue alternates on the road. I think they made that change in 2009, and it’s never sat well.

    I also liked the red-billed road caps they had until about that time.

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  75. Author
    Rice Cube

    I’m glad the Cubs didn’t crap out completely after giving up the tying home run, but they really should score more before the bullpen turns back into a pumpkin

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  82. BVS

    I think the city connects would look good with grey pants and blue or red piping.

    But I’m also not known for my sense of style.

    On days that I’m home, starting podcast recording an hour later would be better.

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  93. Author
    Rice Cube

    I really wanted Taillon to not suck but also the Orioles aren’t exactly terrible so let’s see if the offense has some comeback left in them

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  99. andcounting

    Around the 7th inning I was thinking the Cubs had no excuse for losing this game then I glanced at the box score and saw they were outhit 14-3. I guess they had no excuse even being in this game. (dying laughing)

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