OnlyBucs

I mean it's possible. I wouldn't dismiss them just because we lost a game more than we would have liked in the last series, but I also wouldn't get too high because we won some against MIL to hasten their collapse. You have to wonder if that series said more about us or about them.

7A71797570716A2F295E677F767171307D711E0 wrote: It was great to win 12 of 14 just to get 1 game over .500. Then 2 losses and they're right back under .500. It shows how much additional winning it's going to take to get significantly over .500. That's a lot to ask. Despite that spurt I don't see this team ending up much over .500 if even that. I hope I'm wrong.


I am looking at the schedule.  That is why I feel they can make a run.  Many divisional games left.  Their next 14 games aren't against any good teams record wise. 


It's not impossible. But a lot of those games on the schedule have to become "W"s. Cubs are now tied for 1st as Brewers fade. Cubs are playing .526 ball. If they continue to win at that pace they will finish 85 wins. But so far they have underachieved and I doubt anyone expects they will continue to win at that pace. In fact, they have now won 8 of their last 9. So they appear to be getting to the level everyone expected of them. But let's say they only win 85 games. The Pirates would have to go 37-26 to win 86 games. And if the Cubs play better than .526 ball the rest of the way, lets say they go 39-26, they will win 90 games. The Pirates would have to go 42-21 to win 91. I think we can forget about this Pirate team playing .667 ball. So lets hope the Cubs are closer to 85 than 90 wins. And the Bucs are going to need at least 1 and maybe 2 more hot streaks like they just ended. Every game is important.

193439282F3E29696A5B0 wrote: It was great to win 12 of 14 just to get 1 game over .500. Then 2 losses and they're right back under .500. It shows how much additional winning it's going to take to get significantly over .500. That's a lot to ask. Despite that spurt I don't see this team ending up much over .500 if even that. I hope I'm wrong.


I am looking at the schedule.  That is why I feel they can make a run.  Many divisional games left.  Their next 14 games aren't against any good teams record wise. 


It's not impossible. But a lot of those games on the schedule have to become "W"s. Cubs are now tied for 1st as Brewers fade. Cubs are playing .526 ball. If they continue to win at that pace they will finish 85 wins. But so far they have underachieved and I doubt anyone expects they will continue to win at that pace. In fact, they have now won 8 of their last 9. So they appear to be getting to the level everyone expected of them. But let's say they only win 85 games. The Pirates would have to go 37-26 to win 86 games. And if the Cubs play better than .526 ball the rest of the way, lets say they go 39-26, they will win 90 games. The Pirates would have to go 42-21 to win 91. I think we can forget about this Pirate team playing .667 ball. So lets hope the Cubs are closer to 85 than 90 wins. And the Bucs are going to need at least 1 and maybe 2 more hot streaks like they just ended. Every game is important. 




Yeah, the real team to worry about here is the Cubs. Even though they are in a statistical tie with Milwaukee, they have four games in hand and are two games up in the loss column. In my mind, we're not 3 GB, but 4, as we're four games behind the Cubs in the loss column, which is all that really matters.



Cubs have their four game home and home rival series with the White Sox this week. This is a bad Sox team, that has recently gotten worse after trading Quintana, Frazier, and Robertson. I fully expect a four game sweep from the Cubs. So, we need to win our next four just to keep pace. And that will be no small order, seeing as how we face Bumgarner tomorrow night.



Polanco sure picked a lousy time to get injured. As much as he is (rightly) lambasted on here for his lackadaisical play, his absent-mindedness, his poor base running, and prolonged slumps, he has been swinging a very hot bat this month, probably the best hitter on the team in that time span. Taking his bat out of the lineup stings. And as much as we criticize his defense in the outfield, he's the third best outfield defender we have on this team.



I'd like to think we can stay in this thing for the long haul, but I'm not convinced. It would be sweet if the Sox can bring their A game a few times this week. If we're no more than three games behind after the next four games, I'll be thrilled.

I don't want to jinx anything, but let's say the White Sox are playing a decent game into the bottom of the 8th.



Point -Cubs got hot but so did the Pirates.  Three games can flip in no time.  I hate to concede the division to anyone, especially the Cubs.



From my prospective the team did everything needed to be given the opportunity to compete. 



If you punt and the Cubs win with 85 games there will be a legit reason for being upset.



Nobody ha more surprised than me. But here we are.

3730262E2037707C052228242C296B262A28450 wrote: I don't want to jinx anything, but let's say the White Sox are playing a decent game into the bottom of the 8th.



Point -Cubs got hot but so did the Pirates.  Three games can flip in no time.  I hate to concede the division to anyone, especially the Cubs.



From my prospective the team did everything needed to be given the opportunity to compete. 



If you punt and the Cubs win with 85 games there will be a legit reason for being upset.



Nobody ha more surprised than me.  But here we are.


yes, almost every team would be happy if you told them in spring training that they will be within 3 games of first toward the end of July. That means you are in contention and need to take advantage of it.