If the Cubs are supposed to be 'all that'

[stevenash]

Let's see them win the series (2 out of 3 or better) against the Nationals this Mon - Wed.

Cubs face Gio, Stras, and Max.

Back to back to back in Washington.

Good luck with all that.
Win the series I'll take the Cubs serious, if not, just another bunch of posers.

[Ratpack]

I think they get swept

[Looking4Winners]

I think they get swept

It's a 4-game series. Cubs will get at least one. Game 4 match-up Lester against Ross.

[NLChad11]

Cubs are legit...I guess last year didn't prove it enough to a lot of people. They are playing piss poor baseball right now, I'll give you that. But not sure if you've ever noticed, it's hard to play perfect baseball year after year. I'm hoping they turn it around and win for many years with this team, since I'm a big fan, but it's tough to do. This is a big series that could turn their season around or leave them grinding it out around .500 and trying to win their division...we shall see...

[BigDeem5]

They have 5th starter going today wouldn't call em frauds if don't win

[themike78]

I guess winning the world series wasn't enough. They are supposed to go 162 and 0 also?

[jjgold]

THey had miracle world series win

THey are just average team now with average players

[pattymayo]

It's a 4 game series first of all

Second it's June, they could get swept and it wouldn't make a difference on if they are "for real" or not

[BaseballChaser]

So, a 4 game series on the road vs the best/2nd best team in the NL is the reason we take a team seriously or not?

[juicername]

So, a 4 game series on the road vs the best/2nd best team in the NL is the reason we take a team seriously or not?

A completely meaningless series in the middle of the season no less.

[NLChad11]

THey had miracle world series win

THey are just average team now with average players

Kris Bryant top 5 player in all of baseball. Anthony Rizzo top 20 in all of baseball. The rest I guess could be categorized as average, Happ well on his way to being one of the top young talents in the league...Happ, Russell, Baez, Contreras, Almora still very young. Pitching staff struggling for sure.

JJ sounds like a typical cubs hater, but that's ok. Good teams are always hated the most.

[Reck]

Remember no one has repeated since 2000. The long 2016 season wears on your pitchers. All four main starters are down from 2016 numbers. Injuries have taken a toll. Can't blame Schwarber as he wasn''t there most of 2016.

However it is time for the Cubs to man up and compete with the best teams in the NL. All teams have injuries. Just winning a weak NL Central is not enough. A first round playoff exit is not enough.

Play the series, see where the chips fall, and make adjustments one way or the other.

Should be a great week of baseball.

[stevenash]

So, a 4 game series on the road vs the best/2nd best team in the NL is the reason we take a team seriously or not?

Yes.
First off, I didn't see the Thursday game on the schedule, my bad.
Second, if you get blown out of the water by a team you're supposed to contend with for the NL pennant, what am I to think?
"oh, that's OK, we can beat everybody else.

News flash, this is not a meaningless game in June, we are just about at the half way point, this is an acid test, not a meaningless series in June.

[stevenash]

A completely meaningless series in the middle of the season no less.

I'll say it again, a 4 game set in the middle of the season against a team you're supposed to contend with is meaningless, how?
It's an acid test, a meaningless 4 game set in June would be Phillies versus Atlanta, that's meaningless, this series is not.

[RisingDough]

Nationals are the superior team right now, no doubt about that. Cubs have had troubles all season but I do believe they win the Central and anything can happen once your in the playoffs.

[stevenash]

And another thing, why is Maddon leading off with his catcher tonight?
Has the man gone senile?

Contreras has no foot speed what so ever, and he has an OBA of .314
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't your prototypical lead off man supposed to a)get on base, and b) have good foot speed, not some lumpy catcher that has an on base percentage a whole ten points below MLB average?

[unde0087]

With all due respect Nasher, The Nationals are the definition of the word fraud. Put them in any pressure situation and they fold like a cheap ass tent. I am still trying to remember a meaningful game the Nationals actually won.

[tatddy]

Nash I love you man and you're one of the sharpest tools in this shed but a series in June for a team 1.5 games back in the division in this game of peaks and valleys is never this significant.

That said I hope you're right. I have the Crew at +3300 to win that division. Not overly confident in it but had to take that value.

You can lose divisions in June...you sure as hell can't win them.

[d2bets]

Very young and very talented lineup/position players and a top-notch front office. They won ahead of schedule last year. But the talent, farm and resources are there to complete every season, not just this season. Doesn't mean they are going to win 100 every season.

[paco]

I took the Cubs today.

[The Giant]

The Cubs are the baseball version of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They're just coasting along until it matters.

[Primetime99]

eddie buttler has not been good on the road. Washington runline tonight

[tatddy]

And another thing, why is Maddon leading off with his catcher tonight?
Has the man gone senile?

Contreras has no foot speed what so ever, and he has an OBA of .314
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't your prototypical lead off man supposed to a)get on base, and b) have good foot speed, not some lumpy catcher that has an on base percentage a whole ten points below MLB average?

Guess Joey M wins this one. Speed doesn't matter much when you hit it 400 ft.

[ticklemepink1991]

Guess Joey M wins this one. Speed doesn't matter much when you hit it 400 ft.

he had schwarber leading off half the year so far, i dont think his obp was higher than .200 lol

[jjgold]

The Cubs can sweep it means nothing I love the amateurs in the thread That think one series defines a team

[tatddy]

he had schwarber leading off half the year so far, i dont think his obp was higher than .200 lol

Yeah can't take anything from a few AB just having fun with it. Contreras sacrifice bunt that he nearly beat out (1/2 step) 2nd ab was equally impressive.

[lakerboy]

Great teams always get lucky in all ways. This year all of the sudden the St Louis Cardinals are irrelevant. The division is garbage. Very lucky Cubs.

[HedgeHog]

Say this series splits at 2 wins each. What would this say about the strength of the Nats and Cubs? If this 4-game matchup was in September instead of June, it would be a better indicator IMO.

[paco]

I took the Cubs today.

[NLChad11]

And another thing, why is Maddon leading off with his catcher tonight?
Has the man gone senile?

Contreras has no foot speed what so ever, and he has an OBA of .314
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't your prototypical lead off man supposed to a)get on base, and b) have good foot speed, not some lumpy catcher that has an on base percentage a whole ten points below MLB average?

Nobody cares about a prototypical leadoff hitter anymore. Hardly any small ball being played, stolen bases are rare compared to what they used to be. It's all about getting on base and staying put so the guys behind you can hit the long ball. Strikeouts are no big deal, it's not about contact anymore. It's home runs, elevating the ball... that's all they try to do now. So who cares who leads off.

[Laker_crazy]

What the cubs doing? are they going to blow a 5 run lead bottom 9 th? really

[Laker_crazy]

Davis vs Harper... Interesting !

[pilebuck13]

Tell me how the nats win a series with current bullpen? Not likely, they are non contenders unless they add to the bull pen

[funnyb25]

Almost blew this one....5-0 9th inning

[lakerboy]

Cubs might sweep these clowns