Chicago Cubs

[gocubsgo3822]

fucking turrible in the words of Barkley

[HolyCow]

Z, no good tonight. That's ok, the offense is going to bail him out.

[gocubsgo3822]

agreed royce

[DMBZeppelin]

CONGRATS SOTO! 20th homer of the year.

[gocubsgo3822]

Soto is amazing

[gocubsgo3822]

me wonders how much better we would be if we still had Jason Kendall or Michael Barrett....

[DMBZeppelin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Garza

Check it out dude.
Towards the bottom, Madden coverboys 09' Brett Favre/Roberto Garza (spanish edition)

Its for troof.
Usually cover athletes are rated well in the game. Is Garza the best O-linemen for the spanish edition? That be funny.

[devilandthelord]

Geo! Time to go!
You must give your cape and scepter, to me!
And a smaller one for KG.

[Bron Yr Aur]

Z, no good tonight. That's ok, the offense is going to bail him out.

Not ok. Shouldn't be giving up 6 runs to the Pirates. 3 of his last 4 starts have been like this. That's not ok; it's a bit worrisome, actually.

But hey...Soto is rockin' it tonight. Nice game for him.

I don't like Lou taking out DeRosa, though. That's fucking stupid the way DeRo is hitting.

[gocubsgo3822]

needed to take him out for the double switch.. it was stupid to not just duble switch shark in right away

[HolyCow]

Effing Soriano.

I hate the hop. STOP IT!

[Tiduwho]

Jesus Fonz....Wow.

[gocubsgo3822]

WTF???????? that was terrible

[boarderx5423]

:lol Soriano.

[HolyCow]

F me.

[gocubsgo3822]

well this game is just an abortion

[Tiduwho]

Good one.

[Bron Yr Aur]

Un-fucking believable. Why is Lou trusting this close game with Cotts?? It doesn't make sense. The guy is not a major-league quality pitcher. After the huge fuck-up against the Nats, he once again gives up the lead to the fucking Pirates. The offense is more than doing its job tonight, but Lou is just stupid. He puts way too much stock into his "matchups" and doesn't just put in the best pitcher at the time. Cotts shouldn't have been allowed close to the mound after the final out of the 5th inning.

[devilandthelord]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!!!!

I told y'all, 10 runs, otherwise we're not safe.

[Ev42]

fuck this game sucks balls

[gocubsgo3822]

gay.

[devilandthelord]

Ugh! At least its only the 7th.

We still got more chances.

[devilandthelord]

Did Sneaky Power take over for D-Ro?

[gocubsgo3822]

we still do have more chances i like our odds

[devilandthelord]

As long as we don't put Howry in next inning.

Jesus Christ, I will flip my shit if Lou puts in Howry next inning!

[HolyCow]

Come on Ronny. Big spot.

[Tiduwho]

Here's some inspiration from our Meatball King:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryCzNpFVd_E&NR=1


...That's right, the Grabowski Shuffle.

[Tiduwho]

If Ronny's just going to bunt, why not have Gaudin bunt?

[gocubsgo3822]

got to get the bunt down there

[devilandthelord]

If Ronny's just going to bunt, why not have Gaudin bunt?

I dunno, maybe with him being an AL pitcher before us he might really suck at bunting. :shrug

[gocubsgo3822]

fuk we have been stranding way too many people this game..... upsetting

[gocubsgo3822]

lets get Reed Johnson in right here.....

DO it again Soto

[gocubsgo3822]

nice play by wilson...... we almost got some runs out of the inning

[Tiduwho]

Don't even think about not scoring next inning Cubs..

[gocubsgo3822]

this might be the sloppiest game that we have played yet this year

[handal]

Best August MLB records:

Brewers 16-6
Cubs 16-6

No wonder we can't gain any ground on you guys...

[Tiduwho]

Sac Fly, anything. Just get the run in NOW.

[DMBZeppelin]

I'd like to see a suicide squeeze here with Theriot up. Also, Sneaky Power is very fast.

[Tiduwho]

Bases juiced, nobody out for D Lee. Get the run in D LEE!!!!

[DMBZeppelin]

Loaded for DP Lee... maybe he should try the suicide squeeze, no one would expect it. I just hope Lee is taking, make him throw strikes.

[DMBZeppelin]

Wow, Lee got away with one there. That's what I'm talking about though. Just let him walk you.

[DMBZeppelin]

Damn the Brewers are up 5-0. I wanted St. Louis to sweep.

[DMBZeppelin]

YES BASES LOADED WALK! Lets turn this into a big inning.

[DMBZeppelin]

Wow, this is awesome. I'm loving the patience.

[handal]

Damn the Brewers are up 5-0. I wanted St. Louis to sweep.

We've owned the Cards this season.

I don't understand how a pitcher doesn't throw a strike with the bases loaded and 3 balls.....TWICE!!!! I guess I shouldn't have expected the Pirates to hold off the Cubs.

[Tiduwho]

Lol, you gotta love playing the Pirates. :lol

[DMBZeppelin]

YES! Walking ourselves into a lead. Question, that was a wild pitch. Can runners advance on a wild pitch if it's ball 4?

[DMBZeppelin]

I guess I shouldn't have expected the Pirates to hold off the Cubs.
That's for sure. We own the Pirates.

[Bron Yr Aur]

Wow, that was easy. Hopefully we can put it out of reach. Time for Marmol and Wood to give us a couple shut down innings, I think.

[Iamnotafatgirl]

YES! Walking ourselves into a lead. Question, that was a wild pitch. Can runners advance on a wild pitch if it's ball 4?


Yes, it's still considered a live ball.

[handal]

That's for sure. We own the Pirates.

Who doesn't own the Pirates :)

[Tiduwho]

Good work Reed. Now we really need to wear out their bullpen. Make them hurt.


Here comes Hank White! Get 'em!

[Tiduwho]

We really should pour runs on here. Seriously.

[DMBZeppelin]

Yes, it's still considered a live ball.
Ya it seemed unlikely a runner would go from 2nd to home in that situation. The runner at 3rd doesn't need to run, but I was just curious.

[Tiduwho]

Soto, seriously, we need more runs.

[Tiduwho]

Good work Soto!!!! He does it again!!! Clears the bases!

7 RBIs! :multi

[DMBZeppelin]

I SO THOUGHT THAT WAS GONE!!! 7 RBI's! Would 8 have been a record? What's the most in a game?

[HolyCow]

Holy crap Geo. Holy crap.

[Tiduwho]

I SO THOUGHT THAT WAS GONE!!! 7 RBI's! Would 8 have been a record? What's the most in a game?

A lot.


A-Rod had 10 as a Yankee a couple years ago for starters.


Sneaky Power! Good work, make it a blowout now.

[DMBZeppelin]

In the NL the Cubs have scored 5 or more runs 24 times. Second is the Phillies with 17.

[HolyCow]

WOOOOOOO!!!! Keep it coming!

PS - How good has Reed Johnson been? He's quietly closed on Theriot for the best average on the team. And it's not like Theriot hasn't been hitting.

[DMBZeppelin]

Sneaky reaching all three times off the bench. Man I can't believe Soto and how things have gone this inning.

[handal]

Wow :shrug

[DMBZeppelin]

I almost don't want to see Marmol now. Save him for another day.

[Tiduwho]

The Cubs have been averaging 8.5 runs a game on the road since the Brewers series.

8.5 runs per GAME!

[Tiduwho]

I almost don't want to see Marmol now. Save him for another day.


Damn right, this is a situation tailor-made for Bob Howry if I've ever seen one.

[DMBZeppelin]

Wow :shrug
Don't feel bad, when you have the best offense and pitching staff in the NL. Things like this happen, even when your pitching has an off day.

[devilandthelord]

WOW!!!
I am away for 10 minutes and BOOM!

I love the Cubs! :multi

[devilandthelord]

Holy Crap!
Soto has 7 RBI!

[DMBZeppelin]

Holy Crap!
Soto has 7 RBI!
Well after he hits a granny in the top of the 9th, he'll have 11.

[Tiduwho]

Was this game ever in doubt?

[TapNorris]

Was this game ever in doubt?

Actually, I wasn't ever worried.

It's so nice to continue to help out our pitchers who decide to have off nights. Let's hope CaZam gets these struggles out of his system before next month.

[DMBZeppelin]

Why the hell is Wood pitching? Why not Marshall or someone else? Honestly if we have a save situaiton tomorrow he probably won't be available. Didn't he pitch pointlessly yesterday?

[TapNorris]

Marshall's pitched already. I'm not sure we have many others left in the pen.

[DMBZeppelin]

:multi:multi:multi CUBS WIN!!! :multi:multi:multi

[DMBZeppelin]

In case anyone didn't see my post from this morning. This is the first time we've been 32 over since the infamous 1969 team.

[devilandthelord]

Cubs win! Cubs win!

:multi:monkey:multi

[HolyCow]

Good win. You make three errors and win by six runs, that's a gritty win. Pirates or not, a bad/mediocre team loses this game.

[Ev42]

soto rookie of the year.

[devilandthelord]

soto rookie of the year.

No diggity. :cool

[DMBZeppelin]

soto rookie of the year.
With Gammons writing him as a possible MVP candidate, should be a lock for rookie of the year.

[UCFish]

Damn looks like this was a fun thread tonight.

Go cubs!

[rick8285]

Soto had about as bad of a 1st inning as Z did, couple of passed balls, had trouble finding another ball behind him. It was the first time I found myself pissed off at his defense. But then, he redeemed himself... BIG TIME.

[gocubsgo3822]

fuck derek lee

"I mean, he's right," Lee said with a grin. "I think most of the fans there are just there to enjoy the experience, and, uh, drink beer. I mean, is that not true?"

"I think we have great fans and they love baseball," he said. "But if you go to Wrigley, it's kind of an experience. I think a lot of our fans are tourists, and they're in town on summer vacation and they just want to check out Wrigley."

fuck him and obama

[DMBZeppelin]

Watching Cubs highlights. They said Zambrano's 13 game hit streak is a MLB record.

[bothedmbfan]

Nice. Now he just need 44 more.

[gocubsgo3822]

soto :lol

[rick8285]

fuck derek lee

"I mean, he's right," Lee said with a grin. "I think most of the fans there are just there to enjoy the experience, and, uh, drink beer. I mean, is that not true?"

"I think we have great fans and they love baseball," he said. "But if you go to Wrigley, it's kind of an experience. I think a lot of our fans are tourists, and they're in town on summer vacation and they just want to check out Wrigley."

fuck him and obama
I'll never say Fuck Derrek Lee... so I will agree with him 1%. But yeah, Obama blows, Sox fan!

[TapNorris]

Who is this Obama that you all speak of?















;)

[TapNorris]

No one around? Up 2-0 in the 8th. Go Cubs Go!!

[MPizzle06]

C'mon Marmol!!!

33 above .500 sounds so good to me :D

[TapNorris]

Cubs win!......now c'mon cards, beat the brewers.

[UCFish]

Wow what a performance from Marquis.

Cubs Sweep!

[41ravens]

i didn't remember we were playing until about 12:30. crazy pirates and their wacky day games. caught the ninth in my car on lunch. good win. gooder sweep. go cubs!

[devilandthelord]

Oh snap! I didn't know we were playing a day game today.

Heck I check the Cubs thread and we've already won! Awesome day! :monkey

[bothedmbfan]

Marotti left the paper, Kurt Warner is the Cards starter, Cubs won. Happy birthday.

[devilandthelord]

Marotti left the paper, Kurt Warner is the Cards starter, Cubs won. Happy birthday.

:thumbsup Cool Bo.

[bothedmbfan]

fuck derek lee

"I mean, he's right," Lee said with a grin. "I think most of the fans there are just there to enjoy the experience, and, uh, drink beer. I mean, is that not true?"

"I think we have great fans and they love baseball," he said. "But if you go to Wrigley, it's kind of an experience. I think a lot of our fans are tourists, and they're in town on summer vacation and they just want to check out Wrigley."

fuck him and obama

I think he was being incredibly sarcastic.

[devilandthelord]

So the Cubs are 33 games over .500, for the first time since they were 98-56 at the end of the 1945 season.
The last time of course, you guessed it, went to the world series.

There's all sorts of spooky, wonderful stuff happening this year Cubs fans.
And I love it! :D

[bothedmbfan]

Eh, to be fair, we lost that one.

[devilandthelord]

Eh, to be fair, we lost that one.

Well, thats still the high point of the last 60 years, eh?

[Bron Yr Aur]

Well, thats still the high point of the last 60 years, eh?

1945 was more more than 60 years ago, so no.

Either way, Marquis pitched great. Shows what happens when YOU DON'T WALK PEOPLE. A big win for him.

[DMBZeppelin]

fuck derek lee

"I mean, he's right," Lee said with a grin. "I think most of the fans there are just there to enjoy the experience, and, uh, drink beer. I mean, is that not true?"

"I think we have great fans and they love baseball," he said. "But if you go to Wrigley, it's kind of an experience. I think a lot of our fans are tourists, and they're in town on summer vacation and they just want to check out Wrigley."

fuck him and obama
Where is this quote even from?

[DMBZeppelin]

1945 was more more than 60 years ago, so no.

Either way, Marquis pitched great. Shows what happens when YOU DON'T WALK PEOPLE. A big win for him.
That's the thing about Marquis, he'll give you an outing like this. Then suck his next 4 before another good one. He has some nice pitches, but he's never been able to put it together.

April 07' looked like he had a break through, but command issues have plagued him and appear it always will (i.e. not getting his sinker down).

[devilandthelord]

Also, it was against the Pirates. So I don't think we can read too much into it.

All I know is I don't want him sniffing a start in the playoffs.
Thats for sure.

[DMBZeppelin]

Also, it was against the Pirates. So I don't think we can read too much into it.

All I know is I don't want him sniffing a start in the playoffs.
Thats for sure.
Given that most teams only use their 4th starter 2-3 tops. Unless he over takes Lilly as the 4th guy, it won't happen. Though he may be a long reliever. Actually scratch that. I forgot Jason Marquis doesn't do the pen thing. Start me or trade me. That was so funny when Piniella got really pissed about that in Sping Training.

[DMBZeppelin]

Asked if the Pirates are glad they won’t see the Cubs until next season, manager John Russell needed only a one-word answer: ‘‘Yeah.’’

[devilandthelord]

Asked if the Pirates are glad they won’t see the Cubs until next season, manager John Russell needed only a one-word answer: ‘‘Yeah.’’

:lol

Cubs.
Do you happen to know what the record in our season series was with them?

[Ev42]

fuck derek lee

"I mean, he's right," Lee said with a grin. "I think most of the fans there are just there to enjoy the experience, and, uh, drink beer. I mean, is that not true?"

"I think we have great fans and they love baseball," he said. "But if you go to Wrigley, it's kind of an experience. I think a lot of our fans are tourists, and they're in town on summer vacation and they just want to check out Wrigley."

fuck him and obama

no fuck you

[Ev42]

great game today

[UCFish]

14-4 vs. pirates for the year.

Good year.

[devilandthelord]

14-4 vs. pirates for the year.

Good year.

My God.
I was just talking with my boss earlier today about the game, commenting on how much we crush the Pirates.
I was like, yeah if we played the Pirates all season long we'd be like 150-12.
:lol

[crashintonickdm]

you've got the phillies starting tomorrow. its going to be great. i love cub series. for the most part, we always do great against you.

[devilandthelord]

^ Yeah, we've been on quite a roll, but I was just thinking that what would be even more impressive than what we've been doing would be beating Cole Hamels tomorrow.
He's owned us.

[UCFish]

Fuck Hamels will kills us.

His straight change makes our hitters look like complete jackasses.

Oh well off to the GORGE tomorrow!

[devilandthelord]

Gotta break through against him!
Can do anything if we bust him up just once!

[DMBZeppelin]

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3555437

September callup season isn't as crazy as it used to be, when teams would recall almost everyone on their 40-man rosters, but we can still get sneak peeks at some top prospects or see a reliever come from nowhere and have an impact on a pennant race, as Joba Chamberlain (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28847) did a year ago. Here are a few names to look for as rosters expand:

Jose Ceda, RHP, Chicago Cubs

Current team: Double-A Tennessee
Minor league numbers: 4-3, 3.83 ERA, 84 2/3 IP, 95 SO, 42 BB

The Cubs' bullpen is deep, but injuries and the inconsistency of Carlos Marmol (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28486) have created the need for more relief help. Jeff Samardzija (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29166) has the name value, but Ceda has equivalent stuff, sitting at 94-96 mph and touching 99 at times, with a sharp slider that's becoming more consistent the more he throws it. Control remains his weakness, but Samardzija was recalled despite showing below-average command and control in Triple-A. One concern: Ceda has made 25 relief appearances in the minors this year, never on back-to-back days.

[devilandthelord]

I mean he throws hard, sure.
But he's got a 3.83 ERA in AA.
Why should we want him?

[Ev42]

i want guzman. when he's healthy he is one nasty mother

[Tiduwho]

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3555437

September callup season isn't as crazy as it used to be, when teams would recall almost everyone on their 40-man rosters, but we can still get sneak peeks at some top prospects or see a reliever come from nowhere and have an impact on a pennant race, as Joba Chamberlain (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28847) did a year ago. Here are a few names to look for as rosters expand:

Jose Ceda, RHP, Chicago Cubs

Current team: Double-A Tennessee
Minor league numbers: 4-3, 3.83 ERA, 84 2/3 IP, 95 SO, 42 BB

The Cubs' bullpen is deep, but injuries and the inconsistency of Carlos Marmol (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28486) have created the need for more relief help. Jeff Samardzija (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29166) has the name value, but Ceda has equivalent stuff, sitting at 94-96 mph and touching 99 at times, with a sharp slider that's becoming more consistent the more he throws it. Control remains his weakness, but Samardzija was recalled despite showing below-average command and control in Triple-A. One concern: Ceda has made 25 relief appearances in the minors this year, never on back-to-back days.


Inconsistency from Marmol? Hasn't he been THE most consistent reliever in the Bigs since the All-Star break? :ugh

[devilandthelord]

i want guzman. when he's healthy he is one nasty mother

:thumbsup, and also about your marmol comment you just made.
He just had that one rough stretch before the break.
Other than that he's been outstanding.

[devilandthelord]

Brewers lose!

6 up!

[UCFish]

Holy shit I thought Brew Crew already won.

I love it.

Space in the division is muy bueno.

Lets just come to play for the next 10 days or so and the rest hopefully will not matter too much.

[UCFish]

Is six our biggest lead of the year??

[devilandthelord]

Is six our biggest lead of the year??

I think we've been up 6 before once or twice, but it may be the largest. 6 and a half maybe at best.

[Bron Yr Aur]

Magic number is 24 with 29 games left. That's pretty nice right there.

Also it's pretty funny that tomorrow the Pirates go right back out there against the Brewers. So, the Crew might gain a game or two on us in the next 3 or 4 days...but I just think it's funny that Pittsburgh is going to go out and continue that 7 game losing streak. It's too bad, because they looked like they had a decent team, or at least one to build on for the future, before they traded away their best players.

[rick8285]

the last time the Cubs won as many as 9 straight series like we currently have???



1907

[devilandthelord]

the last time the Cubs won as many as 9 straight series like we currently have???



1907


Chills. :eek

[DMBZeppelin]

Magic number is 24 with 29 games left. That's pretty nice right there.
Our magic number for a playoff spot is only 20. I really hope St. Louis wins this series. Because if we go into September 7+ up on the Brewers, I'll love our chances.

[devilandthelord]

Actually no one will win the Cards/Brewers series cuz its over.
For some odd reason it was only a two game series.
Everybody seems to keep forgetting that though.

[DMBZeppelin]

History lesson

The Cubs take a few significant numbers into their upcoming seven-game homestand, including a season-high mark of 33 games over .500 that hasn't been achieved by the franchise since the last pennant winner finished 98-56 in 1945.

That puts the Cubs on pace for 101 wins, which would be the most since 1910 (104).

Finishing 14-4 against the Pirates gave them their highest victory total against a single opponent since they beat the Cardinals 15 times in 1978 and the most wins in a season against Pittsburgh since 14 in 1954.

Setup man Carlos Marmol earned his 25th hold, breaking a club record held by Bob Scanlan (1993) and Jeff Fassero (2001).

[HolyCow]

Anytime you break a record held by Jeff Fassero, you know you've accomplished something.

[rick8285]

Anytime you break a record held by Jeff Fassero, you know you've accomplished something.
What I was thinking. But to be fair, Holds have only existed for a short time.

[41ravens]

big homestand coming up starting with a huge series against the phils. i like our chances with dempster, harden, lilly and z all taking the mound. i really want to go to saturday's game, but i can't find any tickets. cheaper ones, anyways. anyone know anyone that's trying to get rid of any?

[Bron Yr Aur]

Anytime you break a record held by Jeff Fassero, you know you've accomplished something.

:lol:lol Man, I remember that guy. He did pretty well for us even though at that point it seemed like he was washed up.

Oh, the days when the Seattle Mariners starters were Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, and Jeff Fassero...

[devilandthelord]

I was just reading an article about today's game, and it said that Cole Hamels has a lifetime ERA of 3.00 against the Cubs.
And I thought, "Really? I would have thought his lifetime ERA against us would have been like 0.47 or something!"

But oh well, lets hope we hit him today and get a "W".

[Styx Cover Band]

:lol:lol Man, I remember that guy. He did pretty well for us even though at that point it seemed like he was washed up.

Oh, the days when the Seattle Mariners starters were Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, and Jeff Fassero...

I was at a game in '02 that Prior started (it was only his 6 or 7 game in the majors). Prior struck out 10 or 11 that game and left with the lead. Needless to say the game went into extra innings and with the bases loaded in extras Jeff Fassero threw one to the backstop and a run scored and the Cubs would go on to lose by 1. That is my sole memory of Jeff Fassero as a Cub

[davehead86]

I was at a game in '02 that Prior started (it was only his 6 or 7 game in the majors). Prior struck out 10 or 11 that game and left with the lead. Needless to say the game went into extra innings and with the bases loaded in extras Jeff Fassero threw one to the backstop and a run scored and the Cubs would go on to lose by 1. That is my sole memory of Jeff Fassero as a Cub

:lol That sounds about right.

[DMBZeppelin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

One month … and 10 key questions

1. COULD THE YANKEES AND RED SOX BOTH MISS THE PLAYOFFS?
2. CAN THE RAYS FINISH THE MIRACLE?

3. CAN THE CUBS WIN 100?

There might be something like six living humans left on the planet who can say they remember another season in which, with a month to go, they had absolute assurance the Cubs would be playing baseball in October. But we've arrived at that place in time once again, friends, even though, yes, we're talking about the Cubs.

Coolstandings.com estimates the chances of the Cubs' not making the playoffs to be a whopping 0.6 percent. So let's ignore history, ignore billy-goat lore, ignore 1969 and take that part for granted, OK? And since this isn't a column about October, that means the big September question is whether these Cubs can win 100 games.

Not that the Cubbies have never done that, you understand. It did happen as recently as 73 years ago. But since then, all the other franchises out there have won 100 exactly 66 times. The Yankees have done it 15 times all by themselves. Even the Diamondbacks -- who forgot to play a game for 63 consecutive years after the Cubs last won 100 -- have done it.

Fortunately, there are two franchises that have a longer 100-win drought than the Cubs -- the Pirates (99 years) and (caution: geographical-symmetry factoid ahead) the White Sox (91 years). But 73 years is still a long, long time.

So to break that 100-win schneid, the Cubs would have to go "only" 17-12. That means they wouldn't even have to match their .624 winning percentage from their first 133 games. Gosh, is it possible that even the goat sorcerers can't stop them now?

4. WILL THE ANGELS LOSE THEIR MOJO?
5. CAN THE BREWERS PUT OCTOBER BACK ON THEIR CALENDAR?
6. WILL THIS METS-PHILLIES SAGA HAVE A DIFFERENT ENDING?

7. WILL BOTH CHICAGO TEAMS MAKE IT?

We've had a Subway Series. We've had an Earthquake Series. We've had postseasons featuring multiple Southern California teams. But to find the last time both Chicago teams played baseball in October, you have to ride the time machine back to the Teddy Roosevelt administration (in 1906).

So is this the year? As you may recall, we've already penciled in the Cubs. But the White Sox will test their sweat glands if they're to hold off the Twins in a race that's shaping up as maybe the best finish in baseball (with some wild-card intrigue tossed into the blender just for fun).

Coolstandings gives the White Sox a 52.4 percent chance of winning the division. And it won't be easy. The Sox have the tougher remaining schedule. (They'll face opponents with a .518 winning percentage; the Twins will face opponents whose winning percentage is .490). But although we've all been obsessing on the Twins' Republican Convention-induced exit strategy (14 road games in 15 days), we must have missed the fact that between now and the last weekend of the season, the White Sox have just one homestand left themselves (and still have to visit Boston, New York and Minnesota).

So yes, that all-deep-dish postseason is so feasible now, you can almost taste it. But we now have a new rule in life: Never, ever count out the Twins. So we'd bet the three games these teams play in the Metrodome, Sept. 23-25, will decide this division.

8. CAN THE ROCKIES DO IT AGAIN?
9. WHICH NONCONTENDER CAN WREAK THE MOST HAVOC?
10. WILL THE NL BATTING RACE MAKE HISTORY?

[devilandthelord]

I got tickets in the luxury box from work again finally tomorrow!!!


Woohoo!!! Luxury box and get to see Rich Harden pitch for the first time!

:multi:monkey:multi

[DMBZeppelin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

• A test in the West: It's never too early to look ahead to October, especially if you're a Cubs fan. But you might not enjoy the view. If the Brewers win the wild card, the Cubs would get stuck with a first-round date against the NL West champ. And that's a more terrifying proposition than it might seem in the W-L column.

If it's Arizona, that means a Game 1 date with Brandon Webb (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5455) (4-1, 2.53 lifetime against the Cubbies), a Game 2 match with Dan Haren (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5565) (7 IP, two earned runs in his only start against the Cubs as a D-back) and a Game 3 nightmare against Randy Johnson (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=2131) (13-0, 1.84 in his career against the Cubs, the third-best record in history for any pitcher against any team). But even if the Dodgers win the West, we remind you that the Cubs scored only 19 runs in seven games this year against Dodgers pitchers. Some fun, huh?

"You can argue that there's no better chance for an upset [in the first round] than the Cubs face," one scout said, "because pitching can be the great equalizer. And remember, all the pressure will be on the Cubs to get to the World Series."

[DMBZeppelin]

I got tickets in the luxury box from work again finally tomorrow!!!


Woohoo!!! Luxury box and get to see Rich Harden pitch for the first time!

:multi:monkey:multi

That's awesome news, and I'm jealous. I really want to see Harden pitch.

[devilandthelord]

That's awesome news, and I'm jealous. I really want to see Harden pitch.

Thanks dude. Me too. Harden is probably my favorite Cub right now even though he's new.

[HolyCow]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

• A test in the West: It's never too early to look ahead to October, especially if you're a Cubs fan. But you might not enjoy the view. If the Brewers win the wild card, the Cubs would get stuck with a first-round date against the NL West champ. And that's a more terrifying proposition than it might seem in the W-L column.

If it's Arizona, that means a Game 1 date with Brandon Webb (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5455) (4-1, 2.53 lifetime against the Cubbies), a Game 2 match with Dan Haren (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5565) (7 IP, two earned runs in his only start against the Cubs as a D-back) and a Game 3 nightmare against Randy Johnson (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=2131) (13-0, 1.84 in his career against the Cubs, the third-best record in history for any pitcher against any team). But even if the Dodgers win the West, we remind you that the Cubs scored only 19 runs in seven games this year against Dodgers pitchers. Some fun, huh?

"You can argue that there's no better chance for an upset [in the first round] than the Cubs face," one scout said, "because pitching can be the great equalizer. And remember, all the pressure will be on the Cubs to get to the World Series."
Definitely scary. Come on Dodgers!

[devilandthelord]

That is scary.
But we'll still do it either way.

[Bron Yr Aur]

Well, I guess that's the inherent issue with 5-game series. No margin for error. You can't have a bad couple of games, because you'll put yourselves right out of it. However, we have a good team. They should get by the D-backs. We won 4/6 against them this season, and Randy Johnson won't dominate us again.

[devilandthelord]

We will find a way.

[crashintonickdm]

good luck.

[devilandthelord]

That Chase Utley fellow, he's awfully good.
But his average seems to be kinda low for his normal standards.

[devilandthelord]

Pretty typical Cub results against Hamels so far.

Getting owned. :freak

C'mon Cubs! WTF!?! :mad

[devilandthelord]

OMGzzz a run against Cole Hamels!

And from who else? The motherfucking man, Mark DeRosa with a triple!


Nobody watching the game? Or just don't feel like posting?

[devilandthelord]

God damnit!
And we give it right back.

[LisaC]

Someone tell Jim McMahon he can't sing.

[Ev42]

Someone tell Jim McMahon he can't sing.

doncha know jim's the man he can sing how ever he wants

[dmbdreamingtree]

if the cubs win this year this would be in celebration of the 100 year anniversary merkle incident in 1908, correct?

[devilandthelord]

Threatening again!

First and third, no outs, and the most important thing, no Hamels!

[devilandthelord]

Can't have Lee be Mr. DP right here.
Gotta have something positive out of him here!

[SmoothD41]

well, THAT'S clutch hitting.

[cryfreedom4136]

I think the biggest diffence between the Cubs and the Brewers is that the Cubs win games in the 8th and the Brewers lose games in the 8th...

[devilandthelord]

OMFG I love Aramis Ramirez!!! :multi:monkey:multi

[devilandthelord]

Shit I'm so pissed I'm at work right now and I couldn't watch that live.

I'll be watching Sportscenter for sure tonight!


I am so pumped to go to tomorrow's game! Yes!

I also overuse exclamation points, but I don't care right now!!!!!!!!

[TapNorris]

Damn, I've missed all the good stuff. Down 4-1 I decided to listen to that Obama guy spew a bunch of BS and I missed the patented late innings scoring spree. Damn.

Go Cubs Go!!

[cryfreedom4136]

Damn, I've missed all the good stuff. Down 4-1 I decided to listen to that Obama guy spew a bunch of BS and I missed the patented late innings scoring spree. Damn.

Go Cubs Go!!

I don't think I have ever seen someone talk so much before and yet say so little...

[devilandthelord]

This team is just unbelievable!

[Tiduwho]

Man.....DAMN! It looks like I missed two good games tonight. Go Bears, and go Cubs.


Let's finish this bum and go home Woody. Ryan Howard is an automatic strikeout or tie game homer. I would elect to go with the former if I'm Kerry.

[Tiduwho]

Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! :multi

[devilandthelord]

Cubs win! Cubs win!


Hey Chicago, whaddya say?

[TapNorris]

I don't think I have ever seen someone talk so much before and yet say so little...

No, I said plenty...I'm not a fan of the Messiah.

Plus I also said, Go Cubs Go!!

[devilandthelord]

No, I said plenty...I'm not a fan of the Messiah.

Plus I also said, Go Cubs Go!!

And with that, you said it all, my friend. :D

[devilandthelord]

The really miraculous thing about tonights game wasn't even the ARAM Slam.

It was the fact that Bob Howry pitched a scorless inning in a close game.

WTF??? The world makes no sense!

[sean52692]

GO CUBS GO!!

Aramis for prezzz!

[Bron Yr Aur]

Holy shit! What a game! Sneaky power leading off the 8th and putting a charge into the team? And Aramis's homer was an absolute no doubter. BRILLIANT! Seeing Victorino just standing there told the whole story. We were all yelling and jumping up and down in our apartment, what a great moment, maybe the best of the year.

[devilandthelord]

This just makes going to tomorrow's game even more awesome!

Harden on the hill.

Feelin' good.

[devilandthelord]

For those that watched the game, did they use any instant replay?

[Bron Yr Aur]

For those that watched the game, did they use any instant replay?

Not that I know of. Didn't watch every pitch, but at Wrigley it's probably going to be a rare occurrence to see it used anyway.

[Tiduwho]

For those that watched the game, did they use any instant replay?

I think we woulda hurt about it.

[devilandthelord]

Not that I know of. Didn't watch every pitch, but at Wrigley it's probably going to be a rare occurrence to see it used anyway.

Thats true. Not as many camera angles as most parks.

[Bron Yr Aur]

Thats true. Not as many camera angles as most parks.

Well, plus....the only thing would be fair/foul calls for homers. Otherwise, the basket pretty much solves the fan interference on homers and we don't have the "yellow line" thing where it can be hard to tell if a ball went over the line and came back, etc....

[Tiduwho]

At this rate, I don't see how the Cubs don't win out.

[DMBZeppelin]

Going 16-12 the rest of the year would give us a 100 wins. Honestly I think this team is better then that.

6.5 up on the Brewers, and 10 up on St. Louis a.k.a a playoff spot.

So magic number for the division is down to 23 and magic number for a playoff spot is 19.

[DMBZeppelin]

At this rate, I don't see how the Cubs don't win out.
It's called Jason Marquis.

[cryfreedom4136]

No, I said plenty...I'm not a fan of the Messiah.

Plus I also said, Go Cubs Go!!

I was talking about Obama, not you :lol

[HolyCow]

This team is fun.


Cubs.

[clcfball11]

I hope Barack Obama was watching tonight's Cubs game after claiming Cubs fans are simply there to "drink beer and enjoy the atmosphere". Barack, you must have missed how all 40,000 fans stand during EVERY big pitch during EVERY game. You must have also missed how a lowly, basement dwelling 2005 Chicago Cubs team easily outdrew your world champion white sox in the same year. Oh, and how Cubs fans manage to routinely double opposing teams' fans on the road, some examples include Milwaukee and Florida. Not to mention the fact that more alcohol is served per fan/per inning at US Cellular than on the North side. I hope you are better at analyzing international relations than what constitutes a good baseball fanbase, you fucking idiot.

Cubs: 2008 world series champs. Its gonna happen.

[DMBZeppelin]

Cubs: 2008 world series champs. Its gonna happen.
I really hope it does, and I'm glad we as fans are starting to expect this. We really should be like everyone else, World Series or bust. Too many years we've just been happy to make the playoffs. "Oh if we can just win the division this year, that be swell."

This is a special team, and the best Cubs team I've ever seen. Anything less then winning it all would be a failure. There's not one team in baseball that I can look at and say "Oh well we have no chance against them." I mean I know we're beatable. But there's no one we couldn't handle.

Hell, I mean even our bench. If we bring in a pinch hitter late, I'm never thinking "Oh well it's over cause this guy sucks." and I love how Cubs culture is evolving. You can thank Lou for that. Talking about Cubbie swagger and what not. Though actually I think things started to change when Andy McPhail left. The first thing McDonough said "It's time to win. It's time to win the World Series." He's right, I want this. You all want this. Lets do this.

Cubs

[devilandthelord]

Every time I hear something on the radio, tv or internet about a potential playoff team be it good or bad I'm listening carefully.
Even AL teams now. Because I expect us to be in the World Series.
Anything less would be a disappointment.
Even today, I hear Josh Beckett is scratched from another start, sent to go see Dr. James Andrews, which is never good from the standpoint of missing time or having surgery it seems.
And as bad as it is to take pleasure in another team's injuries I thought, "Good, a weakend Beckett or out completely weakens the Red Sox and makes it better for us to win the WS."
I think like this all the time now.
Angels losing steam, good. We are doing better than them now.
That sort of thing.

Anything. I know we have to get through the NL, but this team is on a mission now. And they're not looking back.

[gocubsgo3822]

Best night in a long time... a week ago at this point i was in jail....

tonight the gamecox won 34-0 (our defense was insane we gonna surprise people which is funny with three all american (i mean if you are all SEC you should be ll american correct???))

but the biggest highlight is.....

CUBS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sent this message to mike in reference to tid but i said "cubs to win out?" Boys we are watching a team of destiny.... I have people coming up to me saying they are watching baseball becuase of us and that they have never seen a team so deep.....

p.s. If rammy hits another 30+ and drives in 130 MVP??? I think so.... he has 24 and 99 for the record...

[gocubsgo3822]

Hoffpauir's .750 slugging percentage would rank first in the PCL if he had enough at-bats, and his .364 average would rank second. As it is, he's still among the league leaders in home runs (24) and RBIs (95) despite playing in only 68 games and getting 280 at-bats heading into Thursday's action.

[TapNorris]

I was talking about Obama, not you :lol

:lol Ooooooooh...yeah, I'm dumb. Didn't catch that. :D

[thortrac]

Ramirez is DA MAN!

[crush0617]

thank you for defeating the Phils last night

[41ravens]

the 8th inning last night is another prime example of why 2008 is a different year. that was a game we weren't supposed to win. rami is the fucking man.

[darbini]

Cubs

[Bron Yr Aur]

Hmm....day game today. Not Harden's favorite, and I'm hoping the wind is blowing in. We should easily get to Blanton. Too bad I'll be in class from 12 to 4.

[DMBCubs25]

Can never count this team out, the patient approach at the plate has been the key to the season. Working counts and getting ahead for hitters pitches, not chasing bad pitches and taking walks. Its been a beautiful thing to watch this year

[UCFish]

I will be looking for updates on my phone on the drive from Seattle to the Gorge.

Lets get them Cubbies.

[DMBZeppelin]

Harden on Blanton

"He's probably one of my favorite teammates, just a great guy," Harden said. "One of the hardest working guys that I've seen in baseball my whole career."

What are the buddies looking forward to the most in Friday's game? It's not pitching.
"I'm pretty excited to get a chance to hit against him," said Harden, who is 1-for-15 since switching leagues. "I'm not much of a hitter right now. I hope he challenges me, comes at me with his fastball."

I hope Harden takes him deep.

[darbini]

If rammy hits another 30+ and drives in 130 MVP??? I think so.... he has 24 and 99 for the record...



Last night I think they said that 18 out of his 24 homeruns have been in the 7th inning or later, that's impressive(and maybe the MOST VALUABLE :))

[HolyCow]

Cubs.

[davehead86]

Go Cubs Go.

[afritsch]

Last night I think they said that 18 out of his 24 homeruns have been in the 7th inning or later, that's impressive(and maybe the MOST VALUABLE :))

he has had 6 go ahead hrs in the 7th inning or later. that is very impressive.

[DMBZeppelin]

I'm thinking, this could be a huge game. The Brewers don't play till tonight, and we know they'll be scoreboard watching. If we win this game, we'll be up by 7. Then at worst we go back to 6.5 at the end of the night. But I think 7 would start to put the pressure on them.

[crashintonickdm]

when do you play the mets again?

[MPizzle06]

What a game last night!!

Let's grab another W today...another come from behind W perhaps? 1-0 in the 3rd :shrug

[darbini]

Come on Derosa, time to shine again!

[crashintonickdm]

thats too close to take, especialyl since its been called against hte phillies all game.

[darbini]

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut he took it and they tied up the game

[crashintonickdm]

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut he took it and they tied up the game

eh that was ridiculous.

[darbini]

well Cubs

[crashintonickdm]

this might be the worst umpriing game ive ever watched. for both sides.

[TapNorris]

Fonz!!!!

[Sou1 So1di3r]

Cubs

[41ravens]

cubs?



cubs.

[UCFish]

Damn wish we could have added something there.

Lets make this quick and painless.

[41ravens]

top of their order in the ninth again?

[TapNorris]

Fuck Yeah! Cubs win! I'm excited!

[41ravens]

cubs win!

[Bron Yr Aur]

Marmol = Too nasty

Seriously, he made it look easy getting through those 5 batters with 3 K's. Brilliant.

The umpiring was terrible, though. Missed calls left and right. That was a borderline strike to Kosuke. Bottom of the zone. On 3-1 late in the game I call that a strike. But there's no guarantee he doesn't get walked later on in the AB.

[HolyCow]

Another sexy win. This is too fun.

We are hitting our stride right on cue. We are going to win the division by 12 games, run into the postseason and... you know.

[devilandthelord]

We were all singing Go Cubs Go!
Go Cubs Go!

Just back home from a long day at the game and downtown visiting some games.
As usual, sitting in the company box was wonderful, and it was a wonderful, wonderful game.

What more can I say than Fonz is the man?

Oh yeah, Cubs. :D :monkey

[fromchicago252]

The cubs are the team to beat right now in the Majors. Everyone in baseball is watching them just waiting for them to choke. I am a lifelong cubbies fan. I wore a cub hat everyday for 7 years while living in california. It was my trademark and the way people identified me. I'll be honest in saying i am waiting for something to happen. But at the same time i can't help but think in the back of my mind...maybe this is the year...i mean 100 years is a nice round number...why not end it now...

[bothedmbfan]

Obama for prez. Cubs win. Pablo Honey is actually a good album. All praise be to Allah. George Lopez show is meh.

[DMBZeppelin]

Hey I found some cool things from the last couple days on Elias Says on ESPN.

8/28
Ramirez leads the major leagues with 44 RBIs in the seventh inning or later this season.

8/27
SORIANO: 30 HITS IN 15 GAMES vs. PIRATES
Alfonso Soriano (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3993) went 2-for-4 in the Cubs' final game against Pittsburgh this season, lifting his totals to 30 hits (including six homers) in 72 at-bats (a .417 batting average) against the Bucs. That's especially remarkable, given that due to injury, Soriano appeared in only 15 of the 18 games played between the Cubs and the Pirates this season.

What's so remarkable, you say? Well, how many years do you think it has been since we last saw a major leaguer with as many as 30 hits against one team in a season in which he played 15-or-fewer games against that team? Try 85 years. The last big-leaguer to do that was Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby, who went 31-for-60 against the Boston Braves while playing with the Cardinals in 1923.

MARMOL DIPS BELOW 4 HITS ALLOWED PER 9 INNINGS
Carlos Marmol (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28486) did what Carlos Marmol does - he threw a hitless inning - in the Cubs' 2-0 win at Pittsburgh. But it was a significant hitless inning, because it lowered his season average to 3.9 hits allowed per nine innings: 73 innings, 32 hits allowed.

No pitcher in major league history has allowed fewer than four hits per inning in a season in which he threw at least 50 innings. The record low belongs to Eric Gagne (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4181), who allowed 37 hits in 82 1/3 innings - 4.04 per nine innings - for the Dodgers in 2003. But watch out for Tampa Bay's Grant Balfour (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4811), who has allowed only 3.8 hits per nine innings in his 43 innings this season.

8/26
Zambrano has now hit safely in each of the last 13 starts in which he has batted, the longest such streak by a pitcher in a single season since Wilbur Cooper posted a streak of 15 starts with a hit in 1924. (I know the thread regulars know this, but he needs two more games to tie)

Zambrano started the season 0-for-9, but he is 26-for-63 since then (.413).

8/23
DEMPSTER TRANSITION FROM STARTER TO CLOSER
Ryan Dempster (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3845), who had 28 saves in 2007, has now won 15 games as a starter this season. Since saves became an official statistic in 1969, only two other pitchers won 15 games in a season as a starter the season after saving 20 or more games: Wilbur Wood of the White Sox (21 saves in 1970, 22 wins as a starter in 1971) and Derek Lowe (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3640) of the Red Sox (24 saves in 2001, 21 wins as a starter in 2002).

[TapNorris]

Obama for prez. Cubs win. Pablo Honey is actually a good album. All praise be to Allah. George Lopez show is meh.

No. Yes. Sure. Whatever. Blah.

Go Cubs!

[tecktalk]

hey nice going guys....!!
goo goo ggooo.!!!


________________________________
Webkinz a ganz website (http://www.cryptoworld.com) arab dating (http://arabloveline.com/)

[clayj41]

Obama for prez. Cubs win. Pablo Honey is actually a good album. All praise be to Allah. George Lopez show is meh.

You're way out of line with Pablo Honey. :lol

[Sou1 So1di3r]

Cubs

[bothedmbfan]

You're way out of line with Pablo Honey. :lol

It's really not that bad.

[devilandthelord]

What a great game to go to yesterday, had a blast.

51-19 at home. Are you kidding me???
Thats freakin' unbelievable.

Let get to Brett Myers today and make that mark even better!

[Ev42]

Obama for prez. Cubs win. Pablo Honey is actually a good album. All praise be to Allah. George Lopez show is meh.

Yes. Yes. ok. ok. meh

[bothedmbfan]

Yes. Yes. ok. ok. meh

Your lack of love for Allah will be the ruining of all of you ma fuckas.

[clayj41]

It's really not that bad.

Compared to outside work. When I compare it to Radiohead's body of work it's quite underwhelming.

Kinda like Stand Up. I'd rather listen to it that some top 40 shit, but I hold DMB (and Radiohead) to a higher standard.

[bothedmbfan]

Compared to outside work. When I compare it to Radiohead's body of work it's quite underwhelming.

Kinda like Stand Up. I'd rather listen to it that some top 40 shit, but I hold DMB (and Radiohead) to a higher standard.

Pablo Honey > Amnesiac

Yeah; I fucking went there.

[devilandthelord]

What are you guys talking about Radiohead crap for?
This is the thread about the most awesome baseball team on the planet.
The Cubs.

Take that stuff to a "Crap about Radiohead" thread.

[bothedmbfan]

What are you guys talking about Radiohead crap for?
This is the thread about the most awesome baseball team on the planet.
The Cubs.

Take that stuff to a "Crap about Radiohead" thread.

Ryan, shut up. I've killed people for less.

[clayj41]

Pablo Honey > Amnesiac

Yeah; I fucking went there.

Both are my least favorite. It's a toss up.

[bothedmbfan]

Both are my least favorite. It's a toss up.

Pablo Honey > Kid A.

I also fucking went there.

[clayj41]

What are you guys talking about Radiohead crap for?
This is the thread about the most awesome baseball team on the planet.
The Cubs.

Take that stuff to a "Crap about Radiohead" thread.

Winning has become to routine for us. It's no longer fun to talk about. :rolleyes:lol

[clayj41]

Pablo Honey > Kid A.

I also fucking went there.

Kid A > God, Sex, Cubs, anything

[bothedmbfan]

Kid A > God, Sex, Cubs, anything

Kid A is good, but, really, it's like, 3 GREAT songs, 2 songs that are only good live, 1 song that is only good in studio, and 4 kinda OK songs.

[clayj41]

Kid A is good, but, really, it's like, 3 GREAT songs, 2 songs that are only good live, 1 song that is only good in studio, and 4 kinda OK songs.

If I could only listen to one album for the rest of my life it would be Kid A.

[bothedmbfan]

If I could only listen to one album for the rest of my life it would be Kid A.

Then you obviously haven't heard Trans-American Treatment by Amy Jo Johnson.

[clayj41]

Then you obviously haven't heard Trans-American Treatment by Amy Jo Johnson.

And I don't want to.

[bothedmbfan]

And I don't want to.

Afraid that it's better than Kid A?

(I'll tell you now; it is.)

[clayj41]

Afraid that it's better than Kid A?

(I'll tell you now; it is.)

No, I hate being underwhelmed.

[TapNorris]

No, I hate being underwhelmed.

Kind of like the 500th page of this thread.

Hey Chicago, whadaya say?

[bothedmbfan]

No, I hate being underwhelmed.

Look at it this way. I'm the only one here who hypes it, and I'm an idiot. It's one of the best pop records everz.

[clayj41]

Kind of like the 500th page of this thread.

Hey Chicago, whadaya say?

Wow, I hadn't even noticed we were at 500!!!


Cubs are gonna win today!!! :hump

[clayj41]

Look at it this way. I'm the only one here who hypes it, and I'm an idiot. It's one of the best pop records everz.

I might give it a listen. I probably won't but maybe...

[bothedmbfan]

By the way; I'm taking bets on what fluky thing happens to make sure that the Cubs don't win it all. WHat ya got?