Expert Predictions

[bhogg]

What is it going to take for people to consider Rich Harden as a great pitcher?

[KPet]

What is it going to take for people to consider Rich Harden as a great pitcher?

 

 

For him to have a great start in Game 3. (Which I have no doubt he will do)

[David]

What is it going to take for people to consider Rich Harden as a great pitcher?

 

Who doesn't?

 

The only questions I ever see about him have to do with his durability.

[UMFan83]

As a Brewer fan I'm sure I'm biased as hell but I pick the Dodgers as well. They are a much better team than the record suggests now that they aren't playing Andruw and Pierre and now that Furcal should be healthy. I'm a firm believer in the crappy version of Zambrano and not the isolated no hitter version and Harden has slid a bit lately as well. If the Cubs are going to win it is because Lilly and Dempser step up big, not because of the aces. I also think all the little nagging injures to Soto, DeRosa, Soriano catch up to the offense somewhat.

 

PS. if money were on the line I'd pick a Dodgers vs Phillies NLCS, so it isn't 100% bias at work.

 

People thought that the Cubs were better than their record suggested last year too.

[Keener98]

As a Brewer fan I'm sure I'm biased as hell but I pick the Dodgers as well. They are a much better team than the record suggests now that they aren't playing Andruw and Pierre and now that Furcal should be healthy. I'm a firm believer in the crappy version of Zambrano and not the isolated no hitter version and Harden has slid a bit lately as well. If the Cubs are going to win it is because Lilly and Dempser step up big, not because of the aces. I also think all the little nagging injures to Soto, DeRosa, Soriano catch up to the offense somewhat.

 

PS. if money were on the line I'd pick a Dodgers vs Phillies NLCS, so it isn't 100% bias at work.

 

 

Since when has Soriano had a nagging injury? I find it funny you say now that Furcal should be healthy but yet think Soto, DeRo, and apparently Soriano are going to be not healthy.

 

Also not playing Andruw and Pierre has no effect on Lowes 4.42 Road ERA this year or his 1.4 whip and almost .300 BAA. The Dodgers benefited big time by playing in the crap NL West, and all of LA's pitchers have benefited big time by pitching in LA.

 

Oh and can we please quit with the RIch Harden has slipped lately? I mean my God he has a 2.65 ERA and a 1.18 Whip in September. I mean yea he actually has an ERA over 2 for the 1st month since May(his only 2 months of the season mind you). Hell he had his lowest BAA in the month of September. So please quit with the Harden slipping, not just you Ender, this is for the entire national media.

[Little Slide Rooter]

You forgot Gammons. That turd burglar predicted the Dodgers.

 

I saw it on the video on the Cubs' ESPN team page.

 

Gammons thinks Derek Lowe is still on the Red Sox.

 

This is probably Lowe's best season since his big 02 season with the Sox. Can't take anything away from Lowe. He's been good. But, he's like anyone else on the road.

 

Lowe is good, and will get a contract to match in the offseason, but if given the choice between facing the number 1 pitcher of every playoff team, Id take my chances with Lowe.

[JeffH]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

[Roast]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

[JeffH]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

[David]

As a Brewer fan I'm sure I'm biased as hell but I pick the Dodgers as well. They are a much better team than the record suggests now that they aren't playing Andruw and Pierre and now that Furcal should be healthy. I'm a firm believer in the crappy version of Zambrano and not the isolated no hitter version and Harden has slid a bit lately as well. If the Cubs are going to win it is because Lilly and Dempser step up big, not because of the aces. I also think all the little nagging injures to Soto, DeRosa, Soriano catch up to the offense somewhat.

 

PS. if money were on the line I'd pick a Dodgers vs Phillies NLCS, so it isn't 100% bias at work.

 

People thought that the Cubs were better than their record suggested last year too.

 

They were. They just blew in the playoffs.

[David]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

 

So then why even bother watching if you can't even muster up positivity (er, realism, actually) during the best season any of us have seen?

Edited September 30, 2008 by David

[Roast]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

You realize we were the best team in the NL this year, right?

[Roast]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

You realize we were the best team in the NL this year, right?

[David]

And Rob Neyer isn't dumb.

[UMFan83]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

You realize we were the best team in the NL this year, right?

 

Pessimism has little to do with records and performance. Pessimism is a frame of mind. The Cubs could have gone 162-0 and somehow due to an odd set of circumstances drew the Sioux Falls, SD little league team, and people would still be predicting their demise.

[JeffH]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

 

So then why even bother watching if you can't even muster up positivity (er, realism, actually) during the best season any of us have seen?

 

I'm addicted.

[SouthSideRyan]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

You realize we were the best team in the NL this year, right?

 

Pessimism has little to do with records and performance. Pessimism is a frame of mind. The Cubs could have gone 162-0 and somehow due to an odd set of circumstances drew the Sioux Falls, SD little league team, and people would still be predicting their demise.

 

Then those people are very, very dumb and would rather play up the worst parts of Cubs fandom about some stupid cursed history and 1969 and black cats, and other things that the biggest of idiots in the media and fandom love to never shut up about and give people with a lump of tissue encased in their skull a horrible name. I hope they make sure to pick up their copy of Hoodoo!!! Eff you too Duchie you money grubbing clown.

Edited September 30, 2008 by SouthSideRyan

[Roast]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

 

So then why even bother watching if you can't even muster up positivity (er, realism, actually) during the best season any of us have seen?

 

I'm addicted.

:?

 

mkay. Something tells me when the cubs are celebrating a WS championship on the field you are going to be complaining about how they didnt deserve it.

[UMFan83]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

You realize we were the best team in the NL this year, right?

 

Pessimism has little to do with records and performance. Pessimism is a frame of mind. The Cubs could have gone 162-0 and somehow due to an odd set of circumstances drew the Sioux Falls, SD little league team, and people would still be predicting their demise.

 

Then those people are very, very dumb.

 

The study of pessimism has parallels with the study of depression. Psychologists trace pessimistic attitudes to emotional pain or even biology. Aaron Beck argues that depression is due to unrealistic negative views about the world. Beck starts treatment by engaging in conversation with clients about their negative thoughts. Pessimists however are often able to provide arguments that suggest that their understanding of reality is justified (pessimistic realism)

[JeffH]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

 

So then why even bother watching if you can't even muster up positivity (er, realism, actually) during the best season any of us have seen?

 

I'm addicted.

:?

 

mkay. Something tells me when the cubs are celebrating a WS championship on the field you are going to be complaining about how they didnt deserve it.

 

Wrong. In the extremely unlikely event that happens, I will be quite pleased.

[Roast]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

 

So then why even bother watching if you can't even muster up positivity (er, realism, actually) during the best season any of us have seen?

 

I'm addicted.

:?

 

mkay. Something tells me when the cubs are celebrating a WS championship on the field you are going to be complaining about how they didnt deserve it.

 

Wrong. In the extremely unlikely event that happens, I will be quite pleased.

So give me some reason behind your belief that the cubs will lose this series. What about being the best team in the National League makes then a lesser team than the brewers. Especially when we have home field advantage considering our ridiculous record at home this year.

[David]

There's no reasoning behind it. Don't even argue with him.

 

He might as well respond, "because they're the Cubs."

[Roast]

There's no reasoning behind it. Don't even argue with him.

 

He might as well respond, "because they're the Cubs."

Ah. He's Marty Brennaman

[JeffH]

Neyer, Law, Stark, Clapisch, Cransnik, Kurkjian, Nelson, and Phillips are all very, very dumb.

So the cubs lose this series, then?

 

Have you ever been positive in your entire life?

 

Of course. Just not about our ballclub.

 

So then why even bother watching if you can't even muster up positivity (er, realism, actually) during the best season any of us have seen?

 

I'm addicted.

:?

 

mkay. Something tells me when the cubs are celebrating a WS championship on the field you are going to be complaining about how they didnt deserve it.

 

Wrong. In the extremely unlikely event that happens, I will be quite pleased.

So give me some reason behind your belief that the cubs will lose this series. What about being the best team in the National League makes then a lesser team than the brewers. Especially when we have home field advantage considering our ridiculous record at home this year.

 

I'm expecting our offense to be overmatched by the Dodgers pitching and our woeful middle relief to be horribly exposed.

 

Maybe we'll get lucky and Soriano will get super hot and carry us to victory in the division series.

 

I'll be a little more confident should we make it to a seven game series.

[SouthSideRyan]

The Dodgers star studded offense gets to feast on our weak starting pitching too.

 

Dodgers ERA away from LA: 4.73

Edited September 30, 2008 by SouthSideRyan