2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Tonker]

If the Cubs can play .500 ball between now and the end of the regular season, then the Giants will have to go 22-6 to overhaul them for a wildcard spot, and the Nationals 23-6.  If the Cubs maintain their season's pace (.568) for the rest of the month, they'll go 17-13 the rest of the way and the Giants and Nats will need to go 24-4 and 25-4 respectively.  The Giants still have four to play against the Dodgers, and the Nats have six against the Mets.

Having said that, if the Pirates play .500 ball from here on in, the Cubs will need to go 20-10 to take second place from them, and should the Buccos continue at their current .598 clip (going 18-12), then the Cubs will need to win 23 of their remaining 30 games.

In short: at this point, all signs point to a play-in game in Pissburgh, God help us.

[SKO]

If the Cubs can play .500 ball between now and the end of the regular season, then the Giants will have to go 22-6 to overhaul them for a wildcard spot, and the Nationals 23-6.  If the Cubs maintain their season's pace (.568) for the rest of the month, they'll go 17-13 the rest of the way and the Giants and Nats will need to go 24-4 and 25-4 respectively.  The Giants still have four to play against the Dodgers, and the Nats have six against the Mets.

Having said that, if the Pirates play .500 ball from here on in, the Cubs will need to go 20-10 to take second place from them, and should the Buccos continue at their current .598 clip (going 18-12), then the Cubs will need to win 23 of their remaining 30 games.

In short: at this point, all signs point to a play-in game in Pissburgh, God help us.

Which is fine. Cubs are 3-3 this year at Pittsburgh, and 7-5 vs the Pirates overall, and Jake Arrieta is 2-1 vs the Pirates with a  0.86 ERA and 0.714 WHIP (2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP at PNC) this year.

Also, while Bryant has struggled on the road overall this year one place he hasn't struggled is Pittsburgh, where he's hit .391/.500/.522/1.022.

All of this probably means nothing in a one game playoff because almost nothing means anything in a one game playoff. I just don't think, with  the way these Cubs have played all year home and away, that it matters to them where the game is. Jake's gonna steal Shitsburgh's lunch money, regardless.

[Quality Start Machine]

If the Cubs can play .500 ball between now and the end of the regular season, then the Giants will have to go 22-6 to overhaul them for a wildcard spot, and the Nationals 23-6.  If the Cubs maintain their season's pace (.568) for the rest of the month, they'll go 17-13 the rest of the way and the Giants and Nats will need to go 24-4 and 25-4 respectively.  The Giants still have four to play against the Dodgers, and the Nats have six against the Mets.

Having said that, if the Pirates play .500 ball from here on in, the Cubs will need to go 20-10 to take second place from them, and should the Buccos continue at their current .598 clip (going 18-12), then the Cubs will need to win 23 of their remaining 30 games.

In short: at this point, all signs point to a play-in game in Pissburgh, God help us.

Which is fine. Cubs are 3-3 this year at Pittsburgh, and 7-5 vs the Pirates overall, and Jake Arrieta is 2-1 vs the Pirates with a  0.86 ERA and 0.714 WHIP (2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP at PNC) this year.

Also, while Bryant has struggled on the road overall this year one place he hasn't struggled is Pittsburgh, where he's hit .391/.500/.522/1.022.

All of this probably means nothing in a one game playoff because almost nothing means anything in a one game playoff. I just don't think, with  the way these Cubs have played all year home and away, that it matters to them where the game is. Jake's gonna steal Shitsburgh's lunch money, regardless.

This. Sure, it'll suck getting curbstomped by the Morans, but fuck it - in is in.

[SKO]

If the Cubs can play .500 ball between now and the end of the regular season, then the Giants will have to go 22-6 to overhaul them for a wildcard spot, and the Nationals 23-6.  If the Cubs maintain their season's pace (.568) for the rest of the month, they'll go 17-13 the rest of the way and the Giants and Nats will need to go 24-4 and 25-4 respectively.  The Giants still have four to play against the Dodgers, and the Nats have six against the Mets.

Having said that, if the Pirates play .500 ball from here on in, the Cubs will need to go 20-10 to take second place from them, and should the Buccos continue at their current .598 clip (going 18-12), then the Cubs will need to win 23 of their remaining 30 games.

In short: at this point, all signs point to a play-in game in Pissburgh, God help us.

Which is fine. Cubs are 3-3 this year at Pittsburgh, and 7-5 vs the Pirates overall, and Jake Arrieta is 2-1 vs the Pirates with a  0.86 ERA and 0.714 WHIP (2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP at PNC) this year.

Also, while Bryant has struggled on the road overall this year one place he hasn't struggled is Pittsburgh, where he's hit .391/.500/.522/1.022.

All of this probably means nothing in a one game playoff because almost nothing means anything in a one game playoff. I just don't think, with  the way these Cubs have played all year home and away, that it matters to them where the game is. Jake's gonna steal Shitsburgh's lunch money, regardless.

This. Sure, it'll suck getting curbstomped by the Morans, but fuck it - in is in.

These Cardinals seem exactly like the kind of regular season juggernaut 100 win squad that meekly bows out in the playoffs like so many 90s Braves teams. Bring 'em on.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

If the Cubs can play .500 ball between now and the end of the regular season, then the Giants will have to go 22-6 to overhaul them for a wildcard spot, and the Nationals 23-6.  If the Cubs maintain their season's pace (.568) for the rest of the month, they'll go 17-13 the rest of the way and the Giants and Nats will need to go 24-4 and 25-4 respectively.  The Giants still have four to play against the Dodgers, and the Nats have six against the Mets.

Having said that, if the Pirates play .500 ball from here on in, the Cubs will need to go 20-10 to take second place from them, and should the Buccos continue at their current .598 clip (going 18-12), then the Cubs will need to win 23 of their remaining 30 games.

In short: at this point, all signs point to a play-in game in Pissburgh, God help us.

Which is fine. Cubs are 3-3 this year at Pittsburgh, and 7-5 vs the Pirates overall, and Jake Arrieta is 2-1 vs the Pirates with a  0.86 ERA and 0.714 WHIP (2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP at PNC) this year.

Also, while Bryant has struggled on the road overall this year one place he hasn't struggled is Pittsburgh, where he's hit .391/.500/.522/1.022.

All of this probably means nothing in a one game playoff because almost nothing means anything in a one game playoff. I just don't think, with  the way these Cubs have played all year home and away, that it matters to them where the game is. Jake's gonna steal Shitsburgh's lunch money, regardless.

This. Sure, it'll suck getting curbstomped by the Morans, but fuck it - in is in.

These Cardinals seem exactly like the kind of regular season juggernaut 100 win squad that meekly bows out in the playoffs like so many 90s Braves teams. Bring 'em on.

This is how I feel.  They're using up all of their Devil Magic® in the regular season.  Once they fail to capture it the first time in a playoff game they'll start feeling it.

Would still have preferred to play STL in the coin flip game but Pissburgh proved to be a bunch of gutless fucking slapdicks against the Brewers this week and it looks like that ship has sailed.

[Quality Start Machine]

If the Cubs can play .500 ball between now and the end of the regular season, then the Giants will have to go 22-6 to overhaul them for a wildcard spot, and the Nationals 23-6.  If the Cubs maintain their season's pace (.568) for the rest of the month, they'll go 17-13 the rest of the way and the Giants and Nats will need to go 24-4 and 25-4 respectively.  The Giants still have four to play against the Dodgers, and the Nats have six against the Mets.

Having said that, if the Pirates play .500 ball from here on in, the Cubs will need to go 20-10 to take second place from them, and should the Buccos continue at their current .598 clip (going 18-12), then the Cubs will need to win 23 of their remaining 30 games.

In short: at this point, all signs point to a play-in game in Pissburgh, God help us.

Which is fine. Cubs are 3-3 this year at Pittsburgh, and 7-5 vs the Pirates overall, and Jake Arrieta is 2-1 vs the Pirates with a  0.86 ERA and 0.714 WHIP (2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP at PNC) this year.

Also, while Bryant has struggled on the road overall this year one place he hasn't struggled is Pittsburgh, where he's hit .391/.500/.522/1.022.

All of this probably means nothing in a one game playoff because almost nothing means anything in a one game playoff. I just don't think, with  the way these Cubs have played all year home and away, that it matters to them where the game is. Jake's gonna steal Shitsburgh's lunch money, regardless.

This. Sure, it'll suck getting curbstomped by the Morans, but fuck it - in is in.

These Cardinals seem exactly like the kind of regular season juggernaut 100 win squad that meekly bows out in the playoffs like so many 90s Braves teams. Bring 'em on.

This is how I feel.  They're using up all of their Devil Magic® in the regular season.  Once they fail to capture it the first time in a playoff game they'll start feeling it.

Would still have preferred to play STL in the coin flip game but Pissburgh proved to be a bunch of gutless fucking slapdicks against the Brewers this week and it looks like that ship has sailed.

Considering the Cubs have gone 1-2 in each of their last 3 series, they're not exactly looking like world beaters at the moment either.

[ChuckD]

This team is awesome.

[Saul Goodman]

This team is awesome.

[SKO]

This team is awesome.

[The Big Cheese]

This team is awesome.

[Wheezer]

This team is awesome.

[Powdered Toast Man]

This team is awesome.

And I'll be in Chicago for the Pirates series at the end of the month. I cannot wait to be at Wrigley...definitely going Saturday, will sell my kidneys to get into the game Sunday.

When should I show up for batting practice?

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

This team is awesome.

And I'll be in Chicago for the Pirates series at the end of the month. I cannot wait to be at Wrigley...definitely going Saturday, will sell my kidneys to get into the game Sunday.

When should I show up for batting practice?

Gates open 2 hours before first pitch; however, if you'd been paying attention you'd know that Joe Maddon is not in the habit of his team taking BP every day.  Therefore you might only see McCutchen and boys swing for the fences pre-game.  In the past, when the Cubs took BP, they would be in the midst of it when you'd enter the park (provided you entered when the gates opened)  and then, after about 20 minutes, the visiting team would take BP for about 30-40 minutes.  With the Cubs eschewing it, however, I don't know if the road team takes their slot, or just starts at their normal time (90 minutes before 1st pitch) or if they start when the Cubs normally would and just take extra BP up until an hour before the game when the grounds crew begins preparing the field for the game.

[Powdered Toast Man]

This team is awesome.

And I'll be in Chicago for the Pirates series at the end of the month. I cannot wait to be at Wrigley...definitely going Saturday, will sell my kidneys to get into the game Sunday.

When should I show up for batting practice?

Gates open 2 hours before first pitch; however, if you'd been paying attention you'd know that Joe Maddon is not in the habit of his team taking BP every day.  Therefore you might only see McCutchen and boys swing for the fences pre-game.  In the past, when the Cubs took BP, they would be in the midst of it when you'd enter the park (provided you entered when the gates opened)  and then, after about 20 minutes, the visiting would take BP for about 30-40 minutes.  With the Cubs eschewing it, however, I don't know if the road team takes their slot, or just starts at their normal time (90 minutes before 1st pitch) or if they start when the Cubs normally would and just take extra BP up until an hour before the game when the grounds crew begins preparing the field for the game.

I do remember that Maddon sometimes skips BP. But does he do it very often, or is it just a sometimes thing?

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

This team is awesome.

And I'll be in Chicago for the Pirates series at the end of the month. I cannot wait to be at Wrigley...definitely going Saturday, will sell my kidneys to get into the game Sunday.

When should I show up for batting practice?

Gates open 2 hours before first pitch; however, if you'd been paying attention you'd know that Joe Maddon is not in the habit of his team taking BP every day.  Therefore you might only see McCutchen and boys swing for the fences pre-game.  In the past, when the Cubs took BP, they would be in the midst of it when you'd enter the park (provided you entered when the gates opened)  and then, after about 20 minutes, the visiting would take BP for about 30-40 minutes.  With the Cubs eschewing it, however, I don't know if the road team takes their slot, or just starts at their normal time (90 minutes before 1st pitch) or if they start when the Cubs normally would and just take extra BP up until an hour before the game when the grounds crew begins preparing the field for the game.

I do remember that Maddon sometimes skips BP. But does he do it very often, or is it just a sometimes thing?

For a while it was out indefinitely....it was during their hot August stretch so I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to not have it. 

BTW this was your 1,908th post.  Nice job.