We will win this series and here's why:

[cubsfan5150]

Harden will shut down the Dodgers tonight and our offense will show up for once, then all the pressure will shift to the Dodgers, because the Dodgers will feel like they have to win game 4 to avoid coming back to Chi-town and facing Z in game 5. Because of the pressure, the Dodgers will play tight and Lilly will have his way with them, then they come back to Chicago and Z shuts them down. Mark my words.

[cub4life78]

I can buy that logic. Hope it works out that way....

[tfarks]

I eat shrooms too

[cubsfan5150]

You need to learn to share... close your fireplace and throw a bag in there and light them up.

[Bote McBoteface]

Harden will shut down the Dodgers tonight and our offense will show up for once, then all the pressure will shift to the Dodgers, because the Dodgers will feel like they have to win game 4 to avoid coming back to Chi-town and facing Z in game 5. Because of the pressure, the Dodgers will play tight and Lilly will have his way with them, then they come back to Chicago and Z shuts them down. Mark my words.

 

 

Why wouldn't they want to come back to Chicago? They kinda just raped us here and did it with relative ease.

[otis89]

Dempster is scheduled to pitch game 5, not Zambrano.

[C.C.]

Dempster is scheduled to pitch game 5, not Zambrano.

 

Lou already said that Dempster will be pitching out of the pen if needed for game 3 and 4.

[RedFlash]

NM I was beaten to the punch. Edited October 4, 2008 by RedFlash

[cbbryan]

Dempster is scheduled to pitch game 5, not Zambrano.

 

 

Demp will be in the bullpen tonight and tomorrow. If he's called on to pitch then Z will start game 5.

[RedFlash]

Harden will shut down the Dodgers tonight and our offense will show up for once, then all the pressure will shift to the Dodgers, because the Dodgers will feel like they have to win game 4 to avoid coming back to Chi-town and facing Z in game 5. Because of the pressure, the Dodgers will play tight and Lilly will have his way with them, then they come back to Chicago and Z shuts them down. Mark my words.

 

 

Why wouldn't they want to come back to Chicago? They kinda just raped us here and did it with relative ease.

 

B/C if the series comes back to Chicago, then the Cubs would have some serious momentum on their side. Which is why, if I am the Dodgers I would go for the kill tonight.

[Cynosure]

I don't understand this logic... but we can hope?

[David]

Harden will shut down the Dodgers tonight and our offense will show up for once, then all the pressure will shift to the Dodgers, because the Dodgers will feel like they have to win game 4 to avoid coming back to Chi-town and facing Z in game 5. Because of the pressure, the Dodgers will play tight and Lilly will have his way with them, then they come back to Chicago and Z shuts them down. Mark my words.

 

 

Why wouldn't they want to come back to Chicago? They kinda just raped us here and did it with relative ease.

 

 

Why wouldn't they want to blow a 2-0 lead and face elimination?

[splintersag]

I'm not sure if the Dodgers will exactly feel that way, but it's possible. Plus, I like any scenario that involves the Cubs winning.

[zamrambo]

I'm not sure if the Dodgers will exactly feel that way, but it's possible. Plus, I like any scenario that involves the Cubs winning.

 

That tends to scratch me right where I itch as well.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Even just for Game 5, I'd trade Zambrano for Billingsley in a heartbeat.

 

The Cubs don't have the pitcher to be scared of in Game 5, if by some miracle it got there.

[otis89]

Sorry. This was the first chance I had had to get on the computer today. I hadn't heard that Dempster was available out of the pen.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Even just for Game 5, I'd trade Zambrano for Billingsley in a heartbeat.

 

The Cubs don't have the pitcher to be scared of in Game 5, if by some miracle it got there.

 

The really stupid part is that there is only one pitcher in this series that is better than Billingsley, and we have him, but he wouldn't be available for a hypothetical Game 5 because...well, I've never quite figured out that because.

[anabiono]

Even just for Game 5, I'd trade Zambrano for Billingsley in a heartbeat.

 

The Cubs don't have the pitcher to be scared of in Game 5, if by some miracle it got there.

 

The really stupid part is that there is only one pitcher in this series that is better than Billingsley, and we have him, but he wouldn't be available for a hypothetical Game 5 because...well, I've never quite figured out that because.

 

 

the dodgers would be scared to face Z in chicago for a game 5

 

2 straight playoffs wins under the players belts...confidence back to their normal levels and beyond

 

your dead wrong they wouldn't be crapping their [expletive] pants

[windycityfan]

You need to learn to share... close your fireplace and throw a bag in there and light them up.

 

This is the correct reply.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Even just for Game 5, I'd trade Zambrano for Billingsley in a heartbeat.

 

The Cubs don't have the pitcher to be scared of in Game 5, if by some miracle it got there.

 

The really stupid part is that there is only one pitcher in this series that is better than Billingsley, and we have him, but he wouldn't be available for a hypothetical Game 5 because...well, I've never quite figured out that because.

 

 

the dodgers would be scared to face Z in chicago for a game 5

 

2 straight playoffs wins under the players belts...confidence back to their normal levels and beyond

 

your dead wrong they wouldn't be crapping their ---SOAPDROPPING--- pants

 

No, the Cubs would be. Billingsley pwns the living crap out of them. The one Manny homer Zambrano is guaranteed to give up would be more than enough to win the game.

[Ivy.n.Denver]

I'm not going to speak to a team's collective mindset as I think that is hard to gauge (Although DeRosa's error looked like a lot like nerves to me).

 

As far as a glimmer of hope here it is: both Harden and Lilly are flyball pitchers and both can be extremely effective in large parks. If the cubs can get the bats going I see a good chance at a couple of Ws in LA. I wouldn't expect more than 3 runs from the Dodgers in either game.

 

From the looks of Z and Dempster in the first two games I'd prefer Z in a game 5.

[Sosa21MVP]

I can't imagine the Dodgers would feel great about having to head back to Chicago for a Game 5 after winning the first two games. I don't think the logic is all that shaky.

 

But I do think it is more about the Cubs mindset than the Dodgers. People can say what they want, the Cubs have the better overall team. They have been playing tight. If they can get a win tonight and play well in doing so, I think they will relax and play more like the team we all followed for 161 games.

[erik316wttn]

Drugs are bad, mmmmmkay?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Dempster is scheduled to pitch game 5, not Zambrano.

 

Demp will be in the pen for games 3+4. Z would pitch game 5 if necessary.

[zamrambo]

Even just for Game 5, I'd trade Zambrano for Billingsley in a heartbeat.

 

The Cubs don't have the pitcher to be scared of in Game 5, if by some miracle it got there.

 

The really stupid part is that there is only one pitcher in this series that is better than Billingsley, and we have him, but he wouldn't be available for a hypothetical Game 5 because...well, I've never quite figured out that because.

 

 

the dodgers would be scared to face Z in chicago for a game 5

 

2 straight playoffs wins under the players belts...confidence back to their normal levels and beyond

 

your dead wrong they wouldn't be crapping their ---SOAPDROPPING--- pants

 

No, the Cubs would be. Billingsley pwns the living crap out of them. The one Manny homer Zambrano is guaranteed to give up would be more than enough to win the game.

 

17.2 innings pitched.

22 strikeouts

6 walks

3.07 ERA

1.25 WHIP

 

That would be his career starts against the Cubs. Three games to sample from. He pitched four shutout innings of relief against us in 2007. Albeit good, those numbers aren't fantastic. It's not like he's lights out against the Cubs.