What the Hell?!? Pitchers and catcher have already reported?!

What happened? Last thing I remember, it was just before the start of Game 2 of the NLDS. All of sudden, it's almost March?! What the hell? I must've blacked out.
What happened with our beloved Cubbies? I'm assuming their used their 97 win regular season as a catapult to the World Series--wait what?
*banging head against the table*
Ok...we can get past this...hold on

*continues to bang head against the table*

*still banging*

Ok, I'd love to pretend that last October never happened but I only save that trick for Rocky V (not even my idea--but a brilliant one none the less). Last season happend, and we need to remember that eventually the Cubs luck will break our way.
Early thoughts on this season: I have a gut feeling I can't shake that the Cubs are destined for a sub .500 season and a 4th place finish. As far as rational reasoning, I have none. On paper, the Cubs should walk away with the division and be the favorites to win the pennent. Honestly though, couldn't you see my scenario happen?
Anyhow, Spring Training is just about here and we'll have more as things unfold. Stay positive.

101...

I don't know what to say. Last night's performance by the Cubs was pathetic. Their performance this entire postseason was literally the worst possible scenario. I'll have more to say in a day or so. I'm still stunned that it's all over. 101 years...blah, blah, blah. The Cubs have to do something about Soriano, he hurts this team too much in big spots.
I'm going to go knock my head into the wall for an hour or so--finish watching the Bears-Lions game. Collect my thoughts and think more about this performance that we won't soon forget. Fuck.

Game 1 Post Game

Not quite the way Cubs fans were hoping the Northsiders would start off their playoff run. Let's be honest, the game looked good for the first four innings. DeRosa's home run traveled just far enough and led us all to believe (at least for tonight) that the Cubs were going to get some of the breaks during the game...then there was Dempster. Ryan was on a tightrope starting in the third where he was able to strike out Andre Ethier with a ball in the dirt.

Well, we all know what happened two innings later--Loney goes yard. Sonofabitch!

Wrigley Field was dead from the fifth inning on until Edmonds shot in the eighth with the warning track power.

Ladies and gentemen, your Chicago Cubs are finding themselves in a must win game tomorrow night. How does it make you feel knowing that Big Z is pitching the biggest game of the season? Personally, I wonder why would you want anyone else on the mound? Yes, Zambrano has struggled over his last two starts. But if you think he's not coming out charged tomorrow with the Wrigley faithful cheering him on, you're crazy. Zambrano probably needs to go 7 innings tomorrow and I believe he's going to do it.

Well, let's dish out some awards:

MVP: James Loney--The grand slam put the Dodgers on top for good. Part of me wants to give this award to Manny, but I just can't pass up Loney. So, there's your MVP, damn him.

LVP: Alfonso Soriano--Speaking of damn him...we've known this for two years now: As Soriano goes...so does the offense. If Soriano can't lay off the fucking slider down and away, Lou can't have him leading off against good pitchers. Look, I'll give Soriano credit for his catch on the warning track, but it doesn't change the fact that he went 0-5. I have news for you Alfonso, this is where you earn the contract. I'm not real up on Billingsly, so I'm not sure what kind of pitches he throws, so I'm still holding out hope for Soriano tomorrow night.

Anyhow, the debate for tonight is this: How do I get this game out of my mind? Do I try and go to sleep? As is my life as a Cubs fan...

And Now The Season Begins...

Ok, 97 wins was awesome. Yes, we might've seen the greatest Cubs team in nearly 75 years. Throw it out the window because it's old news. The only thing 97 wins are good for is home field advantage. Yes, that's a real nice thing to have--but it doesn't promise you anything. The Cubs are 11 victories away from the ultimate goal. Their first task in the postseason is to win three games before the Los Angeles Dodgers do.
Record wise, it would appear that the Cubs have the heavy advantage (Dodgers only won 84 games). However, LA has been as red hot as any team in baseball over the last month. The Dodgers are not the same team the Cubs went 4-2 against over the first two months of the season (including a three game sweep in Wrigley). Their bullpen is stronger and their lineup is deadlier thanks to Casey Blake, Angel Berrora, Manny Ramirez...Jesus Christ, I just got goosebumps typing the name. At this point in time, Ramirez is the only Dodger that strikes the fear of god into me (truth be told, there are only a handful of players that can actually do that--Manny is #1 on that list as far as hitters go with Pujols being a close second).
My friends, let's not forget, this year the Cubs have been a stellar club. Their lineup is stacked from top to bottom and their pitching staff can hang with any ballclub on the planet (name another team who has a #4 pitcher as solid as Ted Lilly). Most importantly, the Cubs seem to still have the bitter taste in their mouth from last season's blowjob of a postseason (horrible choice of words--I know and I apologize).
For now, as I get ready to watch game 1 with my Dad, I feel compelled to make a prediction. So...here it goes: Cubs in 4.
And one more thing...Fuck Rick Reilly

Also...click here for a great piece from the New York Times about the Cubs and their century long search for a World Series title.

Off To Milwaukee

In about a half hour or so, I'm hitting the road for Milwaukee with my buddy Dan. My goal is to be able to post some pictures on this site as early as tonight or tomorrow morning--in a perfect world. However, I'm not sure what the internet situation at the Howard Johnson in Milwaukee is. So, it may have to wait until Sunday (after the Bears game of course). So, to tide you over until then, here's a bit some players from our favorite baseball team put together on Funny or Die (Will Ferrell's website) that's worth a looksee when you have some time. In the video: Mark Derosa, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Geovany Soto.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Cubs Clinch--now what?

After popping champagne until what I can only assume was about fifteen minutes before the first pitch of todays game against St. Louis, most of the Cubs regulars were granted the day off. So, I can only assume that Lou will give the players a few games off--but not enough to allow the team to get too rusty...easy to say, but really what is the right formula in this situation? No manager truly knows--I mean, could you imagine if one of the major players gets hurt in a meaningless game this week?
Fukudome has been having trouble hitting over the last month and a half or so. It would be great if Lou would get him plenty of at bats over the next week. If nothing else, it could help him gain some confidence at the plate.
How about Big Z? Unhittable against Houston--shelled against St. Louis. He's scheduled to go on Wednesday, do you think we'll see him go more than 5 innings? Personally, I just don't see it happening. I think we'll see Zambrano, Harden, Dempster each get a few innings in their starts to keep them fresh...especially given the extra care the team has given to the first two in the recent weeks.
Now it's time to play the "if the season ended today" game. If the season ended today, the Cubs will go up against the New York Mets (best of 5). Johan Santana has never been lights out in the playoffs (then again, neither has Zambrano), but does Pedro Martinez strike the fear of god into anyone anymore? The Pedro Martinez that we all remember as the "take no shit from anyone" pitcher hasn't been himself in five years (and that's being gracious). Carlos Delgado strikes the fear of god into me, especially given the way he's carried the Metropolitans over the last month or so.
So, just touching base here (no pun). The division is wrapped up--another week until the second season gets going...I cannot wait, and I know you feel the same way. As the playoff picture gets clearer, there will be some analysis...some, but it's time to make some history. It's gonna happen.

Carlos Zambrano Day

In case you missed the story, September 16 was officially named "Carlos Zambrano Day" in the state of Illinois. Schools and public buildings were not closed yesterday for the occassion, however, I can only assume they will from here on out.
Ok, I'll admit that was a lame joke--if it can even be called that, but let's talk about out favorite baseball team for a little bit (since this is the point of the site and it's been too damn long). First off, I've finally had a chance to watch the no hitter in it's entirity (thanks to MLB.tv). Let's not be too surprised this happened, maybe surprised that it took this long. Zambrano is on that short list of pitchers where a no hitter isn't a matter of "if" but more of a matter of "when" (along with Johan Santana, C.C. Sabathia, etc...). We've seen Z grow as a pitcher over the last six years or so and you knew that he had a no hitter in him. In fact, the first time I saw him pitch in person was in 2003 during an August matchup against Houston. Z ended up going the distance and only surrenduring 2 hits along the way. There was the San Diego game last season where Derek Lee and Chris Young threw down--Z lost his no hit bid late in the game (if I remember correctly, it was a weak, but well placed ground ball to the third base side of the infield that Carlos couldn't field in time). Regardless, we knew that it would happen eventually--the man's got wicked stuff. So, I'll leave the topic with this video (granted it's not the best video quality--but combined with the WGN radio call, it's well worth it).

Now, moving onto to the matter at hand. Magic number: 4. Will the Cubs clinch the division before the weekend? They get Marquis and Harden vs Sheets and Bush over the next two games. Sheets was roughed up in his last start (against San Diego and their scorching offense).
Let's also take a look at what the Cubs could possibly accomplish over the next few days. Their biggest competition in the division is Milwaukee--the same team that could be blownup over the next offseason. Do not underestimate the havoc that the Cubs could induce on the Brew Crew and their fanbase in the next two days (and the three games next week). If Milwaukee fails to make the playoffs, their streak will extend to 27 seasons without an appearance...they lose Sheets and/or Sabathia in the offseason, along with (possibly) Prince Fielder through the rumored trade demand.
Basically, the Cubs could put to rest, their biggest rival in the division over the last two seasons. Going into next season, who else would push the Cubs for the Central Division title? Pittsburgh? Come on now. Reds? Maybe in another year or two. The Cardinals and Astros probably push the Cubs the most, but does either team strike the fear of god into the hearts of Cubs fans? Yeah, I'm probably getting ahead of myself (not so much in regards to advancing in the postseason--but into the next season. Has anyone ever done that?).
Anyhow, any combination of six Cubs victories or Brewers losses and the Cubs win the division for the second year in a row, for first time ever. They also make the postseason in conseceutive seasons for the first time in--100 years.
Expect plenty of posts over the next few weeks, including (hopefully) a pictoral from next week's Brewers series at Miller Park, which I will be attending. Enjoy the rest of the season Cubs fans.