By Marty Gangler
Reality is a bitch.
After a season-changing 6-1 week two weeks ago, the Cubs came back to reality last week by going 3-3 – and then they lost the first game of this week to the Nats on Monday. The trend is not our friend.
Sure, the Cubs are still in this mother, but it’s not gonna be simply a case of riding a sweet wave to the playoffs – even if you are looking at this season in Joe Maddon-Colored Glasses.
No, it’s gonna be a street fight. After all, the Cubs have lost their last four games by a grand total of four runs. For those not good at math, that means they lost four one-run games.
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The Week In Review: The Cubs took two of three from the Padres and lost two of three to the D-backs. They also lost the first game this week to the Nats. So, not good. And that is not outcome bias, that’s the truth.
The Week in Preview: The Cubs stay home for two more against the Nats before the Royals come to town. And they don’t care about your Cubs love affair.
The Second Basemen Report: Addison Russell played six of the seven games at second since the last Cub Factor. He got four hits and two walks total in those six games. Which stinks. Jonathan Herrera played the other game at second and went 0-3, which also stinks. Hell is coming to dinner soon for someone in this infield because Javy Baez is raking again in Triple A.
In former second basemen news, Alberto Gonzalez last played second base for the Cubs in 2013. I don’t remember him, but who was really watching in 2013 anyway? Alberto is now a Wichita Wingnut. He is missed.
Mad(don) Scientist: Uh oh! Big Poppa Joe is starting to bitch about the Cubs’ schedule. This the first of many things Cub managers complain about on their way to their inevitable meltdown.
Wishing Upon A Starlin: Our hero is currently playing at below replacement level (it’s in there at the end of that page).
Ameritrade Stock Pick of the Week: The excuses market surged forward this week.
Kubs Kalender: On Sunday vs. the Royals, the Cubs are giving away a bunch of Clark the Cub “W” flag bobbleheads. Apparently Clark lost more than his pants in the desert.
East Coast Cubs: Former Cub Matt Murton is a friggin’ beast in the Japanese league. He is playing for the Hanshin Tigers in the same outfield as Kosuke Fukudome. He is also called Thunder Matt by some and broke Ichiro’s single-season hit record over there. He is missed.
Over/Under: Number of games Edwin Jackson will get into this week: +/- 1.5.
Beachwood Sabermetrics: A complex algorithm performed by The Cub Factor staff using all historical data made available by Major League Baseball has determined that this is where the season is heading.
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* Touch ’em all: The Cub Factor archives.
* Know thy enemy: The White Sox Reports.
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Marty Gangler is our man on the Cub. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on May 25, 2015