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Well, gang, we're sitting here at 106 games played, 56 to go, and our Birds have a cushion. Time to play what if:

What if the Cardinals play .500 ball the rest of the way?

At 67-39 currently, going 28-28 from here out, they would finish at a respectable 95-67. I'm not saying that's the kind of momentum we want to see them carry into October, just gauging the chances of the chasers. The 67-39 percentage extrapolates to 102 wins.

If the Cardinals play .500 ball to finish out, Houston has to go 37-19 to reach a tie in the division. Not out of the realm of possibility given their fantastic July, though they only gained 4 games on the Cardinals during that month. The Cubs would have to play 41-15 ball to tie. Not this year, given the pitching injury woes. Tell me again why they didn't re-sign Clement?

The good news is TLR will never settle for .500 to finish out. I'm feeling pretty good about the last two months, and I'm guessing most of you are too.

TSF

Posted by TedSimmonsFan at August 3, 2005 11:27 AM
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I'm enjoying seeing the subs get some reps with the 9-game bulge---I think that's only going to make this team stronger come postseason, assuming we get Molina, Sanders, Rolen and Walker back.

Even if the worst-case scenarios play out---Walker and Rolen are cooked for the year---I feel pretty good right now about trotting out Nunez to 3rd and Rodriguez to right (or left, with Sanders going to right).

Posted by: salvo at August 3, 2005 03:58 PM

It feels like February of an NBA season.

Posted by: Rob at August 3, 2005 07:09 PM

41-15 for the Cubs?

Posted by: Jh at August 3, 2005 08:00 PM

I could see Rolen/Sanders out for the year, based on recent reports, but I have a feeling Larry Walker would take a cortisone shot and play through the back pain in the postseason - and judging by his last month or so before going on the DL, it probably wouldn't be too bad.

Posted by: MO Boiler at August 4, 2005 06:11 AM

I heard the opposite--Walker perhaps out for the year, but Sanders still on target for a Sept. 1 return....

Posted by: salvo at August 4, 2005 07:03 AM

Oops, right you are Jim, 41-15 for the Cubs. I will correct it.

TSF

Posted by: TedSimmonsFan at August 4, 2005 11:55 AM

I gotta get my eyes checked. I was sure that jh's comment was from jim. Anyway, originally posted 41-5, should have been 41-15.

TSF

Posted by: TedSimmonsFan at August 4, 2005 12:26 PM

I don't see the TV news out here, so that may be a more recent thing. I've gotta believe that two months of R&R will make Larry feel young enough again for one last postseason run.

Posted by: MO Boiler at August 4, 2005 05:46 PM