The Cubs winning streak ended on Sunday at nine, but what a nice run. The team has played stellar ball since the awful Phillies series. I kind of figured that when the streak ended it would be against a guy like Sale and a team like the Sox. Sale is one of the best pitchers in the American League and just the sort of guy who gives this team fits.
Anyway, through the streak, it is a shame they have not made up more ground, though they have picked up four games on the Cards since their lowest point and the same amount or one fewer against the Pirates. They have also pretty much put the Giants in the rear-view mirror for the time being in the race for the second wild card spot. It is an oddity of the way the NL divisions are structured that the three best teams are part of the same division and that any of the three would be in first place in the East or West.
Monday is a day off, but the Cubs have seven more games at home against mediocre rivals, the Tigers, Braves, and a makeup game against the Indians. They should be able to dominate these clubs unless there is some terrible letdown. After that there is a tough West Cost trip against the Giants and Dodgers and a pretty tough September schedule that features many games against the Pirates and Cardinals before they finish off the year on the road against Cincinnati and Milwaukee. Of course, that is what you want if you are in contention. You want to be up against the strongest division rivals.
There are still persistent rumors the Cubs are seeking a deal for Chase Utley of the Phillies. I sure hope they forget this. Utley's contract is a bit of an albatross and he seems to want to play every day and play on the West Coast. Just let this one go, guys. Castro and Coghlan are not the ideal combination defensively at second base, but LaStella seems to be coming along pretty nicely in his rehab, and the team has been winning despite that weakness, so just let it go.
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