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What starters do you think Lou will rest? I know Floyd and Jones will play in game 1, and Murton and Monroe in game 2. Kendall will start 1 of the games (likely game 1) and Soto will likely start game 2. If you are going to rest Lee or Ramirez, game 1 is the time to do it, considering that if you rest one of them a left-hander comes in the lineup. I expect Soriano will want to play both games. Theriot will probably start 1 game, and Cedeno will probably have the other one. If both Lee and Ramirez need to only play 1 game, I throw what some would call a forfeit lineup out there in game 1 loaded with left-handers (who Looper has struggled slightly with). Floyd, Jones, Ward, Fontenot would all be in the lineup with Soriano, Theriot, DeRosa and Kendall. I hope to scratch across a few and hope that Lilly does well. I think that lineup could do enough damage, and when they bring in their left-handed specialists in later in the game you have plenty of right-handed pinch hitters that can break the game open. Then the second game, I have the power ready against the left-hander. Soriano, DeRosa, Lee, Ramirez, Monroe, Murton, Soto, Cedeno. If either Lee or Ramirez can play both, then I stick them in the lineup for game 1 as well and don't change anything else.

I don't think too many people could expect too much more out of Floyd then what he's given this year, which is a above average OBP player with below average slugging, below average defense, and ok baserunning. Here are his season totals: .291/.367/.423 His home runs due to his recent hot streak are starting to fall in line with his career (remember that he's had his 2nd lowest amount of at-bats in his entire career, 265). They're still maybe 2-3 homers behind what he should have done by now, but Floyd was never a huge power hitter. He only made it to 30 home runs twice in his career, and his slugging was only over .550 once. He had some good power years, but he always let his OBP carry him. His OPS+ is now 101 for the season, so he's been an average MLB player at the plate. Of course he made up a lot of that ground with his recent surge-I think people would have felt better if he had spread out his hot streak through the season rather than put it right at the end. Also, 5th is a bad spot for him in the batting order (Floyd is a 6th or 7th hitter at this point) but with Jones having a bad year and Soriano at leadoff, the Cubs don't really have an option for the 5th spot that looks any better. So basically, Floyd has been what I thought he was. I maybe expected about 20 points more of slugging and a couple more home runs. He's had about 50 extra at-bats then what he should have had at this point as well. I expected him to get between 200-300 at the start of the year, and it looks like he'll hit 300. The real issue that hasn't been taking away at-bats from a player like Murton hasn't been Floyd, because that 200-300 was expected. It's been all the other people-DeRosa, Pagan, Pie/Jones, Monroe, Ward, even Theriot for a start that has really cost people what many thought would be a 60/40 or 65/35 split for Murton and Floyd this year. Floyd's been an ok player, but with Ward on the team and having shown that he can play OF almost as well as Floyd, I see no reason to sign Floyd back for 2008.

I said this after week 1. He's long gone. can't say I blame him. If he wants to play college football... key word being play... it's pretty obvious that he's not going to get the chance at ND, with Joe Montana Jr. already starting as a freshman. I've heard it's already a done deal. Awesome get for NIU :D Jones is a good player, and he'll be a great fit for NIU. He just didn't fit Weis's offense very well. If they had that little trust in his passing game (as was obvious a couple weeks ago) I'm not sure why he ever came to ND, because they weren't suddenly going to start running the option again (or a more free flowing style like Jones is best in). I wish him well, as he seems like a good kid.

Have you not watched this Cubs offense? Its pretty had to predict Yeah, that's definitely true. BTW Keener, you may want to rethink your sig now that Floyd has brought his numbers up by 170-180 points or so in the 3 days since you last updated it :D It really doesn't bother me, I'm just expressing my happiness that he finally is doing something and has brought his numbers up over the last two months up so fast :D. I was waiting for somebody to say something about the sig. If he continues this for say a week then Ill change it, but until then, even Neifi Perez has had 2 good games in a row. Believe me Id love to get Cliff FLoyd hot for the final 2 weeks, but Im not holding my breath eaither. That's true, but that does show sample size pretty well that Floyd has caught Murton in that time period after just 2 good games. I'm also hoping he can get hot over the last couple weeks, but I'm not holding my breath either.

Have you not watched this Cubs offense? Its pretty had to predict Yeah, that's definitely true. BTW Keener, you may want to rethink your sig now that Floyd has brought his numbers up by 170-180 points or so in the 3 days since you last updated it :D It really doesn't bother me, I'm just expressing my happiness that he finally is doing something and has brought his numbers up over the last two months up so fast :D.

Definitely true. Floyd's hot streak might mean that he has earned his 3 million for this year. It's pretty obvious he's fading though, and the Cubs cannot give a spot to him next year.

Nomar was pretty mediocre for us. True, but Nomar was still a little better for the Cubs than Harris has been for TB this year. Also, apparently Harris has been moved off of SS. He hasn't started a game there since July 29th, and the guy who was playing 2nd some of the time (Wilson) is now playing SS all of the time. Playing at 2B really dilutes the value that Harris has, and his numbers have been horrible after the break.

I think most of you are being too kind to Milwaukee when you say you think they will go 10-7 with their remaining schedule. Looking at their games and the fact that SD looks more and more like they'll have something to play for that last series, I don't see it. With that said, I think 9-7 will very likely do it for the Cubs, and it's reasonable to think 8-8 will get it done as well.

At this point, even if the Cardinals take 3 out of 4 from the Cubs, I'm going to be more concerned that the Cubs will likely be 1 game behind the Brewers than 3 games ahead of the Cardinals with 12 to play. Still, I hope the Cubs don't think that way. When you have a chance to put a team away, you do it without hesitation. Sure. But the Cubs need to win these 4 games because there are very few games left and they are tied for the division lead. The fact that it's the Cardinals only make it marginally more important.

At this point, even if the Cardinals take 3 out of 4 from the Cubs, I'm going to be more concerned that the Cubs will likely be 1 game behind the Brewers than 3 games ahead of the Cardinals with 12 to play.

No. Sosa's injury shortened season was 1996. His career high in strikeouts was 174 in 1997, when he played 162 games.

I agree with everything here except for Jones. Strikes out twice and grounds into at least one DP. He has a .365/.441/.619 line against the Cardinals in his career, a .462/.533/.615 line alltime against Wainwright, and a .458/.519/.583 line in his last 7 days. Anything could happen because it's one game, but all the splits would point to him likely having a good game.

Oh crap career threatening surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That has been their theme, eh? I'm glad Lee had the day off and I was hoping Lou was going to do it anyway, He looks like he needs a day off to recharge. Good thing it did not come back to bite us in the posterior. Hope he's okay for tonight. Wards a nice back up though. Hope we bring him back next season on another one yr deal with a mutual option for a second. It's not like throwing some scrub over at first like a Lenny Harris/Macias over there. I think Ward has a quality bat from the bench. Just think if Lou did the day before, Lee wouldn't have hit the foul ball off his knee. Hindsight, of course it is but I hope Lou has rested these guys enough to have them ready for the last 2 weeks, which I did say their bats would take off right about now thanks to the time off Lou has given them! Lou's a big picture guy imo and I like what I've seen so far. Perfect, no manager is but overall I like what I have scene. I hope they do too but I wonder if he's been disappointed with his lack of playing time. 1) I doubt Ward is that upset with his playing time. He was signed to be a bat off the bench with very few starts, and he knew what he was getting into. 2) It doesn't matter anyway. The Cubs have a 1.2 million club option on him next year, so Ward will be a Cub in 2008. It's just the Cubs option and not the players? Good. If I were hitting as well as he is I'd want to go to the AL and be a DH. Well, I went back and checked just to be sure. I've always heard it reported as a club option, but the places I checked were split down the middle. Some had it as a club option, and some had it as a mutual option. So I certainly hope it's the former.

Oh crap career threatening surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That has been their theme, eh? I'm glad Lee had the day off and I was hoping Lou was going to do it anyway, He looks like he needs a day off to recharge. Good thing it did not come back to bite us in the posterior. Hope he's okay for tonight. Wards a nice back up though. Hope we bring him back next season on another one yr deal with a mutual option for a second. It's not like throwing some scrub over at first like a Lenny Harris/Macias over there. I think Ward has a quality bat from the bench. Just think if Lou did the day before, Lee wouldn't have hit the foul ball off his knee. Hindsight, of course it is but I hope Lou has rested these guys enough to have them ready for the last 2 weeks, which I did say their bats would take off right about now thanks to the time off Lou has given them! Lou's a big picture guy imo and I like what I've seen so far. Perfect, no manager is but overall I like what I have scene. I hope they do too but I wonder if he's been disappointed with his lack of playing time. 1) I doubt Ward is that upset with his playing time. He was signed to be a bat off the bench with very few starts, and he knew what he was getting into. 2) It doesn't matter anyway. The Cubs have a 1.2 million club option on him next year, so Ward will be a Cub in 2008.

A minimum 7-8 games or you're gone with a sophomore at QB, a still somewhat (at best) iffy offensive line and another sophomore at tailback. There are high expectations and then there are unreasonable demands. In 2008 Notre Dame has near-gimme's against SD State, Stanford, North Carolina, Navy and Syracuse. If they can't win 2-3 games out of the remaining seven, then Weiss has failed -- I don't see how 7-8 wins is unreasonable at all next year. It should be expected. PS Again, I want to stress I dislike ND. That is true-I forgot their schedule will be easier than usual next year due to that game they had to give to SD State. He'll probably have to win 2-3 of the other 7 and not get embarrassed in no more than 2 games.

Well, it doesn't look like Air Force will be an easy game for ND either. They moved to 3-0 tonight with a win over TCU after a win over Utah last week. Their next 2 weeks are at BYU and at Navy-if they win those 2, I really will be concerned about that game.

Are you kidding? Indy has some of the worst fans in the country. Before Peyton, they begged for fans to go to Colts games. The pacers don't draw. There is no way they could support a MLB team with cincy so close. Las Vegas is the most logical place for a baseball team. They'd sell 2.5 million tickets annually, no doubt. I don't support the notion that Indianapolis has terrible fans (I can name a lot of places that are worse) but I do agree that Indianapolis could not support a MLB team. There aren't enough baseball fans, and the ones that are here are committed to the Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals. Not enough would switch to make it worth it.

I think Joe Buck really does hate the Cubs, or at least dislike them... he's a Cardinal announcer, it's not too hard to see the connection. Meanwhile, where is the Jimmy-Claussen-is-God coverage the other day does one get the idea that ESPN hates ND? Oh brother, it's the media. They pump up Jimmy because he got hype. As soon as he shows signs of not being good (which he hasn't really yet), they'll rip him down like they do everyone they put up on a pedestal. And Pat Forde JUST WROTE an article blasting Weis for winning with Willingham's players and being unable to win with his own, ignoring A) that Ty couldn't win with his own players (ever notice how NO ONE points out that Ty's only decent season as coach came with Bob Davie's players?) and B) that very few of Weis's players had any experience at all coming into the season and were immediately charged with beating two (current) Top 20 teams, one on the road in front of 110,000. So there's that. ND got thoroughly outplayed in both games and hasn't scored an offensive touchdown yet this season. Not saying the blame all, or even much blame, belongs to Weis. But when Willingham went through those two bad years, the seniors and juniors on that team were all Bob Davie recruits. If your team has bad senior and junior players, you're not going to win, regardless of how promising your incoming freshmen and sophomores were. Look at the guys that Willingham inherited - not many guys who went on to be successful players at the next level. A couple of things. One-Willingham only had success for one season, while Weis has already had it for two. Weis has already put together three great recruiting classes (including the one he already has put together for next year)-Willingham only had 1 in the top 20. Plus, even with two good seasons under his belt, Weis is already getting questioned by people. From an article in the Indy Star: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/SPORTS06/709110325/1068/SPORTS06 If ND has two straight losing seasons like they did under Ty, Weis will be fired. It won't be right, just like it wasn't right under Willingham, but it is at least consistent. You sure about that? Even with the extension he signed after his first year? That's a huge financial hit for the boosters to take. I don't think there's much doubt about it. If the boosters want something done, they won't worry about the money, and believe me in that they won't tolerate losing for very long. Weis needs to win at least 7-8 games next year in order to keep his job.

I think Joe Buck really does hate the Cubs, or at least dislike them... he's a Cardinal announcer, it's not too hard to see the connection. Meanwhile, where is the Jimmy-Claussen-is-God coverage the other day does one get the idea that ESPN hates ND? Oh brother, it's the media. They pump up Jimmy because he got hype. As soon as he shows signs of not being good (which he hasn't really yet), they'll rip him down like they do everyone they put up on a pedestal. And Pat Forde JUST WROTE an article blasting Weis for winning with Willingham's players and being unable to win with his own, ignoring A) that Ty couldn't win with his own players (ever notice how NO ONE points out that Ty's only decent season as coach came with Bob Davie's players?) and B) that very few of Weis's players had any experience at all coming into the season and were immediately charged with beating two (current) Top 20 teams, one on the road in front of 110,000. So there's that. ND got thoroughly outplayed in both games and hasn't scored an offensive touchdown yet this season. Not saying the blame all, or even much blame, belongs to Weis. But when Willingham went through those two bad years, the seniors and juniors on that team were all Bob Davie recruits. If your team has bad senior and junior players, you're not going to win, regardless of how promising your incoming freshmen and sophomores were. Look at the guys that Willingham inherited - not many guys who went on to be successful players at the next level. A couple of things. One-Willingham only had success for one season, while Weis has already had it for two. Weis has already put together three great recruiting classes (including the one he already has put together for next year)-Willingham only had 1 in the top 20. Willingham did have defensive talent and Julius Jones left over from Bob Davie. The cupboard wasn't completely bare, and it would have been less bare if he hadn't changed the offensive system around (not that I'm saying that wasn't the right move eventually, but the QB's and wideouts there were not suited for a West coast offense right away) Plus, even with two good seasons under his belt, Weis is already getting questioned by people. From an article in the Indy Star: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/SPORTS06/709110325/1068/SPORTS06 If ND has two straight losing seasons like they did under Ty, Weis will be fired. It won't be right, just like it wasn't right under Willingham, but it is at least consistent.

Cubs.com was once again speculating that this was Trachsel's last start of the season before today's game. From looking at the schedule and the fact that Lou is already skipping Trachsel's next start, at most he will get 1 more, and I think there is a pretty good chance that he won't get that one.

It probably is. I actually like giving DeRosa one day off here. He has been awful against Woody Williams (2 for 16) and could use a day off. I do not support Fontenot batting 2nd, even with his good numbers against Williams and his good numbers in September in limited at bats. Kendall 6th is a pretty good idea with his success against Williams, but I'd rather have him 2nd, Jones 6th, and Fontenot 7th. As for Floyd, he's had 3 straight good games at the plate. I don't mind Lou keeping him in trying for a 4th in a row, and he also has good numbers against Williams.

And the biggest reason ESPN puts Holtz on there is to laugh at him, similar to Corso on Gameday. I'm not sure there's anybody in the country left who thinks he's there to provide good analysis.

I'd be surprised if Soto starts tonight with Kendall being 18 for 38 against Woody Williams in his career with a couple of doubles and a home run. Too bad the good part of his career was a long time ago. Which one? Kendall or Williams? The point is, it's both, but this is probably one of Kendall's 5 best pitcher matchups in the entire major leagues. It's not the night to sit him.

I'd be surprised if Soto starts tonight with Kendall being 18 for 38 against Woody Williams in his career with a couple of doubles and a home run.

Now here's the challenge-can somebody find that clip for us?