This is primarily in response to the epic thread where nobody left happy debating the idea of intangibles.

Why do people have to get so angry about this? I don't get it at all.

I am certainly not a sabermagician, and I am likely below average at traditional science and mathematics, but going off of the list that was provided in that post, I will try to provide methods of making the intangible tangible.

    * Second efforts
    * Heart and Determination
    * Work ethic
    * Hustle
    * Being "clutch"
    * Ability to play thru pain
    * Mental toughness
    * Intelligence
    * Ability to be mentally "in the game"
    * Maturity / Immaturity
    * Team chemistry
    * Leadership
    * Comfort
    * Communication
    * Hot/Cold Streaks

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I've been following the standings on MLB.com and have been quite intrigued by the run differential for teams, and the subsequent expected WIN-LOSS records for those teams. Strangely enough, some of teams with amazing records shouldn't, statistically speaking, be having those kinds of years

Here's the breakdown of the top teams in reference to run differential and expected WIN-LOSS:

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I know that things aren't great for all things Cubs at the moment, but I think a lot of people are overlooking things. I felt it appropriate to add, yet another, thread regarding the topic of optimism with this team.

Back at the end of May, I said this about the Brewers (I'm paraphrasing):

"The Brewers have a great offense, but like the Astros, are far too one dimensional of a team to sustain any sort of prolonged winning percentage in order to keep pace. Teams like this certainly get hot and have the bats carry them for a time, remember how the Astros were 'a surprise contender' early on? I can see the Brewers getting hot and pulling really close around the All Star Break, but will likely fade come August."

Now, obviously the Brewers have tilted the scales a bit by adding Sabathia, and thereby giving them a much more dynamic team. It seems that the Brewers are trying to cheat the math a bit and avoid the eventual slump they'd hit by bolstering the rotation before that time comes. Their chances are good, but they are still a hit first, pitch second, team, and with, still, a shoddy bullpen, it won't necessarily be difficult for them to win, but it's hard to imagine them to keep on winning at the pace they've been winning at.

Are the Cubs in a slump right now? You bet. You know the good news? Apparently, the Cubs slumping are a .500 team! That is, without a doubt, PHENOMENAL! Since Soriano got hit in the hand, per Al's thread, the Cubs are 17-17. What do you hope for when a star player goes down if not 'Boy, I just hope that they can play .500 ball till he comes back'? And I know that stats can be deceiving, and that they've been worse lately. But looking at their last 10 games, guess what, they're 5-5.

This team, at it's worst, is still a .500 team.

Early on in the season, everything was coming up Cubs. Since Soriano went down, think of the things the team has had to endure:

Soriano out

Ramirez slumping, not once, but twice!

Lee leading MLB (I think) with 20 DPs

Fukdome being awful

Zambrano on the DL

Johnson on the DL

Eyre on the DL

Marmol imploding AND exploding

Howry being just bad

DeRosa in the OF with less than stellar defense

Wood being unavailable with a blister

The two little players that could, and the over-the-hill slugger being the only offensive threats in the lineup.

All that, and this team is STILL in first place by the same amount as they were when Soriano went down. Granted the Brewers have gained ground, but so what? We've been cold and they've been hot. I'm looking forward to August and, hopefully, a revitalized team.

I'm not going to say "Step away from  the ledge", because part of me is there too. I could've sworn that Johnson was throwing 88 MPH because he certainly sent this offense back to 2006 for a night. But it's a slump, it happens.

The highs of the season wouldn't be so great if there were never any lows.

As the roster stands right now (spots to be won in ST aside), do people think that the Cubs in 2008 will be legitimate World Series contenders?

Personally, I feel that they are in a slightly better boat than they were at the end of 2007. They've added depth to the pen and rotation. They've signed a legit RF and have been able to upgrade at C in house.

Could the current roster win the World Series? Sure, but I think a lot has to go right. There are a lot of 'ifs':

If Pie turns the corner
If Lilly doesn't regress
If Soto is as good as advertised
If Fukudome is as good as advertised
If Zambrano has a good year
If Hill has a good year
If Lieber is healthy
If Theriot gets better
If Cedeño turns the corner
If Soriano's leg problems don't come back

Personally, I think that Soto and Fukudome will be fine, and while I doubt Lilly will have a 2008 as good as 2007, I'm sure he'll be fine. But there are still some things that seem to be left up to fate.

I feel that our bullpen is great, our offense is fine, and our rotation is fine. And while I totally expect the 2008 Cubs to be good and make it to October, they don't seem, to me at least, to be a team that can dominate in the playoffs.

Do people feel differently? Do people think we need a new 2B whose name I won't mention since Al is sick of reading/hearing it. Do people think that we need a another top of the rotation Starting Pitcher?

I'm not meaning to start a debate about specific trades, although that would certainly be welcome. But simply how do people feel about the current roster and their chance at ending the streak in it's centennial year?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/11/29/bc.bbn.bondsmovie.ap/index.html

HBO Films is planning on producing a film based on the book 'Game of Shadows'. It is to be directed by Ron Shelton (of Bull Durham fame) and written by Shelton and his writing partner John Norville.

Writing is set to commence once the writer's strike comes to an end.

I think this is very interesting to say the least. It also seems interesting that a man who seems to covet baseball is going to be charged with handling one of it's biggest black-eyes.

Discuss.

My thoughts for 2008

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What would you do?

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Lengthy, but I'm trying to be elaborate

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