2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Quality Start Machine]

I am doing my part by not following the standings.  For decades I would open the morning paper and see if anyone was doing worse than the Cubs.  That wouldn't take much time.  Now I just look at the box scores.  Wake me in October.

so you and Billy Joe Armstrong, then?

It's ... September, in the song, isn't it?

When September ends. Ergo...

I'm just enjoying two men with a combined age of roughly 259 making Green Day references.

Do they merit anything better?

[SKO]

FUCK. YES.

[Brownie]

The Cubs are playing at a 90.5 win pace so far. Do you take the over or under on that for the year? Given that they've played one of the tougher schedules in baseball so far, I'm tempted to take the over. Especially if (when?) they get some reinforcements via trade in the next few weeks.

The next week is still going to be tough and they may fall back from that 90.5-win pace a bit. But after that, July is prime time to reel off a ton of wins. Look at this:

FLA (3)
STL (4)
SOX (3)
@ ATL (3)
@ CIN (4)
PHI (3)
COL (3)
@ MIL (4)

Send out the TJ Brown symbol.

OK, OK. This is not as intricate as other scenarios I do because why worry about other teams yet when the Cubs aren't 15 under .500 and not even Jesus Christ, Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson and Sandy Koufax could save them. However, let's see where they could be at the close of business July 30, when Hoyer and Epstein have less than 24 hours to make a final move:

2 vs. LA 1-1
3 @STL 1-2
3 @ NYM 2-1
3 vs MIA 3-0
4 vs. STL 3-1
3 vs. Sox 2-1
3 @ ATL 2-1
4 @ CIN 3-1
3 vs. PHI 3-0
3 vs. COL 3-0
1 @ MIL 1-0
Record June 24-July 30 24-8
Record as of July 30 63-38

STL
2 @ MIA 1-1
3 vs Cubs 2-1
2 vs. Sox 2-0
4 vs. SD 3-1
4 @ Cubs 1-3
4 @ PIT 2-2
3 @ Mets 2-1
2 @Sox 2-0
1 vs. KC 0-1
3 vs. ATL 1-2
3 vs. CIN 2-1
1 vs. COL 1-0
Record June 24-July 30 19-13
Record as of July 30 65-37, 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs

PIT
2 vs. CIN 1-1
3 vs. ATL 2-1
3 @ DET 1-2
3 vs. CLE 2-1
3 vs. SD 2-1
4 vs. STL 2-2
3 @ MIL 3-0
3 @ KC 1-2
4 vs. WAS 1-3
2 @ MIN 1-1
1 @ CIN 1-0
Record June 24-July 30 : 17-14
Record as of July 30: 57-44, 6 games behind the Cubs

[Saul Goodman]

Damn it.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Damn it.

If you want to comfort yourself just know that we are still in the midst (hopefully the peak) of whatever-the-fuck-it's-been for the Cardinals for the last 15 years.  It'll happen and somewhat soon--be patient.   Each of these games that they play against each other just gets us a little closer.

*cackles maniacally*

[Eli]

Damn it.

If you want to comfort yourself just know that we are still in the midst (hopefully the peak) of whatever-the-fuck-it's-been for the Cardinals for the last 15 years.  It'll happen and somewhat soon--be patient.   Each of these games that they play against each other just gets us a little closer.

At the moment, they have a lot more major-league talent than the Cubs and a comparably deep farm system. The Cubs look set up to be good for a while, but the Cardinals aren't going anywhere.

[Saul Goodman]

Damn it.

If you want to comfort yourself just know that we are still in the midst (hopefully the peak) of whatever-the-fuck-it's-been for the Cardinals for the last 15 years.  It'll happen and somewhat soon--be patient.   Each of these games that they play against each other just gets us a little closer.

At the moment, they have a lot more major-league talent than the Cubs and a comparably deep farm system. The Cubs look set up to be good for a while, but the Cardinals aren't going anywhere.

My post wasn't after the loss, but after Strop gave up something called Greg Garcia's first career home run.

[CT III]

Damn it.

If you want to comfort yourself just know that we are still in the midst (hopefully the peak) of whatever-the-fuck-it's-been for the Cardinals for the last 15 years.  It'll happen and somewhat soon--be patient.   Each of these games that they play against each other just gets us a little closer.

*cackles maniacally*

Honestly? This is bullshit toleration of the highest order.

[SKO]

Sizing the schedule up a few weeks ago I told myself if they got to July at 40-35 or better I'd be over the moon. So call me Neil Goddamn Armstrong I guess

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Kyle Hendricks = stopper. 

Who knew?

[Powdered Toast Man]

Kyle Hendricks = stopper. 

Who knew?

6 strong innings. You can tell he loses it on the 3rd trip through the order...he starts missing his spots.

I watched on and off last night...are the Cubs still being as patient as they were in the beginning of the year? I can tell Anthony Rizzo was really annoyed with the strike zone early and he rushed through his next AB after his first, swinging at low pitches and going down to one knee multiple times.

Good job outta Bryant last night, too. He fell behind 0-2 and laid off some good pitches to get his second walk of the game. So maybe I answered my question...they had 5 BB last night, one was an IBB to Ross.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Kyle Hendricks = stopper. 

Who knew?

6 strong innings. You can tell he loses it on the 3rd trip through the order...he starts missing his spots.

I watched on and off last night...are the Cubs still being as patient as they were in the beginning of the year? I can tell Anthony Rizzo was really annoyed with the strike zone early and he rushed through his next AB after his first, swinging at low pitches and going down to one knee multiple times.

Good job outta Bryant last night, too. He fell behind 0-2 and laid off some good pitches to get his second walk of the game. So maybe I answered my question...they had 5 BB last night, one was an IBB to Ross.

Yeah Rizzo's simply slumping.  His strike zone has uncharacteristically widened of late.

On the bright side, it looks like Bryant may have worked his way out of a slump.  First game in 10 that he didn't whiff once, he was on base thrice, and scored the only run.

Really can't wait to see Soler back in this lineup.  Denorfia playing everyday makes baby Jesus cry.

[Tonker]

Kyle Hendricks = stopper. 

Who knew?

6 strong innings. You can tell he loses it on the 3rd trip through the order...he starts missing his spots.

I watched on and off last night...are the Cubs still being as patient as they were in the beginning of the year? I can tell Anthony Rizzo was really annoyed with the strike zone early and he rushed through his next AB after his first, swinging at low pitches and going down to one knee multiple times.

Good job outta Bryant last night, too. He fell behind 0-2 and laid off some good pitches to get his second walk of the game. So maybe I answered my question...they had 5 BB last night, one was an IBB to Ross.

Yeah Rizzo's simply slumping.  His strike zone has uncharacteristically widened of late.

On the bright side, it looks like Bryant may have worked his way out of a slump.  First game in 10 that he didn't whiff once, he was on base thrice, and scored the only run.

Really can't wait to see Soler back in this lineup.  Denorfia playing everyday makes baby Jesus cry.

I also want to see Soler back, but to be fair, Denorfia has batted better than Soler did (OPS+ of 114 vs 101)...

[Slaky]

Kyle Hendricks = stopper. 

Who knew?

6 strong innings. You can tell he loses it on the 3rd trip through the order...he starts missing his spots.

I watched on and off last night...are the Cubs still being as patient as they were in the beginning of the year? I can tell Anthony Rizzo was really annoyed with the strike zone early and he rushed through his next AB after his first, swinging at low pitches and going down to one knee multiple times.

Good job outta Bryant last night, too. He fell behind 0-2 and laid off some good pitches to get his second walk of the game. So maybe I answered my question...they had 5 BB last night, one was an IBB to Ross.

Yeah Rizzo's simply slumping.  His strike zone has uncharacteristically widened of late.

On the bright side, it looks like Bryant may have worked his way out of a slump.  First game in 10 that he didn't whiff once, he was on base thrice, and scored the only run.

Really can't wait to see Soler back in this lineup.  Denorfia playing everyday makes baby Jesus cry.

I also want to see Soler back, but to be fair, Denorfia has batted better than Soler did (OPS+ of 114 vs 101)...

Denorfia is *fine* but right now the Cubs have 3-5 dead ass hitters in their lineup per night not including which of the better hitters might be slumping at any given time.

For a team that's in a playoff hunt they have a lot of improvements to make.

[SKO]

Kyle Hendricks = stopper. 

Who knew?

6 strong innings. You can tell he loses it on the 3rd trip through the order...he starts missing his spots.

I watched on and off last night...are the Cubs still being as patient as they were in the beginning of the year? I can tell Anthony Rizzo was really annoyed with the strike zone early and he rushed through his next AB after his first, swinging at low pitches and going down to one knee multiple times.

Good job outta Bryant last night, too. He fell behind 0-2 and laid off some good pitches to get his second walk of the game. So maybe I answered my question...they had 5 BB last night, one was an IBB to Ross.

Yeah Rizzo's simply slumping.  His strike zone has uncharacteristically widened of late.

On the bright side, it looks like Bryant may have worked his way out of a slump.  First game in 10 that he didn't whiff once, he was on base thrice, and scored the only run.

Really can't wait to see Soler back in this lineup.  Denorfia playing everyday makes baby Jesus cry.

I also want to see Soler back, but to be fair, Denorfia has batted better than Soler did (OPS+ of 114 vs 101)...

Denorfia is *fine* but right now the Cubs have 3-5 dead ass hitters in their lineup per night not including which of the better hitters might be slumping at any given time.

For a team that's in a playoff hunt they have a lot of improvements to make.

They've carried Starlin's dead weight most of the season, too. We don't even bother discussing it anymore because it's sad and it doesn't seem like its ever going to change but when Jorge is back I really hope Joe doesn't keep insisting Starlin belongs in the top half of the order.

They're a good offense when Bryant/Rizzo/Russell are hot and a bad one when they're not. Hopefully with Jorge back in the mix they'll at least maybe have two guys who are "on" at any given time.