Chicago Cubs 2024

#976      
I just noticed that the Cubs' FanGraphs odds of making the 2024 playoffs did not update/improve following the Braves late loss against the Phillies. 6.9% seems absurdly low now that we've pulled to within 3 games of the Bravos............and with 25 games still to play!

NOTE: We do indeed lose the tie-breaker to both the Braves and Mets. Not good.

I thought ESPN and Fangraphs used the same odds calculator, but ESPN now has the Cubs up to 7.1%. Baseball Reference is more optimistic with it being 15.3.
 
#980      
ehh
after the fact , it’s easy to say 89 wins,
but at Oct 1st, everyone wants to be in the playoffs .

this has been a very weird year . not one we will feel good about if we finish well but miss the playoffs yet again .
As good as the extended wild card is for fans, in some ways it is just as bad for rebuilding franchises on an upward trajectory and makes it tough on GMs. I give Hoyer credit for his approach at the deadline. Cubs were playing “average” ball — think they were like 10 games out in division and 6 out in wild card (can’t remember how many teams between them and final spot). While a lot of fans see that wild card number and think we can still make wild card so make some trades to get there, in Cubs case it wasn’t really the prudent thing to do. Tinker around the edges to maybe get a leg up this season but with more an eye on 2025 when your young core should start making appearances was the right thing to do.

As to the answer to the original question, I agree with you that knowing the outcome skews everything, but you always want the playoffs. Last year neither World Series team was a divisional winner nor even in first wild card spot. Never know what can happen. Player or two get scorching in playoffs, and might just find yourself in WS.
 
#982      
As to the answer to the original question, I agree with you that knowing the outcome skews everything, but you always want the playoffs. Last year neither World Series team was a divisional winner nor even in first wild card spot. Never know what can happen. Player or two get scorching in playoffs, and might just find yourself in WS.
Agreed but the intention of the question was knowing the outcome.
That loss pales in comparison to the possibility of losing Steele the rest of the year.
After hearing Hoyer on the Score this morning he didn't sound overly optimistic. If so, final nail in the coffin. He's our stud.
 
#983      
Agreed but the intention of the question was knowing the outcome.

After hearing Hoyer on the Score this morning he didn't sound overly optimistic. If so, final nail in the coffin. He's our stud.
I’d still take playoffs as long as they weren’t negatively impacting future by having made deadline trades to get there. Playoff experience is always good even if swept, and that sweep might just act as additional motivation going into offseason.
 
#987      
They made the games I went to in Miami more exciting, and the game my son went to last night way more disappointing.
 
#988      
fyi...just some rough Math; ; NL last wildcard is Braves 67-59 - .532 - Braves are on 86 win pace. Cubs are 62-65 > 24 more wins out of 35 remaining games =>69% winning % to just catch the Braves pace
just for curiousity, dug back to this old post back on Aug 22 Cubs under .500 - 5.5 games back
... Braves are now 76-63 -.547, Cubs 72 - 68 - 4.5 games ahead of Cubs
...Braves pace up to 88.6 games -> Cubs to get to 89 games (just to tie & lose tiebreaker) 17-5 =>.772 pace
...then of course the Mets are still 4 games ahead as well @ 76-64
...so we have went 10-3 (.769) since Aug 22 and have lost ground on the pace we needed to catch the Braves & I think the Mets have extended there lead on the Cubs.
 
#989      
if Braves & Mets play as expected , the Cubs need to play .750 or better to have a chance to make the playoffs

it’s pretty much over for 2024
 
#991      
Remaining games. Mets have tough schedule. Cubs need to play well against good teams not just under .500 teams.

GWLGWLGWL
Cubs
72​
68​
Mets
76​
64​
Braves
76​
63​
1​
Rockies
51​
89​
-38​
-38​
3​
Yankees
80​
60​
20​
60​
3​
Reds
67​
73​
-6​
-18​
3​
Blue Jays
67​
74​
-7​
-21​
3​
at Dodgers
84​
56​
28​
84​
3​
at Blue Jays
67​
74​
-7​
-21​
1​
Reds
67​
73​
-6​
-6​
3​
at Rockies
51​
89​
-38​
-114​
3​
at Phillies
83​
56​
27​
81​
2​
at Nationals
62​
77​
-15​
-30​
3​
Athletics
61​
79​
-18​
-54​
3​
Nationals
62​
77​
-15​
-45​
4​
Dodgers
84​
56​
28​
112​
4​
Nationals
62​
77​
-15​
-60​
4​
Phillies
83​
56​
27​
108​
3​
at Reds
67​
73​
-6​
-18​
3​
at Phillies
83​
56​
27​
81​
3​
at Braves
76​
63​
13​
39​
3​
at Marlins
52​
87​
-35​
-105​
3​
Reds
67​
73​
-6​
-18​
3​
at Brewers
81​
59​
22​
66​
3​
Mets
76​
64​
12​
36​
22​
-2​
-21​
22​
61​
210​
3​
Royals
76​
65​
11​
33​
23​
-56​
-37​
 
#992      
if Braves & Mets play as expected , the Cubs need to play .750 or better to have a chance to make the playoffs

it’s pretty much over for 2024
I think if it was only 1 team in front of you, maybe you could hope for some help with a collapse (like the Cubs gave the Mets in 69)...but at this point with both the Mets & Braves that far in front it will probably take better than a .750 finish considering both the Braves & Mets have been playing above their season average as of late.
 
#993      
Bellinger and Busch seemed to enjoy playing against the team that got rid of them. Bellinger has played enough to have a great history against them.
 
#994      
Chicago Cubs GIF by Marquee Sports Network
 
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