2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Quality Start Machine]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

[SKO]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

[InternetApex]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

[SKO]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

Everything was okay until last night's loss officially put them a game back in the wildcard. I can't say "if the season ended today the Cubs would be in the playoffs" anymore and so I think it's fair to write all of this off as a massive failure.

[InternetApex]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

Everything was okay until last night's loss officially put them a game back in the wildcard. I can't say "if the season ended today the Cubs would be in the playoffs" anymore and so I think it's fair to write all of this off as a massive failure.

You could still say "Cubs are coming, y'all." But I'm glad you've stopped doing that.

[Chuck to Chuck]

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

[SKO]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

Everything was okay until last night's loss officially put them a game back in the wildcard. I can't say "if the season ended today the Cubs would be in the playoffs" anymore and so I think it's fair to write all of this off as a massive failure.

You could still say "Cubs are coming, y'all." But I'm glad you've stopped doing that.

That hurts, man. I get too down, Tonk calls me a twat. I get too high, you mock my childish enthusiasm. There's no winning this crowd over.

[Eli]

I don't think there's any rule that progress has to be a steady, linear progression. The NL is really weak this year and there's a big opportunity to make the playoffs. That's the whole idea -- knock on the door as much as possible. Don't just sit around and wait until you think you have a 100-win juggernaut.

[InternetApex]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

Everything was okay until last night's loss officially put them a game back in the wildcard. I can't say "if the season ended today the Cubs would be in the playoffs" anymore and so I think it's fair to write all of this off as a massive failure.

You could still say "Cubs are coming, y'all." But I'm glad you've stopped doing that.

That hurts, man. I get too down, Tonk calls me a twat. I get too high, you mock my childish enthusiasm. There's no winning this crowd over.

I'm just trying to get you to change up your phraseology a little. I don't know what Tonk was doing.

[SKO]

I don't think there's any rule that progress has to be a steady, linear progression. The NL is really weak this year and there's a big opportunity to make the playoffs. That's the whole idea -- knock on the door as much as possible. Don't just sit around and wait until you think you have a 100-win juggernaut.

Yeah I think everyone agrees there's an opportunity here, and I'd expect all of us to be pretty unhappy if they don't call up Baez and make some trades in the next month or so to shore up some of the holes. I was just saying I'm glad that after a stretch of schedule that had me sweating bullets a while ago they'll still be sitting only a couple games back in the wildcard at worst. They're more than poised for a run at this thing, and that's pretty cool.

[Slaky]

I don't think there's any rule that progress has to be a steady, linear progression. The NL is really weak this year and there's a big opportunity to make the playoffs. That's the whole idea -- knock on the door as much as possible. Don't just sit around and wait until you think you have a 100-win juggernaut.

Yeah I think everyone agrees there's an opportunity here, and I'd expect all of us to be pretty unhappy if they don't call up Baez and make some trades in the next month or so to shore up some of the holes. I was just saying I'm glad that after a stretch of schedule that had me sweating bullets a while ago they'll still be sitting only a couple games back in the wildcard at worst. They're more than poised for a run at this thing, and that's pretty cool.

With the Pirates getting shit-hot this is far from over. But we're entering June and the Cubs are still in contention. Needless to say they won't be standing pat.

[Tonker]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

Everything was okay until last night's loss officially put them a game back in the wildcard. I can't say "if the season ended today the Cubs would be in the playoffs" anymore and so I think it's fair to write all of this off as a massive failure.

You could still say "Cubs are coming, y'all." But I'm glad you've stopped doing that.

That hurts, man. I get too down, Tonk calls me a twat. I get too high, you mock my childish enthusiasm. There's no winning this crowd over.

I'm just trying to get you to change up your phraseology a little. I don't know what Tonk was doing.

I wasn't doing that.

[SKO]

Gonna finish May above .500 no matter what, so feeling pretty good, all things considered.

That doesn't sound like a big deal to me, so I guess it's nice that expectations have changed a lot since this time last year. Not that I'm down on the team at all... just saying 500 is expected at this point, which is nice.

Well I mean in terms of playoff hopes, if you're above .500 at the end of May you're pretty much always in it especially since you assume reinforcements are coming before too long.

We were told this will be the worst of the next 5-8 seasons and I believe it.

Still, 3/8 of their offense are rookies (even if one plays like a veteran All-Star already), they've had a large sucking sound coming out of left field,  they've had a spotty bullpen and, until very recently, 3/5 of a starting rotation.

Hell yeah I'll take it.

This. We're looking at Project Mercury here. You can't land on the moon without being sure the rockets won't blow up.

Yeah, I never meant to imply I was merely content with .500, but for them to be struggling in some spots and bringing along rookies and having no bench and still manage to get through a west coast road trip followed by six games vs arguably the best team in the NL and the best team in the AL and still be above .500 before the summer is a very good sign. Things will get better from here, and it's been good so far.

I don't know. I'm kind of let down. I figured they'd have won the pennant by the end of May. Epstink is Terrible.

Everything was okay until last night's loss officially put them a game back in the wildcard. I can't say "if the season ended today the Cubs would be in the playoffs" anymore and so I think it's fair to write all of this off as a massive failure.

You could still say "Cubs are coming, y'all." But I'm glad you've stopped doing that.

That hurts, man. I get too down, Tonk calls me a twat. I get too high, you mock my childish enthusiasm. There's no winning this crowd over.

I'm just trying to get you to change up your phraseology a little. I don't know what Tonk was doing.

I wasn't doing that.

I think he was trying to get me to stop being a twat. I don't know if he succeeded.

[Quality Start Machine]

I don't think there's any rule that progress has to be a steady, linear progression. The NL is really weak this year and there's a big opportunity to make the playoffs. That's the whole idea -- knock on the door as much as possible. Don't just sit around and wait until you think you have a 100-win juggernaut.

Yeah I think everyone agrees there's an opportunity here, and I'd expect all of us to be pretty unhappy if they don't call up Baez and make some trades in the next month or so to shore up some of the holes. I was just saying I'm glad that after a stretch of schedule that had me sweating bullets a while ago they'll still be sitting only a couple games back in the wildcard at worst. They're more than poised for a run at this thing, and that's pretty cool.

With the Pirates getting shit-hot this is far from over. But we're entering June and the Cubs are still in contention. Needless to say they won't be standing pat.

Yeah, but they also can afford to be picky, they aren't in a now-or-never situation.

[Eli]

I don't think there's any rule that progress has to be a steady, linear progression. The NL is really weak this year and there's a big opportunity to make the playoffs. That's the whole idea -- knock on the door as much as possible. Don't just sit around and wait until you think you have a 100-win juggernaut.

Yeah I think everyone agrees there's an opportunity here, and I'd expect all of us to be pretty unhappy if they don't call up Baez and make some trades in the next month or so to shore up some of the holes. I was just saying I'm glad that after a stretch of schedule that had me sweating bullets a while ago they'll still be sitting only a couple games back in the wildcard at worst. They're more than poised for a run at this thing, and that's pretty cool.

With the Pirates getting shit-hot this is far from over. But we're entering June and the Cubs are still in contention. Needless to say they won't be standing pat.

Yeah, but they also can afford to be picky, they aren't in a now-or-never situation.

Well, no team is really in a now-or-never situation.