Meltdown in Chicago?
 

The White Sox lost to the Royals today, dropping their lead over idle Cleveland to just 4.5 games with something like 18 to play.

They were 15 games in front on August 1st. Exactly six weeks later, 2/3 of that lead is gone. Are we watching a repeat of the 1995 AL West when the Angels blew some ridiculous lead in August and September to lose the division?

Meltdown in Chicago.....two great tastes, that taste great together! :D We're used to it by now....

Sounds a lot like Atlanta & Philly right now :(

AM I the only one whose first thought when seeing the thread title was "There's a nuclear plant in Chicago?"

Man, everyone knows the Phils are the Braves bitches :(

No, that was my thought as well. Then I realized it was about baseball, and I was confused because it didn't mention the CUBS.

No, the nuclear plant is in Zion and has been shutdown since 1998. Now, as the thread represents, the only meltdowns we are at risk for are from our sports franchises.

See... they Could'a used Chad Hutchinson!

:cries:

Problem is, the Cubs have to be in first place to meltdown... Yes, I am bitter Cubs fan.

Since July 1, Cleveland had the easiest schedule of any contending team. Its no surprise they are where they are today.

They play the WS on the 19-21st and I put good money on Chicago taking all 3. Cleveland still doesn't have enough hitting or good enough management to consistantly beat a team that is above .500. And I say this as a Clevelander :(

It's midnight.

But pie is really good.

There are a few more outside chicago still that are active.

Just let me know how much you want to wager. Have you looked at the sox "offense" recently?

Everyone is keying on the 15 game lead on August 1, but I remember the Angels' collapse in 1995 as being pretty bad, too. So I decided to refresh my memory.

On August 2, 1995, the Angels had a 13 game lead on the Mariners, and an 11 game lead by August 9. Does anyone know what the White Sox lead was by mid-August? Anyway, we'll have to see how this season ends, but despite the fewer games ahead by the Angels, I think their collapse is the worst, simply because they lost that 13 game lead so fast, they were behind the Mariners by 3 games with 5 games left to play! They actually won their last 5 games to force the 1 game playoff, which the Mariners won. That's a collapse, albeit with a nice recovery. But ultimately, they blew it anyway.

I do think that Chicago's lead disappearing has more to do with Cleveland going insane since the start of August (33-11, or something like that) then the Sox collapsing. Everyone likes to say that X-team is so far ahead, they'll just need to play .500 ball the rest of the way to get in. Well, Chicago's playing about .500 ball over the last several weeks, but Cleveland's playing .750 ball. Assuming you have roughly 60 games from 8/1 to 10/2, a .750 team will make up 15 games over that stretch (45-15 vs 30-30).

I thought it was about the poopy Lions. :(

If the Sox/Angels collapses are/were like slowly dragging fingernails across a chalkboard, then the '87 Blue Jays (4.5 game lead w/ 7 to play) were the choking equivalent of getting kicked in the junk with a steel-toed boot.

There's always the 1969 Cubs who blew a 9.5 game lead to the Mets.

SI

But isn't that redundant? :D