# 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:** 4
**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:** [August 9, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/61 "2001-08-09T23:59:07Z")
Yeah, Heredia just ain’t getting the job done these days. Maybe we can deal for one of those millions of Mets relief pitchers. I hear they mostly made it through waivers. Either that or decide Zambrano could use some major league seasoning as a reliever. Anything to take Heredia’s spot on the roster. We can’t afford that sort of thing much these days. And Oswalt is pitching against the Braves right now. At least Mueller is coming back. That’ll force Augie Ojeda to AAA probably and make Coomer the first hitter off the bench. That’s a good thing. Right? I need some affirmation here! ---
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/62 "2001-08-10T02:38:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\* > > At least Mueller is coming back. That’ll force Augie Ojeda to AAA probably and make Coomer the first hitter off the bench. That’s a good thing. > > Right? I need some affirmation here! \*\* Hopefully, Coomer comes down with another strained calf or something. Ideally, neither him nor Eric Young would get to play much after Mueller gets back (I’m thinking Stairs in LF, Deshields at 2B, Mueller at 3B, Coomer on a bus to the suburbs, and Augie fulfilling his destiny as cult hero). Oh, yeah. I officially give up on Felix. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/63 "2001-08-11T04:39:44Z")
Giants 3 Cubs 9 Magic number = **47** ---
**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:** [August 11, 2001, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/64 "2001-08-11T10:17:01Z")
I still think Coomer is a useful bat off the bench. Ojeda, whatever cults he might inspire, is still hitting just .202 with an OPS of .513. That ain’t gonna get him anywhere. On the other hand, the Cubs apparently want him around. They sent Mathews Jr and Cairo through waivers and lost them both yesterday (Cairo to STL! Dang!). Mathews ain’t a big loss, especially if Rondell White plays CF (cross your fingers) when he comes back. But losing Cairo and keeping Ojeda is a silly move, offensively. And let’s all pray for Kerry here! Can I get a ‘hallelujah’? ---
**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:** [August 12, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/65 "2001-08-12T03:12:23Z")
'Stros 5 Fish 13 Magic number = 46 Less than 48 hours until Bill Mueller comes back. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2001, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/66 "2001-08-12T11:57:53Z")
And starting tomorrow we face Houston for 3. Bere vs Reynolds in the Monday game. It could be worse. Note to self: Borowski = not ready for prime time. At least Houston is throwing Mlicki tonight. That’s always a big plus for the cause of goodness and order. ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/67 "2001-08-12T23:33:40Z")
Giants 7 Cubs 6 Nice comeback try but it shouldn’t have been necessary. The early error that led to the first Giant runs were huge. And then Fassero ends up giving up 3 runs later that proved to be the deciding runs. Houston 10 Florida 5 The lead for the series tomorrow will be a mere 1/2 game. ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/68 "2001-08-14T03:29:43Z")
Did I say lead? I meant deficit. Houston - a lot Cubs - not enough Bill Mueller came back for pinch hit and late inning duties. Not bad. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/69 "2001-08-15T03:39:22Z")
Cubs 3 Astros 1 Magic Number = 44 ---
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/70 "2001-08-15T04:30:17Z")
I bet the Cardinals are loving this. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/71 "2001-08-15T22:15:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DynoSaur \* > \*\*I bet the Cardinals are loving this. \*\* As long as we keep winning and the Cubs and Astros keep beating up on each other, we’re slowing climbing up the ladder. Only 4 games out of 1st place now, 3.5 games if the Astros and Cards both win tonight. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2001, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/72 "2001-08-16T01:43:45Z")
Cubs 5 Astros 1 Magic Number = 42 [sub]Confidential to the Houston Astros: You had your day (literally) in the sun. It’s over. There’s no shame in giving up now.[/sub] ---
**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:** [August 16, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/73 "2001-08-16T01:57:48Z")
I was just perusing Houston’s schedule. 19 or their next 22 games are against sub .500 teams with an average winning percentage of .403. (They have combined for a 10-20 (.333) record in each of their last ten games) I’m pretty sure that I don’t like the looks of that, but at least the Astro’s last 19 games are all against playoff contenders. (If you count the Cards as playoff contenders.) ---
**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:** [August 16, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/74 "2001-08-16T02:42:22Z")
Any team with McGwire is a contender in my book. But they’re still down by 4 1/2 with about 40 games to go. It’s tighter than in looks. If the Cubs play .500 the rest of the way they’ll end up with 89 wins. If we stay on current pace they’ll end up with 92 wins. Will that be enough? Of course, according to [ESPN.com](http://ESPN.com) the Cubs have the hardest remaining schedule of any NL contender. Keep that pitching up kids, keep it up! When do we give Zambrano a start or two? Or do we keep him down to make sure we don’t start his arbitration clock? At least they brought Patterson up again. I’ll take him over Mathews any day of the week and twice on Sundays! And to repeat **Lance** , the answer is now 42. But wasn’t it always? ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/75 "2001-08-19T05:52:55Z")
Sweet lord, the Cubs are out of first by a whole game now. When will those Astros start losing, and the Cardinals too for that matter. Not cool. Sidenote: Byung Hyun Kim (sp?) from Arizona is frickin amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/76 "2001-08-19T06:37:24Z")
TEN IN A ROW!!! Whooohooo! I have to gloat about this, because, who knows what will happen. This might be my last chance. ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/77 "2001-08-19T14:24:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dave Swaney \* > **TEN IN A ROW!!!** Just so everyone knows, this is the Cardinals’ _second_ 10 game winning streak of 2001. For the rest of the year they’re 47-55. A very strange team. God bless Albert Pujols. ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/78 "2001-08-20T03:46:53Z")
11 in a row…woo…freakin…hooo!! Just 5 more…and we’re in the clear…😉 ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/79 "2001-08-20T04:12:12Z")
ah, yes, blowing a 4 run lead, falling out of first place and the wild card…here is the Cubs of old I’ve been waiting for… Another loyal Cubs fan comes to reality – there is no baseball in October… ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847/80 "2001-08-20T04:41:31Z")
This is irritating, but I will not give up hope because there really doesn’t seem to be a reason to. Think about it, these Cubs bounce back every time. We like to think they’ll choke but they haven’t for the entire season. Also, theres about 40 games left and the majority of the ones that involve playing the top teams in the Central Division are in the last two weeks. That’ll decide the season, not this series against Arizona. Even if the Cubs swept em, I wouldn’t feel like they had the division in the bag. A Cub fan will never feel good about their team until the final out of the last game of the Cubs victory in the World Series because only the Cubs would let a 10 run lead get away in the 9th innning with two outs and nobody on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cubs-magic-number-is-69/72847.md?page=5)