bukie

I'm guessing Lou will plan things similarly to yesterday, beginning the game with the starters, and then inserting backups for rest in the later innings. I imagine the lineup will start out as Soriano Johnson Lee Ramirez DeRosa Cedeno Theriot Blanco Marshall

Err, Purdue/Duke is the ACC/Big Ten challenge, not Maui.

The Cubs are running out of teams they can rip hearts out of...first the Cards, then the Astros, then the Brewers, now the Mets. Somebody has to win that wildcard. Who's left, Florida?

Well, it did happen in 1998 as the Giants overcame a 5 game deficit to two teams in one week to force a playoff tiebreaker.

The Brewers will have Gallardo and Parra as frontline starters next year, which should be sufficient. They won't have a deep rotation, and are probably going to try to get as much as they can for Fielder this offseason. Their ownership is spending a decent amount in payroll (I think around 90 mil for this year, correct me if I'm wrong) to field a good team, and they'll probably still try to see what they can do to bring in a FA starter to offset the loss of CC and Sheets. The Cardinals will always be somewhat competitive because of Pujols. Similar to how the Giants managed to stay competitive with Bonds even though Baker managed that team for 10 years. LaRussa may be a meddler, but he's probably one of the best managers in the game overall, and Duncan can always get something out of nothing with the staff. Maybe not a dominant team, but certainly an 85-90 win team year-in-year-out as long as things fall right. Houston is a mirage. Their month-long hot streak has only masked this fact, and their owner was foolish in being a buyer at the deadline. They've struggled this week because they're simply not playing way above their heads anymore, not because of their stupid owner not planning ahead for the hurricane. Pittsburgh is finally looking like they have a 5-year plan, as they begin to restock a barren farm system to supplement a barren major league team with talent, like any team that operates as a small market team has to do to compete. If they keep drafting well and trading for good parts, they'll be competitive 3-4 years down the line. The Reds are the same as they've ever been the past 10 years. Promising young hitting talent (Votto, Bruce today, Dunn, Kearns, Encarnacion, Lopez in years past) with a potential arm or two (Cueto, Volquez today, Harang, Wagner in years past) ready to take this team to the next level. They foolishly spent their FA money to shore up the pen this past offseason, neglecting a rotation and lineup that both fell under league averages. Combine that with Dusty's penchant for destroying young arms, and I have a tough time seeing them being competitive unless Votto and Bruce turn into Bonds and Pujols.

Looks like the Cubs are starting to build that lineup for the Monday Houston game, just in case. ;)

Nope, we want Mets v.s. Brewers in a Wild Card playoff game. The day after two playoff games between the Mets and Phillies, and the Dodgers and D-backs.

EDIT: Nevermind, couldn't have picked poorer timing if I had tried.

A Fuku-slam would top off this evening pretty well.

Felix Pie is fast. The pitcher was on a full run from the mound and Felix still beat him there from home. Too bad there isn't a PR for Ward, because the PRs are all already used this game.

Yes, but technically they already had HFA clinched if they didn't have to play that last Houston game.

So, is Lou going to Howry in the 9th for Murphy-Wright-Delgado-Beltran?

Is it wrong of me to root for a 3-way tie between the Brewers, Mets and Philles, along with a tie between the Dodgers and D-backs? Hell, while we're at it, Twins and White Sox too.

5th Cub to 20 HRs this season. Edmonds still has a chance to make it 6, which would be a new club record.

Regardless of whether or not Z is the "ace" or "#1", Harden has been by far the best starter the Cubs have had this year, and should start game 1, so he'd be available for a game 5. Plus, if Harden starts game 1, it would prevent Lou from trying to throw somebody on short rest in game 4.

I could see them going 10 pitchers for the World Series to take an extra batter for the DH position.

I'm with you on the first point, but not the second. Theriot is the starting SS and one of only two SS on the roster. Ehh, I admit it's a poor comparison. I was looking for the most expendable starter on the Cubs. Probably should've gone with Fukudome. If we're willing to accept that Lou is going to have Howry and Ward on the team because they're veterans above all else, and Fukudome is in because of his defense, there are probably 1-2 spots up for grabs among Gaudin, Marquis, Wuertz, Pie and Hoffpauir. If the Cubs go 11 pitchers, then it'll likely be Marquis and Pie. If they go 10 pitchers, likely Pie and Hoffpauir. If 12 pitchers, probably Gaudin and Marquis.

Fontenot is not going to be left off the roster. He has the third highest EQA of anyone on the team. It makes less sense to leave him off than it does Theriot.

LA has played nobody in the past month. They were swept by the last decent team they played. They are this week's version of last week's Astros.

Already happened, with the two extra "home" games. Just ask any Astro player/fan/coach.

Fun Cubs trivia to pass the time to the game: - Who are the top 5 Cub hitters according to EQA this year? (Hint: This also includes pitchers that can hit)

All things equal, they should win. Unfortunately, over a 3-7 game stretch, things are rarely equal.

It's weird, but it can probably be legitimately said that 4 of the best 5 or 6 teams in the NFC are in the East this year. At least so far.

Actually, Soto would be the regular I expect to see getting the most rest this week, considering the sore hand and the fact that he's a catcher that's been behind the plate a lot this year. After that, probably Lee, DeRosa and Theriot, getting 2-3 days of rest. I expect starters will pitch on schedule, with a 75-90 pitch limit (so, like an average Harden start), perhaps letting Marshall/Samardzija/Wells pitch a start sometime this week to give everyone an extra day of rest.