Cubs need strong 2nd half to jump into contention
Well its no longer "early".
There's roughly about 70 games left in the Cubs season, and unless the boys in blue go on a run like no other talk of next year will start,well...this year. How bad have things gone for the Cubs this season? Considering the ideas of $3 beer night and $1 hot dog night have become realistic, maybe the rumors of the Pittsburgh Pirates checking out the Cubs roster for a run at the post-season may have you in deep thought. It seems Charlie Brown will never kick that football out of Lucy's hand and the Cubs will not...cannot beat the Pirates.
The long time bottom-dwelling, worst team in baseball Pirates. ouch.
Luckily there is some hope. The late inning bullpen stars Sean Marshall and Kerry Wood have been steady. Jeff Samardzija, a sore spot for many Cubs fans, has improved alot and has become one of the teams' best weapons in late innings. The potential with young arms Carpenter, Coleman, and Russell has to have fans somewhat optiistic about the future but they need to step up this season. Plus things should get better once rehabbing fire-thrower Andrew Cashner gets back.
Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster have both had great moments this season, so dont let their records fool you. If not for an extremely shaky fist-half of season by closer Carlos Marmol who knows where the Cubs would be.
C'mon Marmol...you know Theriot likes to swing at crap,why are you throwing him sliders??? He, much like me at White Castles, loves sliders!
The Cubs are expecting more from off-season pick-up Matt Garza. While still getting adapted to the National League, Garza needs a big 2nd half if the Cubs are to make any noise in the still win-able Central. As for Randy Wells, he's been as hot and cold as the Katy Perry song.
The same can't be said for 2nd basemen Darwin Barney nor all-star Starlin Castro. They have both been the team's co-MVP's so far, plus it doesnt hurt that Aramis Ramirez has gotten hot Castro has easily been the team's best player and could potentially be one of the best players in the NL. The outfield situation has become interesting as both starters Byrd and Fukudome have had good not great seasons so far, and while the team probably hates to take super-sub Reed Johnson off the field, that 25 year-old kid who plays centerfield and steals all those bases, you know the one who looks like he's 15 (check his ID) that kid has been the spark-plug to many of the Cubs wins this year.
That kid's name is Tony Capana by the way...and you better get used to saying it, as he could be around for a while..
Again the season is far from over, so don't write the boys off yet. Last season the San Francisco Giants played great baseball after the all-star break to get back in to contention and it took them all the way to a world series title. With the NL Central being so close and possessing no dominant team, the potential to gain some ground is there. The Cubs play St.Louis 9 times, Cincinatti 10 times, and Milwaukee 9 times. The Cubs will spend most the 2nd half on the road but at least they will be back at full-strength hitting-wise. Everyone is healthy except Soriano, and he's due back soon.
Only 12 games back with plenty of games ahead, and you know how interesting things get in September.
Then again, the Cubs do meet the Pirates for 7 more games. Yikes.
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