CubinNY

Lou is completely crapping the bed in this playoff run. Oh well, the Cubs will be in another playoff in about 7 years.* *Based on average over the last 103 years.

He should probably start with his own (ass). True, but most of the blame, in my opinion, still has to go on Soriano/Lee/Ramirez. 2 feet < 3 asses. Lou's got a problem. Get Izturis back on the roster to jam a fist in to Aramis.

What? So soon? His days as a prospect are numbered then too.

I voted for gravy

Bullpucky. My argument does not require that Lilly had time to reflect. It requires only that Lilly have spent time training himself to control his reactions. actually, no. Testosterone + Nerves + Embarrassment + Hugely important situation + no self control = violent outburst Lilly has been on of the best pitchers at controlling his externalizing behaviors this year. Getting pissed off at giving up a 3 run jack is pretty understandable. I think the entire Cubs team and their manager are playing tight, playing not to loose, if you will. They are taking pitches they should be swininging at and swinging at pitches they should be taking. You just can't do that sort of thing and expect to win a playoff game. Especially Soriano, it is one of the things that got him traded from the Bronx a few years ago

I wish I didn't have that last 3 beers.

The Cubs are going to smack that silly soul patch right off of Davis's ugly mug.

We have 16 winners!!!!

Webb was dealing last night. Lou probably took out Z too soon (He managed tight), but I don't know that it mattered. What was somewhat shocking to me was all of the first pitch strikes the Cubs took. I really thought they'd get to Webb becuase they are so aggressive, but almost to a man they showed patience last night. Maybe they were pressing too, I don't know. It's only one game, I really expect the Cubs to take this seires, two mistakes up in the zone and across the heart of the plate cost the Cubs the game, not much else was hit hard. On the other hand, the Cubs hit some at-em balls. The Cubs had a little bad luck last night and were facing a pitcher who was on. They'll get them tonight, I have no doubt.

seriously, who is the color guy? Terrible. F. Ron Darling, and he's not that bad.

Webb is on. The Cubs are frustratingly patient. Where are the hackers I love? Z looks great.

grungy

First time ever.

I'm six ahead of you.

Better than Riot. Not ideal, but I don't mind. At least the riot can put together some competent at bats every once in a while. Jacque Jones at bat embarrasses me to be a Cubs fan. And yet, somehow, when Theriot came up to the plate, he was slightly more likely to make an out. Not arguing that fact, but I still have yet to figure out why. Easy. As many horrible swings as Jacque takes, he has the ability to make the pitcher pay for mistake pitches. Theriot doesn't have a very good approach at the plate either for somebody of his type (he doesn't see very many pitches per at bat and puts the first 3 pitches into play more than any other Cub). When you combine that with it being much harder for Theriot to take advantage of pitcher's mistakes, it means that even when Theriot drives the ball it turns into a lot of easy flyball outs. I agree. If Web misses up and away with a sinker/split JJ will nail it. The Cubs have to get to him early, because they won't get to him late.

I'll I've eaten today was a bagel. I've just had 2 serria nevadas and I'm sauced already. Tomorrow its an all liquid diet to prepare for colonoscipy on Friday, fun times! I probably won't be posting duirng the game so, Go Cubs!

TLR to follow?

Yeah, 1990s Maddux, and not a very poor-man's version. Webb is not that close to Maddux in his prime, but then again what non-power pitcher in recent times was? http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=104&playerid2=1692&playerid3=&position=P&page=6&type=full

I won't be able to think about much for the entire day. Please ptich well tonight Z, you are the key to the game. I like the Cubs chances tonight. Webb is kind of a poor man's Greg Maddux, which plays right into the Cubs agressive approach at the plate. If he's on it won't matter, but if he misses in the early innings the Cubs will hit him.

I'm on record for going after Andruw. Pie can slide over to RF and the Cubs can trade Murton or Pie can play CF and the Cubs can trade Murton. They can keep Murton too, but they might as well as they don't seem to value his skill set. Idiots. A-Rod won't be leaving the Bronx, that is crazy talk dreamed up in lala land. SS aren't exactly cheap these days. Renteria and Tejada are also on the wrong side of 30 and would cost some serious talent to get.

Ain't that the truth.

Neither time with a team that won 90 games So? Because that is the traditional standard of a good team. It doesnt mean anything but I would venture to say that every team that has ever made the post season with less than 90 wins probably have a very low percentage of returning the next season. Edit. So after shooting off my typing I looked up every team that won less than 90 and made the playoffs. A surprisingly high number of them made the playoffs the next year. 10 of them made it the next season and 14 didnt make it. I only went back to 1969. I figured before divisional play there probably wasnt very many non 90 win teams to make the World Series. I didn't see your edit before you made your post. I think the pre-WC era is so different in terms of records needed to make the playoffs that it's hard to take data from that and try to extrapolate to the future in the WC era. As much as a 12 year data sample of the WC era is still too small, I think that's the only thing we can go on right now. I think the better question is how many 90 or less win teams make the payoffs each year and of the 90 or less win teams that do, what is their win total the next year. I'd venture to guess that the 90 or less win teams that made the playoffs the following year had a higher number of wins the following year. I'd also venture to guess that the 90 or less win teams that made the playoffs one and didn't the next failed to win 90 games the following year. The question is (I guess) are the Cubs a 90+ win team next year? I think that answer remains to be seen.

If this is 516, then it looks like row 1 seat 1 would be directly behind the pole. man that sucks.

I've said it before, I think Logan White is the best avail. GM. If you gave me the choice of the potnetial unknown of White and the expected results of Hendry, I'd go with White. Yes, this. As well as Logan White has done as a farm director, I'm not sure how well this translates into being a good GM. Our current GM who everyone bashes was hired when he was the farm director of the #1 farm system in baseball. I'm not sure how well these skills translate from one job to another. I don't necessarily disagree with your sentiment, but I don't think the Cubs ever had the #1 farm system in baseball. I could be wrong though.

Does anyone think the Cubs are on the precipice of a dynasty? Hendry's best acquisition in recent years was Piniella, (thanks Bruce Miles for the article yesterday. It really changed my mind about sweet Lou). But that might just be a contrast effect from the dark days of Dusty. His second best was Lilly. But Lilly had a career year this year. Let's all hope he can keep it up in the post season and beyond. Marquis was about what we all expeceted since May. DeRosa was another good signing, but he had another career year at age 32. We all know abut Soriano, how can you not like the guy? However, we won't be liking his contract in two or three years (if you like it now). The thing about Jim is that in order for his teams to do well he needs to have far too many career years from too many guys. In ballance he had a good offseason, but in total he's been a very mediocre GM with a very mediocre record, and spent a lot of money to do so. Unfortunately for us, he's likely to be around for a few more years hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.