I never intended for this to be a Sports Blog but lately I haven't had much else to write about. I do have to post an update to the bathroom remodel (it's finally completed and looks great). and I might have some other news to share this week.
I generally don't pay attention to baseball until at least after the All-Star Break and usually not until August. I don't remember when I discovered Cubs Magic Number but I have been following it closer since moving down here. In 2023 the Cubs outperformed so well in May and June that the owners couldn't justify cleaning house. They faded in August.
So the Cubs fired the manager who made that happen and hired Craig Counsell, the coach of the Milwaukee Brewers. The next year, they faded a little bit later in the season. This year, they were better out of the gate.
After sweeping the Pirates, the Cubs got swept by the Reds, who squeaked into the playoffs, edging out the Mets, whom I would have preferred. The Cubs have won 92 out of 162 games this year and swept the Cardinals (serves them right for intentionally walking Busch instead of letting him try to hit for the cycle).
But here's the thing: once the playoffs start, everything resets. That's what the insufferable Baseball Purists hate about the changes to the baseball playoff format. Over a 162 game season, teams have winning and losing streaks. A team like the Reds, who are barely over .500, might just catch a team that had over 90 wins in a slump during the playoffs.
My hope is that the Cubs beat the Padres this week and move on to the next round. I don't expect them to do much beyond that, but there is always hope.
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