Javy Baez: 'measuring stick' series not measure of long season. originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
ST. LOUIS — It’s still May. It’s still early in what promises to be a long season.
“Longer than anybody thinks,” said Cubs shortstop Javy Báez.
But is it possible the demise of the Cubs and their competitive window has been greatly exaggerated?
If not, how does anyone explain their 8-1 record against the National League-favorite Dodgers, NL East-leading Mets and NL Central-leading Cardinals — after their 2-1 victory over the Cards in 10 innings on Báez’s two-run homer Sunday night?
And if so, how does anyone explain the 16-21 record against everyone else they’ve played this year?
“We’re still going to have ups and downs during the season,” Báez said. “We’re going to compete against everybody who plays against us.”
Five innings of scoreless pitching by Zach Davies and another strong effort from the Cubs’ bullpen gave the Cubs a 2-1 series win in the first series of the season between the NL Central rivals — before the three largest crowds the Cubs have seen this year, each one 24,000-plus.
“Before the first game I look around in the dugout and it felt great,” said Báez, who daydreamed about what increased capacity might look and feel like this weekend at Wrigley against the Reds.
“It’s going to be great, too.”
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With summer weather heating up, the Cubs seem to be, too, going 13-7 so far in May with a three-game road series left in Pittsburgh before returning home again.
Whether they can keep it up, they’ve closed to two games behind the Cardinals in the division race for now.
“These types of games — rivalry games and in the division — they’re definitely meaningful,” said Davies. “You enjoy the competition, you enjoy the camaraderie. Coming in here and having a couple close games, that doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Whether the Cubs learned anything about how strong their team is or what their chances in a division that also includes a strong Milwaukee team, they have 10 more games against the Cardinals in the next two months alone.
With a two-game swing in the standings on the line for each one, buckle up.
“These games can make a difference at the end of the year,” Davies said.
