September Stretch - Cubs & Cards Schedule

[TauPentaRei]

Cubs - Cardinals 8/19 rainout is rescheduled for 9/10, previously a mutual day-off for the clubs.

 

I'm a huge fan of this. This means the Cubs have a stretch of 24 games in 23 days, and the Cardinals have an unbelievable stretch of 35 games in 34 days! Furthermore, the Cubs have to alter a roadtrip... stopping for one day in Wrigley between 3 in Pittsburgh and 3 in Houston.

 

Playing the game "only if it mattered" in October would've been ultra dramatic and perhaps would have allowed for some Bartman hijinx... but I like the way this turned out. (And the Cardinals will be visiting us on games ~29-31 of that run.)

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/519988,CST-SPT-csep22.article

[Harold Hutchison]

Perhaps, but I sense that the series early next week against the Cubs will really decide the NL Central. It is a must-sweep for the Crew no matter what. Those lengthy stretches of ball games will not do the Crew any good if they tumble any further.

[Patrick425]

It is a must-sweep for the Crew no matter what.

Hmm. I'm not sure if I would go that far. I think it depends on where the Brewers stand before they face the cubs. If they fall flat on their face over the next week and slip 3 or 4 games behind the Cubs, then yes, you might say it's a "must-sweep". Otherwise, I think 2 out of 3 at Wrigley would be acceptable.

[TauPentaRei]

It is a must-sweep for the Crew no matter what.

 

Lest this thread dissolve in a downward spiral faster than a bachelorette party gets drunk, I think we can all agree that winning 2 out of 3 will be great and getting swept would suck big time.

 

The Cardinals have next Monday off; that is it. Counting the double header they have against the Cubs, and starting after the rain-out... it is effectively 41 games in 41 days. BRUTAL.

[BrewCityUnit]

I think if the Crew wins 1 in Wrigley we will still be fine. Saying we need to sweep the Cubs is a huge stretch.

[SeriesFinale]

Yeah, I don't want to dogpile, but the only must-sweep series would be if we were down four or less games at the start of the San Diego series to wrap up the season.

 

I do like that they shoehorned this game in, though.

[Team Canada]

It is a must-sweep for the Crew no matter what.

 

 

Clancy, that's absurd, you should know better than that.

 

 

I just hope Russ doesn't see this thread..

[TooLiveBrew]

I just hope Russ doesn't see this thread..

lol! My thoughts exactly, TC, as soon as I read that quip. I disagree that we will be 'fine' dropping two whole games by only winning one in Wrigley, but the series is not make-or-break. There are simply too many games left and not enough of a margin in the division. I think the series is what you call a 'statement' series: looks big & sexy & flashy, but really only boils down to a chance to directly pick up or drop three games on the division rivals, who are direct combatants with us for the title. There's no reason to downplay just how important this series is (esp. given that it's the last time we see them this reg. season), nor to pump it up as a 'must-sweep'

 

[SeriesFinale]

If anything it's a "must-not-get-swept," but even then, while disheartening and a big blow, it wouldn't be the end of the season.

[pebadger]

Not to get too caught up in the non-quantifiable, but to me the CUbs series is really about "momentum" as much as anything. If this roadie keeps going like it's started, winning 2 of 3 in Chicago tops it off in great fashion. If the Crew suddenly nosedives tonight and this weekend, the series takes on a different feel in terms of finding an equilibrium again, and getting home on a positive note. All things considered, anything but being swept is fine by me, provided that there isn't another blown lead crusher in there that puts a mental hurdle into the mix again.

 

The thing about the Cards schedule is that they have a LOT of games at home left on the docket. I'm just hoping that the Brewers can maintain or stretch a small cushion over the Cards unitl they get another shot at them in Miller Park. Then apply the sleeper hold.

[logan82]

Winning one of 3 in Wrigley would only lose us one game in the standings. Winning 2 of 3 would only pick up one game in the standings. The only drastic shifts would be a sweep one way or the other.

[mothershipconnection]

We could win 3 straight while they lose 3 at any time and it'd do us just as much good as a direct sweep. It will, however, be a tense time and a pivotal series any way you slice it, though, as there's the possibility of one team gaining 3 games.

 

edit: and I'm really ticked that WGN is only carrying 1 game.