C.C.

White Sox ended up backing in in 2005 too. Of course I'll be plesantly surprised if the Cubs win more than 1 playoff game, but anything can happen as long as you get there. They swept the final series in Cleveland though. They won the last 5 games.

I'm one of the more "sky is falling" posters on here. 1984 and 2003 scared my for life! I was worried until last night. I'm confident we close this puppy out either tonight or tomorrow. Brewers lost their chance to make a run at it. This thing is over.

I don't know how you could possibly justify saying that except for blind homerism. The 2007 Cubs are as mediocre as the 2006 Cardinals. I also believe they are a worse put together team. Why? Because they are? Last year the Cardinals won 83 games. The best the Cubs can do is win 87. There is not a whole lot of difference there. In 2006 the Cardinals fifth in RS/game in the NL and 8th in pitching. In 2007 the Cubs are 8th in RS/game and 2nd in pitching. There's not a whole lot of difference there. Now, on being put together worse. The Cubs spent a lot of money this offseason and at best they will have 4 more wins to show for it. You still haven't explained why the 2006 Cardinals were a better put together team then this year Cubs? Well they had a CFer for one. They had a SS who got on base. They had the best player in baseball at first. They had a catcher who shut down the running game and hit. Aramis and Rolen are about even. But most importantly, THEY SPENT $88 M DOLLARS TO DO SO. ABOUT $40 M LESS THAN THE CUBS THIS YEAR. Or to put it another way the Cards spent 1 M/win. The Cubs have spend 1.45 M/win The Cardinals payroll was 88.89 million last year. The Cubs payroll is 99.67 million this year. That's hardly a difference of 40 million. The quote I found was 120 million, well 118 million. http://www.cubsnet.com/node/790 That quote is wrong. Hell, the W.Sox payroll is more then the Cubs this year.

Do you think that Dempster, Howry, Marmol and Eyre are better relief pitchers than Wood right now, or do they keep the spots that they have just because Lou doesn't want to get guys out of the "comfort zones" that relievers get into? I admit that I may not be able to be unbiased when it comes to Kerry, but I think he's pitched better lately than all of those pitchers with the possible exception of Marmol...although Marmol has had his moments lately too. If Kerry is feeling good enough to be stretched out into a starter again, what's the problem with putting him as a 4th or 5th starter behind Z, Lilly and Hill? (And probably Marquis since we're likely stuck with him.) I don't think he could be worse than the 5th pitcher options we tried this year. Where would Prior slot in? :wink:

Not taking away from the conversation, but who is making the postseason pitching roster anyway? Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, Wood, Eyre, Marmol, Howry and Dempster are locks. Who else am I missing? I think Hart has a outside chance of making it.

Doesn't really matter because he wouldn't be used if he did make the rooster.

If we do make it, I think even with the NL as weak as it is there's a real solid chance we get swept right out without much of a thought. And there's a real solid chance we won't...

Trachsel won't make the rooster. Marquis will probably get a start, but it's going to be Zambrano, Lilly, and Hill all the way. I'd rather have Wood in the pen. I'd rather him pitching every other day then 1 time in a series.

I don't remember the Cubs winning 83 games last year. At best they'll have a 21 game improvement. Big fricken deal. That is entirely beside the point of this conversation. We are comparing the 2006 Cards to the 2007 Cubs. Anyway, I have no idea why people have this mentality. The Cubs stunk last year. This year they're mediocre at best and have a top payroll. That is not something to crow about. Seriously, where does this stuff come from? The magic of "making the playoffs" makes people think their team might be better than it really is. Then a lucky team like the Cards come along, win when they had no business doing so, and it just fuels the delusion. You're right, this is a mediocre ballclub with a massive payroll, not getting nearly the return on investment that they should. But due to the rest of the division, people puff their chests out a little bit more than they should. You can basically say that about the entire National League. Every club has faults. Padres have medicore hitting, Mets are just Medicore, Phil have no pitching, etc... This years playoffs are wide open.

I don't know how you could possibly justify saying that except for blind homerism. The 2007 Cubs are as mediocre as the 2006 Cardinals. I also believe they are a worse put together team. Why? Because they are? Last year the Cardinals won 83 games. The best the Cubs can do is win 87. There is not a whole lot of difference there. In 2006 the Cardinals fifth in RS/game in the NL and 8th in pitching. In 2007 the Cubs are 8th in RS/game and 2nd in pitching. There's not a whole lot of difference there. Now, on being put together worse. The Cubs spent a lot of money this offseason and at best they will have 4 more wins to show for it. You still haven't explained why the 2006 Cardinals were a better put together team then this year Cubs?

Yeah, I don't think Maddog is going to keep the Crew down today. They'll put up a 5 spot on him, probably. Padres will need to bring their bats. Every single game is critical for them as well. The only game I was worried about was last nights game. That was the only Brewer starter with shutdown stuff. I think the Padres will take 2 more games this series. I think they'll need to for their own reasons. But I have a feeling the Crew will take 2/3 and the Cubs will need to win one or it will be a tie-break in Chicago. I think it ends tonight. I have a strong feeling Cubs win tonight and the Brewers lose. I'm just feeling it...

Yeah, I don't think Maddog is going to keep the Crew down today. They'll put up a 5 spot on him, probably. Padres will need to bring their bats. Every single game is critical for them as well. The only game I was worried about was last nights game. That was the only Brewer starter with shutdown stuff. I think the Padres will take 2 more games this series.

I don't know how you could possibly justify saying that except for blind homerism. The 2007 Cubs are as mediocre as the 2006 Cardinals. I also believe they are a worse put together team. Why?

OK, let me rephrase. Which of the two teams are worse going into the playoffs (ignoring the 2006 result): 2007 Cubs or the 2006 Cardinals? I'll tell you after these 3 games. :wink:

How many times does a team with the worst record going into the playoffs win the World Series? That's your answer...

Coming from a high of Wrigley, to a morgue-like Marlins stadium with the weather gloomy, and the Cubs playing like crap was about as depressing as it gets. I hate that stadium and good lord do I hate that team. Good riddance!!!

The Padres are just going to have to score more tonight, because neither pitcher is going to hold'em.

Has to be a first in Cubs history. A double choke! Btw - The poll is weak. Very

We will close this out tomorrow! book it!

Wow! I can't believe we just got swept and still have a chance to close it out tomorrow.

I think it ends tomorrow. I really do.

I don't know. I wonder if the Brew Crew is just getting a little tired. It's been a long time since their last day off now. Advantage Cubs. I can't believe the Crew is choking with us losing. It's a double choke! Gotta be a first. It's a choke-off! The great choke-off of '07! Hey, whatever it takes to get into the playoffs.

I don't know. I wonder if the Brew Crew is just getting a little tired. It's been a long time since their last day off now. Advantage Cubs. I can't believe the Crew is choking with us losing. It's a double choke! Gotta be a first.

That's is unbelieveable!

How the hell do we still have a 2 game lead? Seriously?