I just checked the Cubs standings after tonight’s when and noticed something. With a record of 32-21, they’ve completed 53 games.
53 games. . .. 53 games. . 53 games. .That sounds familiar - and not just because I typed it up 4 types.
- Oh, I know! That’s how many games they played last year at their nadir. That was around the time Piniella got in an ump’s face with as much passion as an individual can possibly muster (yet also as little eroticism). They went 63-46 the rest of the regular season. With this year’s start, they are now 95-67 in their last 162 regular season games.
When was the last time they played that well? From Sept 1, 2003 to 9/7/04 they were 93-69. Close, but no cigar. They had the same record from 8/22/03 to 8/26/04. Also 7/26/03 to 7/30/04. Not then I guess.
They won 88 games in 2000, but ended terribly in 2000, and also ended badly in 2001, making any 2001-2 combos tricky.
They came close again in 1998-9, but couldn’t keep their early season groove going long enough in ‘99.
They won 93 in 1989, so there should be some sort of 1988-9 or 1989-90 combo that gets us to 95-67. Actually, no. They began and ended ‘89 fairly hot, so losing games on either side doesn’t get them 2 extra wins, especially given that neither surrounding season was all that good.
Well, from 6/8/84 to 6/11/85, they were 101-61. That’s what were looking at then. The Cubs have just completed their best 162 game stretch of regular season baseball in 23 years. That’s nice to know. Well, provided one conveniently forgets what happened to that 1985 squad . . .
Oh, yeah, that 95-67 record in the last 162 games? That’s the best record of any team in the NL in that time. In the AL, only the Yankees - that’s right, the last place Yankees - can top it. They were fearsomely good down the stretch run last year.
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did you see the game last night?
Can you ever remember an inning in which the Cubs repeatedly got ahead in the count without half of the pitches being a foot outside the strike zone? The patience this team shows is a stark contrast to so many other teams, and they're being rewarded for it with more runs.
Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute must be loving this season.
Then again, so does the hot air. Stay tuned to find out which it is.
What about TOFU?
And Jack, I'm not really seeing 6 with St. Louis, 6 with Milwaukee, and 3 with the Mets as brutal?
Absolutely. The playoffs start this weekend, right?
Aren't the ground rules that no Cubs compliments can include TOFU?
And, well, given what he brings to the table, not using him makes perfect sense. It's only a matter of when Hendry notices he's got a roster spot that's never getting used.
If that actually happens, it may be one of my favorite inconsequential baseball events ever.
And yes, I misspelled his name. I don't care.
This would make my summer.
We'll know a lot more by August. Stl might cool off, the Mets might start to look fearsome, and who knows what Milwaukee will do.
I need to take a couple of minutes and throw a post together about the Cubs home/road splits.
I agree about TOFU being gone, soon too.
They really should have gotten rid of Wayne Messmer a long time ago.
is that even legal?
(hey, it's my first time I think)
Classic Anthem, that guy. "BRAave!"
That 1985 team was a definite heartbreaker-not the way that '84 was of course. Their Pyth was only 2 games behind their record (35-19). The pitching staff was lights out, but the offense kind of sucked, but they were hanging with both the Cards and the Mets.
Then of course came that awful 13 game losing streak. The offense was shut out FIVE times. It was after this season of course that I read in the next Abstract about the Devil's Theory of Park Effects, and it all made sense. They were playing guys with OPS+ below 100 at C, 3rd, SS, and CF, tho this was the year that Davey Lopes stole 44 bases at age 40. Then the injuries started hitting the pitching staff, hard, and all 4 guys whom they had signed after '84 finished the season on the DL (or spent a lot of time on it), and the ones who replaced them all had ERA+'es below 92 (including the uncle, distant cousin, or father's former roommate of current Cub Mike Fontenot?).
It would have helped too, since the game featured two pinch hitters who weren't even listed on the rosters in the scorecard. Terry Tiffee is on the Dodgers now?!? Who knew!
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