The Top 10 Reasons the Chicago Cubs Will Make the Playoffs

This piece is to serve as a counter argument to my just releases slide show:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/219972-the-top-ten-reasons-the-chicago-cubs-wont-make-the-playoffs

The Cubs are in unique situation as we head toward August and September, and there is every reason to think this team can pull a season out of their back pocket and get into the dance.

The following are 10 reasons why, and how, the Cubs can get back into October.

10. The bandwagon isn't as full

As I said in the reasons the Cubs won't make the playoffs, the Cubs aren't everything Chicago is talking about this summer.

Which could be a double-edged sword.

Yes, Jay Cutler's in town.

And yes, the Blackhawks are hot.

And yes, President Obama's wife thinks he's cute in a White Sox jacket.

Perhaps fewer people paying attention means less pressure?

9. It can't get worse...

Almost every player on the roster is hitting well below his career averages.

The injury report has changes almost daily, and not in a good way.

The emotions have been a roller coaster all summer so far, with suspensions and dead Gatorade machines.

Something's gotta give...and in a sport that's centrally obsessed with statistics, the numbers would tell you that the Cubs have a lot better baseball in them for the coming two months.

8. New versatility

The Cubs made a great addition earlier this week by adding BJ Ryan to the team, and sending him to the minors to rehab and get ready for August and September.

If Ryan can come back to form, the Cubs could have a solid, shut-down lefty in their bullpen to compliment Marmol and Kevin Gregg down the stretch.

This would also give the Cubs more options with Sean Marshall, and I'm not referring to left field cameos. If the Cubs needed a spot start, or needed a situational lefty in the sixth or seventh innings, Piniella's hands wouldn't be tied.

Also, Angel Guzman getting healthy again opens up more room for Piniella to not pitch David Patton or Aaron Heilman, both keys to a successful second half.

7. The kids are playing well

One of the good results to come from most of the Cubs hitting the DL in the first half was the Cubs finally getting a chance to see what some of the kids in their farm system can do.

Enter Randy Wells, who's making a run at Rookie of the Year by giving the Cubs six or seven innings every time out.

Enter Jake Fox, who's been a Clarence Carter album at the plate. He's stroked the ball all over the field when given the chance.

Enter Sam Fuld, who, even in a tiny sample size, has given the Cubs a spark in the leadoff spot.

The Cubs have received strong contributions from a lot of players that should otherwise be playing in Iowa this summer. This gives them more depth, and confident in their bench, moving forward.

6. Aramis Ramirez is back

Ramirez missed 50 games with a dislocated shoulder, and the offense desperately missed him.

In his absence, the Cubs tried a handful of players at third, from Aaron Miles to Mike Fontenot to Jake Fox. None of them were very good defensively, and none but Fox hit the ball.

Ramirez being back, even at 80 or 90 percent, alters the Cubs batting order from top to bottom. No longer do the Cubs have to hope and pray Milton Bradley can become a run producer, and Derrek Lee doesn't have to carry the team by himself.

5. Derrek Lee

Ever since Lee hurt his wrist in 2006 and missed most of the season, he's been trying to find his stroke.

After all, this is a guy that won a batting title and hit 46 homers in 2004.

As the Cubs offense struggled in the first half, Lee found something, somewhere, that reminded him what it was like to be the man. And he's been on a tear ever since.

He's hit 18 home runs already and pulled his average up to .286 after a rough start. If he hits 30-35 homers this year, and drives in 95 or more, the Cubs offense will rebound.

4. The Cubs' starting rotation

The Cubs have a team ERA of just 3.75 at this point, and are throwing well enough to win most games. Once the offense wakes up, the Cubs could really start to roll.

Consider the following numbers:

Zambrano: 17 starts 12 quality

Lilly: 18 starts, 14 quality

Dempster: 17 starts, 11 quality

Wells: 12 starts, 9 quality

If the Cubs starting rotation keeps pitching like they have, they'll start getting wins to show for it.

3. 3

For as bad as the first half was, with the Cubs sitting near the bottom of the National League in most offensive categories, they're still only three games out of first place.

A big thank you goes out to the St Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers for not taking advantage of the Cubs' playing so poorly and running away with the division this summer. If not for their playing average baseball, the Cubs' season could easily be over.

2. The Schedule

The schedule has a lot of issues for the Cubs, but it also has lots of benefits as well.

The Cubs play 35 of their final 74 games against teams under .500 this year, including Pittsburgh, Arizona, Cincinnati, Washington and San Diego.

They also play a lot of road games, which means there will be more opportunities for Rich Harden to not pitch at home. Harden's been lights out on the road this year and mediocre at home, so throwing him away from Chicago's a plus.

Finally, the Cubs are guaranteed to play in October because, well, the season's final weekend is in the month.

1. Karma

It's gotta happen for us at some point....

Right?