NLDS Game 2

Why should I have expected anything different?

It is the top of the 8th and I am confident enough that the Cubs will not score 7 runs in 6 outs to write this.  The now-annual lack of offense in the playoffs is disgusting.  Ok….another run for LA.  Now the Cubs need 8 runs in 6 outs. 

What hurts more,  years of losing seasons or annual collapses in the playoffs?  Perhaps Dick Stockton wouldn’t seem so bad if we weren’t suffering through

Bedtime for the Brewers

With fifteen innings of no-hit ball pitched by Lilly and Zambrano over the past two games, the Cubs are riding a growing wave of confidence into the postseason.  Now all they need is to beat one of the best pitchers in the game tonight to feel unstoppable.  The bats seem to be coming back to life as well.

I feel a little bad for the Astros having to play two games in Milwaukee that were supposed to be home games for them.  Mike and Mike were asking whether there could’ve have been any other better options for an alternate site for the Cubs-Astros series.  They suggested nearby Round Rock (AAA affiliate) or the Rangers’ stadium.  It is a good point, but if the Astros had won even one of the two games (or even got a few hits for that matter), no one would probably be having this conversation.

Did anyone else hate that the anchor on ESPN kept referring to Zambrano as Zam-BRAN-o (bran as in “Raisin Bran”) during their highlights of his no-hitter? 

Hey Look–It’s September!

Well the Cubs looked like they were in a great position to grab another series victory against the Phillies, but they failed offensively in the final two games and only managed to split.  My favorite part of today’s game was Sean Marshall showing bunt, pulling it back, and hitting a single to center field.  Other than that I could have done without all the clutch failure and stranded base runners. 

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 terribly important numbers-wise, although the Cubs and Brewers were close enough last year for it to scare me.  If a few games would have gone the other way, the Cubs wouldn’t have enjoyed getting destroyed by the Arizona in the playoffs.  This series feels important because it has the potential to be a momentum-builder, especially for the Cubs.  I would think it would be kind of deflating for the Brewers

Choose your weapon

Ever since the All-Star break, it seems that we never know which bat the Cubs hitters will swing on a particular day.  Too often it has been the ice bat, and quality starts are being wasted.

Break Over… Let’s Get Back to Work

Tomorrow night we embark on the 2nd half, and it looks like Ted Lilly will get a chance to make up for his last start in which he allowed 4 ER and only lasted 2.2 innings.  I am excited for the rest of this season.  Seeing the Cubs pitchers do well against the best of the AL in the All-Star Game was encouraging.

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 defense; however, now they will think of Rich Harden, the newest Cubs vehicle to victory.  Harden’s range in velocity on his fastball as well as his excellent command threw the Giants’ hitters off.  Add his great change-up to the mix, and we have a new prevailing wind originating at the plate and heading to center field. 

Reality Sinks In

The Cubs have successfully sucked the life out of me after this weekend.  The only thing keeping me from a complete meltdown after being swept by the White Sox is that the Cubs swept them the weekend before.  The White Sox hit the cover off the ball and our pitching staff

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

Miscellany 2: The Vengeance

Another great post by Matt Veto today.  He makes a great point about the HOF game that was scheduled for today, and he says some nice things about Reed Johnson that are right up my alley (Sorry I forgot to mention your little Trufflehunter hookbeard on my facial hair post, Reed).  Veto also posted a link to The Ted Lilly Fan Club, and it is well worth checking out.  They have a poll question posted at the top of the page: