Cubs Struggles only the Beginning??

A month and a half into the season the Cubs sit at a woeful 16-22, 5.5 games behind the NL Central leading Cincinnati Reds.  Factor in they sit 5 full games behind the Cardinals and another half game behind the Pirates and the Cubs sit a total of 11 games behind the teams ahead of them in the division standings.

Granted, baseball is the most random of any of the major sports on a day-to-day basis, but based solely on schedule things could very easily get worse for the Cubs before they get any better.  Why is that?  The Cubs haven't played anyone really that good yet this season; and they are getting ready to finally do so.

38 games into the year the Cubs have played only 12 games against teams with .500 or better records (6 vs. Reds, 3 vs. Nationals, 3 vs. Marlins) and have gone a weak 4-8 in those games.  Against under .500 teams the Cubs are a still poor but more impressive 12-14.  The Cubs opponents to date have combined for a 156-180 record on the year and a winning percentage of just .464.

If what we have seen so far is any indication, the next two weeks won't be a whole lot of fun for the Cubs or their fans.

The next 13 games the Cubs play will be against .500 or better teams.  Starting Monday the Colorado Rockies (19-18) enter Wrigley for 2 before the Cubs take off east for two games at Philadelphia (22-13).  They then finish the weekend with three interleague games in Texas (20-18) before having a 6 game home stand next week against the Dodgers (20-17) and Cardinals (21-17).

Based solely on the Cubs failures to show up against the better teams in baseball this season the next two weeks could spell trouble.  If the Cubs are able to right the ship the next fourteen days then it will perhaps give justified hope that things are turning around a bit for the Northsiders.  However, a 3-7 mark in their last ten leaves little hope we will see that.

Cubs Tidbits:

Opponents to date's combined record:  156-180 (.464 Win %)
4-8 Record against teams who are currently .500 or better
31.25% of the Pirates 16 wins have come against the Cubs (5 Pirates Wins vs. Cubs)
11-21 against teams not named the Milwaukee Brewers
4-9 vs. the NL East
111-112 in regular season games since Sept. 1, 2008
One positive, upcoming inter-league opponents combine to be 85-104 on the season and only Texas has a winning record (20-18).