Someone will eventually begin to run away with the NL Central, but it won’t be the Cubs. I predict the Brewers, but only win plus/minus 90 games. And promptly bow out in the first round of NLDS.
I agree that the Brewers are more likely to come out on top, just not by much. The NL Central going to end with the metaphorical whimper - not a bang. Only if the Brewers start playing at the pace they were in April can they hope to do anything better.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:32 am:
Excited about the Sox, who are only a few games worse than the Cubs at this point—not as much for the rest of this year but for the next few years. The Cubs are not a World Series team right now, but get in the playoffs and anything can happen.
The stagnant Cubs club looks to find itself with 87-92 wins, but seemingly unable to match up well to win “one game” playoffs, or obviously a club that on paper, today, isn’t built to win 4 of 7 games against the likes the Dodgers, Braves, or later the Astros, Yankees, or Twins.
I won’t be fooling myself. The Cubs are probably the 5th or 6th best club in all of baseball, and it’s not a slumping, it’s who they are.
They need a huge pitching influx. Like 2-3 arms. Revamping the starting and middle relief, doing it on the fly, and not through the farm… not the true “Theo” way, too many pieces not home grown would be needed.
I think the Sox could end up over .500. Eloy Jimenez is rounding into form after a shaky first couple months. The Sox might just sniff the Wild Card for a week or two, but they should be fun to watch regardless. The Dodgers are going to crush the N.L., and this is probably the year they finally win it all.
Cubs will choke. Theo is mentally constipated especially after that Quintana trade. Sox will end up holding pat and maybe maybe trade Colome? They will end the season 80-82.
Cubs have enough talent to win the division. They just need to stop swinging for the fences on every single pitch. And they need to play good fundamental baseball.
So if genius Joe would do the job he’s making millions to do, the Cubs will be okay. If Theo had decided to fire Joe at the break, instead of waiting for the end of the year, that would have been okay too.
I’m a Cubs fan but didn’t even watch the game, even though it was on at Mowie’s … spent the time playing pool with my son.
Second half … Cubs might sneak into the playoffs, but I wouldn’t put money on it. Dodgers keep running away with it in the NLW and will be the National League champs. And as much as I would like to see the Red Sox play better, it looks to be all New York this year in the American League.
The NL Central will the division to watch for the rest of the season. All five teams are in the mix and likely will be through the rest of the season. No other division can/will be able to say that.
It’s funny reading “The cubs will choke” from a fan of a team who hasn’t made the playoffs since George W. Bush was president…
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:00 am:
The playoffs are a funny thing - a team can dominate the entire year but their starting pitching strength can be neutralized by an opposing team with two aces. Yankees look great but not counting any of the contenders out yet (esp. the Astros).
The Cubs remind me of the 2006 White Sox after they lost Aaron Rowand (only for the Cubs it was Jake Arietta) - there’s an intangible missing there. They still could win it if they beat the Brewers to signing a decent starter.
I worry Cubs fans in general are not psychologically equipped to deal with the coming stress of the second half. That NL Central Division race is going to be brutal. I also think that Theo is going to use one or more of his fan faves as bait to try to acquire some decent pitching. That process will have lots of Cubs fans on edge,too.
I am very pleased where my White sox are now -and are headed.
==The Cubs remind me of the 2006 White Sox after they lost Aaron Rowand (only for the Cubs it was Jake Arietta) - there’s an intangible missing there. They still could win it if they beat the Brewers to signing a decent starter.==
There’s definitely something missing, but I don’t think it’s Arrieta. Fowler maybe?
Arrieta was on the very average 2017 team and since he’s left the Cubs is 18-18 with a .423 ERA.
Fowler hasn’t been much better since leaving the Cubs, but indeed, something is missing from the magic of 2015-2016.
Unfortunately (for me), the Cardinals will miss the playoffs for the 4th year in a row, and it will cost Manager Mike Schildt his job on Sept. 30. They will hover around .500 the rest of the season, maybe narrowly avoiding its first losing season since 2007 (and only the second since 1999).
I listen to what every game is on the radio as a distraction to my long commute. Pat Hughes and Ron Comer are the most enjoyable play by play announcers to listen to on the radio.
The Cardinals will either go on a tear like they were on in May (20-10) or, more likely, grind along at a 500 pace while Moselik and the big guns reflect on what they need to do. They’ve already demonstrated a lack of killer instinct by not picking up a starter. And now with Hicks out until 2020, the Redbirds are hurting in starting and relief pitching. I predict they’ll finish third in the division.
Sox will end up 76-86. 3rd place in AL Central. 2020 will be playoffs.
Cubs 88-74. Not sure what place. Think the Maddon thing has gotten old and Theo will not renew his contract.
Sox rebuild effort is reaping some rewards, if the team had 2 more solid starters, the team would be near competitive level. We still may see some surprises yet. Paramount to sign Abreu to finish his career in Chi-town. He is the solidifying force with all the Latino/Hispanic players on the team and coming up.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:24 am:
Wake me up in October.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:25 am:
Someone will eventually begin to run away with the NL Central, but it won’t be the Cubs. I predict the Brewers, but only win plus/minus 90 games. And promptly bow out in the first round of NLDS.
- So_Ill - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:31 am:
The Cubs will make a major trade and get rid of a core player (or two).
And it will be the right move.
- OutOfState - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:31 am:
I agree that the Brewers are more likely to come out on top, just not by much. The NL Central going to end with the metaphorical whimper - not a bang. Only if the Brewers start playing at the pace they were in April can they hope to do anything better.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:32 am:
Excited about the Sox, who are only a few games worse than the Cubs at this point—not as much for the rest of this year but for the next few years. The Cubs are not a World Series team right now, but get in the playoffs and anything can happen.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:32 am:
I’d like to see Eloy Jiminez up his OBP. I’d like to see the White Sox keep Jose Abreu for a couple more seasons.
Good luck to the opponents of the Cubs!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:36 am:
The stagnant Cubs club looks to find itself with 87-92 wins, but seemingly unable to match up well to win “one game” playoffs, or obviously a club that on paper, today, isn’t built to win 4 of 7 games against the likes the Dodgers, Braves, or later the Astros, Yankees, or Twins.
I won’t be fooling myself. The Cubs are probably the 5th or 6th best club in all of baseball, and it’s not a slumping, it’s who they are.
They need a huge pitching influx. Like 2-3 arms. Revamping the starting and middle relief, doing it on the fly, and not through the farm… not the true “Theo” way, too many pieces not home grown would be needed.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:36 am:
I think the Sox could end up over .500. Eloy Jimenez is rounding into form after a shaky first couple months. The Sox might just sniff the Wild Card for a week or two, but they should be fun to watch regardless. The Dodgers are going to crush the N.L., and this is probably the year they finally win it all.
- efudd - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:37 am:
The only really competitive division in MLB is the NL Central. Is it me, or are there too many divisions in all pro sports?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:38 am:
The Sox, to make the next step, need only be over .500 at season’s end.
In two seasons, the Sox could very well be the next Astros.
- 10th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:40 am:
Cubs will choke. Theo is mentally constipated especially after that Quintana trade. Sox will end up holding pat and maybe maybe trade Colome? They will end the season 80-82.
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:43 am:
Barring major injuries or trades, I think the Sox will have a better record then the Cubs in the second half.
- SSL - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:51 am:
Cubs have enough talent to win the division. They just need to stop swinging for the fences on every single pitch. And they need to play good fundamental baseball.
So if genius Joe would do the job he’s making millions to do, the Cubs will be okay. If Theo had decided to fire Joe at the break, instead of waiting for the end of the year, that would have been okay too.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:51 am:
I’m a Cubs fan but didn’t even watch the game, even though it was on at Mowie’s … spent the time playing pool with my son.
Second half … Cubs might sneak into the playoffs, but I wouldn’t put money on it. Dodgers keep running away with it in the NLW and will be the National League champs. And as much as I would like to see the Red Sox play better, it looks to be all New York this year in the American League.
- MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:54 am:
The NL Central will the division to watch for the rest of the season. All five teams are in the mix and likely will be through the rest of the season. No other division can/will be able to say that.
- So_Ill - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:56 am:
It’s funny reading “The cubs will choke” from a fan of a team who hasn’t made the playoffs since George W. Bush was president…
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:00 am:
The playoffs are a funny thing - a team can dominate the entire year but their starting pitching strength can be neutralized by an opposing team with two aces. Yankees look great but not counting any of the contenders out yet (esp. the Astros).
The Cubs remind me of the 2006 White Sox after they lost Aaron Rowand (only for the Cubs it was Jake Arietta) - there’s an intangible missing there. They still could win it if they beat the Brewers to signing a decent starter.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:07 am:
I worry Cubs fans in general are not psychologically equipped to deal with the coming stress of the second half. That NL Central Division race is going to be brutal. I also think that Theo is going to use one or more of his fan faves as bait to try to acquire some decent pitching. That process will have lots of Cubs fans on edge,too.
I am very pleased where my White sox are now -and are headed.
- So_Ill - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:10 am:
==The Cubs remind me of the 2006 White Sox after they lost Aaron Rowand (only for the Cubs it was Jake Arietta) - there’s an intangible missing there. They still could win it if they beat the Brewers to signing a decent starter.==
There’s definitely something missing, but I don’t think it’s Arrieta. Fowler maybe?
Arrieta was on the very average 2017 team and since he’s left the Cubs is 18-18 with a .423 ERA.
Fowler hasn’t been much better since leaving the Cubs, but indeed, something is missing from the magic of 2015-2016.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:26 am:
Unfortunately (for me), the Cardinals will miss the playoffs for the 4th year in a row, and it will cost Manager Mike Schildt his job on Sept. 30. They will hover around .500 the rest of the season, maybe narrowly avoiding its first losing season since 2007 (and only the second since 1999).
- Old Illini - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:30 am:
The White Sox are getting to be exciting, but are still two starting pitchers short. In the meantime I’m reading a great book by Ron Kittle.
- Independent - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:43 am:
Analytics have almost completely reduced baseball to home runs, walks, and strikeouts. Zzzzzzz. Even the best teams are boring to watch.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:52 am:
I listen to what every game is on the radio as a distraction to my long commute. Pat Hughes and Ron Comer are the most enjoyable play by play announcers to listen to on the radio.
- west wing - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 1:07 pm:
The Cardinals will either go on a tear like they were on in May (20-10) or, more likely, grind along at a 500 pace while Moselik and the big guns reflect on what they need to do. They’ve already demonstrated a lack of killer instinct by not picking up a starter. And now with Hicks out until 2020, the Redbirds are hurting in starting and relief pitching. I predict they’ll finish third in the division.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:54 pm:
Sox will end up 76-86. 3rd place in AL Central. 2020 will be playoffs.
Cubs 88-74. Not sure what place. Think the Maddon thing has gotten old and Theo will not renew his contract.
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
Sox rebuild effort is reaping some rewards, if the team had 2 more solid starters, the team would be near competitive level. We still may see some surprises yet. Paramount to sign Abreu to finish his career in Chi-town. He is the solidifying force with all the Latino/Hispanic players on the team and coming up.
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 3:18 pm:
“reduced baseball to home runs, walks, and strikeouts” You forgot the foul balls and mound conferences.