Sunday, June 26, 2005

June Roller Coaster

The Cubs brought their June record back to .500 with the win on Sunday. The Northsiders are 12-12 this month. Surprisingly, they have taken 2 of 3 from the World Champion Red Sox and the best team in baseball the White Sox, meanwhile the Cubs have stumbled against the Blue Jays and a very mediocre Yankee team. I guess that's baseball.

Despite all of the teams flaws, the Cubs are still very much alive in the NL Wild Card. They will have games in early July against the Braves and the Marlins. They'll face the NL East leading Nats this coming weekend at the Friendly Confines. If the Cubs are gonna make a move and take control of the Wild Card they'll have the opportunity to do so in the next few weeks.

National League Wild Card NL Standings
Team W - L PCT GB
Atlanta 41 - 34 .547 -
Florida 38 - 34 .528 1.5
CUBS 38 - 36 .514 2.5
Philadelphia 39 - 37 .513 2.5
Arizona 39 - 38 .506 3.0
New York 37 - 37 .500 3.5
Los Angeles 35 - 40 .467 6.0
Milwaukee 35 - 40 .467 6.0
Pittsburgh 34 - 40 .459 6.5
Houston 33 - 40 .452 7.0

I'm not happy about the Cubs being out of the NL Central race. They have been forced to look to the Wild Card to make the postseason. Still you just have to make the postseason. I feel really good about the Cubs chances with a healthy Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. The Prior that we saw on Sunday at Sox Park was nasty. It looked to me like he was back to his form from earlier in the season. I'll hold my breath on Wood. We'll know a little more on Wednesday.

RYNO
The Hall of Famer joined Len and Bren in the booth on Friday and Sunday. I am still trying to figure out why the Cubs and Comcast did this. Sandberg added nothing to the broadcast. Of course Brenly hasn't added anything to the broadcasts since he made the Catfish comment in Pittsburgh.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The Cubs will have an off day on Monday. The Brewers will come to town for three and the Washington Nationals will visit Wrigley Field over the weekend. The Cubs will have to make a move before they activate Wood for Wednesday's game. I vote Joe Borowski off the island.

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