Big week for the Cubs. A 4 game set starting with the Pirates begins on Tuesday. What will this decide?
Probably nothing. A split leaves us all right where we started, which by the way is…. The Cardinals 2.5 games ahead of the Pirates who are 4 games ahead of us. Currently, we are 7 games ahead of the Giants who are the closest to us for the 2nd wild card spot. A split leaves things status quo.
When you start talking sweep, then you start talking. Sweep bring us even to the Pirates, and that much closer to the Cards assuming they don’t sweep their series. Now wild card 1 is in play and so is the division. If we get swept, now we’re 100% focused on the 2nd wild card. How close would the Giants be then?
It’s important to win as many games as possible, regardless…. not sure if you knew that. But, are we going all out this series? Are we showing all our cards to this Pirates team now, the same team we could face in 163? Like for instance, when Jake pitches. Is he going to go out there and mow them down like he did in the previous matchups with the Pirates this year? Would that just make it that much tougher for him to beat them again if need be? Or, is he just that confident in his stuff?
I wonder how Maddon is spinning this to the team this week. Obviously, if we keep the pedal to the floor (losing 2 to our nemesis the Phladelphia Philles didn’t help), we could get the first wild card spot. As we discussed before, how much does that buy us? Is the division still in reach at 6.5 games with 20 games to play?
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St. Louis has been sliding, going 3-7 in their last 10, but they had built up such a cushion, that they are still 6.5 up on us. Now, they’re only 2 up on Pitt, so I think this series is way more important for them. If they pass St. Louis, which is more likely than us catching them, now we’re talking about game 163 with the good old birds. Will Wainwright be back for that game? It totally changes everything.
You have to believe the Cubs are thinking through each and every scenario, just like us. At the end of the day, momentum is key. We need to be on the upswing for whoever we play, although in a one game playoff, how much does THAT even matter? Anything can happen in one game. Still, Joe has to keep pushing these young boys to win, while keeping an eye on the long term, which by the way is only 3 weeks away.
It’s been a while since we spent so much time and rambling on about the Cubs in a playoff scenario, and for this, I am thankful. If we go heads up with the Bucs or Birds in game 163, it really doesn’t matter. I’m enjoying the hell out of this ride. Just getting to 163 would be something… then there’s the whole 107 thing… Yes, winning it all would be the ultimate, but would we be that crushed if that wasn’t the outcome this year? Unless the Cubs collapse and fall out of the wild card spot, this year has been a big success. Still, there’s no guarantee we’ll be back, although Theo and company have seemingly put us in a good position for the foreseeable future.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I better check when 163 is… because I’m taking off. I’m clearing the schedule… I’m having a beer in the morning. If and when that game comes, the pressure will really start. Although these 4 games with the Pirates is important, I’m just not sure it’s going to decide anything in the long term. 163 seems imminent… but, let’s talk on Thursday.
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