August 20, 2018: 23 in 23

Here it is… what we like to call the homestretch.  The Cubs will begin 23 games in 23 days starting Tuesday night in Detroit.  After the Brewers and Cardinals both won Monday, the Cubs are 3 and 3.5 games up on them.  How you feeling?

Have you looked at the remaining Cubs schedule?  Tigers, Reds, Mets for the next 9 games; time to make our bones.  It’s time to extend the lead.  I’m looking at 7-2 minimum over these next 9.  I know, I know… big words for a team that can’t score runs all of a sudden, but come on… OK, I’ll settle for 6-3.  I know sometimes you can’t get up to play these bum teams, but there are no excuses right now.  We beat whoever is on the schedule, especially if they suck.

Then it’s a 1 game makeup vs the Braves followed by 3 in Philly; OK, some tough games for sure.  A split would certainly be acceptable.  Then the next 10 games are 6 vs the Brewers and 4 vs the Nationals.  6-4 anybody?  3 more vs the Reds; 2-1.  3 vs the Diamondbacks; 2-1.  3 vs the Sox; 2-1… yeah, I’m throwing them a bone.  4 vs the Pirates; 3-1?  3 vs the Cardinals; 2-1.

It’s a matter of winning series from here on out.  If you take my best guesses, we’re looking at 25-14 the remaining 39 games.  That would leave us at 96-66… 30 games over 500.  Would that be good enough to win the division?

Some things to consider:  the return of Kris Bryant.  It will happen right?  If it does happen, will he be THE Kboom we’re used to, or will we have to wait until 2019 to see him?  No definitive timetable on him right now makes me a little nervous.  We could certainly use our best all around player back; sorry Javy and Rizzo.  When Kris is right, he’s MVP caliber… so are Javy and Rizzo, don’t get me wrong.  I’m just saying, missing an MVP caliber type player will catch up to any team.  Maybe that’s been part of the recent drought…
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What about Yu?  Bad news is the latest for him.  More arm discomfort.  I’m thinking we’re going without him the rest of the way.  Honestly, it doesn’t bother me that much.  With Lester, Hamels, Hendricks, and Quintana, I don’t think there are many that have a better playoff rotation.  I’ll roll with those guys all day long.  Yu hasn’t contributed much to this year anyways… rest up, get surgery, whatever the heck you have to do to get right for next year… you know, we still have 4 more years of this guy paying him beaucoup bucks.

Then there’s Morrow… the last of our September “call ups”.  Throwing another big time arm back in that pen, which has been a strength, only fortifies our position.  But again, haven’t really heard a good timetable on his return.  Maybe he’s throwing in the minors this weekend?

I’m feeling pretty good.  I’m not jumping off the cliff over the past rough offensive stretch.  The fact that we still could have won all those games, or at least 3 out of 4 with the offense playing like crap, just shows you how good this team is overall.  And if… when they start clicking on all cylinders… like the next 23 days… the Cubs will be a force.  Oh wait, they still have the best record in the NL, so what’s the problem?

I’m locked and loaded.  I’m ready.  I’m enjoying this golden era and want to add a 2nd World Series title.  Who’s with me?  Go Cubs!!!