[ArtVanDelay1774]

Today (8/18 ) marks the last day that the Cubs have an equal amount of remaining home and road games. From here on out, there will always be fewer remaining home games.

The late-season match ups against other contenders (Philly - 4, Milwaukee - 6, Mets - 4, Cardinals - 3) have been well documented, and looks daunting when compared to the Brewers' schedule against Hadley's School for the Blind and the Little Sisters of the Poor. However, the Cubs have built up one of their biggest divisional leads of the year (5.5 games) and are 7.5 games up on a Wildcard berth. Additionally, they are playing easily their best road-ball of the season, the gap between the Wrigley-Cubs and the away-Cubs in closing fast.

As we head into the home stretch, how worried are you that the tough match ups and abundance of away games will harm this teams chances, either literally (in terms of making the playoffs), or mentally (Jitters about facing Webb, Haren, and Randy Johnson on the road)?

Also, assuming the Brewers aren't going to catch the Cubs, let's hear some predictions about the date that the Cubs will clinch the division. My guess is Sept. 24th, making the final Brewers series meaningless, but it would be nice to see the boys clinch at Wrigley against St. Louis.

[CubsOptimist]

I'm kind of hoping they can clinch at home as early as the last game of the final Brewers series at Wrigley Field which would be a week earlier - September 17th?

Oh poor Cardinals fans....

It would be ironic if they clinch in the series against the Mets at Shea Stadium.

[2ndCityDieHard]

My vote is for September 18th. But that's mostly because I will be sitting in the bleachers for that game.
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"They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's* the *Chicago* way!"
a.k.a. Bearscast host Sean "Pretty Boy" Cassidy
http://2ndcitydiehard.blogspot.com/

[Craig R.]

I don't do predictions, but I like our schedule the rest of the way: we get to fatten up a bit in the next 10 days, then we get to play good teams almost exclusively the rest of the way, and will keep this team playing its best ball, rather than coasting as the Angels are set to do.

[ArtVanDelay1774]

[TexasCubsFan]

[ArtVanDelay1774]

[TexasCubsFan]

[IceBox13]

I hope they don't clinch too early to keep them fresh. Clinching with about 4 or 5 days left would be great, that way they can rest a little bit and get the pitching order sorted out for the playoff run.

[WingNut]

September 25th, for personal reasons... btw if any of you would like to get me birthday gifts as well I'm hoping for playoff tickets. If you all pool your money it should be reasonably affordable...

[Neal K]

Because I will be at that game. But September 25 is much more realistic. I still think the Brewers series will be meaningful because they will hold on and win the wild card, meaning the Cubs could face them in the post-season.

[brfons]

I like clinching some time about 3 games our so they can set their pitching staff.

This is the great part about the CUBS. They could pitch an entire game using middle relievers. Marshall can start and pitch half the game and then let Cotts come in for a couple, and then finish the game off with whatever the pitching coaches think will give the guys the proper amount of pitches they thinking will get them in shape for the playoff run.

We have an amazingly deep pitching staff and even deeper bench. It'll be fun to see Micah Hofpaur pinch hitting in September.
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IT's Gonna Happen!

[ArtVanDelay1774]

For those of you who think these predictions are a bit presumptuous, ESPN has our odds of making the playoffs at 99.3 percent. Not bad.

[CrankyShoulder]

Todays game is exactly why I hate this kind of talk in August. No, I'm not saying doom and gloom. I'm just pointing out that as great as the Cubs record may be, their inconsistency makes it so good pitching can give up only 2 hits and still lose the game. There is a lot of baseball left and as the 07 Mets taught us, if you can't consistently beat up the bad teams then you can't assume you're going anywhere.

[TexasCubsFan]

This kind of talk is just fine in August because we are fans not players. What we think or talk about doesn't matter. If we look past the next month and look at playoff match ups and who should start doesn't mean the Cubs too are going to lose focus.

I can completely understand not wanting to participate in conversation like this so you don't get let down later, but to "hate" when other people do it, thats silly. If people want to pass their time making bold predictions as to the date they think the Cubs will clinch a month out, then so be it.



oh, I like September 23rd, anyone care to make this bet a little more interesting ?
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"are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball?" - Major League

[CrankyShoulder]

[TexasCubsFan]

Well, I'm sorry I misinterpreted your post then. Didn't mean anything personal by it.
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"are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball?" - Major League

[greatscott]

October 1st

[MightyTACO]

I'm going to say September 18th. If we can sweep that series against the Brew Crew and remain where the lead stands now, maybe even increase it a bit, that series against Milwaukee at the end of September shouldn't matter. While the Cardinals are looking strong, I just don't think they will be factor.

[WingNut]