4/21 Cubs (Williams) @ Cardinals (Mulder) 7:10 PM WGNTV

[Andy]

I seriously think that enough pieces of this Cubs TEAM have shown up strongly enough that, while being minus our best offensive player and two top starting pitchers, there's really no need to panic. The approach to this season so far has been really good on all fronts, and I have even had a hard time complaining about Dusty so far. It won't be pretty, but I expect to see the Cubs in really good shape when Lee returns.

I agree that the Cubs can probably stay afloat for the next couple of months. I just doubt their ability to do it well enough to put us in position to storm into the playoffs at the end. I'll still cheer them on wholeheartedly, though, just because I can't imagine doing anything else during baseball season. I figure I went through 1999, 2000 and 2002, I can get through this, too.

[soccer10k]

I seriously think that enough pieces of this Cubs TEAM have shown up strongly enough that, while being minus our best offensive player and two top starting pitchers, there's really no need to panic. The approach to this season so far has been really good on all fronts, and I have even had a hard time complaining about Dusty so far. It won't be pretty, but I expect to see the Cubs in really good shape when Lee returns.

I agree that the Cubs can probably stay afloat for the next couple of months. I just doubt their ability to do it well enough to put us in position to storm into the playoffs at the end. I'll still cheer them on wholeheartedly, though, just because I can't imagine doing anything else during baseball season. I figure I went through 1999, 2000 and 2002, I can get through this, too.

 

We can make it through this. But Aramis has to start to hit. Jacque has to get his average up to at least .250. Murton has to come through. Z has to pull his out and pitch like the ace he should be. And most importantly, Prior and Wood MUST come back healthy and pitch well.

 

But this is the Cubs so let's not get our hopes up. I'm not giving up, I'm just trying to be realistic. Remember, low expectations means high chance of exceeding expectations.

[A New Era]

I'm not going into this next series with lower expectations, per say. Just not as excited about watching cubs baseball as I would have been if Lee was healthy.

 

Wouldn't it be great to see everyone step up and sweep the cards after this demoralizing injury. Williams needs to pitch like he is on a mission. Let's go cubs!!

[Butterscup1679666578]

I'm not going into this next series with lower expectations, per say. Just not as excited about watching cubs baseball as I would have been if Lee was healthy.

 

Wouldn't it be great to see everyone step up and sweep the cards after this demoralizing injury. Williams needs to pitch like he is on a mission. Let's go cubs!!

 

I'm just as excited to watch this team play. It'll be interesting to see how they play. Can this team persevere? Perseverence is a huge part of this sport. Will they hang their heads and die or will they man up and win this series, hopefully bringing SOME optimism back to NSBB?

[mhuber92211]

So should the Cubs sweep this weekend how much will that change people's opinion?

[Outshined_One]

I'm not going into this next series with lower expectations, per say. Just not as excited about watching cubs baseball as I would have been if Lee was healthy.

 

Wouldn't it be great to see everyone step up and sweep the cards after this demoralizing injury. Williams needs to pitch like he is on a mission. Let's go cubs!!

 

I'm just as excited to watch this team play. It'll be interesting to see how they play. Can this team persevere? Perseverence is a huge part of this sport. Will they hang their heads and die or will they man up and win this series, hopefully bringing SOME optimism back to NSBB?

 

*Kicks metal fan*

 

:P

 

I'm down, I'll admit it. Lee's wrist injury will hurt this team both offensively and defensively. He's a very important part of this team, no one can doubt that.

 

At the same time, though, this team has managed to be impressively inept and bumbling over the past two seasons...and has still remained in the Wild Card race up until late in the season both times. This year's team is more fundamentally sound than those teams (although not quite as strong in certain areas), so I think they can manage to not completely fall into the dumpster while Lee is gone.

 

Besides, Lee should come back some time in June. We know that's his month! ;)

 

If they're at or above .500 by June 1st, they will have a legitimate shot of getting back into it. If not...there's always pining for next year, haha.

[Marco4]

I'm excited by this game. I really am. I like watching D-Lee, and I appreciate that he gives a lot to the team. However, I quite like watching Matt Murton and Ronny Cedeno, too, and they're bringing their own lot to the team. (Its not that I don't like the rest of the team, but I find I anticipate their ABs more than, say, Todd Walker. Don't hate me for it).

 

I don't think there'll be a sweep - either way - this weekend, and I think the Cubs have got enough, though its gonna be tough, to win two of the three.

 

As for the months without Lee. I'm not optimistic yet, but I'm willing to be persuaded.

[A New Era]

I look foward to. .

 

Pierre

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Barret

Jones

Murton

Cedeno

 

batting. Because I feel like they can get a hit any time they come up. The only people I don't look foward to watching bat are. .

 

Perez

Bynum

Blanco

Picther (cept Maddux and Zambrono) ::yeah I realized I mispelled it again. But I'm gonna leave it at that.

[Marco4]

Actually, now you mention it, I look forward to Barrett lately, too.

 

Bynum? I just don't understand what he's doing there. I'm sure he's just on the roster to be a pinch runner.

[Blueheart05]

So should the Cubs sweep this weekend how much will that change people's opinion?

 

I just want 2 out of 3. My expectations are the same. Let me see them "manufacture" some runs; we've certainy been hearing about it all Spring and they've done a decent job of doing it thus far. The key will be Jerome Williams continuing his dominance over the Cardinals tonight and hopefully, Maddux continuing to hold offenses to low scores.

[soccer10k]

I'm not going into this next series with lower expectations, per say. Just not as excited about watching cubs baseball as I would have been if Lee was healthy.

 

Wouldn't it be great to see everyone step up and sweep the cards after this demoralizing injury. Williams needs to pitch like he is on a mission. Let's go cubs!!

 

I'm just as excited to watch this team play. It'll be interesting to see how they play. Can this team persevere? Perseverence is a huge part of this sport. Will they hang their heads and die or will they man up and win this series, hopefully bringing SOME optimism back to NSBB?

 

*Kicks metal fan*

 

:P

 

I'm down, I'll admit it. Lee's wrist injury will hurt this team both offensively and defensively. He's a very important part of this team, no one can doubt that.

 

At the same time, though, this team has managed to be impressively inept and bumbling over the past two seasons...and has still remained in the Wild Card race up until late in the season both times. This year's team is more fundamentally sound than those teams (although not quite as strong in certain areas), so I think they can manage to not completely fall into the dumpster while Lee is gone.

 

Besides, Lee should come back some time in June. We know that's his month! ;)

 

If they're at or above .500 by June 1st, they will have a legitimate shot of getting back into it. If not...there's always pining for next year, haha.

 

8 weeks puts him in the middle of June while 10 weeks puts him at the end of June. Remember that the cast will be on for 6 weeks. Then he has to rehab it back to normal strength. I think early July is the sure bet. Hopefully he makes it back early, but I don't want him coming back early if he's going to hit like Jacque Jones.

[jtownie]

Has it been noticed that mulder has been terrible against LH this year? Small sample size but hopefully it continues.

[da bears]

Well I'll be watching this game in a bar with probably all Cardinal fans. Come on Cubs, give me something to cheer about tonight!

[alroy88]

JP needs to keep getting on base, and then stealing them to get into scoring position for Walker, Ramirez, Murton, and Barrett. Anything outside of those five guys are bonus runs to me.

 

I almost fell on the floor laughing when someone stated what the Cubs needed to do to stay in the race. Ramirez needs to start hitting, Jones needs to start hitting over .250, Murton needs to keep it up, Z needs to step it up, Wood and Prior have to come back and stay healthy...

 

Those are a lot of "ifs".

 

Don't forget about Wade Miller either.

 

And send OhMan to Iowa to get his crap together.

[Rob]

Woohoo!

 

A few of my friends stood outside the stadium at 4 or 5 o'clock this morning and got those cheap tickets for the game. I'm on my way to St. Louis!

[ltb]

And send OhMan to Iowa to get his crap together.

 

that's going to be a little difficult. he's out of options, i believe.

[badgercub]

JP needs to keep getting on base, and then stealing them to get into scoring position for Walker, Ramirez, Murton, and Barrett. Anything outside of those five guys are bonus runs to me.

 

I almost fell on the floor laughing when someone stated what the Cubs needed to do to stay in the race. Ramirez needs to start hitting, Jones needs to start hitting over .250, Murton needs to keep it up, Z needs to step it up, Wood and Prior have to come back and stay healthy...

 

Those are a lot of "ifs".

 

Don't forget about Wade Miller either.

 

And send OhMan to Iowa to get his crap together.

 

Thats why he said that is what they NEEDED to do. Not that it was going to happen. He was just providing some analysis to the current situation. Which is much more than your post does.

[alroy88]

well everyone needs to hit and stay healthy...that kinda goes unsaid...

[srbin84]

Cubs are gonna win this game tonight. I see Williams having another really good start.

[Chocolate Milk]

I think Lee comes in and hits 2 one armed home runs.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Outlandish game prediction of the day:

 

Cubs: Eleventy billion

Cards: -3

 

Jerome Williams, in giving up negative 3 runs, is automatically enshrined into the Hall of Fame and has his number retired by MLB. Both Aramis Ramirez and Matt Murton break Fernando Tatis's record by hitting 3 grand slams in the 87-run 1st inning. Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones break out of their slow starts by going a combined 38-40 with 28 walks in the first 4 innings before being lifted for a couple of elderly women sitting behind the Cubs dugout.

[Mizzou]

I'll be watching this game with my girlfriend's parents and brothers... all die hard Cardinals fans. Oh joy.

 

I do think that Williams will have another nice outting. I've been very high on him for awhile now.

[Blueheart05]

Outlandish game prediction of the day:

 

Cubs: Eleventy billion

Cards: -3

 

Jerome Williams, in giving up negative 3 runs, is automatically enshrined into the Hall of Fame and has his number retired by MLB. Both Aramis Ramirez and Matt Murton break Fernando Tatis's record by hitting 3 grand slams in the 87-run 1st inning. Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones break out of their slow starts by going a combined 38-40 with 28 walks in the first 4 innings before being lifted for a couple of elderly women sitting behind the Cubs dugout.

 

I needed this. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Banedon]

Outlandish game prediction of the day:

 

Cubs: Eleventy billion

Cards: -3

 

Jerome Williams, in giving up negative 3 runs, is automatically enshrined into the Hall of Fame and has his number retired by MLB. Both Aramis Ramirez and Matt Murton break Fernando Tatis's record by hitting 3 grand slams in the 87-run 1st inning. Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones break out of their slow starts by going a combined 38-40 with 28 walks in the first 4 innings before being lifted for a couple of elderly women sitting behind the Cubs dugout.

 

Do the -3 runs come from Pujols hitting 3 homers and running the wrong way around the bases?

[srbin84]

Outlandish game prediction of the day:

 

Cubs: Eleventy billion

Cards: -3

 

Jerome Williams, in giving up negative 3 runs, is automatically enshrined into the Hall of Fame and has his number retired by MLB. Both Aramis Ramirez and Matt Murton break Fernando Tatis's record by hitting 3 grand slams in the 87-run 1st inning. Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones break out of their slow starts by going a combined 38-40 with 28 walks in the first 4 innings before being lifted for a couple of elderly women sitting behind the Cubs dugout.

 

Do the -3 runs come from Pujols hitting 3 homers and running the wrong way around the bases?

 

No, there's a bench clearing brawl in which Zambrano single handedly beats up Pujols, Edmonds and Rolen at the same time. The Cardinals are penalized for 3 runs by the umps out of disgrace for their manhood.