Let's say for the sake of the argument that the Cubs win both games vs. the Pirates this week and then sweep the Astros series.

And let's say the Cards beat the Astros today and tomorrow (like they should've done last September)...

What would the Cubs position in the wildcard race look like then?

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standi...

Yep, that would leave us two games back with no games to play.

What would your choices be for games we really shoulda, coulda, might've had a chance to win and didn't be?

My picks would be for these two games...

Cubs vs Reds game from April 18th

First of all, the Cubs hit 4 home runs, including three in the first inning. Too bad I can't edit the Tivo recording for just the first inning or so.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, things got weird and ugly.

No outs and the Reds have the bases loaded, game tied at 5 apiece.

Adam Dunn is the runner at second base.

The batter hits the one bouncer to the Cub's Ramirez, who tags third base for the force and throws the ball to the catcher Barrett who tags the runner for an out at home plate.

Then Barrett spots activity heading to third and throws the ball that direction (for a potential triple play perhaps?) but it was a bad toss and rebounds off the wall.

The runner from second base (Dunn) finishes rounding the bases and touches home plate.

The Reds scoreboard shows the score at 6-5 now, even the Chicago telecast shows the same score. But their graphic shows one man on base when their should've been two on base.

Thanks to the PVR, I was able to rewind and replay this over and over til I figured it out.

If Dunn had left the playing field after being called out (which is the rule of what one should do when they're out) instead of continuing running the bases, he would've have coaxed the bad throw at third and the runners would've have advanced and scored the winning run.

The second game would be the Cubs/Cards game from September 15th where the Cards beat the Cubs in a rain shortened game. Picture this: Bottom of the 9th at Wrigley, bases loaded, its raining and the ump calls the game over. Arrrrgh!

In my opinion there should be far fewer shortened games. All games should play the full 27 outs needed to determine a winner. If a game has an extended rain delay, the end of the game should be rescheduled.
MLB plays enough games that there is usually a raindate available. If there are no remaining game dates available, then the current rule could be put into place.

I know, I know...I need to let it go...

Diana

Cubs photos here