OMFG. Again.
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OMFG. Again.
>40 games left
40 exactly for the Cubs, now 64-58. 21 home, 19 road. Winning percentages to date: home: 68.3%, road 48.4%
Projecting out, that's 9 more wins on the road, and 14 more wins at home, for a season record of 87-75.
I am not confident that's enough to win the division. And it's possible that only one team will come out of the NL Central.
I can't project out using past statistics. Charlie Manuel changes everything. He's like Midas only with baseball.
The Phillies are on fire.
https://i.imgur.com/dWwVAyz.jpg
by R.J. Anderson - CBS Sports
If the Atlanta Braves win the National League East, outfielder Ronald Acuņa Jr. will be one of the biggest reasons why. Acuņa entered Sunday hitting .295/.375/.537 (129 OPS+) with 35 home runs and 29 stolen bases. In other words, he's likely to receive down-ballot MVP consideration -- perhaps more than that if he's able to record the fifth 40-40 season in history.
Yet on Sunday Acuņa found himself benched. Manager Brian Snitker pulled Acuņa after he cost himself extra bases by admiring a long flyball that remained in the park. Rather than a double, Acuņa ended up with a long single. He was then thrown out trying to steal second base.
Here's a look at the play in question:
And here's Acuņa heading to the dugout tunnel to receive the news of his removal:
After the game, Snitker explained his rationale:
There's a part in Leviticus that states no one wins an online argument about ballplayer hustle. Nevertheless, you can see some sense to both sides of the debate.
At the time of Acuņa's long single, the Braves were trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by a 3-0 margin in the rubber game of a potential NL Championship Series preview. It stands to reason he didn't want his team taking anything for granted against an opponent as skilled as the Dodgers. Atlanta would go on to win by a 5-3 score thanks to a Rafael Ortega grand slam.
Of course, leaving Acuņa in the game would've improved the Braves' chances of winning more than any symbolic statement. He's one of the best players in the NL for a reason, and you don't reach such lofty heights by being lazy or anything less than a hard worker. This wasn't even a momentary lapse in concentration so much as a misjudged ball. It happens.
And that's why none of this is likely to matter in a day or two's time. Acuņa will presumably be back in the lineup on Tuesday, hitting homers and stealing bases and leading the Braves to victory.
Cubs blow 2 leads, rally for 'season-defining win'
There's your ESPN headline for your Cubbies RBP.
I am fairly cynical at this point. The road record can't be explained. By anyone.
https://i.imgur.com/miZaE3P.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BxAB8HX.png
https://i.imgur.com/espuW6S.png
Current odds to win the World Series for the teams that still mathematically have a chance.
Cardinal fans for a day tomorrow. I'll post a picture of Busch Stadium when we get back!
You're going into enemy territory? :shock:
He's gonna slip up and give up the ghost. There's gonna be a news story about a Cubs fan hanging from a street light somewhere by Busch stadium in Saint Louis.