# The Cubs' magic number is 69 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 17, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847 "2001-07-17T21:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/1 "2001-07-17T21:39:09Z")
As of right now, the Cubs’ magic number is 69. Hey, that’s my magic number too. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/2 "2001-07-18T04:11:03Z")
Indians 10 Astros 4 The Cubs’ majic number is now 68. It is not too late to jump on this bandwagon. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/3 "2001-07-18T04:42:00Z")
I’d be glad to, if the Cubs didn’t suck so much. Sorry, man, but it’s the truth. And before you ask, I’m a Pirates fan, and they REALLY suck, so I know of what I speak. They won’t win the Series. They never do. I’m trying to cushion the blow for you the best that I can, so it doesn’t surprise you later. Anyway, enjoy the season, since it’ll be over in September. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/4 "2001-07-18T10:57:06Z")
The thing that really sucks about being a Cubs fan is no matter how many times they are in the hunt at the break, by the end of the season they aren’t even close. I don’t even bother to read the box scores anymore. I grew up as a Bears/Cubs/Bulls fan and I’ve never lived anywhere near Chicago. Don’t ask me why; I have no idea other than when I was a little kid, Dick Butkus was still playing for the Bears and I thought he was soooo cool. Everyone respected Butkus, no matter what uniform they wore (or were they all afraid?) I’ve seen the Bears and Bulls reach the top, but I doubt I’ll ever get to see the Cubs win a pennant, let alone the World Series. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/5 "2001-07-19T03:15:18Z")
Cubs 6 Pirates 5 Thanks to two runs in the top of the ninth, the Cubs’ magic number is now 67. The Cubs may suck, depending on your definition of suck, but apparently they suck a little bit less than every other team in the National League or the wouldn’t have the league’s best record. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/6 "2001-07-20T04:59:20Z")
Cards 4 Astros 1 66 ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/7 "2001-07-20T05:57:01Z")
They also lost to the Pirates today. What a terrible team to lose to. I really wanted them to win so they’d have a decent cushion before the Astros series tomorrow. Even so, losing first place (Let’s hope that doesn’t happen) isn’t a monumental problem. The 'stros can’t keep winning like they can and the Cubs have shown they can bounce back. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/8 "2001-07-22T04:29:08Z")
Cubs 5 Astros 4 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/9 "2001-07-22T08:09:03Z")
Um, **Lance**? Are you really that big a fan that you’re counting down the magic number in July? For the people in the cheap seats… **THE CUBS WILL _NOT_ GO TO THE WORLD SERIES!** Q: What do a mama bear on the pill and the World Series have in common? A: No Cubs. That’s straight from the mouth of Harry Carey. Have a nice day, :wally ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/10 "2001-07-24T03:11:40Z")
The Cubs’ magic number is now 62. Um, **Airman Doors, USAF**? I have a girlfriend. Your sweet talk won’t get you anywhere with me. ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/11 "2001-07-24T07:21:09Z")
Just for the record, there, Lance: The Mariners’ number is 44.5. Wouldn’t mind seeing the Cubbies lose to the M’s in the Series, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/12 "2001-07-24T07:30:42Z")
I don’t know how they calculate magic numbers in the Emerald City, but when I use the method that everbody else uses I find that you are way off. The M’s magic number is 45. The M’s magic number to clinch the best record in the AL is 51. (Not that you asked.) Magic numbers are always integers. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/13 "2001-07-25T03:09:06Z")
Bucs 2 Cubs 10. We’re down to 61. The Astros should probably just give up and start thinking about next year. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/14 "2001-07-25T03:15:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lance Turbo \* > \*\*The Astros should probably just give up and start thinking about next year. \*\* Right. Cuz the Cubs have that huge 3 game lead, and we all know how impossible it is for the Cubs to lose 3 games and have the Astros win 3 to tie for the lead. That’s so unlikely as to be an impossiblity. :rolleyes: Now I’m sure you’re a fan and all, but don’t delude yourself into thinking the Cubs are anywhere _near_ wrapping the division up this early. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/15 "2001-07-25T03:48:19Z")
Crunchy, Just because LaRussa couldn’t manage a little league team is no reason to rain on the dreams of Cubs fans. 🙂 Remember that bet we made? I hope so.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/16 "2001-07-25T03:55:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hardygrrl \* > **Just because LaRussa couldn’t manage a little league team is no reason to rain on the dreams of Cubs fans. 🙂** You do realize how many wins LaRussa has in his career? But even putting that aside, I’ve had my doubts about the way he’s handled the pitching staff this year and stayed loyal to players who are having terrible, terrible years and should be benched (Hello, McGwire - he of the under .200 average), so I’m a realist in where my team stands. At 7.5 games back, the Cards are still technically contenders, but I think the NL Central will be won by the Cubs or the Astros, and of the two I’d rather see the Cubs win it. But c’mon, a 3 game lead in July is hardly the time to suggest other teams pack it up and call it a year. ---
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/17 "2001-07-25T03:58:14Z")
Well, whether they beat the Astros or not, at least we don’t have to worry about the Cardinals… Speaking of which, I get to go to Thursday’s game. It could have been, like, more important, but, no, the Cards had to go and suck for a month. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/18 "2001-07-25T04:03:39Z")
The Cardinals only sucked for a month? _One_ month?Wow, it sure seems a lot longer than that. I can’t believe we dropped 2 out of 3 to the Pirates! I’d like to get some people together and form a search party for the Cardinals’ bats. They seem to have misplaced them somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/19 "2001-07-25T13:48:55Z")
Big Mac has been talking about retiring at the end of the season. If so, I suspect he’ll pull a Sandberg and come back for a couple of seasons later on. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/20 "2001-07-25T13:49:54Z")
Yeah, and I’ve got Renteria on my roto team. Christ, THAT didn’t work out. **Lance**! I’m with you brother! I’ll be here counting the magic number all the way! Cubs and Pirates tonight and the Cards and Astros. Looks good for us! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847.md?page=2)