Yes the Cubs have many more problems than Dempser but any aggresssion toward posters who have simply pointed out that Dempster was horrible last year and mediocre (at best) this year is misguided and should be redirected at Hendry for giving Dempster ($5.3 million per) and Eyre big contracts after career years. Just because the game shouldn't have made it to extras doesn't mean Dempster with his 2 - 6 record and 3.88 ERA should be given a free pass. Demp was fantastic the 1st half this year, and there is no denying it. So far this year hes appeared in 57 games and allowed a run in 11. Hes had a rough August and Sept but before that he was pitching as good or better than any closer in baseball. So in the last two years, he's been bad 3/4 of the time and (even if you throw in his career year of 2005) he been bad half the time over the last three years. I expect better for $5.3 million a year. Over the last two years, he's lost 15 games and has an ERA around 4.40 - He's definitely trending downward. IMHO, Dempster is simpy reverting to the mean and 2005 was a fluke. You could be right. I just look up at the scoreboard every night and see the Cubs struggling to hold on to 1 run leads while our rivals cruise with 4, 5 run leads. It pisses me off. Pull away from someone for a damn change. And not just one weird 12-run game, either. Start blasting the damn baseball consistently. What do you mean "could be"? :lol: Holding out some small sliver of hope that he will trend back upwards? I know -- foolish. :wink: