5 Batters
5 consecutive opposing batters may have signaled the end of the Cubs' season. First, Pat Burrell's strikeout in the bottom of the 9th inning Wednesday night, a strikeout that scored Jimmy Rollins. Second, in today's game, leading off the bottom of the 1st, Rollins's single to center. Third, Jason Michaels's single to right. Fourth, Chase Utley's drawn walk. Fifth, Bobby Abreu's grand slam.
Nomar Garciaparra, Kerry Wood, and Scott Williamson will return on Friday to try to lift the Cubs up, but they return to a 54-54 team that has played all season like a 54-54 team. The Cubs are 5 games back of the Wild Card with 5 teams ahead of them. They're thisclose to the second division, with Milwaukee poised to overtake them. They've been playing a second baseman in centerfield and he's headed to the disabled list. The guy who was supposed to be the centerfielder, and may be again just so they have someone out there who can catch the ball, is hitting .219/.296/.397 in triple-A.
There are 54 games left. The Cubs probably need to win 35 of those games. Go Cubs.
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Hmmm
Is the cup 2/3 full or 1/3 empty? Let's keep the symmetry and predict 36-18 for the rest of the season. In order for that to happen, here's what I think the Cubs need to do:
1. DLee breaks out of his funk and replicates his June numbers for the next five weeks, as well as Nomar hitting .330 and ARam staying healthy and productive.
2. Lawton (or Burnitz?) in center, Murton in left. Just say no to CPat!
3. Maddux either finds a rejuvenation machine or goes on the DL, with Rusch and Mitre starting and pitching way above their averages (or Hill breaks out and leaves Mitre in Iowa).
4. Barrett gets pissed off, plays with a chip on his shoulder and significantly picks up his defense and clutch hitting.
I think the bullpen will quickly arrange themselves so that Dusty can settle into a predictable pattern of who to bring in at different points of a game. Otherwise the Cubs need a break-out innning soon, one where they score 6 or more runs, to help their confidence at the plate and finish the season on an offensive tear.
When is the last time they have scored more than 5 runs in an inning?
[The realist in me sees 81-81, but I'll continue to have the optimist sit on him.]