David

So you lessen the Cubs loss because it's such a crapshoot. If they won, would you say "Well, you really can't tell much by this NLDS victory because the playoffs are such a crapshoot?" It works both ways. But once again the Cubs looked like complete crap when it counted the most. Just like they did in 69. And 84. And 89. And 2003. And 2004. And 2007. And 2008. I think that speaks volumes more than 97 wins does. This franchise is incapable of winning the big games. I think crapping the bed so much throughout their history says a whole lot more than 97 wins does. I wouldn't determine how good the team was at all based on the postseason. If they had won a ring in 03, I wouldn't have suddenly changed my mind and thought that that team was a powerhouse or the best team in baseball. I would've had a hell of a lot of fun in the playoffs, but it wouldn't change my evaluation of how good the team was. And for the millionth time, almost every team, outside of maybe expansion teams from the last 20 years, has had plenty of seasons that they consider choke jobs, too. The Red Sox history was epic before 2004. The Cardinals blew a 3-1 lead in 96. The Dodgers hadn't won a playoff series since Gibson. The Braves and Indians of the 90s. We aren't some special case here despite what all the media hype about 100 years makes you think. Yes, the Cubs lost in ugly fashion in the playoffs. They were still a great team. The best Cubs I've ever had the pleasure of watching and I was happy to have enjoyed this season. The last 3 games don't change that. They may have left a sour taste, but they don't change it.

I just don't understand how people can put so much weight on the playoffs when it is clearly so much of a crapshoot. I hate to bring up an overused example, but are the 06 Cardinals a great team by virtue of winning a ring (despite a 162 game season clearly saying otherwise), or just a team that won games over a short stretch of games at the perfect time to win a championship? Yes, they're fun to watch and it's fun to root for a championship (and that's what we all want), but that 162 game season says a hell of a lot more about teams than a few best of 5/7 series do.

I don't know what the hell the accomplishment stuff is all about, but I'd consider the team approaching 100 wins much better than the 85 win team and, short of actually winning a ring, that (how good the team really was) is all that really matters to me. I will look back at the 2008 Cubs much more fondly than the 03 team. That probably puts me in the minority, too.

I don't know what point you're trying to make because it makes no sense. He literally did his part to get out of it 2-3 times but his defense didn't do their job.

It's bad enough when the idiots make dumb arguments about why teams win, but I can handle those a little better when we win.

Hearing idiots make dumb arguments about why they lost.

Forget it, if we can trade him for Peavy, Billingsley, Webb or some other great pitcher, we should do it. Great point made.

This is so incredibly stupid. He did get out of it. 3 freaking times. How do you get out of such a jam? You strike people out and/or get ground balls. That is exactly what he did, and his defense screwed up. My favorite is how the reason Martin got a hit there after the 3 errors is because Z's emotions got the best of him. Not because Russell Martin is a pretty good hitters and because pitchers give up hits sometimes. Because his emotions got the best of him. If they didn't, he'd get everyone out every time.

THEY MADE THREE FREAKING ERRORS... ALL WERE BALLS THAT SHOULD HAVE LIMITED OR ENDED THE DODGERS SCORING CHANCES AM I REALLY HAVING THIS RIDICULOUS ARGUMENT?

What the hell are you talking about?

I've probably researched and made this post just about every year, and I'm not going to bother now being at work. Regardless, the point is Zambrano doesn't allow any more unearned runs than the average pitcher does. Something you'd expect from somebody who melts down at the first sight of an error. BS. He obviously does because he gets really pissed off and getting pissed off obviously = giving up runs or something.

Damnit, Z. I don't care how many errors they make behind you, you'd better not give up a hit at any point.

Ok, so after three times that he should've gotten out of the jam, you're blaming him for giving up a double to a very good hitter? Makes sense.

Wait, what? I'm not even a big Z fan, but how could Zambrano have handled the comedy of errors behind him any better?

Cobs

It's called having given up on most hope during inning 2 of game 2 and now not feeling any pressure. I have it too.

Kuroda murders righties. Let's hope we get a little lucky with the RH's and that the lefty bats we do have come through.

Let's just hope they don't expose the lack of range in CF and RF in that big outfield.

LET'S DO THIS

Why wouldn't they want to come back to Chicago? They kinda just raped us here and did it with relative ease. Why wouldn't they want to blow a 2-0 lead and face elimination?

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1201803,CST-SPT-cub04.article

I was thinking about the similarities to last year, but screw that. Last year has nothing to do with now. We are still alive and still have a chance to do what we want to do. It starts with this game.

Kendrick? I'd love to have him on the Cubs. Are you watching him flail at junk? Certainly not in the playoffs, you wouldn't want him. He's a prospect. He's only 24 and has put up some pretty solid numbers. He didn't look good there though, I'll give you that. He's 25 actually, and he's not very willing to take walks. His OBP is VERY average dependent. Again, no, thanks. Guys that have a tendency to swing at junk like that.....do we really see many of them "grow" into patient, well-disciplined hitters? I don't know the real stats on that, but I don't seem to see it happen very often. Free swingers are free swingers from what I see. They don't have a good batting eye, so they swing at too much. How do you learn that at 25 when you didn't learn it since you were a teenager, or before? Usually, when you're willing to attempt to watch those guys grow into more patient hitters, they're power hitting corner OFers... not 5 HR a year middle infielders.

Kendrick? I'd love to have him on the Cubs. Are you watching him flail at junk? Certainly not in the playoffs, you wouldn't want him. He's a prospect. He's only 24 and has put up some pretty solid numbers. He didn't look good there though, I'll give you that. He's 25 actually, and he's not very willing to take walks. His OBP is VERY average dependent. Again, no, thanks.

I was gonna do it but didn't want to have a big annoying animated sig.