GDT 9/8/15-Cubs (Hammel) @ Cardinals (Wacha) 7:15 CDT

[pioneer98]

After this series the Cards play 4 @ Reds. The Pirates get their nemesis, the Brewers for 4 games. And the Cubs play the Phillies for 4.

If the Cards can make it through these next 5 games in OK shape, they might catch a break. After that the Cubs and Pirates play a double-header to kick off 4 games in 3 days against each other, while the Cards are playing in Milwaukee.

Then it's Cards @ Cubs, while the Pirates have to go to LA and start a west coast trip late in the season. I bet the Cubs pass the Pirates because they have an easier schedule (not counting the remaining games vs the Cards, of course).

Another nice thing is the next time the Cubs play the Pirates is Sept 25-27, while the Cards are playing the Brewers.

Bottom line is that there is still a ton of baseball left for players to get healthy, get hurt, get hot/cold, etc.

[Schlich]

Yep. Less than a handful of games leading a division of rivals who've just handed us our proverbial asses in straight series'. 3 weeks to go, and some of you are completely comfortable.

You are so far beyond the point of embarrassing yourself that I can't wait to see what you post next.

If it were just about winning the division I would feel alright knowing the Cubs and Pirates still play eachother for a couple series'. But it's about momentum, and in a lot of ways, confidence. You start stringing together good things on the field, and it'll pay divedends. But it goes the other direction too, when you play sloppy and don't take advantage of your opponents when they give you an in.

2006 called to say hi

That team was so much better than this one. We backed into that October on losing baseball and wounded warriors. Got miracled into a championship. Our returning wounded aren't as good as who we had then. That's my opinion though.

jeff suppan, jeff weaver, anthony reyes. wasn't as much of a miracle as you think. this is a good baseball team that is very injured as was that team.

[pioneer98]

This team is way, way deeper than that 2006 team. That's why they have such a better regular season record. Guys like Sidney Ponson, and the shell of Mark Mulder started a bunch of games for them. Aaron Miles, So Taguchi, Juan Encarnacion, played a ton.

If you are talking just about playoff roster then the two are a lot closer.

[Cronos]

That [2006] team was so much better than this one.

[boops]

This team has a very long way to go before it is a 100 win team.

[Schlich]

i understood that reference .jpg

[Vidor]

This team has a very long way to go before it is a 100 win team.

13 more wins, to be precise.

[Ggultramag]

That [2006] team was so much better than this one.

Statistics wise the 2006 team was better except for the records.. Better batting avg. 15 pts better.. Scored on avg 1 more run per game and they put the ball in play striking out much less of the time- basically 2 times less per game!! Doesn't seem like much of a difference but it is!!

[Jmodene]

That [2006] team was so much better than this one.

Statistics wise the 2006 team was better except for the records.. Better batting avg. 15 pts better.. Scored on avg 1 more run per game and they put the ball in play striking out much less of the time- basically 2 times less per game!! Doesn't seem like much of a difference but it is!!

What about the pitching?

Meanwhile, I see where Baseball Tonight is discussing the whole extra rest thing, pointing out that Cards' starters' ERA is a run higher on extra rest.

Where the heck was all this great research *before* the decision was made?

[planet planet]

That [2006] team was so much better than this one.

Statistics wise the 2006 team was better except for the records.. Better batting avg. 15 pts better.. Scored on avg 1 more run per game and they put the ball in play striking out much less of the time- basically 2 times less per game!! Doesn't seem like much of a difference but it is!!

Without dissecting your comments, how does the pitching compare?