While I agree with your sentiment, the Marlins are not a terrible offensive team. Ramirez, Uggla, Hermida, and Cabrera would all be starters for the Cubs and most of the other teams in the majors. Pitching and defense are certainly important factors in winning baseball games over the long haul, but sometimes hitters can just take over a short series. Offensive teams with no pitching are also exactly the type of non-successful teams to give the Cubs trouble, considering their impeccable ability to make any pitcher look good on any given day. This is why the Reds have been a problem this year. At any rate, I came into this series thinking that the bare minimum the Cubs needed was to not get swept in either series. If they pull that off, then the Cards stealing that game looks even bigger.