It was Aug. 1. The Cubs had just beaten the Philadelphia Phillies to move into a tie for first place with the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Cubs fans rejoiced. But Cubs manager Lou Piniella played down the significance of the Cubs being in a playoff chase in August for the first time since 2003.
“You people make too much out of first place,” he said. “It’s the first of August.”
Since that night, the Cubs lost six of seven games before Thursday night’s game against the Rockies; Alfonso Soriano got hurt; and Aramis Ramirez was sent back to Chicago to have his sore wrist examined.
Cubs fans undoubtedly are wringing their hands as a series of unfortunate developments slow down the Cubs Playoff Express.
How bad is it? This handy-dandy Cubs Panic Meter helps sort it all out.
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CUBS PANIC METER
That “L” flag flying over Wrigley Field’s scoreboard after each loss isn’t directing fans to the Red Line. It’s there to let everyone know the team took it on the chin — again. In that spirit, this Panic Meter uses those same depressing flags to rank the Cubs’ recent troubles.
(1 FLAG: Uh-oh)
(2 FLAGS: Here we go again)
(3 FLAGS: Curses!)
(4 FLAGS: Wait ’til next year)
Aramis Ramirez hurt
After Wednesday night’s loss to the Astros in Houston, the Cubs announced third baseman Aramis Ramirez was headed back to Chicago to have his sore wrist examined.
On Thursday, the team announced it was just fluid buildup in his wrist. He’ll be out until Sunday. He will be missed. Ramirez is the team’s RBI leader with 69, and he has a respectable 48 strikeouts vs. 110 hits.
Panic Meter: (3 FLAGS)
Alfonso Soriano hurt
Five days after the Cubs tied the Brewers for first place, $136 million man Alfonso Soriano went down with a right quad strain that could sideline him until around Labor Day. Although he got the big bucks in the off-season, Soriano isn’t the Cubs’ main offensive threat. He’s batted in just 42 and struck out 95 times to lead the team. He does have a team-leading 132 hits, however.
Panic Meter: (2 FLAGS)
4-game losing streak
Before heading to Colorado to play Thursday night, the Cubs had lost four straight games — three to the Astros on the road and one to the Mets at Wrigley. During that span, the team has managed to put up just eight runs. On the bright side, during the Cubs’ losing streak, the Brewers put together a four-game losing streak of their own, so the Cubs lost no ground.
Panic Meter: (1 FLAG)
2 games out of wild-card
If the Cubs cannot keep pace with the Brewers and win the NL Central and its automatic playoff spot, they’ll have to rely on the wild-card. Unfortunately, a lot of other teams are in the same boat. After Thursday night’s win, the Cubs are two games behind San Diego for the wild-card spot. Two teams are ahead of the Cubs, and two teams are tied with the Cubs in the chase for the wild-card.
Panic Meter: (3 FLAGS)
Cardinals closing in
Last year’s World Series champs, the Cardinals have quietly crept back into NL Central contention, even after a recent five-game losing streak. After Thursday’s matchups, five games separated the Cubs and Cards. But the Cards always seem to be a thorn in the Cubs’ side, and that could be most worrisome of all.
Panic Meter: (4 FLAGS)
