2015: The Back To The Future Season

[thehawk]

Now officially the second winningest Cubs team of my lifetime (and really I barely count 89 as I was a year old). Can't believe this team's very likely going to finish with 95-97 wins.

And they'll be better for the next 5 years than they are now.

I certainly don't mean to be a buzzkill, and I totally understand that they should keep improving, but there's really no way in hell that they finish each of the next 5 years with over 96+ wins (~.590 winning %) 

I obviously hope I'm wrong, but the odds that any team wins at a >.590 clip for 5 straight years, in this age of baseball, is really unlikely. 

Even the Yankees amazing run from '98-'05 had 2 years under .590. 
Granted, they still won the WS one of those years.

At least I wasn't the one to say it, for once. Thanks, Pen!

When the 138 win 2018 Cubs win the Galactic Series you dipshits will regret doubting ol' Forklift

Well, as they are going to finish 3rd in the division this year, they could still do 'better' while winning fewer games.

[Oleg]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

[SKO]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Do you, knowing Fork, think he was referring to improving their Pythagorean Record or Base Runs?

[Canadouche]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Do you, knowing Fork, think he was referring to improving their Pythagorean Record or Base Runs?

What should the Blue Jays record be this year? They have an obscene run difference, and a record worse than the Cubs. (Sorry, too lazy to look it up myself)

[Quality Start Machine]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Do you, knowing Fork, think he was referring to improving their Pythagorean Record or Base Runs?

I was thinking more in terms of WAR - if Russell, Schwarber and Soler each put up 3s next year (I don't think that's pie-in-the-sky expectations), that's another ~5 wins. You're still improving if Arrieta regresses from god to demigod. Add another 4-5 win pitcher (Price, as an example), and we're shitting in some pretty fucking tall cotton.

[CT III]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Do you, knowing Fork, think he was referring to improving their Pythagorean Record or Base Runs?

Knowing Fork, he was being absolutely dead fucking serious, so I can see why you felt compelled to run in and set him straight.

[Quality Start Machine]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think th
ey can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Do you, knowing Fork, think he was referring to improving their Pythagorean Record or Base Runs?

Knowing Fork, he was being absolutely dead fucking serious, so I can see why you felt compelled to run in and set him straight.

Sprotz are hard.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Thomas Wilson on WGN this afternoon breaking down the Cubs. Also told a story how he was in Vegas. A guy asked him to place a bet on the Cubs to win the World Series for him this year because, if Biff made the bet, it had to come true.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Thomas Wilson on WGN this afternoon breaking down the Cubs. Also told a story how he was in Vegas. A guy asked him to place a bet on the Cubs to win the World Series for him this year because, if Biff made the bet, it had to come true.

Is this spam?

[Tonker]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Wait... we're allowed to use Pythagorean W-L, now?

[SKO]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Wait... we're allowed to use Pythagorean W-L, now?

Oleg can, it's his right as an American. You can't, and I can detain you in Guantanamo for years if you try.

But also at this point the sample is big enough Pythag W-L is at least a tad more accurate, I suppose. I personally prefer to use base runs.

They're fairly close (pythag has the Cubs as 88-71, base runs has them as 91-68), but base runs digs a little deeper and goes beyond simply how many runs you scored/allowed and looks at how many runs you should have scored/allowed. It filters out a lot of the luck that the Cardinals have had this year in terms of stranding runners and sequencing, etc.

By base runs the Cubs should actually be leading the Central, with the Pirates (89-70) and Cardinals (89-70) tied for 2nd.

[Quality Start Machine]

It's crazy to look 5 years in advance but it's not really accurate to say that everybody has to improve in order for the team to improve.

Assuming they sign one more starter in the off-season, is it unreasonable to think they can give up 10 fewer run over the course of the year next year?
Assuming Russell gets better and they get a full season of Schwarber, is it unreasonable to think they can score 10 more runs next year?

Considering they are outperforming their Pythagorean W-L this year, it's not unreasonable to think that next year's team will be better but win fewer games.

Wait... we're allowed to use Pythagorean W-L, now?

Oleg can, it's his right as an American. You can't, and I can detain you in Guantanamo for years if you try.

But also at this point the sample is big enough Pythag W-L is at least a tad more accurate, I suppose. I personally prefer to use base runs.

They're fairly close (pythag has the Cubs as 88-71, base runs has them as 91-68), but base runs digs a little deeper and goes beyond how simply how many runs you scored/allowed and looks at how many runs you should have scored/allowed. It filters out a lot of the luck that the Cardinals have had this year in terms of stranding runners and sequencing, etc.

By base runs the Cubs should actually be leading the Central, with the Pirates (89-70) and Cardinals (89-70) tied for 2nd.

firejoemaddon.com

[InternetApex]

I think the Cubs can get better while not improving their W-L record. They had pretty good health luck with their top line players this year, Soler excepted. Had they missed significant time from any of the big dicks in the lineup or either of their staff aces, they'd have been critically fucked. That kind of thing could happen in a year or two and they could be better prepared to endure it, like the Cardinals did this year.

I hope this makes sense!!

[Tony]

I think the Cubs can get better while not improving their W-L record. They had pretty good health luck with their top line players this year, Soler excepted. Had they missed significant time from any of the big dicks in the lineup or either of their staff aces, they'd have been critically fucked. That kind of thing could happen in a year or two and they could be better prepared to endure it, like the Cardinals did this year.

I hope this makes sense!!

I was just going to say the same thing. Being a better team doesn't necessarily mean they have a better record. It could mean it's easier for them to get to that record without relying on a historic season from their ace, or having great luck when it comes to injuries.

[InternetApex]

I think the Cubs can get better while not improving their W-L record. They had pretty good health luck with their top line players this year, Soler excepted. Had they missed significant time from any of the big dicks in the lineup or either of their staff aces, they'd have been critically fucked. That kind of thing could happen in a year or two and they could be better prepared to endure it, like the Cardinals did this year.

I hope this makes sense!!

I was just going to say the same thing. Being a better team doesn't necessarily mean they have a better record. It could mean it's easier for them to get to that record without relying on a historic season from their ace, or having great luck when it comes to injuries.

*headbutts Tony*