Here is how the NL Wildcard race is shaping up on June 3rd...
NATIONAL W L Pct GB
Arizona 30 24 .556 -
Atlanta* 29 24 .547 .5
Florida* 28 23 .549 .5
Chicago Cubs 28 24 .538 1
NY Mets 28 26 .519 2
Washington 28 26 .519 2
LA Dodgers 27 26 .509 2.5
Philadelphia 27 27 .500 3
Milwaukee 25 28 .472 4.5
Pittsburgh 24 28 .462 5
San Francisco 23 29 .442
Cincinnati 21 32 .396 8.5
Houston 20 32 .385 9
Colorado 16 36 .308 13
Friday, June 03, 2005
Thursday, June 02, 2005
for the love of improbability
the last time i remember being this surprised by a cub winning streak was in 1997, i think, when the cubs rattled off five straight for no good reason in the midst of a 67-win mel-rojas-death-spiral-nightmare. coming on the heels of prior's ko, with wood and nomar weeks away from contributing, with ramirez stuck in the mud, staring down the barrel of a tragic schedule -- it's amazing.
and yet here sit the cubs, winners of six straight, coming off the debut win of a starting pitcher with a minor-league record of 50-60. never mind that three of the wins were against a truly decrepit colorado squad. never mind that the cubs caught a dodger team that is finally backsliding to its pythagorean winning percentage. this is winning! who cares who they're beating? i'll take it!
that said, however, the reality remains unchanged. the cubs still have exactly two guys really hitting -- lee and now ramirez (with neifi managing a meager .283 OBP in may despite his 10-game hitting streak) -- and are scoring with a power spurt (15 HR in the last seven games, 5 by lee), not base-clogging (only 17 team walks in that span). power is great when it shows up in a timely way, of course -- as it has this last week -- but is inconsistent because it often doesn't. not having the dodger and rockie pitching staffs to take deep (being ranked 14th and 13th respectively in total bases allowed as they are) will not help -- especially headed to spacious petco, where the san diego staff has been dominating.
and the cubs are, of course, still faced with a rotation that includes two triple-a pitchers for the next few weeks at least. and a weak bullpen from which their most talented reliever was recently subtracted. and that unremitting schedule.
what am i saying? well, i guess my advice is to enjoy this ride on the wave of improbability. i'm enjoying it in my way, and i hope you are in yours -- because this may be as good as it gets.
and yet here sit the cubs, winners of six straight, coming off the debut win of a starting pitcher with a minor-league record of 50-60. never mind that three of the wins were against a truly decrepit colorado squad. never mind that the cubs caught a dodger team that is finally backsliding to its pythagorean winning percentage. this is winning! who cares who they're beating? i'll take it!
that said, however, the reality remains unchanged. the cubs still have exactly two guys really hitting -- lee and now ramirez (with neifi managing a meager .283 OBP in may despite his 10-game hitting streak) -- and are scoring with a power spurt (15 HR in the last seven games, 5 by lee), not base-clogging (only 17 team walks in that span). power is great when it shows up in a timely way, of course -- as it has this last week -- but is inconsistent because it often doesn't. not having the dodger and rockie pitching staffs to take deep (being ranked 14th and 13th respectively in total bases allowed as they are) will not help -- especially headed to spacious petco, where the san diego staff has been dominating.
and the cubs are, of course, still faced with a rotation that includes two triple-a pitchers for the next few weeks at least. and a weak bullpen from which their most talented reliever was recently subtracted. and that unremitting schedule.
what am i saying? well, i guess my advice is to enjoy this ride on the wave of improbability. i'm enjoying it in my way, and i hope you are in yours -- because this may be as good as it gets.
Late night games and warm fuzzy feelings
In an effort to bring some sunshine to our readers, I give you the following...
- Derrek Lee makes me feel funny inside, like when I climbed the rope in gym class. Is it wrong for a man to love another man?
- All bow and kiss the feet of Lord Neifi! Keep channeling the spirit of Eddie Murray at the plate, dude. (sidebar: How is it possible that Nomar is leading the NL SS All-Star voting?)
Sung to the tune of Help Me Rhonda
-----
John Koronka, John John Koronka
John Koronka, John John Koronka
Help me Koronka, Sweep the Dodgers
(stolen from MJH of WMVP)
-----
- Gotta love a 1-2-3, 5 pitch, 3 groundball ninth inning from a guy who was pitching for his third night in a row and 4th in last 5 days. Dempster = Closer; Hendry = Clairvoyant.
- Holly, oh Holly, boy how we've missed you. 2 for 3 with a run, a RBI, a BB and few balls hit to left field by the opponent where we didn't have to hold our breath.
- That makes 3Ws against 1L in games started by a call-up from AAA.
- Late night wins are good for the soul. Nothing like drifting off to sleep as the Cubs put another one away.
Now on to Petco to prove this streak is not an aberration. Go, Go SuperGlendon!
- Derrek Lee makes me feel funny inside, like when I climbed the rope in gym class. Is it wrong for a man to love another man?
- All bow and kiss the feet of Lord Neifi! Keep channeling the spirit of Eddie Murray at the plate, dude. (sidebar: How is it possible that Nomar is leading the NL SS All-Star voting?)
Sung to the tune of Help Me Rhonda
-----
John Koronka, John John Koronka
John Koronka, John John Koronka
Help me Koronka, Sweep the Dodgers
(stolen from MJH of WMVP)
-----
- Gotta love a 1-2-3, 5 pitch, 3 groundball ninth inning from a guy who was pitching for his third night in a row and 4th in last 5 days. Dempster = Closer; Hendry = Clairvoyant.
- Holly, oh Holly, boy how we've missed you. 2 for 3 with a run, a RBI, a BB and few balls hit to left field by the opponent where we didn't have to hold our breath.
- That makes 3Ws against 1L in games started by a call-up from AAA.
- Late night wins are good for the soul. Nothing like drifting off to sleep as the Cubs put another one away.
Now on to Petco to prove this streak is not an aberration. Go, Go SuperGlendon!
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