Who has a better chance of making the playoffs: Sox or Cubs?

Both teams are barely under .500 and both teams are still in their respective division races. The Cubs are on a 4-game losing streak and just got swept in Detroit by the first place Tigers. The White Sox are a minor league franchise playing in the majors and just took two of three from the MLB-best Dodgers on the South Side. They open up a weekend series today. Right now, who has a better chance of making the playoffs?

Kyle:I swear this isn’t the Cubs fan inside of me saying this. I have put aside all my fandom and really thought about this as objectively as possible. The Cubs, despite the level of craptacular play they’ve displayed to this point, still have a better shot of making it to the playoffs. I’m mostly basing this decision on the strength of the divisions. Watching teams in the NL Central fight for first place is like watching a bunch of retards try to hump a door handle. If the Cubs were in any other division in the entire league, we’d be talking about 2010. But they’re not and they still have a chance. In comparison, the AL Central is only slightly tougher, but I was impressed by what the Tigers did to the Cubs and there is no team in the NLC that looks to be as skilled as the Detroit Tigers. Injuries aside, the Sox will probably have a hard time catching them. My othe main reason for liking the Cubs is the starting pitching. It is by far this team’s strength and proven to be its most constant strength throughout the season. The Cubs get more quality starts (yes, this is an actual stat which I do not have in front of me at this time…deal with it) from their starters than any other team in all of baseball by a LARGE margin. Usually dominant pitching is a key to success in baseball, although an offense that features Aaron Miles on the reg can really eff that up. For some reason, I still believe the Cubs offense is going to turn it around and play at least decent for the rest of the season, but the pitching looks like it is hear to stay. That’s a good sign…unlike the Sox who seem to only win games like a Chicago softball league team: hitting more homers than their opponents.

Brian:  I would like to back the South-Siders on this topic.  Really, I would.  Between the frustrations that the Cubs are putting themselves & their fans through and the excitement of the “new-look” Sox, they have a lot going for them.  It’s not enough though.  Beckham, Getz, and Scotty Pods are playing pretty well right now and the Sox have been winning some games.  But their starting pitching…. WOOF.  The Sox just don’t have the tools in place to get past a team like the Detroit Tigers (a team who has finally seemed to get their star-power playing up to potential (my fantasy team may be relevant again!)).  The Cubs are just so damn good on paper that I have to believe that they get their shit together.  Right now the Cubs are like dog-sled team, except the dogs had their food spiked with LSD and they’re all wandering around contentfully aimless.  Lou needs to direct the remainder of the trip & have them in some semblance of order after the All-Star break.  Maybe some time with the family will clear everyone’s head.  So; Cubs: in, Sox: close but not until next year.