Desipio Message Board

Rashaan Salaam, who blamed marijuana use for his flame-out with the Bears after his decent rookie season, is dead at 42.

Football is dumb.

These are the only options, friends.

1. The Cubs would never win 3 in a row. Never. Especially with gutless fucking assholes Lester, Arrieta and Hendricks going next.
2. Cleveland could never see a team down 3-1 come back to win a championship round.

I like the Cubs. And I like baseball. They should win many games in the regular season, before kicking us in the nuts in October.

Four months until pitchers and catchers report.

Of the 141 teams the Chicago National League entry has fielded since 1876, 53 have managed to amass at least 82 wins.  The Cubs of 2016 have the 32nd-most wins in franchise history (77th percentile)

Top Cubs teams in history by wins:

1. 1906 --  116
2. 1907  --107
3. 1909 -- 104
3. 1910 -- 104
5. 1935 -- 100
6. 1908 -- 99
7. 1945 -- 98
7. 1929 -- 98
9. 2015 -- 97
9. 2008 -- 97
11. 1984 -- 96
12. 1989 -- 93
12. 1904 --93
12. 1937 -- 93
15. 1911 -- 92
15. 1905 -- 92
15. 1969 -- 92
18. 1912 -91
18. 1928 -- 91
20. 1998 -- 90
20. 1930 -- 90
20. 1932 --90
20. 1886 -- 90
24. 1938 -- 89
24. 2004 -- 89
26. 2003 -- 88
26. 2001 -- 88
26. 1913 --88
29. 1936 -- 87
29. 1885 -- 87
29. 1967 -- 87
32. 2016 -- 86
32. 1933 -- 86
32. 1934 -- 86
35. 2007 -- 85
35. 1898 -- 85
35. 1927 -- 85
35. 1972 -- 85
39. 1970 -- 84
39. 1968 -- 84
39. 1939 -- 84
39. 1931 -- 84
39. 1918 -- 84
39. 1993 -- 84
45. 2009 -- 83
45. 1971 -- 83
45. 1923 -- 83
45. 1890 -- 83
49. 1926 -- 82
49. 1891 -- 82
49. 1903 -- 82
49. 1946 -- 82
49. 1963 -- 82

Since World War II, there have been 17 teams to do that in the 71 seasons. This team is already the 10th best (86th percentile):
1. 2015 -- 97
1. 2008 -- 97
3. 1984 -- 96
4. 1989 -- 93
5. 1969 -- 92
6. 2004 -- 89
7. 2003 -- 88
7. 2001 -- 88
9. 1967 -- 87
10. 2016 -- 86
11. 2007 -- 85
11. 1972 -- 85
13. 1970 -- 84
13. 1968 -- 84
13. 1993 -- 84
16. 2009 -- 83
17. 1946 -- 82
17. 1963 -- 82

OK, after tonight's win, the Cubs are 71-41 with 50 games left. Only 50 games left, friends.

Magic Number is Roosevelt Road.

STL  4-0
MIL 3-1
@COL 2-1
@SD 3-0
@LAD 2-1
PIT 3-0
SF 3-1
@MIL 3-0
@HOU 2-1
@STL 2-1**** PROJECTED CLINCH DATE 9/13***
MIL 4-0
CIN 3-0
STL 3-0
@PIT 2-2
@CIN 1-2

111-51

I thought they were baseball's version of the 1985 Bears...


... but now I wonder if they're more like the 1985 Cubs.


(I think Huey just might have smashed his laptop or smartphone thanks to that image.)

Feel free to change your vote between now and early November.

Bryan Robinson, who is known for two plays during his six-year Bear career: his block of what would have been a game-winning field goal at Lambeau Field in the Bears 14-13 win Nov. 7, 1999 just days after Payton died (N.B., it was also my father's 55th and last birthday and he was at Lambeau that day basking in the meaningless win, so thanks, Bryan); and his batting of a Tim Crouch pass in overtime of a Nov. 4, 2001 game. That pass was caught by Mike Brown, who ran straight into the end zone down the tunnel and into the Bears locker room.

Federowicz is the fucking worst.

Glenn Frey of the Eagles and of some bad 80s music. Dead.

Doug Atkins, 1963 Bear who would have best fit in with the '85 Bears. Dead at 85.

Seriously. Just one game.

Time to liquidate your portfolio, gang.

Zac Rosscup, I'm talking to you.

Five unearned runs? Time to find another line of work, son.

**Poll subject to change if something awesome happens in the top of the 9th.

Joaquin Andujar, who boycotted 1985 All-Star Game over Dick Williams refusal to make him the starter and then later destroyed the Royals Stadium lockerroom after spending his time on the mound in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series saying a lot of very not nice things to Don Denkinger.

The Tribune's ownership regime of the Cubs has been panned as a failure, but their six playoff appearances in 27 seasons is better than the previous owner's five postseason appearances in 61 seasons, and better than the current owner's 0 playoff appearances in six seasons. The Tribune also modernized the operation of the franchise, spread its appeal worldwide, and probably ensured the Cubs could continue playing in Wrigley Field.

None of that would have been possible minus Stanton Cook, who was the guy who pushed TribCo to buy the Cubs in 1981, took the company public in 1983, created the Tribune Broadcasting arm as a separate subsidiary, and modernized the Tribune's printing press. He also was publisher of the paper in 1974 when he had the paper publish complete transcripts of Nixon's tapes and then helped pen the editorial that came out in favor of Nixon's removal from office. That staff editorial has been credited with convincing Nixon to resign immediately rather than battle an inevitable impeachment and conviction.

Stanton Cook, dead at 90.

I am taking my son and wife to this afternoon's 1:05 game vs. the Indians to see the Cubs finish what the flaming Cuyahoga River started. We have an extra in section 4, row 6. Anyone interested in going?

Wild Card? Nah!

Cubs
ATL 1-0
CLE 1-0
@SF 1-2
@LA 2-1
CIN 3-0
AZ  2-1
@STL 2-1
@PHL  4-0
@PIT 2-2
STL 3-0
MIL 3-0
PIT 2-1
KC 1-0
@CIN 2-1
@ MIL 3-0

32-9 the rest of the way for a 102-60 record

PIT
SF 0-1
@MIA 3-1
COL 3-0
@MIL 2-1
@STL 2-1
@CIN 2-1
MIL 4-0
CUBS 2-2
@LAD 1-2
@COL 3-1
@CUBS 1-2
STL 2-1
CIN 3-0

28-13 the rest of the way for a 101-61 record

STL
@SD 1-0
@AZ 3-1
@SF 1-2
WAS 2-1
PIT 1-2
CUBS 1-2
@CIN 3-1
@MIL 2-1
@CUBS 0-3
CIN 3-0
MIL 3-1
@PIT 1-2
@ATL 3-0

24-16 the rest of the way for a 101-61 record.