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 It feels like it has been forever since I've written a Cubs related article, so sorry about that. Then again, maybe that makes you happy. Anyways, there are 45 games left in the season and right now the Cubs are 60-57 and only 1.5 games out of the NL Central lead and 3 games out of the Wild Card lead. The Cubs have cooled off considerably since their hot June and July, so following is a list of things the Cubs will need over the next 45 games in order to make the playoffs:
- Derrek Lee has to get hot. The guy absolutely must start hitting for some power. He was the definition of sucky on the last road trip. He needs to pick it up and carry this team for a 10-15 game stretch.
- Alfonso Soriano needs to come back healthy. If he comes back and isn't able to steal bases or run at 100% then he's not much better than Matt Murton in LF. Ryan Theriot is doing a decent job leading off, but the Cubs need Soriano to come back and wreak some havoc on the bases.
- Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall and Rich Hill need to pick it up. Between the three of them they need to get 12-15 wins total. They've been getting carried by Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano the last few months, so it's time for the boys to step up.
- Aramis Ramirez needs to get healthy. He is the key to the Cubs lineup because he gives support to D-Lee along with getting on base for....
- Mark DeRosa needs to get hot again. I know he's played a lot of games and a lot of different positions but this is the playoff stretch.
- Out of the following group: Felix Pie, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Cliff Floyd, Matt Murton, Jason Kendall, Jacque Jones and Angel Pagan....at least three of them have to catch on fire and solidify the starting lineup. The supporting cast is going to be vital coming down the stretch. I'm going to pick Floyd, Theriot and Pie as my three.
- The Cubs need to figure out how they are going to use Ryan Dempster. If he's going to close, let him close. If not, get Marmol/Howry out there and get them ready. To use the mix-up/match-up thing isn't good for anyone.
- Lou Piniella has to use every trick up his sleeve to get the Cubs into the playoffs. Whatever it takes, just get it done. This is what they are paying you the big bucks for
- Relax. Look, it's the Cubs. Everyone is expecting them to choke. Go out there, have fun and win
* My condolences go out to Cliff Floyd and his family as his father passed away after a long health battle.
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2008 Cubs Preview
you haven't written about the cubs in forever.
3/5 of the rotation blows since mid July. I want a third starter and would take Contreras at this point over Hill/Marshall/Marquis.
Marqis' ERA has jumped .8 in the last ten starts. Hill has not won since mid July and Marshall looks like toast.
This offense has no pop and was great in clutch situation for a month. The entire division sucks so and the cubs have the best schedule with like only a dozen or so games against teams with winning records.
I'll have quite a bit more Cubs stuff this week as The Lovely Dentist enters The Friendly Confines tonight and Buck and I make a trek to the Cubs/Cards game on Saturday
That's an awful lot of needs for a contender. The Cards don't even need that much. Just Ankiel to levitate and play 7 positions at once.
did I read a Marquis second half fade? deja vu
Ya, you read that in my post a few weeks back. Like clockwork.
He'd still be a top 3 starter, at least, on your team.
I'd be a top 3 starter on my team.
I like that argument "he'd still be a top 3 starter on your team"... Tamyrn (sp?) Mowatt would be a better option for the Cubs than Marquis, and she throws underhand!
Oh, and could you imagine how nice her butt would look in those tight baseball pants... mmm... beach towel time!