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A ‘late season’ collapse okay but a ‘stretch run’ collapse’?...not in my view. A 30-27 stretch run does not constitute a team’s ‘collapse’ in my old
timer MLB following eyes only UNLESS that team held a substantial, (by playing great to phenomenal winning percentage ball themselves), lead and was overtaken by another team that put up a HUGE Aug./Sept. push. Then, an under .500 or just over .500 percentage playing team would be considered a collapse in my view. (think Aug./Sept. drop offs by the ‘51 Brooks, ‘69 Cubs or the ‘95 Halos, after their 4 months of good to great play, to mention just 3 such instances.) I will agree with you that yes, the Cubbies had a ‘late season’ letdown but I never felt in ‘71 or now that they collapsed in the ‘stretch run’. (Hell, the Cubs were not ever gonna keep with the Bucks over 162 games in ‘71 anyway, and the Cubs finished up just where they belonged in the standings. The Pirates were to good that season winning the East and then the NLCS and a great 4-3 WS win over the Birds). Semantics? well, maybe but that is one of the funnest parts of hot stove things between fans. Pitchers and catchers report 2/13/2011! That will not come fast enough for myself!