Andy

If any of those statistics somehow makes it less likely that we can beat Arizona 3 out of the next 5, then it does. But, luckily for us, I don't believe playoff series are decided by who played better outside their division in one half of the season. This is a prime example of statistical cherry-picking.

2006 Memories :D After last week's semicomeback against Purdue, I've actually allowed myself to hope that ND can win this game, although I'd still be shocked if they actually did.

Ronny Woo Woo's cousin? Also...anyone....plz... an online clip of CSN's coverage. I know I was at the end of it. And apparently I was on CSN Sports Night too cause a friend called me and told me he saw me. That was a great phone call by the way: *phone rings* Roast: Hello Friend: YOU $%^&* SUCK. YOU'RE ON SPORTS NIGHT NOW!? Roast: hahahahahahhahaha Between me being on the front page of the Trib, and you being on Sportsnight, us NSBBers are finally getting the recognition that we deserve. Don't forget Vance in the 7th inning stretch competition. My vying for Derrek Lee's home run ball on Friday went from the coolest NSBB poster moment of the month to a distant third on coolest NSBB poster moments of the last 4 days pretty quickly. :)

Good lord, I'd be an emotional black hole if we went seven in both those series

The must-win game is Game 2. With the team's best pitcher this year (performance-wise) going and a key swing game going (Cubs will have a chance to either tie it at 1 going to Chicago or push AZ against the wall), Lilly will have to be fantastic. Game 1 is important, but Game 2 is vital.

Ok, now NDNation.com is saying Indy will carry the Purdue game. It makes no difference to me because I'll be concentrating on the Cubs, but seems like WRTV is having problems making up their mind.

Red Sox beat us in the Series, 4-2.

They don't scare me. Poor pitching, and our hitting is much better than SDs. I really like our chances against them. Yeah, Colorado worries me less than any NL team, and the Cubs beat them pretty good this year.

I agree with you on Stockton. My God, I don't know how this guy keeps getting announcing jobs. He is about as brutal as it gets. Regarding Brenly, he's always been a touted analyst. Fox had him announcing LCS series and I think he also might have announced a World Series or two with the two morons. And yes, I'll say it again. That schedule is awesome. It's weird that Darling would not be free had the Mets made the playoffs, but Brenly was free even though the Cubs did make the playoffs. I suppose it's possible Darling would've done radio work for the Mets if they had made it, but that is pretty weird.

Thanks for the warning, that might be enough for me to switch to the ringer shirt. I cannot STAND when people misspell that.

I will be able to watch all 5 games in their entirety and the only thing I will have to sacrifice will be the first quarter or so of the completely meaningless ND football game. Really couldn't have worked out any better.

Damn it, I was looking forward to Orsillo, who actually knows baseball, as opposed to Stockton. The silver lining is that that schedule is absolutely perfect.

http://www.cubworld.com/c=nJ8pSGWCmwGORLDLo5t5hvIUp/product/CHIC75/Chicago_Cubs_2007_NL_Central_Division_Champions_Cap_-_Navy_Slouch.html http://www.cubworld.com/c=nJ8pSGWCmwGORLDLo5t5hvIUp/product/CDC01/Chicago_Cubs_Central_Division_Championship_Official_Clubhouse_Ringer_T-Shirt.html

I'll get a T-shirt if we don't win the pennant, I'll get a T-shirt and a hat and an actual pennant if we win the pennant but lose the Series, and I'll get everything otherwise. Part of the reason I haven't cashed in my bet with Wolf yet is because I want to wait and see if I can get him to buy my NL pennant or WS title hat if it comes to that :)

BTW, for anyone in the Indy area, the Indianapolis ABC affiliate is airing the ND/UCLA game and not the Purdue/Ohio State game. I have no idea whatsoever why two teams from the same state were put into the same time slot on the same network and I have no idea why they're airing our worthless game over Purdue/OSU which should be immensely entertaining.

It is the former. That's a fairly recent change, the games used to always be played in November regardless of site but 30 or so years ago, USC decided they didn't want to come to South Bend in cold weather.

I might try for one if there are potential weekend home dates.

I couldn't care less about the idiot section of other fan bases. I'd rather prove why we aren't them.

ANSWER KEY Team Stats & Scoring 1. Number of Cubs wins - 85 (me - 85) +350 2. Number of Cubs wins, Cardinals season series - 11 (me - 9) +75 3. Number of runs scored - 752 (me - 803) +125 4. Number of runs allowed - 690 (me - 796) 0 5. Final Placement in the NL Central Division - 1st (me - 2nd) +100 Player Stats & Scoring 1. Number of DLee Home Runs - 22 (me - 38) 0 2. Number of Soriano Stolen Bases - 19 (me - 36) +10 3. Murton's Batting Average - .281 (me - .311) 0 4. Aramis' RBIs - 101 (me - 117) +10 5. Carlos Zambrano's Wins - 18 (me - 17) +40 6. Jason Marquis' ERA - 4.43 (me - 5.07) 0 7. Rich Hill's Ks - 183 (me - 164) +50 8. Ted Lilly's Innings Pitched - 207.0 (me - 182.1) +30 Bonus Questions I (30 points each) 1. Which will be higher: Z's batting average or Z's batting average against? - Z's Average (wrong) 0 2. Which will be higher: Aramis' HRs or Marquis' HRs allowed? Aramis's (right) +30 3. Which will be higher: Cesar's OBP or DLee's batting average? Lee's average (right) +30 4. Who will have more HRs: Barrett or Murton? Barrett (wrong) 0 5. Who will have more wins: Hill or Lilly? Lilly (wrong) 0 6. Who will have a higher K/BB: Zambrano or Hill? Hill (right) +30 Bonus II Questions (30 points each) 1. Most HRs: Soriano (+30) 2. Highest OBP (min. 350 ABs): Lee (+30) 3. Lowest ERA (min. 150 IPs): Lilly (0) 4. Most saves: Dempster (+30) Barrett's OPS: .734 (me - .891) Total points (unofficial) - 970

They definitely have a shot. In the Big Ten, pretty much anyone but Northwestern can beat any other team (except possibly Ohio State).

The NFL's still got college football beat in my mind. The Titans are inspiring far more confidence than the Vols right now. I'll take college football in a micro second and my team is terrible. 2nd. College football is my favorite sport pretty easily, with baseball 2nd and the NFL a distant third.

They have to have the late games. Arizona is the only Western time zone team hosting playoff games until the weekend.

How the hell did we make the playoffs? :D

Sweet lord, I am going to get absolutely nothing accomplished this week. CUBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I forgot one: For every national sports announcer that can't let a Cubs game go by without dropping a goat/Bartman/1908 reference, and can't let a foul ball down the third base line go by without mentioning Bartman. Screw you.