big_shooter17

Cubs and Cardinals sweeps could put those numbers down to 22 and 21 respectively, which would be quite nice. I know that the schedules don't perfectly line up to look at it like that, but essentially that would be the net effect.

Now that is game. I hadn't set my hopes high from the get go, though.

There's no reason we should lose even one game to these morons. 2 out of 3 in this series is not ok. Even the Nationals, the worst team in baseball, are winning more than one of every 3 games. Even the Cubs, the best team in baseball, are losing more than one of every 3 games. Expectations right now are unfairly high. This is exactly true. I agree that this is frustrating because of where the Cubs were in this game and where they have gone, but winning this individual game is not crucial.

The series should still be ok. We have our two best pitchers going in the next two.

One could say that about Marquis, the point at which he had originally been listed as the probable starter for this afternoon's game.

As little faith as Lou has in Marquis, he has given him far too many chances for me to think that this is the start that'll push him over the edge.

I have a really bad feeling that the offense will continue to coast here. I have had faith til the end this year every game, but not today for some reason.

This game is painful to watch. Next time we see the Stros they will not play even close to this. All of a sudden they will be ultra clutch and have the urge to win.

one might argue that without Sabathia, the Brewers would be 3rd place (or worse) right now. What pitcher did they have who was going to go 8-0 (while pretty consistently keep opposing teams from getting to whack around that bullpen) over this span? what if the replacement pitcher went 4-2 and the bullpen won the other two... they wouldn't be that much worse off... anyway, i'm just saying that it's not like he's worth 8 wins because he's 8-0 (not saying you're saying that, but the way you presented the point is sort of misleading).... no, i'm not saying he's worth 8 wins, I'm just (poorly) trying refute the notion that the Brewers aren't any better with him than they were without him. I think that's clearly nonsense They certainly are better with him than without, it is just that there are lots of players who have done as much or more to help their teams get to where they are than Sabathia.

one might argue that without Sabathia, the Brewers would be 3rd place (or worse) right now. What pitcher did they have who was going to go 8-0 (while pretty consistently keep opposing teams from getting to whack around that bullpen) over this span? what if the replacement pitcher went 4-2 and the bullpen won the other two... they wouldn't be that much worse off... anyway, i'm just saying that it's not like he's worth 8 wins because he's 8-0 (not saying you're saying that, but the way you presented the point is sort of misleading).... Exactly and even more importantly, he didn't win the most important start that he had since joining the team.

And here again, not to beat a dead horse, but Aramis playing 150+ is a lot more games than CC playing half the season or so for the Brewers. Obviously Aramis' numbers have to be there, but how can you discredit a guy for missing 10 or so games and then say that a half year player is deserving. The inconsistency of the MVP voting does as someone else said devalue the whole thing.

The Brewers have actually played a lot better since CC joined the team. They're only further back in the division because the Cubs have played even better. I don't disagree with this, but it is just that with the criteria used, he hasn't gotten his team to the top spot. He has been outstanding for them, but then one could argue in favour of jon rauch for example who has seen the D-Backs go from a .495 to a .516 while losing a game on the Dodgers. I am just being the devil's advocate here of course because Rauch is not deserving, but the criteria used to decide the winner of the MVP is so different from one guy to the next that I don't know how the winner can be determined. From my feelings on what the writers typically look at to choose the player, someone like Soriano would be equally or more deserving than CC because since his arrival back from the DL, the Cubs have increased their lead in the division.

This CC for MVP talk annoys me. His team has fallen one game farther behind the Cubs since his acquisition although they are now ahead in the Wild Card. This is a case of a player playing well and the team basically staying put. It is not as if his actions have catapulted them into first in the Central. The argument always is that the MVP should go to someone who makes the playoffs because they helped get them there. CC has done fantastically, don't get me wrong, but if we look at the standings, one could very easily argue that they would be in the same situation as they currently are without him. They have only dropped in the rankings. Then I move to that game that he pitched against the Cubs in which his team lost. This was an opportunity for him to really impact his team's position and he did not do what an MVP should do in that situation. If we say that CC can be the MVP then why not Rich Harden or any other player who changed leagues and saw his team remain in a similar position. Why not say Jason Bay then? In reality, the only player who was traded who has had a significant impact on his team's playoff chances is Manny Ramirez, but I can guarantee that he won't even come close. If CC does win the MVP and the Brewers do not end up improving their playoff positioning then there is no reason that Josh Hamilton should be discredited as he likely will be simply because Texas is out of the playoff picture. The thought process behind the whole MVP voting is absurd. There must be some consistency in the line of thinking out there because otherwise the award becomes meaningless.

I don't want Huff on the Cubs next year, but this year is the year that it may finally happen and if we can go for it, let's finally do it. If we can just dump his salary in the offseason, let's try to win something already. I wish that he was a free agent after this season, but it's about time for the Cubs to make a push.

Since he isn't, we can give him one up around the head tonight. Since the Braves seem to think that they can do one, tonight is our turn.

It should have been Cedeno playing 2b and derosa in rf

You're nuts! CUBS WIN!

Call me nuts, but I'd almost go for broke with Fontenot already.

I just don't understand how Lou allows Howry to pitch because eventually he will come around when he hasn't really been willing to do that with others in the past like Eyre or Wuertz for example. I am not saying that he necessarily should have done so with these other guys, but his inconsistency is what has perplexed me.

and/or more like it

This is the inning to do it with Howry due up.

Can that be chalked up to Pujols getting up in age and losing his edge or the PED's affecting his judgment?

No. He is putting up Jacque Jones #'s. I'm not ready to write the guy off, but if Seattle or NY (either) will take him for something decent, I'm okay with that. The rest of the league took a couple of months to figure him out, now he needs the time to adjust, too. Although he is a professional veteran, Fukudome is a rookie and will go through some of the same things that rookies go through over the early parts of their career. I wouldn't get too worried yet.

pixie dust. So he stole it from the Cardinals clubhouse before getting traded, but he only has a limited amount so he saved it for only him and a little for Mike Fontenot. Not like Fontenot could need much I was certain that Edmonds used fairy dust.

Tomorrow is a Fox game and Sunday is the four letter network.