gflore34

I agree, but if thats really the case. If we still win 63% of our games, where does the benefit of having Soriano fit in? If we 'don't miss a beat' with him out for 1/6 of the season, why would we ever miss him? I think we will play slightly over .500 ball for his time out. 6 weeks from today would be 35 games missed (luckily there are 4 off days and the All Star break during those 6 weeks meaning that literally 1 of those 6 weeks will not contain baseball). I think we go something like 19-16 during those 35 games, leaving us with a 61-40 record when he returns. Which should be enough to have the Cubs up by 8+ games, to match it the Cards would have to go 21-13 without Pujols and Wainwright for a significant amount of those games - the greatness of Ludwick, Schumaker, Ryan and journey man/career minor leaguer pitcher X not withstanding - this isn't going to happen.

I know its Sutcliffe but, last night, he made some sense about Boston being a possible destination for Bonds, with Big Papi being out Bonds could slide right into the DH. I'm certain Bonds is at the point in his career where the only thing that matters is a WS ring being so, Boston and the Cubs appear to be logical destinations. The question is do you want to be part of a third Boston WS win in 5 years or part of 100 year ending drought for the Cubs along with it quite possibly overshadowing you're suspected performance enhancer use?

The difference is...the Cubs have the depth to cover for Soriano, whereas the lack of talent for the Cards will eventually show up. I expect the Cubs to pick up at least 4 games while Pujols is on the DL. Fixed

Is it me or is ESPN almost giddy that Soriano got hurt tonight? What's with Sutcliffe and all that devastating nonsense? Sure the Braves losing Smoltz for the season is a devastating blow but, I don't think Soriano being out 6-8 weeks is comparable.

Hoff is eligible to come back Friday right? and Thursday is an off day, right? I have a feeling there will be a roster move and Fontenot's playing time will only see a marginal increase. I hope so. We'll see, I guess. Lou did mention bringing up a couple of "kids" from Iowa to Erin Andrews after the game.

The ironic point of Soriano missing any time is there's a good chance it'll improve the Cub lineup. Be it Hoffpauir or Murton they'll bring more OBP to the lineup and it certainly won't hurt.

Exactly, deals including multiple players such as Pie, Patterson, Gallagher, etc. for Sabathia (or Harden for that matter) aren't realistic, it's not going to cost that much to rent CC. I believe Hendry, for all his short comings, knowns this.

I'm looking for two of Lee, Kosuke or Soto to break out of their recent funks.

Beyond the Cubs winning and Wood overmatching the Dodgers, my favorite part of the game was Ramirez forcing Pierre at 3B in the 8th.

We're not going to keep up this torrid pace at home. The Cubs are going to have to get their heads out of their asses but soon on the road. Seconded, maybe, just, maybe the Cubs will play like the best team in the NL and beat the crap that is the Dodgers, who knows, perhaps, the Cubs will get a few gifts from the Umpires as well. They're certainly due to catch a few breaks, I've had enough of the Dodgers beating the Cubs with seeing eye and bloop singles, missed calls, etc.

Hard to believe the Cards are only 3 games in back of us. It sure is, I'm certain, at some point, the clock will strike midnight on those Cardinals.

Check out the game 1 lineups of the Cardinals and Nationals, which is worse?

I can live with giving up a HR to Helton but, I can't live with allowing weak hitters like Taveras to get on base.

The 1985 Cubs were 35-19 at this point and finished 77-84. The 1969 Cubs were 37-17 at this point and finished 92-70. I think there's a real good chance the '85 Cubs would have fared much better had all 5 starters not gone down at one point, I distinctly remember Rick Sutcliffe pulling his hammy trying to beat out a grounder.

unless wood blows a save in the ninth inning of game seven of the world series... then we go find budhouse and tear him limb from limb Knowing our luck as Cubs fans, he'll have saved 40 in a row giving up 3 runs in 45 appearances leading up to that game 7 WS blown save. I'm not sure my heart can handle another situation like this. '84 killed my innocence. '03 almost killed me. '84, game 4 - I can still see Lee Smith giving up that HR to popeye arms Steve Gravey, Henry Cotto climbing the fence in a vain effort to catch it - man, I hated Lee Smith. After that I knew it was over, sure the Cubs had an 3-0 lead in game 5 but, I knew it was over. Just like I knew it was over after we blew it in the 8th inning of game 6 in the NLCS. Wood on the mound, not withstanding. You don't lose a game the way we did and come back and win....and we didn't. ](*,) I gotta believe if Woody's the closer in a decisive NLCS or WS game, he's not going to let this happen again. He sucked in game 7 in '03. He knows it, he admitted it. You've got to believe a guy like Wood is going to destroy people if he gets the chance again. If he throws the ball like he did last night, no team in the league is scoring a run on him. Wood has been improving and will continue to do so, coupling that with Marmol and an improving Howry/Erye will lead to a point where you can mail it in if the Cubs have the lead after 6. Crap like the last 2 games of the Pittsburgh series is going to be the anomaly rather than the norm.

And to think Fergie Jenkins used to throw 100 pitches in the BP prior to his starts!!!!

unless wood blows a save in the ninth inning of game seven of the world series... then we go find budhouse and tear him limb from limb Knowing our luck as Cubs fans, he'll have saved 40 in a row giving up 3 runs in 45 appearances leading up to that game 7 WS blown save. I'm not sure my heart can handle another situation like this. '84 killed my innocence. '03 almost killed me. '84, game 4 - I can still see Lee Smith giving up that HR to popeye arms Steve Gravey, Henry Cotto climbing the fence in a vain effort to catch it - man, I hated Lee Smith. After that I knew it was over, sure the Cubs had an 3-0 lead in game 5 but, I knew it was over.

I know Wood has had some struggles but, I believe as the season progresses he's going to improve, eventually to the point of being automatic.

Was that Colorado' first 1-2-3 inning?

Well, the Rockies scored two on a bs play so, I guess that evens it out.

Probably another start or two. When he comes up, I expect Gallagher to go down. I hope not, Gallagher' shown enough to warrant a spot, Marquis needs to go.

I believe Hill' going to get a start soon, if he does well, will he get another start in Iowa or take Marquis' next start?

Does Marquis EVER get ahead of a hitter?

Sure would be a refreshing change if Marquis pitches ahead in the count tonight, break that season long pattern of starting off every hitter off 2-0, what'd say Jason?

Is it just me or have Dodgers specialized in the crap single the last 3 years in Wrigley?