Moises a loo

The premise here is that the Chicago Cubs are the best team in the National League. But they're not playing like it because of the insane amount of pressure. If you're Lou Piniella, how can that pressure be relieved? Here's my stupid idea; feel free to post yours: Step One: Announce Jason Marquis as the starting pitcher for game three. Step Two: When asked why in the hell you would start Marquis, reply that there's no point in risking an injury to Mr. Softee (yes, actually refer to Rich Harden as "Mr. Softee") when you may need him next year. Step Three: Openly concede the series. Say out loud what everyone is thinking: it's over. Say the Dodgers are clearly superior. Say Manny is a baseball god. Say your team is a very good team that had a very good season and they should all be proud of themselves, but it's obviously not their year; they just ran into a better team. Step Four: Say before the game everything everyone knows you'll be saying after the game. Tip your cap to Derek Lowe. Tip your cap to Chad Billingsley. Pull out a Cubs cap with a japanese logo on it and say that you're prepared to tip it to Kuroda. Step Five: Finally, make it clear that this is basically an exhibition game. You'll be starting your bench players, because they've had a great year and they each deserve a start. Especially Fontenot and Johnson. That's it. In short, Lou, resigning yourself to losing this game may be the only way to win it. Telling your players not to feel the pressure of "a hundred years of losing" isn't cutting it. Remove that pressure. Risk looking like the worst manager in the world. If it works, even for one game, you'll be seen as a subversive genius. If they win one game, you continue the charade until it's so obvious what you're doing it becomes a fun game you're playing with the media, and everyone is loose. When was the only time Lou Piniella won a WS as a manager? The 1990 Reds, who were serious underdogs to the mighty Oakland A's, who they swept. The Cubs, once favorites, now need to embrace the underdogs they've become. They have a day and a half. Go. PS: Make sure Harden knows he'll be in there by the third inning. Duh.

Do people really think they'll be doing much against Kuroda Saturday? Tough to imagine right now.

Ron Darling sounds like Gene Simmons

hee hee

Not to me it's not. It was a great summer while it lasted. And technically, it's not over yet.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Wonder what Mark Bellhorn is up to these days? Seriously though, I agree. The pressure is ridiculous. I hate to say it, but maybe a manager more like Ozzie Guillen who talks crap to take pressure off his players would help.

http://heavethehawk.com/blogImages/1107charlie_brown_lucy_football.jpg

See, this is what makes baseball such a great game. You just never know what's going to happen.

Here's how I look at it: The Cubs lost the first game of the season this year. It sucked. Then they won 3 of the next 4. Then they hit the road and won 3 of 4. Then they won 3 of the next 4. They've won 3 out of 4 games lots of times this year. Course the Dodgers have won 2 of 4 lots of times too, I bet. But the point is, no one wants to hear objective analysis right now. They want to bitch and whine with other people who feel as bad as they do, and maybe receive a little hope if it's available from anyone. Going around showing off how uninvested you are in the team may make you feel all superior, but it's probably not helpful to very many people, just in case you were thinking it was.

I feel good about Zambrano. I think he wants to prove he should've started tonight. We should start our best available starter. That's not Zambrano. Gee thanks Mr. Wizard

I feel good about Zambrano. I think he wants to prove he should've started tonight.

Well, he had a bad start when he could least afford to. But other than that, he's been amazing. And it's not over yet.

I have a question: Where would this team have been this year without Dempster? Probably in the playoffs. They won the spot by like a bajillion games, no one player could have cost them it. Probably, but he's the guy who shocked everyone by stepping into the role we all hoped Rich Hill would fill. He's the guy who convinced most of us they had the playoff pitching they needed to have a realistic shot to win it all. Which they still have, by the way.

I have a question: Where would this team have been this year without Dempster?

Only when they put way too much pressure on themselves for various assorted reasons

I have a good feeling about Zambrano tomorrow.

Setting Soto up for later in the series

Don't worry everyone; I've been assured by reliable sources that the Cubs are superior to the Dodgers.

What, so after all the bitching and whining about them being day games they'll be in the middle of the night? Awesome.

My only goal is to be in a position to watch the games. My HOPE is that the Cubs play so well, it will be obvious to everyone watching that it isn't gonna matter who has to play them.

After giving up a one-out, two-run single to Tejada in the 5th, he retired the next two batters before leaving the game with elbow soreness.

Latroy should be their clothes-er

You mean you deprived a celebrity of his once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet you? How rude. Seriously, that's very cool; I understand why people want autographs and stuff, but not enough people look at it from the other side, IMO. Good song; I like the two hundred years line best.

In light of UM's most recent post, I'm retracting the first sentence of this. Wow. Talk about gouging. Yeah, that pricing is ridiculous when we're dealing with a less than 24 hour window requiring people to make plans on short notice... but I wonder if it was part of the agreement with Houston that they wanted to charge top dollar to maximize their revenue. Why is it gouging? It is the same as they would charge for other games at the stadium. I don't see why they would feel it necessary to give a discounted price. Not like anyone is forced to go if they don't want to and/or can't afford it. Because it's exceptionally late notice. Of course nobody is forced to go. That's hardly the point. Someone here said last year when they hosted an Indians-Angels series, tickets were $10. So, here, they saw an opportunity to make more money off the Cub fans. That's gouging. Call it what you want, but they'd be stupid to charge less when they know people would pay more. I won't disagree with that. But I think these prices will discourage a lot of people from going. I don't know, I think most Cub fans who could afford to make a last minute trip wouldn't let the price be what deters them. Bottom line, it's a great outcome for the Cubs that they're essentially home games, and a great opportunity for lots of Cub fans who suddenly have two extra games they can easily get tickets for if they can get there.

In light of UM's most recent post, I'm retracting the first sentence of this. Wow. Talk about gouging. Yeah, that pricing is ridiculous when we're dealing with a less than 24 hour window requiring people to make plans on short notice... but I wonder if it was part of the agreement with Houston that they wanted to charge top dollar to maximize their revenue. Why is it gouging? It is the same as they would charge for other games at the stadium. I don't see why they would feel it necessary to give a discounted price. Not like anyone is forced to go if they don't want to and/or can't afford it. Because it's exceptionally late notice. Of course nobody is forced to go. That's hardly the point. Someone here said last year when they hosted an Indians-Angels series, tickets were $10. So, here, they saw an opportunity to make more money off the Cub fans. That's gouging. Call it what you want, but they'd be stupid to charge less when they know people would pay more.