kente777

OK, let me rephrase. Which of the two teams are worse going into the playoffs (ignoring the 2006 result): 2007 Cubs or the 2006 Cardinals?

Why we have been beaten by the Marlins 10 games in a row is beyond me. But here are a few things I saw in this series: 1) First pitch swinging. The Cubs continue to be a team that is inpatient at the plate. It seems that there was more of that in this series. Why should any pitcher facing the Cubs throw a first pitch near the strike zone when this team can't hold off of those. 2) The Marlins got a lot of lucky hits, particularly in game 2. On the flip side, I felt like the Cubs hit the ball relatively hard, but always at somebody. 3) I do not feel this was Lou's best series. Playing Monroe at this point is inexcusable. He has proven nothing. Some of his pinch hit moves were questionable. Leaving Marquis in too long and starting Traschel (why oh why) were terrible blunders. 4) I think Wood's performance solidified him as a go to guy in a tough situation. He was very, very impressive. That bodes well for us in that we've got another guy we should be able to depend on in the bullpen. 5) I watched every inning of all 3 games and it just seemed like the Cubs were in slow motion. Hard to describe, but they just didn't look up for this series. Something I think we can shake off. All in all, I feel about 90% sure we will take the division. Really, all it should take is 1 out of 3 in Cincinnati as I don't see the Brewers all three of their remaining games. Go Cubs.

There are a lot of similarities between the 2006 Cardinals and the 2007 Cubs -- the chief of which is having the lowest record of any playoff team (assuming the Cubs can clinch this weekend). Last year the Cardinals limped into the playoffs not only with a ML low 83 wins, but also on a nice losing streak to end the season. The Cubs, though prior to the Marlins series, had been playing pretty good baseball. In your opinion, which of these two teams, both limping into the playoffs, are better? The Cards got hot at the right time. Are the Cubs capable of getting hot and beating teams outside of their own division? So far this year they only have a winning record against teams in their own division. Opinions?

We're the Cubs. Chances & reality are worlds apart. If we were to back into the playoffs & play like this, I can just imagine what Wrigley Field will be like. Boos galore. Yeah, best to keep that from happening. I can just see a weekend meltdown coming. Instead of one inning, it'll be one series.

You've just simply prepared yourself for the inevitable before the rest of us.

To hell with this team!

The hell with that. Go Brewers....the Cubs don't deserve any playoff appearance.

I've had it....I"ve absolutely had it with Ryan....soap droppin'....Dumpster.

Oh heck, the whole team has been awful. Theriot has a .561 OPS in September. He needs to be on the bench. The whole team needs to be on the bench (Other than Wood, who has been productive) There's no reason to get swept by the Florida Marlins. None. Zip. Zilch. Zero. If the Cobs get swept, they do not deserve to be in the playoffs, period. Hey, I already said that!!!! Copy cat!

Uh, Len, yes they have looked like themselves....

Theriot needs to be demoted to second string ball boy. GRRRRRRRRRR

Same thing can be applied to DeRosa and Lee. Yeah, but Jones looked like a little girl on that series.

He needs to get frickin' benched for the rest of the season for that sissy at bat!

C'mon Kerry!! ONe more

He went yesterday more than an inning.

Isn't that just like the Cubs. Get you all excited and back in the ball game and give em right back. Bring you to the point of hope and optimism, but in the end put a dagger right in your heart. Same ol story. 99 years of mediocrity and horse crap and counting.

We are being spanked by a College Baseball team Then again, I wouldn't mind having Hermida, Ramirez, and Cabrera... Uggla's not terrible either. It's not their offense....it's our pathetic offense...can't hit frickin' AA pitchers.

I'll say it again: If we can't beat the frickin' Marlins, we don't deserve a playoff spot. That is all.

I just want to tell everyone here: It's nice to have a place to mourn together. Just wanted to get that off my chest.

At this point in the season, there is no soap-droppin' reason why the Cubs should be swept by the Marlins. If we can't beat the friggin' Marlins in the last week of the season, what makes us think we will be able to win on the West Coast in a much more pressure playoff series? The Cubs are absolutely mind-blowing!!

agree. You don't change the way you call them based upon a pitcher's no-hitter. If the pitches were clearly balls, then yes, I agree. However, two of those pitches were borderline....and IMO, you give the benefit of the doubt to the pitcher. In today's game, it happens all the time. Don't tell me that Greg Maddux doesn't get a more liberal zone simply because he's Greg Maddux. I suppose you can argue whether that's right or wrong, but it happens all the time. In the NBA, certain stars are given more leniency when it comes to fouls. I'm sure 35 years ago was no different. Each ump had his own strike zone and calls were just as subjective as today. Probably 75% of umps today would have given Pappas a strikeout. maybe so, maybe not. That doesn't make it right. If it's borderline (definition of borderline: "can go either way"), you give it to the pitcher in that case. It's not a matter of right or wrong. If it's clearly a ball, then you call it a ball, but that was not the case in 2 of those balls. And if Froemming calls it a strike and Pappas gets the perfect game, then he makes history, not Froemming. But by virtue of the fact that he called it a ball, Froemming will be forever remembered. it's ridiculous to think that a relatively new ump had an ulterior motive and spearheaded a conspiracy to rob pappas of a perfect game. froemming thought those pitches were balls, and it's a human game. i don't think he missed the calls, others might. it wouldn't be the first time someone disagreed with an ump. Yes, he single-handedly started a conspiracy and is actively plotting with other umpires to take over the world.

hey, man, tell us how you really feel. :lol:

agree. You don't change the way you call them based upon a pitcher's no-hitter. If the pitches were clearly balls, then yes, I agree. However, two of those pitches were borderline....and IMO, you give the benefit of the doubt to the pitcher. In today's game, it happens all the time. Don't tell me that Greg Maddux doesn't get a more liberal zone simply because he's Greg Maddux. I suppose you can argue whether that's right or wrong, but it happens all the time. In the NBA, certain stars are given more leniency when it comes to fouls. I'm sure 35 years ago was no different. Each ump had his own strike zone and calls were just as subjective as today. Probably 75% of umps today would have given Pappas a strikeout. maybe so, maybe not. That doesn't make it right. If it's borderline (definition of borderline: "can go either way"), you give it to the pitcher in that case. It's not a matter of right or wrong. If it's clearly a ball, then you call it a ball, but that was not the case in 2 of those balls. And if Froemming calls it a strike and Pappas gets the perfect game, then he makes history, not Froemming. But by virtue of the fact that he called it a ball, Froemming will be forever remembered.

agree. You don't change the way you call them based upon a pitcher's no-hitter. If the pitches were clearly balls, then yes, I agree. However, two of those pitches were borderline....and IMO, you give the benefit of the doubt to the pitcher. In today's game, it happens all the time. Don't tell me that Greg Maddux doesn't get a more liberal zone simply because he's Greg Maddux. I suppose you can argue whether that's right or wrong, but it happens all the time. In the NBA, certain stars are given more leniency when it comes to fouls. I'm sure 35 years ago was no different. Each ump had his own strike zone and calls were just as subjective as today. Probably 75% of umps today would have given Pappas a strikeout.

I found this little bit of Cub's history very interesting. 1908: Merkle's Boner This one's the most famous of all goofs. On Sept. 23, 1908, 19-year-old Giants infielder Fred Merkle came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game against the Cubs. Merkle singled, moving teammate Moose McCormick to third base. The next batter, Al Bridwell, also singled, scoring McCormick and presumably ending the game, as fans streamed onto the field in celebration. Thinking the game was over, Merkle returned to the dugout, not bothering to touch second base. Remembering a little-known rule, Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers retrieved a ball and touched second base, prompting the umpire to rule Merkle out on a force play. The winning run was wiped away, making it a tie game again. Since play couldn't resume with fans all over the field, the game was declared an official tie. The Cubs would go on to beat the Giants on the final day of the season, giving them the pennant they never would've had if not for Merkle's epic mistake. (If this happened today, ESPN would make the Michael Vick story look tame by comparison, John Kruk's head would explode, and Merkle would be declared almost as big a choker as A-Rod.)