Last year, they were flat out MISERABLE against the NL East. As far as this series goes, I'm going with unadulterated enthusiasm. Go COBS. We just gotta take it one game at a time, and not look at the big picture. C'mon Cubs just keep winning series until Lee and Prior come back.... I think we still have a shot why not! The central is going to be a dog fight the whole year no one is going to run away and hide. I just hope there isn't a let down for this series. I really don't think the Cards will collapse without Pujols, they can easily move Edmonds to first and put Taguchi or whoever in center. They still have a formiddable pitching staff, something the Cubs didn't have(and still don't), to weather the storm of Pujols being out. And would you like to explain to me how they will replace Pujols's production offensively? They may not replace him offensively, but they have the pitching to holdup and not have a major collapse like the Cubs have while Lee has been out. Which is the basis for which people think the Cards will fall back to the pack. Even without Pujols they most likely will play at or a little above .500 ball. At least that is my opinion. Guys like Rolen, Edmonds can pick up some of the slack. How do you know that Rolen and Edmonds pick up the slack and won't slip? It hurts a team's offense when they lose their best offensive weapons. The past few years when the Giants play without Barry Bonds, they are at best a .500 team, but with him they are a playoff contender. Just look at last year when Bonds led them to a winning streak when he came back at the end of the year. I don't have the splits but I've listened to numerous Giants games the past few years where the announcers have said the Giants's record is horrible without him. So don't underestimate the effect one player can have on a team.