Just the Stats, Ma'am

The only disappointing thing about where the Cubs are right now is that they should be no worse than tied for first. They've dominated the Cardinals in just about every facet of the game so far this year. The bullpen's worst game of the year, followed two days later by the offense's worst day of the year is all the separates these two teams. Out of the first eleven games between the teams, the Cubs won 6 while the Cards won 5.

But the offensive stats tell the whole story.

Team    Average   Runs/Game   Home Runs   Strikeouts

Cubs     .296        5.2         16           52

Cards    .214        3.9         16           90

The Cubs, who have been shut out 6 times this year (i.e. quite often they can't hit), have pounded the Cards' pitching.

Well, the Cubs are hiting better now than they have all year. The realist in me says 1 win is sufficient and two wins would be ideal, the stats tell me that a sweep is not out of the realm of possibility.

And a sweep could launch the "Summer of Cubs."