chicago cubs to win the national pennant? ....

prodigy · Jul 15, 2007

yes, i know. theyre the cubs. theyll find a way to fu.ck it up down the stretch.

but is there any reason they cant win the national pennant this season? their 1-2-3 starters (zambrano, lilly, hill) are as good as anyone in the NL. their hitting, at least at the top, is pretty solid. and the back end of their bullpen is strong (marmol looks to be a stud in the making).

i took a piece of them at +1500 to win the NL a few weeks back and im constantly tempted to keep adding some smaller future bets on them at reduced odds as the season progresses. i just dont see anyone in the national league as dominant. the mets are the best of the bunch. but after that, the league is totally wide open. it would almost be fitting for the cubs to make a deep run when its least expected (sans prior and wood).

austintx05 · Jul 15, 2007

they are toying with you....cubs are hitting right now and when they cool off...will look like shit once again

prodigy · Jul 15, 2007

austintx05 said:
they are toying with you....cubs are hitting right now and when they cool off...will look like shit once again

its really not the hitting that ive been impressed with. its zambrano (arguably the best pitcher in the NL the last month) along with lilly (very consistent) and hill (capable of shutting a lineup down, although he hasnt been himself lately and cubs are still winning). marmol has been terrific. im not sure about bobby howry closing games but i cant help but recall how good he was for the indians down the stretch a few yrs ago. but he's kind of erratic. i think if the cubs can add one more bat (a high avg, contact bat) they could leap the brewers. we'll see. could be dead wrong here.

prodigy · Jul 15, 2007

... although the middle relief is about the shit the bed for chicago as i type this so a flaw might be getting exposed right now.

MrCleo · Jul 15, 2007

espescially if Sheets, who left his start yesterday early, is heading to the DL...

5starbomb · Jul 15, 2007

In the National League they have just as good of a chance as anyone else.

terps1313 · Jul 15, 2007

At 15 to 1 no doubt a great value play. I am only showing 7 to 1 on 5dimes where i play. Not sure if that is enough for me to pull the trigger.

whormoan · Jul 15, 2007

They beat up on Houston and Washington. I wouldn't start doing handstands yet.

therookie2b1 · Jul 15, 2007

CUBS~ Completely Useless By September...Brewers win the Central!

FairWarning · Jul 15, 2007

whormoan said:
They beat up on Houston and Washington. I wouldn't start doing handstands yet.

Milwaukee couldn't beat Washington. Cubs have beat up Milwaukee pretty good too.

The Greek showing +685 to win NL and +1415 to win WS.

Very encouraging today as this was the lineup that will take them far, with Lee, Ramirez, Soriano batting 3-4-5. Marmol has been lights-out in middle relief too.

twjd · Jul 15, 2007

How long did it take you to figure this out. Everybody in baseball has been saying this all year.

themanej2001 · Jul 16, 2007

twjd said:
How long did it take you to figure this out. Everybody in baseball has been saying this all year.

What league have you been watching?

Illini · Jul 16, 2007

I'm a Cards fan, but even I'm starting to think this is the Cubs year to win the division. Beyond that, who knows.

Cards are still the champs for 3 more months though. :smoker2:

1wildturkey · Jul 16, 2007

Right On For The Cards.....they Have Played Like Complete Shit And Stil Are Only 9 Back...they Will Still Make A Runa T This Thing If And When They Get Carp Back!!!go Redbirds

Illini · Jul 16, 2007

1wildturkey said:
Right On For The Cards.....they Have Played Like Complete Shit And Stil Are Only 9 Back...they Will Still Make A Runa T This Thing If And When They Get Carp Back!!!go Redbirds

They are going to need him to dominate to have any chance at all. I'm starting to lose hope for this season.

5teamparlay · Jul 16, 2007

but is there any reason they cant win the national pennant this season? their 1-2-3 starters (zambrano, lilly, hill) are as good as anyone in the NL. their hitting, at least at the top, is pretty solid. and the back end of their bullpen is strong (marmol looks to be a stud in the making).

I like Carlos Z. as of late. But that STAFF couldn't stick against PEAVY, YOUNG, GERMANO (MADDUX and WELLS) not to mention their bullpen, best as well. Outside of them and possibly the DODGERS if Schmidt got healthy (LOWE and Penny), Cubs are right there after that.

I DO LIKE THE CUBS CHANCES THOUGH a LOT jsut because of the division, coaching and other factors.

prodigy · Jul 16, 2007

steam:

top to bottom, the pads staff is better. but im not sure that i wouldnt want the chicago 1-2-3 over the san diego 1-2-3.

peavy is better than all of them. but after that, i really think the jury is still out on young and germano.

i know that sounds preposterous considering young's sub 2 era ... but this is still a guy who has been banged around at times in his career and he isnt at all overpowering considering how big he is. it would be interesting to see if he could get it done in a playoff setting. if im facing the pads in a short series, id rather be up against young than maddux.

needless to say, even if you do give san diego the edge in starting pitching (and perhap that is fair) it goes without saying that chicago's lineup is far more potent. san diego cant keep trying to win games 3-2 the way that they do.

whormoan · Jul 16, 2007

prodigy said:
steam:

top to bottom, the pads staff is better. but im not sure that i wouldnt want the chicago 1-2-3 over the san diego 1-2-3.

peavy is better than all of them. but after that, i really think the jury is still out on young and germano.

i know that sounds preposterous considering young's sub 2 era ... but this is still a guy who has been banged around at times in his career and he isnt at all overpowering considering how big he is. it would be interesting to see if he could get it done in a playoff setting. if im facing the pads in a short series, id rather be up against young than maddux.

needless to say, even if you do give san diego the edge in starting pitching (and perhap that is fair) it goes without saying that chicago's lineup is far more potent. san diego cant keep trying to win games 3-2 the way that they do.

Young did beat St Louis on the road last yr for SDs lone playoff win. Trust me, Germano will not be starting any playoff games if the Pads are fortunate enough to get there. Had he pitched badly today, there was talk it would be his last start. Pads are in the market for another starter

themanej2001 · Jul 16, 2007

prodigy said:
steam:

top to bottom, the pads staff is better. but im not sure that i wouldnt want the chicago 1-2-3 over the san diego 1-2-3.

peavy is better than all of them. but after that, i really think the jury is still out on young and germano.

i know that sounds preposterous considering young's sub 2 era ... but this is still a guy who has been banged around at times in his career and he isnt at all overpowering considering how big he is. it would be interesting to see if he could get it done in a playoff setting. if im facing the pads in a short series, id rather be up against young than maddux.

needless to say, even if you do give san diego the edge in starting pitching (and perhap that is fair) it goes without saying that chicago's lineup is far more potent. san diego cant keep trying to win games 3-2 the way that they do.

You can't possibly believe this can you?

Chris Young is not proven and you worry about him but Ted Lily and Rich Hill are overpowering and can trust them in the playoffs. That makes no sense... I trust Peavy and David Wells and Chris Young more then anyone past Zambrano in the rotation of the Cubs.

whormoan · Jul 16, 2007

I will give Prodigy this: In the playoffs, good hitting beats good pitching. The Pads had Peavy and Young last yr and were solid favs to beat St Louis, and we saw what happened. Jeff freaking Weaver stimied their bats. The Cubs, when healthy, can Mash. And the Dodgers will be tougher for the Pads to beat for the division than Milw will for Chi (especially with LA winning 11 straight games at San Fran)