Soul

If I were you I'd be calling DirecTV or Comcast right now... That, or, if I had a cable modem, I'd be detaching that line of coax from my cable modem for 3-4 hours a few nights in the coming weeks. Or you could just head to your local bar. NLCS will also be on TBS, fyi. Wow. I hope TBS will indeed have a HD feed up on DirecTV in time for the playoffs, then. Right now it's only TNT, there's no HD TBS yet.

Me too, but part of me thinks "once in a lifetime" and I cannot deny I would be tempted. I'm sure those tix will go. Weren't there seats going for 10k in '03? If they made it, there's a whole group of us who will assemble from across the country and watch together so it will be fun either way.

Perhaps you are right, but I personally don't see how it matters because the only advantage Helton's team could gain from his testimony would be that Bradley is suspended...which doesn't matter because Bradley is out for the season already with his injury. The question isn't how the Padres respond to it. It's how the umpires respond. He sides with the umps, and maybe they get some preferential treatment. He sides against them, and they may attempt to find retribution. I hadn't thought about that angle, good point. I hadn't thought about that either, and I agree. I was just thinking from the standpoint of avoiding any possibility of Helton being made into the bad guy on this thing while emotions are no doubt running very very high, and the Rockies are still a stakeholder in the playoff race.

The most excited I've ever been as a Cubs fan. I'm definitely down for some recreation on their part. That was the one time in my life I really let my guard down with them. I thought for sure after that game we were going to the World Series. I thought for sure in 1984 we were going to the World Series. That scared me as a Cubs fan forever. I knew in 2003 after game 5 we were in trouble. We looked flat in that game. After the game I went on espn.com message board and told everyone that we are going to blow this. I just felt it. Of course everyone laughed at me... I wasn't old enough to remember 84. 89 and 98 we weren't very good. '03 I was happy with the first round win, what with our young pitching. But, once we got up 3-1 with Z, Prior, and Wood going. Sigh. Consider yourself lucky because that was a ridiculous choke job. It was, but it was partially league-inspired. Yes we should have been able to win one, but I gotta believe that team wins game 5 in front of the Wrigley crowd. The SD crowd played a *huge* role in helping them over the top. Then they got into a series against a better ballclub where they didn't have home field and pretty much just got slaughtered.

The most excited I've ever been as a Cubs fan. I'm definitely down for some recreation on their part. That was the one time in my life I really let my guard down with them. I thought for sure after that game we were going to the World Series. I thought for sure in 1984 we were going to the World Series. That scared me as a Cubs fan forever. I knew in 2003 after game 5 we were in trouble. We looked flat in that game. After the game I went on espn.com message board and told everyone that we are going to blow this. I just felt it. Of course everyone laughed at me... My Dad bought champagne and had it on ice after game 2. We watched in horror for 3 consecutive games as our best players just all of a sudden couldn't do anything right. ....watched in horror as the evil Garvey ripped our hearts out. I was too young, it was only several years later I discovered the league took away our rightful home field advantage. 1984 hurt me on a very deep level. But that was to go to the World Series. I've since learned that this club can make the playoffs. We've done it several times. The big hump is winning that 4th game in the NLCS. We aren't there yet.

I hope not, if he did he will play and rain pain upon all of us. I am thinking 7 homers in the three games we play. I don't think Dunn hates us. He was quite right pointing out the field conditions @ Wrigley -- others have mentioned the Cubs need to resurface soon. I don't view it as being a jerk or anything, he's just pointing out the facts. I don't think he does either. Who said Dunn hates the Cubs? I inferred it from the comment that Dunn would "rain pain" down on us if he hurt himself at Wrigley 8-)

Good to see there is an investigation. When it comes to how they call a game, I fully support the idea that whoever holds umpires accountable does it with no publicity, but if the claims against this ump and his baiting are true, I seriously hope they throw the book at him and make an example of him. Also, if it turns out Froemming knowingly covered for him, I'd like to see him get it too. I really hope mlb comes through on this one. As a former umpire I agree, normal umpire accountablity should be private. But in this case, if it is found to be true that he used profanity, the discipline should be publicized. It will be interesting to find out what Todd Helton has to say. It would seem the correct thing for Helton to hold his tongue until after the season, or at least until/unless the Rockies are mathmatically eliminated.

Adam Dunn is a free agent after this year? Am I nuts? How did I not know this? The Reds have a team option for like $13 million on him for next year. No word on whether they're going to pick it up or not. What do you think, will they pick it up? I think that would be a little out of character for them, no? Dunn a Cub is a wonderful dream. Yes his D is horrible but think of the production @ Wrigley.

You clearly are accusing him of lots of things, none of which with any sort of proof besides the braindead ramblings of Stone. If all Stoney said was he'd like to be on that workout program, then I think some are making a little more out of it than it really is. It's not like he actually mentioned PEDs. He was doing what he does, coming up with snide sarcastic comments to entertain the audience. That said, I agree that since Stoney has been doing these radio sessions he's become more apt to make stupid little comments like that, and it does hurt his credibility.

Almost all the fans this final week will be Cub fans. Won't be Wrigley, but it will be "Wrigley South" Plus, I think we need to remember the Marlins have the worst home record in the majors. It's not like they've had a home field advantage at all this year. There's no logical reason the Cubs should blow this thing. None. Only one thing will do that now: looking over our shoulder, worrying about a team that is desperate for us to worry about them when we don't need to. That's the only thing that will stop us. Essentially, ourselves. I know its almost impossible to gauge a teams MO from the way they look but, if their approach to the last three games is any indication. I believe the Cubs have stopped caring a rodent' behind about whether the Brewers are winning or not. They know its there to grab and nothing can keep them from it - Len mentioned that the Pirates could see it in Cubs. Look what they did to Gorzelany - he had a snowball' chance in hell of winning - I believe the they're going to knock the snot of Florida. Sure, the Brewers losing would ease my mind but, I don't think its going to matter. I agree, I don't sense the Cubs care at all what the Crew does now. Lou doesn't give me the impression he's worried one bit. There are a ton of veterans on this ballclub, almost all of whom have begun to click in the face of a tight divisional race. They've already faced down this team multiple times. With a 3-game lead and facing a young Marlins squad with little to play for? I think they're ready to play good baseball. I could be wrong, but I just don't see how we collapse in '07. This doesn't feel like a repeat of '04 to me, not at all.

Until someone intercepts a shipment, or Geo fails a drug test, or something tangible comes to light, I'm going to consider him clean. Yes obviously I'm Cub-biased but it's not like I was suggesting Eckstein was on the juice last year because he miraculously won the WS MVP. Ankiel was suspected because of the shipment of HGH which is tangible, that's a little different than this situation where it's just an offhand comment by Stoney.

I hope not, if he did he will play and rain pain upon all of us. I am thinking 7 homers in the three games we play. I don't think Dunn hates us. He was quite right pointing out the field conditions @ Wrigley -- others have mentioned the Cubs need to resurface soon. I don't view it as being a jerk or anything, he's just pointing out the facts.

Sounds good to me, except for the part about Monroe. Though I saw someone said this in another thread: isn't that dude about due for a 5-5, 3HR game or something? There has to be some return to his statistical norm soon. Doesn't there? In other news, I will be missing most of this one on account of a "business dinner." Leave it to me to grouse about getting a free dinner. :) But I'd much rather be parked in front of the tube. I think we'll get something from Monroe before it's over, maybe tonight if he plays. Overall that lineup should be good. These guys have actually been hitting lefties pretty good recently, and Dontrelle does not qualify as a "good" lefty this season. He's certainly nowhere near Gorzelanny who we just plastered. We've faced so many lefties I don't think it's an advantage for the opposition anymore. The recent history supports that notion. I actually would perfer to face lefties. We seem to have fixed whatever problems we had with them. To be successful tonight the Cubs will have to lay off the breaking balls and look fastball. Dontrell has been a six inning pitcher all year. The Marlins are dead last in WHIP this year and next to last in k/BB. He can have his 6 innings, as long as we get our runs off of him and Lilly pitches well. That sky-high WHIP should be a clue to the Cubs to be selective at the plate, as you say. He'll get himself into trouble if we just let him. Give Dontrelle plenty of rope.

Get well in October. Then get a contract from the Cubs in November. Then hit 50 HRs and about 130 RBI in '08.

I'm hitting what you are pitching BBB but Cabrera also came upt to the bigs when he was 20. I don't like this automatic assumption that every players who had a good/great year is no the juice. Unfortunately, that is part of the deal today. If Soto was a Cardinal, we would be buying into it. That is a completely moronic statement. Completely and utterly stupid. No it isn't part of the deal today and no we wouldn't. No one said anything about Ankeil until it was reported in the media. And the morons who bought into the story neglected to realize he received the PED in 2003 not 2007. With all due respect, if Soto was a Cardinal and Stone said that, many here would be more likely to run with it. As fro Ankiel, his case is so weird that steroids were the last thing on people's minds. I suppose but I didn't hear the Stone comment. It didn't sound like he actually said Soto was using PEDs, but I didn't actually hear it. I know Stoney is sarcastic nearly all the time though -- but he can always fall back on that he didn't actually say PEDs if he didn't. Soto did lose alot of weight, so that tells me he was working out pretty hard, which could also account for an increase. Plus, he hasn't been here that long -- he might regress like so many others.

Sounds good to me, except for the part about Monroe. Though I saw someone said this in another thread: isn't that dude about due for a 5-5, 3HR game or something? There has to be some return to his statistical norm soon. Doesn't there? In other news, I will be missing most of this one on account of a "business dinner." Leave it to me to grouse about getting a free dinner. :) But I'd much rather be parked in front of the tube. I think we'll get something from Monroe before it's over, maybe tonight if he plays. Overall that lineup should be good. These guys have actually been hitting lefties pretty good recently, and Dontrelle does not qualify as a "good" lefty this season. He's certainly nowhere near Gorzelanny who we just plastered. We've faced so many lefties I don't think it's an advantage for the opposition anymore. The recent history supports that notion.

Not sure if that's the Cubs' call. Slip the operator a little on the side. 8-)

Just.......play like we've been playing. Overall I've been pretty happy with our team play these past couple weeks. Just keep doing what you're doing. We've built a 3 game lead for a reason -- we're playing the best baseball in the division at the right time.

The Cubs should demand that the scoreboard be turned off. We shouldn't be thinking about what the Brewers are doing, at all. I mean we as fans are going to look of course. But the Cubs themselves should simply win their own games and not think about the Crew.

Almost all the fans this final week will be Cub fans. Won't be Wrigley, but it will be "Wrigley South" Plus, I think we need to remember the Marlins have the worst home record in the majors. It's not like they've had a home field advantage at all this year. There's no logical reason the Cubs should blow this thing. None. Only one thing will do that now: looking over our shoulder, worrying about a team that is desperate for us to worry about them when we don't need to. That's the only thing that will stop us. Essentially, ourselves.

You are putting off bad vibes. Please stop. :wink:

my point exactly. white person= racism doesn't exist, black people are whiners, dave chappelle makes jokes about white people and he never gets arrested, milton bradley just hates white people, so do jesse jackson, al sharpton, etc. And all of us white people that are supporting Barack Obama are only doing it because he's "acting like he's white" - at least according to the Reverend Jackson. :roll: http://www.thestate.com/local/v-print/story/177514.html LOL, that's rich.

Wait what is it you're mad about? The Cubs just got done sweeping the Pirates and building about as comfortable of a lead as you could have hoped for going into the weekend. What is it you're perturbed about? The Cardinals are really hurt and banged up right now. Pujols was out there playing, and they had their best pitcher on the mound, so they aren't trying to tank it here. I'm guessing the Brewers get 2 of 3 from the Cards. The Cubs are going to have to win against a team they SHOULD win against. I don't think that's a change from Sunday. I think it's just his way of saying, "Screw this.. I'm not gonna be all worried about the Brewers anymore." Yeah, I think when you think about this too much and look into every single angle you may drive yourself crazy. What davhern said. I'm sick of worrying about all these implications and "oh no the Brewers are winning!!" EEK! To heck with it. We control everything now. I'm going to act like we do, because.....we do. This is about as good a situation as could be expected with one week to go. Just win the games you're supposed to win, that's all. The Brewers can't win this thing on their own. They need us to help them. I suggest we don't.

Exactly. The Brewers don't count. We know they will probably win their games, especially against the now-worst-in-the-NL Cards, and the weakened Padres. This is all about the Cubs going out and winning games against marginal NL opponents. That's all. Win our games, playoffs. Lose them? Didn't deserve it in the first place.

Me too, but the Crew won't get away with easy games when SD comes to town playing for their lives. That's going to be a knock-down drag out series. We just need to win games against teams who are busy scheduling their Tee Times. Seriously, no one to blame, no excuses. Just win.