and he called me ridiculous. i've never been an optimist, but at least i'm not a meatball. I called you ridiculous for acting as though the Cubs are just kidding themselves and are just waiting to be overtaken by the godly Brewers. Why am I a meatball? And did I say C.C. hasn't been dominant? Nope, I sure didn't. You called him automatic (which was clearly innaccurate) and I pointed out that he's had the advantage of facing some terrible offenses lately. In his 3 starts against good offenses (which, again, is was what I was talking about) he has been good in one and very shaky in the other two. Not automatic. first, we haven't had a 9-inning shutout all season from a starter, good is an understatement. second, see above. he gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings. mediocre? against our offense he allowed 3 runs in 6.2, bad? hardly. that's just stupid. Wait, what does the CUbs not having a shutout all season have to do with this discussion? You're taking everything I said out of context and now calling me names because I'm contesting your innacuracies. You said that he is automatic. I said that he has only been automatic against bad offenses (note that I never said he has been terrible against good offense). Yes, 6.2 innings and 3 runs is good (thought not "automatic"), and 6 innings 2 runs is good (again, not "automatic") but that doesn't tell the whole story. In his start against the Cubs he allowed 11 baserunners. That's "automatic"? In the start against Colorado, he allowed 10 baseunners in 6 innings. That's "automatic"?. The fact is, the only time he's been great against a good offense was in St Louis. The rest of his dominant performances have come against some brutal offensive teams. So yeah, he's automatic....if he's facing a crappy team or if you call 11 baserunners in 6 innings "automatic". Sabathia is great. He's nowhere near automatic. You can keep calling me names if it makes you feel like you're more correct though.