(670 The Score) The Major League Baseball trade deadline looms on Aug. 1, and the Cubs have yet to truly determine their direction.
The Cubs restart the second half of the season Friday night as they host the Red Sox at Wrigley Field, entering this three-game interleague series at 42-47 and seven games back of first place in the National League Central division.
Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins shared with the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Friday what these games leading up to the trade deadline mean in terms of significance.
"Obviously, the fact that we're a couple weeks away from that day definitely puts a little of a microscope on these few upcoming games," Hawkins said. "They don't count any more than the other games we've already played, but we're just gaining information about where the team is and the direction that we'll ultimately be taking. But I think the best teams that I've seen are able just to stay focused on what game at a time. The expectation is that's what we'll do (Friday night) and going into the next couple of weeks."
The Cubs are the lone team in the NL Central with a positive run differential at plus-26 on the season, yet they are mired in third place and have fallen back in the race.
Hawkins sees both sides of that figure – the Cubs have endured some poor fortunes but also there could be a change to come.
"It's frustrating," Hawkins said. "But at the same time, the concept of progressing back to the mean, I think that's something we're certainly hoping for with the true talent of this team, that's something we expect."
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