Tuesday: 12:35 p.m. CSN.
RH Jason Hammel (8-6, 3.59) vs. RH Gerrit Cole (16-8, 2.54).

Tuesday: 6:05 p.m., WGN-9.
LH Jon Lester (9-10, 3.50) vs. LH J.A. Happ (5-1, 1.79).

Wednesday: 6:05 p.m., CSN.
RH Jake Arrieta (19-6, 1.99) vs. RH A.J. Burnett (8-5, 3.14).

Thursday: 11:35 a.m. WGN-9.
RH Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 4.08) vs. RH Charlie Morton (9-7, 4.02).

Pennsylvania continues to kick Cubs ass as they drop 3 of 4. Pirates vault into 1st in the division.

Cubs take 3.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

It'd be great to chase down the Buccos for home field advantage, but at this point, I'm more concerned with the Cub just not limping into to WC game or somehow, someway blowing the lead over San Fran.

A split here would be just fine.

Pirates are after cards. No time for silly cubbies. #adifferentplan

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Elections have consequences.

I'm nearly sure that the current playoff layout is going to remain the same. I don't see anything changing in the NL.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

It's baseball,who knows?

I'm hoping the Cubs sweep. This is it,no more nice tries.....Stretch Run!

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Looking forward to this week with the Pirates and Cards. Just want to see some solid baseball but would be nice to start by taking both today.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

No way the Cubs will sweep this series. Last I checked...Pirates...pretty good! Just like to see them win a few...play good & competitive games. No injuries.

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

This going to be bad. Cubs are going to lose at least three.

Cubs are pretty good too.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Agree. On my drive to work this morning M&H had their 5 on 5 segment....and they were talking about this series. While they all acknowledged that it was fairly unrealistic for the Cubs to sweep...they also said they "needed" to sweep to make a statement. I suppose since Cubs are 4 back of Pirates..and they play 4 games with them in this series...that is where the "sweep" thought comes from. But come on....Cubs are playing 4 games, on the road, including a double header against a team with a better record, a ton of talent & some stud pitching. No fucking way they [Cubs] sweep. If they do...I'll change my moniker to a Cubs logo! I just hope the Cubs do not get swept. That is more likely.

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

Neither team is getting swept. I know it sucks the Cubs lose to the Phillies, and seem to lose series to losing teams often.

That being said, they step up their game against the better teams, usually. Even the games they don't win...they are close games.

Cubs are 4-3 against the Nats, 5-2 against the Giants, 7-5 against the Pirates, 7-0 against the Mets, 3-4 against the Dodgers, and 6-10 against the Cardinals.

32-24 against playoff contenders.

I know the Mets are better now, but so are the Cubs, at least offensively.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

The award for this can go right next to the Attendance Championship display.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

And yet right now you'd give anything for your organization to be in the position the Cubs are in.

Which is more pathetic? The White Sox organization or your envy of the Cubs organization?

I'm sorry Jerry doesn't appreciate his fans well enough to deliver a competitive product.

Get used to seeing taillights.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

But even the games the Sox don't win, they are close games.


And no. I would not "give anything" for a 3rd place team that is going to need some serious pitching help to win a World Series. Lots of talent in the Cubs organeyezation right now without a doubt, but they are in 3rd place for a reason. They are pretty good, but not a threat for a World Series title.

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Neither were the Royals last season, but somehow they were in a Game 7 of the World Series.

They play in the best division in baseball, and have been extremely competitive against the teams above them all year. They've already shown they can beat any team they would meet in the playoffs, and the Cubs pitching woes largely disappear in a four man rotation.

But you already know all of this. It is just too painful for you to admit aloud.

I'm sorry you cannot remain objective.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

How many years did your owner not deliver a competitive product, or should I ask Pasta?

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

One of the biggest series of the season for us and we've got Cubs fans bitching at White Sox fans and vice versa.

I just want to see the Cubs take at least all 4 games.

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The Sox are three years early.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The best time to invest is when the value is low. Change the product or the business model, and look to the future for sustained success.

Ricketts has made great move after great move since taking over. Model franchise.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Do you really want to compare the 2014 Royals bullpen to this year's Cubs pen? That would not be a pretty discussion for you.

Still 3rd place. I never said the Cubs were bad, I just said they are not a Championship threat right now and you got all butthurt. But hang your hat on the close games the Cubs lose this season if you want to.

I would not feel comfortable with a Hendricks or Hammel starting an elimination game for my team. Especially with how iffy the Cubs bullpen has been lately.

Whatever you say, Mr. Kettle.

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Model Franchise

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Bullpen depth doesn't matter in the playoffs.

The Cubs are a 2015 Championship threat. All 10 teams that make the playoffs are. Wild Card teams consistently get to the World Series. 2 Wild Card teams have won the World Series in the past 4 seasons.

I don't care what you feel comfortable with.

I might be the single most objective baseball poster on this forum. There is not a single White Sox fan that wants to have an objective discussion. I've proven this with the thread I created a couple years ago in the White Sox subforum.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I second Hawg's emoticon.
Those first few season under his ownership of losing on purpose evidently has been forgotten about real quick.

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You are so objective that you immediately dismiss the Cubs weakest link as "not mattering" in the playoffs.

Have a good day.

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This bullpen will cost them somewhere down the line.

They have not been forgotten. In fact, they've been appreciated.

Sometimes the right move to make is the hardest to make at the time.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

The bullpen is definitely a huge concern but once in a while you see a shit pen get hot in the playoffs. The Cubs will need their fair share of luck, no doubt.

How many times do you see the last two guys in the regular season bullpen pitching in an October game, hmm?

I understand White Sox baseball and playoff baseball don't really overlap, so you may not realize the amount of off days during playoff series, and the breaks between series, allow for a much smaller effective pitching staff.

Being a baseball fan and not just a Cubs fan allows me to understand concepts of playoff baseball that would be foreign to you.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.