After 161 Games, The Regular Season is Over

Today, the Chicago Cubs wrapped up their regular season in Milwaukee against the Brewers.  Earlier in the season, I expected this series to be epic, but the Cubs have had the division wrapped up for over a year.  This series was still important, especially for the Brewers.  Though the Mets have not lost yet, they trail in the 9th and it looks like the Brewers are headed to the post-season. 

It would have been satisfying for the Cubs to keep the Brewers out of the playoffs.  This also means that the Cubs will face the Dodgers in the NLDS.  I would have preferred that the Cubs played the Mets, though I would imagine one particular IvyEnvy writer is pleased that the Cubs will be in the Los Angeles area at least once in this post-season.

Since I am an Eeyore Cubs fan, potentially facing the Brewers in the playoffs concerns me.  It’s not that I think

Asshat of the week?

It’s not that he gets pumped and shows his excitement–although showing emotion on the mound is enough to make pitchers hated by rival fans (see Zambrano and Marmol).  It’s the damn theatrics.  The guy has a strict warmup ritual (this is so out of control) and a strikeout ritual as well.  He never steps on a foul line, and he always keeps three sticks of gum in his mouth.  Just pitch the freakin ball.  Of course baseball has always been fertile ground for superstition, but this guy takes the cake.  If Bob Howry, Carlos Zambrano, and Turk Wendell had a love child, Valverde would be it.  Finally, have a look at his irritating winning celebration.  Maybe this is just sour grapes since our closer lost the game last night, but I almost hope that the game tonight goes to a save situation for Valverde so the Cubs have the opportunity to score a boatload of runs on him. 

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

A Cubs Game For Me This Year

My wife and I are going to see the Cubs on May 11th! They are playing the Diamondbacks, who are in first in the NL West, so it should be a good matchup. I plan on taking plenty of pictures and sharing them here.

Did anyone else notice how badly Howry seemed to miss his spot on the home run pitch to Nieves?