NL Central

[gregmag]

Some NL Central fun facts:

The Brewers lead the Cubs by two games. The Cubs would be in first place in any other division (pending the rest of today’s results).

The Brewers now have the best run differential in MLB at +119 (after having had, IIRC, the worst four-game start by run differential in MLB history). The Cubs are next at +115. Then come the 60-52 Yankees at +92.  It would be very hard to deny that the Brewers and Cubs have been the two best teams in baseball to this point.

As a division, the NL Central is now 32 games over .500. The NL East is -11, NL West is -29, AL East is +23, AL Central is -15, AL West is +2.  But the NL Central has also been unlucky. By Pythagorean record, the NL Central should be +42. Every NL Central team except the Cardinals is lagging their Pythagorean record by one or two wins.  (My math has to be off by a game or two somewhere, but it’s close.)

[dlk9s]

 

[Frisbee Slider]

[gregmag]

37 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

BFWFIB

[RWeeksFan23]

On 8/3/2025 at 10:29 AM, 82brewcrew82 said:

 They are good, no doubt, but I'd rather face them than say a Marlins team that sneaks in during the first round.

I mean let's not get crazy..

[82brewcrew82]

4 hours ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

I mean let's not get crazy..

Whats crazy about that?

[HarveysWBs]

Cubs deadline acquisition Michael Soroka could only complete two innings tonight in his Cubs debut after complaining of shoulder soreness.
 

It should be noted that Soroka is experiencing a dip in velocity going on a month now.

[82brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, HarveysWBs said:

Cubs deadline acquisition Michael Soroka could only complete two innings tonight in his Cubs debut after complaining of shoulder soreness.
 

It should be noted that Soroka is experiencing a dip in velocity going on a month now.

But that was all by "design"...

[kestrel79]

22 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

I thought these were the classiest fans in baseball? That respect the game and don't care about wins and losses? :) Love to see it.

[TURBO]

Screw the Cardinals...

[HarveysWBs]

I for one would be in favor of the Cubs finding themselves in the Wild Card round and getting their hearts ripped out there. That sounds like a nice script change for once.

[owbc]

13 hours ago, kestrel79 said:

I thought these were the classiest fans in baseball? That respect the game and don't care about wins and losses? :) Love to see it.

Turns out Rockies fans are actually the best in baseball. 30,400 average to watch a historically bad team… 

[wiguy94]

2 hours ago, HarveysWBs said:

I for one would be in favor of the Cubs finding themselves in the Wild Card round and getting their hearts ripped out there. That sounds like a nice script change for once.

I'd be even more in favor if they just collapse and miss the playoffs like they did in 2023.

[Playing Catch]

9 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

I'd be even more in favor if they just collapse and miss the playoffs like they did in 2023.

And have Kyle Tucker sign with the White Sox.

[Underachiever]

Counsell has Turner pinch hit for PCA in the 9th

[markedman5]

6 game lead baby

[sveumrules]

7 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

6 game lead baby

Looks like the Brewers (39 W - 35 L) were still 6.5 games back of the Cubs (45 W - 28 L) as late as June 17th.

Since then the Brewers have gone 34 W - 9 L versus 22 W - 22 L for the Cubs to swing things 12.5 games.

[owbc]

[wiguy94]

14 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Looks like the Brewers (39 W - 35 L) were still 6.5 games back of the Cubs (45 W - 28 L) as late as June 17th.

Since then the Brewers have gone 34 W - 9 L versus 22 W - 22 L for the Cubs to swing things 12.5 games.

12.5 game swings in a span of 43 games typically takes one team being good and one being bad. The fact the Brewers have done this while the Cubs are .500 is just insanity. What a special run.

[gregmag]

The Brewers are five games better than any other team in MLB. That seems pretty remarkable, especially for early August.

[formerlybis]

I watched a bit of the Cubs game on TBS last night against the Blue Jays. They are not in a good headspace right now - several outward displays of frustration at repeated failure to deliver on opportunities. PCA, in particular, is struggling mightily and he’s not handling it well.

They have a big lead in the WC race, and I don’t think they’ll collapse that much, but it’s going to start becoming an issue if this bad aura keeps up much longer. The Brewers could help that along directly next week (gotta think the out of town scoreboard has been doing a number on their heads, too).

[SF70]

42 minutes ago, formerlybis said:

I watched a bit of the Cubs game on TBS last night against the Blue Jays. They are not in a good headspace right now - several outward displays of frustration at repeated failure to deliver on opportunities. PCA, in particular, is struggling mightily and he’s not handling it well.

They have a big lead in the WC race, and I don’t think they’ll collapse that much, but it’s going to start becoming an issue if this bad aura keeps up much longer. The Brewers could help that along directly next week (gotta think the out of town scoreboard has been doing a number on their heads, too).

The Cubs have a boatload of underperforming positional players that when they start regressing to the mean, will score enough runs to be dangerous again, especially when they get Taillon back next Monday.

Not saying they overtake MKE, but I believe they can win enough games the rest of the year to challenge for the top WC spot.

[Brian]

49 minutes ago, SF70 said:

The Cubs have a boatload of underperforming positional players that when they start regressing to the mean, will score enough runs to be dangerous again, especially when they get Taillon back next Monday.

Not saying they overtake MKE, but I believe they can win enough games the rest of the year to challenge for the top WC spot.

LOL, from Bleeding Cubbie Blue.  "Jed Hoyer is a moron when he hired a damn Brewer to coach this team."  PCA gets a balled up Cubs T-Shirt thrown at him in Toronto.  It doesn't get any better than this.  Looks like there under a little pressure. 

[SeaBass]

8 minutes ago, Brian said:

LOL, from Bleeding Cubbie Blue.  "Jed Hoyer is a moron when he hired a damn Brewer to coach this team." 

CC is a sleeper agent confirmed.

[JCREW]

10 hours ago, SF70 said:

The Cubs have a boatload of underperforming positional players that when they start regressing to the mean, will score enough runs to be dangerous again, especially when they get Taillon back next Monday.

Not saying they overtake MKE, but I believe they can win enough games the rest of the year to challenge for the top WC spot.

I hear you, but I think the current Cubs are them regressing toward the mean from an over-their-heads start to the year.