UMFan83

Cool thing to see....4 of the 5 Cubs starters (the ones that got the majority of starts) will end the year with an ERA under 4. The only one that has one over 4 is Harden with a 4.09. It's too bad he couldn't have 1 more start to get his ERA under 4. BTW, this is the second time in 3 years that this has happened (also happened in 2007)

If I could change only 2 things about scheduling and rules in the MLB, here are my choices: 1. Only 1 series a year against interleague rivals. First of all it helps reduce the schedule inequalities from within the division (i.e. no 6 Cards-Royals games while we play the Sox). Also, it will definitely increase interest, 6 games is way too much and completely takes the novelty factor away from it. Finally, it will guarantee bragging rights for one side. How stupid is it to hype up this battle for Chicago, and then it ends 3-3 half the years (which is likely with each team taking 2 of 3 at home and 1 of 3 on the road). I know the MLB would argue against this because its a guaranteed sellout for many of these cities that might not normally get sellouts, but still there's gotta be a better way. 2. Division series' will be 7 games. I think a lot about how different 2007 and 2008 would be if LDS series were 7 games instead of 5. I feel like a lot of the reason we got swept was the pressure of a short series. We lost game 1 and all the sudden we acted like our backs were to the wall. A 7 game series makes each game slightly less important, allowing teams to relax and play baseball. Plus I think it definitely reduces the crapshoot factor of the playoffs. People always say that the playoffs are a crapshoot, IMO that's incorrect. THE FIRST ROUND is the crapshoot. Sure there are counter examples of a team getting hot and coasting into the World Series, but those happen in every sport (Arizona Cardinals, Warriors, etc). Most of the time, once you get to the 7 game LCS, the better team tends to win more often. To prove my point, look no further than the Cubs the last 2 seasons. In 2007, they faced a rather crummy DBacks team that had an extremely lucky season (proven by their Pythagorean record). They went out and shellshocked the Cubs in 3 games, and then went to the LCS and got smoked by the Rockies in 4 games. Then the next year the Cubs faced the 83 win Dodgers and choked again in 3 games. Next they went to the LCS and faced the Phillies, and not even Manny Ramirez could help them as they lost in 5 games. I'm not saying this because I feel like it hurt the Cubs the last couple of years (heck we semi benefited from it in 2003). It just makes more sense all around. I realize that adding 2 more games to the first round might mess up the schedule a bit, but I'm sure theres a way to get it done and not play November baseball. Get it done.

Well 102 years now officially. Get to work Jim. Also, anyone notice how Jason Marquis went on another second half collapse, today's start excluded?

Our elimination number from Colorado is 1 right?

Apparently we're still middle of the road according to most power rankings. ESPN has us at 14. Only SF and Dallas are lower than us among the 2-1 teams. Makes me wonder if Minnesota would be ranked 14th and the Bears 5th if we had started out the season 3-0 against @ Cleveland, @ Detroit, vs. SF instead of 2-1 @ Green Bay, vs. Pittsburgh, @ Seattle. The Packers are ranked 10th of course, which is understandable since they beat the Bears (unless you would say the Bears beat themselves), but I'd like to see what their record would be if they played our schedule. The good news is they will. Since our two non-common opponent conferences are the NFC South and East, we should all have pretty similar schedules. The Vikings non-common opponents are Carolina (who is better than an 0-3 team) and NYG, Bears have Philly and Atlanta (imo the hardest of the 3 teams), and GB has TB (ok theres a freebie) and Dallas.

Did you guys see Peter King named Brandon McGowin one of his 2 defensive players of the week for his play with the Pats? Figures.

Yeah people complain about stripping the ball when it backfires and they score a TD they shouldn't, but it's praised when they get the strip and it turns into a TD like it did later in the game. I don't know which side is better to be on.

The thing that's awesome about the last 2 wins is that they are common opponents for our NFC North rivals. We were able to beat the Steelers and the Seahawks, but will the Packers and Vikings? Maybe but those are 2 formidable opponents, especially because Seattle will likely get healthy by the time they play both of them. Meanwhile, the Vikings have already gotten their free wins over Cleveland and the first Detroit game, and the Packers have already gotten their free win over St. Louis. We still get to play those 3. The Bears managed to play 3 tough opponents, and still remain only 1 game behind the leader.

A noon game! Bears win 31-17

LOL, the moderator asked reporters if there was any other questions for Cutler, and he snapped back "Nope, thanks" and walked off the set.

Well hey look at that Detroit is next week! I don't care that they won, they are still an awful team and I'm cocky enough to predict an easy win. The Lions won't be within 10 points of the Bears.

To be fair, Gould also missed a FG early. Yeah but that was a 53 yard miss against the wind for a guy whose never made one over 50 before. The 2 Mare missed FGs were both very make able.

I don't care how they win, a road win is a road win. A well played win would be nice too though :)

Hey hey just like the Packers!

The difference in the game is the missed FGs by Seattle.

BEARS WIN

4th down here we go.

They are getting out of bounds way too much.

Theres too much time on the clock

Not good.

I don't know if they were gonna actually stop that, but it looked like that play was unraveling a bit when the whistle blew.

If you were Hester, would you have taken a fall at the 1 yard line so that you could run the clock out?

I'm very nervous but I'm starting to feel decent.

Right now it's a 53 yarder...I highly doubt we'd try another one there. We need another first down here to give us a good shot. 4 down territory obviously.

Remember, we would be kicking into the bad part of the field against the wind. We might need to get to the 25 to feel safe.