Chicago Cubs, 2008 NL Central Division Champions!

Enjoy it, Cubs fans.  For the first time since that infamous year of 1908, the Cubs have back-to-back division championships.  This team is probably the best and most complete group of Cubs in my lifetime.  Until the last few weeks, they have been the most consistent Cubs team in my lifetime.  Throughout this season, if [...]

Is Miller Park REALLY an Away Game?

I believe I have written before that the idea that “This series is important” or “This game is important” is kind of a silly notion.  There are 162 games and though the idea is to just win series’, there are numerous opportunities to make up lost ground.  That said…this series is important.
I don’t think it’s [...]

Harden– +1 to Defense

One of the most exciting aspects of the Cubs-Giants emotional roller coaster yesterday was the performance of Rich Harden.  He was a strikeout machine, fanning 10 batters in 5+ innings pitched.  Before, when kids in Chicago heard the word “Harden,” they thought of a move their metapod pokemon could do that would add +1 to [...]

Notes 6/27/08

Yes, I was at Wrigley for the awful game on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles.  This game was painful for me to sit through.  I am willing to take responsibility for this ugly game.  I took

Everything Must Come to an End

I don’t doubt Lou that much, but last night’s 9th inning seemed like it could have played out a little different.  Some of the pinch-hitting decisions

Who is the new Michael Barrett?

So the White Sox are headed to the North Side for the weekend’s Crosstown Series.  The Cubs come limping into Wrigley after getting swept for the first time this year….by the Tampa Rays.  That just doesn’t sound right. 
So maybe Lou will be looking to fire the team up.  Maybe a guy in cubbie blue will [...]

World Series Preview – Cubs vs. Rays

This upcoming Cubs vs. Rays series is probably the most interesting series of the season thus far.  And it will hold that title until this weekend when the White Sox stroll into Wrigley.  I wouldn’t have imagined in April that this series could be this interesting.  But here we are in mid-June

See Ya in the Second Half, Soriano

It appears that Alfonso Soriano will be out another six weeks after breaking his hand in last night’s game.  This will be Soriano’s second stint on the DL this year.  The Cubs did well without him last time

Pittsburgh

A weekend in Pittsburgh is, well, you know what happened. Although Aramis Ramirez, the Cub RBI machine got key hits in both of the Cubs’ losses, the Cubbies found ways to lose. A lost fly ball

Baker vs. Piniella

I was prompted by Manstrength’s weak defending of Dusty Baker to look at some stats that I think are are indicative of a much more well-rounded team under Piniella than what the Cubs were under Baker.  Yes, we are only 19 games into this season, and that must be taken into account.  However, 19 games is [...]