Mets looking like Cubs’ biggest worry
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:47pm Matt Trowbridge
A week or so ago, the Brewers, with CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets fronting a lineup second only to the Cubs’ in power hitters, seemed Chicago’s only near-playoff equal in the National League. Not anymore. Not with Mets lefthander Johan Santana in the midst of one of his typical second-half runs. Santana has back-to-back starts of 9 and 7 innings with no runs allowed, either earned or unearned. His ERA for the season is down to 2.64. It’s 1.49 in five August starts. Pedro Martinez is even showing signs of life, with an ERA just above 3 in five August starts. The Mets are now the No. 1 team the Cubs should try to avoid in the playoffs. Especially because it seems like bad karma that Carlos Marmol made the All-Star team this year while Santana, the best pitcher in all of baseball, was inexplicably left off the roster. Santana would be a shoo-in Cy Young pick this year if the Mets’ bullpen hadn’t blown a ninth-inning lead for him five times this year.
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1. Tony Garcia | August 22nd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Results, of course, are subject to change (and there’s a few blog followers who are cringing about looking ahead so much), but if the standings hold, the Cubs (provided they get past the NL West survivor) will have to play either the Brewers or Mets in the NLCS to get to the promised land.
And what’s with the Marmol karma tangent? He’s allowed only one run in 16 appearances since the All-Star break, and that was what turned out to be a harmless solo shot to the Reds’ Joey Votto. And even that might be excused since Votto has 7 of his 15 HRs against the Chicago National League Ball Club.
In finality, let Sid Hartman defend all the wounded Twins, former or present.
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