When I walked into the office Tuesday afternoon, my colleague D.J. Wanberg said to me, "You know what I hope? I hope people don't get all excited again and think the Cubs are on their way if they beat that Nationals."
Not to worry, D.J. The league-worst Nationals drubbed that Cubbie team 15-6 last night at Wrigley. The eloquent Milton Bradley called it a "Rodney King beatdown."
Just for the record, those plucky Cubbies are 8-13 since Billy the Marlin paraded a goat in front of their dugout on July 31 in Florida. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
its hard to believe that we went from two division winners to two suckfests in over a year span. Sure the 08' Sox weren't great, but that Cubs team last year really had a great shot at winning the pennant and the whole damned thing. In the spring I predicted that New York, Chicago and LA would win each division in each league. And with the Cubs and Sox stinking up the joint and the Mets injured from head to toe that appears its not going to happen, safly.
I don't think the Sox are out of it yet. Obviously, it does not look good and something needs to change. But a 4.5-game deficit with 35 to play is not insurmountable. Detroit is not a dominant team by any means.
The Cubs, though, are likely cooked. St. Louis is pretty damn solid. The Cards would have to really fold for the Cubs to make up nine games down the stretch.
The only thing the Sox have going for them is that Jackson seems to be wearing down as the season prolongs, he's walking batters at the same rate he was at Tampa Bay last season. And with Washurn, with 5 starts in a Tiggerz uni, he's surrendered 5 runs or more in 3 out of 5 starts and with the weak hitting Detroit, that could add up in losses quick. and IIRC The Tigers also have not had a winning September in a few seasons, so maybe that can happen again.
Yeah, like I said, Detroit is not a dominant team. If they were, they would have buried both the Sox and the Twins by now. As it stands, it is still a three-team race.
Unfortunately for the Sox, the best thing they have going for them is the weakness of the competition. They will have to pick up their play significantly to make a serious push.
I wouldn't bet on the Sox. I still haven't paid that playoff ticket invoice. It might sit on the kitchen counter unpaid if this silliness lasts for another week. I don't like what I'm seeing at all, but I've watched too much baseball in my life to concede with still over a month left to go.
Jason, I hope your right. I hope the Sox can get their act together and pounce Detroit.
Well, I actually don't think the Sox will win the division. I'm a card-carrying dark cloud at WSI this year. As I indicated, I wouldn't bet on them.
That said, if you put up with this team's crap for the first 127 games of the season, there's no point in giving up now. Might as well ride out the final 35 games and see what happens.