With the division title wrapped up, Lou Piniella trotted out the B-squad today and the Cubs still beat the Reds.
Ryan Theriot was the only regular starter in the lineup as a rested and relaxed Rich Hill powered through the Cincinnati lineup, taking a perfect game into the fifth inning and a no-hitter into the sixth as he, Sean Marshall and Scott Eyre combined on a one-hitter and a 4-0 win.
Despite the sweep at the hands of the Marlins, the Cubs have won 12 of their last 17 games.
The Cubs' opponent in the first round has yet to be determined, as four teams could wind up the regular season tomorrow with 89 wins, leaving ties for the NL East and the Wild Card. That could leave two playoff teams burned out with pitching rotations thrown out of whack. Sucks to be them, hopefully.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Part One of Four
Now we're there and we've only just begun
This will be our year, took a long time to come
-The Zombies
The Magic Number is zero.
This will be our year, took a long time to come
-The Zombies
The Magic Number is zero.
One for the Money
The Cubs finally regained control of their destiny tonight, with Carlos Zambrano shutting down the Reds over seven innings to pick up his 18th win in a 6-0 victory and guaranteeing at least a Game 163.
The Magic Number is one.
This post is essentially just a marker, as the Padres lead the Brewers 4-3 in the 8th inning. I plan to be among Cub fans for the big moment if it comes tonight, and I only popped back home to post, so I have to cut this short.
Go Cubs!
The Magic Number is one.
This post is essentially just a marker, as the Padres lead the Brewers 4-3 in the 8th inning. I plan to be among Cub fans for the big moment if it comes tonight, and I only popped back home to post, so I have to cut this short.
Go Cubs!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Two for the Show
Any curse on the Cubs must be over.
There's no way a cursed team could play the kind of series they completed today, getting swept by the last-place Marlins, and still creep closer to the postseason.
The Magic Number dropped to two tonight as the Brewers continued to do their part by committing five errors and giving up a pair of four-run innings in a 9-5 loss to the Padres, who take a one-game lead in the Wild Card race with three to go.
Barring a total collapse, I think the cluster of five teams battling over the other three playoff slots - Philly and the Mets tied in the East, three teams still in the hunt in the West and all five of them in a tight Wild Card race - will benefit the North Siders. While they've managed to hold a two-game lead through a three-game losing streak, everyone else on the NL side will have spent the last week of the season going all-out, maybe burning themselves out, just to get there.
The race could be over tomorrow, folks. This year's Cubs could clinch a division title after being down farther than the '69 Mets were, and we all know how their season wound up. Keep your fingers crossed.
There's no way a cursed team could play the kind of series they completed today, getting swept by the last-place Marlins, and still creep closer to the postseason.
The Magic Number dropped to two tonight as the Brewers continued to do their part by committing five errors and giving up a pair of four-run innings in a 9-5 loss to the Padres, who take a one-game lead in the Wild Card race with three to go.
Barring a total collapse, I think the cluster of five teams battling over the other three playoff slots - Philly and the Mets tied in the East, three teams still in the hunt in the West and all five of them in a tight Wild Card race - will benefit the North Siders. While they've managed to hold a two-game lead through a three-game losing streak, everyone else on the NL side will have spent the last week of the season going all-out, maybe burning themselves out, just to get there.
The race could be over tomorrow, folks. This year's Cubs could clinch a division title after being down farther than the '69 Mets were, and we all know how their season wound up. Keep your fingers crossed.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Three the Hard Way
It came the hard way, but the Cubs' Magic Number is down to three with four games to play.
Despite another Cub loss to Florida (nine straight over two seasons), the Cardinals pounded the Brewers for four eighth-inning runs to put the game in Milwaukee out of reach. A ninth-inning rally fell short, keeping Milwaukee two games behind the Cubs.
Tonight's Cubs looked like the Cubbies of old, sending fly balls into the vast expanse known as the Dolphins Stadium outfield. While Derrek Lee hit one that would have been out of any park in the majors, the rest of the lineup wasn't as successful.
The Cubs were also hit by poor defense at a crucial moment, as Mark DeRosa overthrew Ryan Theriot on a sure-fire double-play ball that led to a three-run Marlins rally instead of ending the second inning. Two assists from Alfonso Soriano helped keep the game from getting more out of hand as the innings went by, but the damage had been done and the three runs were the margin of victory.
In other news, Sammy Sosa homered again for Texas, giving him 21 along with 92 RBIs in only 113 games. Those ribbies would rank second on the Cubs.
Meanwhile, ridiculous rumors have circulated about Alex Rodriguez's agent talking with "prospective Cub owners" (Mark Cuban?) about a ten-year deal that would include partial ownership. Apart from the obvious tampering issues, MLB rules against player-owners, the future Cubs ownership still undecided and the general silliness of signing a 32-year-old for ten years, I wouldn't mind A-Rod coming to the North Side. Yes, the Cubs have third base locked down for a few more years with Aramis Ramirez, and Ryan Theriot is doing well at Rodriguez' old shortstop position, but I think the Cubs could find a place to put A-Rod. Personally, I'd look at putting him in right field, which is a question mark with plenty of time to be answered, because he has better wheels than Ramirez. But we can start talking about that, say, five weeks from now.
Despite another Cub loss to Florida (nine straight over two seasons), the Cardinals pounded the Brewers for four eighth-inning runs to put the game in Milwaukee out of reach. A ninth-inning rally fell short, keeping Milwaukee two games behind the Cubs.
Tonight's Cubs looked like the Cubbies of old, sending fly balls into the vast expanse known as the Dolphins Stadium outfield. While Derrek Lee hit one that would have been out of any park in the majors, the rest of the lineup wasn't as successful.
The Cubs were also hit by poor defense at a crucial moment, as Mark DeRosa overthrew Ryan Theriot on a sure-fire double-play ball that led to a three-run Marlins rally instead of ending the second inning. Two assists from Alfonso Soriano helped keep the game from getting more out of hand as the innings went by, but the damage had been done and the three runs were the margin of victory.
In other news, Sammy Sosa homered again for Texas, giving him 21 along with 92 RBIs in only 113 games. Those ribbies would rank second on the Cubs.
Meanwhile, ridiculous rumors have circulated about Alex Rodriguez's agent talking with "prospective Cub owners" (Mark Cuban?) about a ten-year deal that would include partial ownership. Apart from the obvious tampering issues, MLB rules against player-owners, the future Cubs ownership still undecided and the general silliness of signing a 32-year-old for ten years, I wouldn't mind A-Rod coming to the North Side. Yes, the Cubs have third base locked down for a few more years with Aramis Ramirez, and Ryan Theriot is doing well at Rodriguez' old shortstop position, but I think the Cubs could find a place to put A-Rod. Personally, I'd look at putting him in right field, which is a question mark with plenty of time to be answered, because he has better wheels than Ramirez. But we can start talking about that, say, five weeks from now.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Four
It may have taken the Cubs' bats a few months to warm up, but they sure got hot at the right time.
The Cubs teed off while reducing their Magic Number to fore, um, four, while completing a weekend's sweep of the Pirates with an 8-0 win. Milwaukee, meanwhile, was busy losing three of four to the Braves gives the Cubs a 3-1/2 game lead with a week to go.
Compared to playoff runs past, the Cubs are storming towards the finish this time around. One of my favorite sayings of the Wild Card era has been "get hot at the right time", and that's exactly what happened. Ten over .500 is now the team's high-water mark of the year, and their 10-2 record in their last 12 games is tops among division leaders.
Carlos Zambrano picked up his career-high 17th win, giving him 30 decisions on the season, which Cubs pitchers haven't reached in recent memory. There are still people who want to brush him aside at 13 losses, but if you have a rotation full of guys who give you 30 decisions with four more ticks in the win column, your team's going to be in good shape. As we saw with the 2005 White Sox, dominant pitching late in the year and playing your best ball when it counts the most will get you towards that ultimate goal.
The Cubs finished the home half of the schedule with a 44-37 record, respectable, but about a third of the way down the league. Three over .500 on the road with only Florida and Cincinnati left on the schedule, however, ranks them third in the league with room to move up. If there's a lesson to be learned from the Brewers, if you want to be in the right place with a week to go, you can't rely solely on dominating at home.
I can taste the postseason, and I think the Cubs can too. Even though the Brewers will now host the Cardinals, who have been in a death spiral in September, the odds of Milwaukee making up three and a half games in seven days when they close with four against the Wild Card leading Padres are pretty slim. They're just not playing the kind of ball you need to play down the stretch when you're in a race.
Next up for the Cubs, Ted Lilly vs. Dontrelle Willis Tuesday night in Florida. 15-7 and 3.78 vs. 9-15 and 5.32. Sounds good to me.
The Cubs teed off while reducing their Magic Number to fore, um, four, while completing a weekend's sweep of the Pirates with an 8-0 win. Milwaukee, meanwhile, was busy losing three of four to the Braves gives the Cubs a 3-1/2 game lead with a week to go.
Compared to playoff runs past, the Cubs are storming towards the finish this time around. One of my favorite sayings of the Wild Card era has been "get hot at the right time", and that's exactly what happened. Ten over .500 is now the team's high-water mark of the year, and their 10-2 record in their last 12 games is tops among division leaders.
Carlos Zambrano picked up his career-high 17th win, giving him 30 decisions on the season, which Cubs pitchers haven't reached in recent memory. There are still people who want to brush him aside at 13 losses, but if you have a rotation full of guys who give you 30 decisions with four more ticks in the win column, your team's going to be in good shape. As we saw with the 2005 White Sox, dominant pitching late in the year and playing your best ball when it counts the most will get you towards that ultimate goal.
The Cubs finished the home half of the schedule with a 44-37 record, respectable, but about a third of the way down the league. Three over .500 on the road with only Florida and Cincinnati left on the schedule, however, ranks them third in the league with room to move up. If there's a lesson to be learned from the Brewers, if you want to be in the right place with a week to go, you can't rely solely on dominating at home.
I can taste the postseason, and I think the Cubs can too. Even though the Brewers will now host the Cardinals, who have been in a death spiral in September, the odds of Milwaukee making up three and a half games in seven days when they close with four against the Wild Card leading Padres are pretty slim. They're just not playing the kind of ball you need to play down the stretch when you're in a race.
Next up for the Cubs, Ted Lilly vs. Dontrelle Willis Tuesday night in Florida. 15-7 and 3.78 vs. 9-15 and 5.32. Sounds good to me.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Go Braves!
I'm not used to rooting for Atlanta, but pending the outcome of the Phillies-Nationals game, the Braves' win over the Brewers today gives the Cubs... are you ready for this...
the biggest divisional lead in the National League.
the biggest divisional lead in the National League.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Bell Lap
This is not a drill.
The Cubs are in first place with nine games left after a stunning series win against the Reds, not exactly blowing out the competition but still taking two of three in dramatic come-from-behind fashion.
This time the Cubs have a real leader at the helm, a guy who’s been there before and won it all. Going into this season, the Cubs had been managed by a World Series winner for exactly one game in my lifetime, an interim game managed by Joe Altobelli. Jim Frey didn’t win one, losing to his future Cub boss in 1980. Don Zimmer came up empty, as did Jim Riggleman and Dusty Baker.
Even though Lou Piniella’s 116-win Mariners team didn’t take the cake, his 1990 Reds stunned Tony LaRussa’s A’s, so I figure the Cubs would be in pretty good shape as far as leadership, going into the playoffs as an underdog.
And heroes, can we get even more heroes? While everyone’s talking about Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly notched his 20th quality start last night, keeping the Cubs close enough for late-inning heroics. Mark DeRosa hit Reds pitching like it was batting practice, boosting his 2007 numbers against Cincy to 24-for-45 (.533, and that's a batting average, folks, not a slugging percentage). Matt Murton delivered a clutch RBI (and yes, despite the umpire’s ruling the ball was caught, and Ryan Theriot tagged up just to be sure anyway). More solid bullpen work, this time from Bob Howry. Geovany Soto is giving us hopefully a taste of things to come for years down the road.
So while this isn’t a team that relies solely on marquee players to get the job done, even the guys who are there for their bats are coming up with sparkling defense. For a guy who used to be known as a defensive liability, Alfonso Soriano gunned down one of the league’s fastest runners at the plate by a good 20 feet. For a guy who used to be known as a defensive liability, Aramis Ramirez leaped and stabbed a line drive in mid-flight at third last night as if he’d been studying game films of Brooks Robinson from the 1970 World Series.
When on any given day you don’t know which guy is going to come up with that game-breaking hit or game-saving play, or which bullpen pitcher is going to slam the door, the opposition is on edge for all 27 outs on both sides of the ball.
Still, it’s not going to be that simple. The Cubs have an easy remaining schedule at first glance, but against teams that have given them trouble this year. The Brewers finish the season with two series at home, where they dominate, but head to Atlanta for four this weekend – which could break the race wide open – and close against the Padres, who are fighting for a playoff spot themselves.
Like Lou says, one series at a time. Keep winning series and the rest will take care of itself. They didn't get down when Aaron Harang shut them down Tuesday, and ugly or not, the Cubs managed to win two out of three in a series when they were outplayed. In a historical context, it didn't matter that the 1960 Pirates were outscored 55-27 in seven games against the Yankees, just like it didn't matter to the 1984 Padres (yeah, I said it...) that they lost Game 1 to the Cubs 13-0. Put those losses behind you and go out there trying to win more games than the other guys, and good things happen.
After 153 games, the Cubs are going into the bell lap in first place. They don’t have the record of the other division leaders, but first place is first place and as recent history shows, it’s not just a cliché that anything can happen in the playoffs.
I don’t want to hear talk about a goal of being division champs. Division champs are footnotes. It’s time for a World Championship. And looking at this team, how many of them will be back next year, how many young players are making an impact and are still on the upswing in their careers, this is only the beginning.
The Cubs are in first place with nine games left after a stunning series win against the Reds, not exactly blowing out the competition but still taking two of three in dramatic come-from-behind fashion.
This time the Cubs have a real leader at the helm, a guy who’s been there before and won it all. Going into this season, the Cubs had been managed by a World Series winner for exactly one game in my lifetime, an interim game managed by Joe Altobelli. Jim Frey didn’t win one, losing to his future Cub boss in 1980. Don Zimmer came up empty, as did Jim Riggleman and Dusty Baker.
Even though Lou Piniella’s 116-win Mariners team didn’t take the cake, his 1990 Reds stunned Tony LaRussa’s A’s, so I figure the Cubs would be in pretty good shape as far as leadership, going into the playoffs as an underdog.
And heroes, can we get even more heroes? While everyone’s talking about Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly notched his 20th quality start last night, keeping the Cubs close enough for late-inning heroics. Mark DeRosa hit Reds pitching like it was batting practice, boosting his 2007 numbers against Cincy to 24-for-45 (.533, and that's a batting average, folks, not a slugging percentage). Matt Murton delivered a clutch RBI (and yes, despite the umpire’s ruling the ball was caught, and Ryan Theriot tagged up just to be sure anyway). More solid bullpen work, this time from Bob Howry. Geovany Soto is giving us hopefully a taste of things to come for years down the road.
So while this isn’t a team that relies solely on marquee players to get the job done, even the guys who are there for their bats are coming up with sparkling defense. For a guy who used to be known as a defensive liability, Alfonso Soriano gunned down one of the league’s fastest runners at the plate by a good 20 feet. For a guy who used to be known as a defensive liability, Aramis Ramirez leaped and stabbed a line drive in mid-flight at third last night as if he’d been studying game films of Brooks Robinson from the 1970 World Series.
When on any given day you don’t know which guy is going to come up with that game-breaking hit or game-saving play, or which bullpen pitcher is going to slam the door, the opposition is on edge for all 27 outs on both sides of the ball.
Still, it’s not going to be that simple. The Cubs have an easy remaining schedule at first glance, but against teams that have given them trouble this year. The Brewers finish the season with two series at home, where they dominate, but head to Atlanta for four this weekend – which could break the race wide open – and close against the Padres, who are fighting for a playoff spot themselves.
Like Lou says, one series at a time. Keep winning series and the rest will take care of itself. They didn't get down when Aaron Harang shut them down Tuesday, and ugly or not, the Cubs managed to win two out of three in a series when they were outplayed. In a historical context, it didn't matter that the 1960 Pirates were outscored 55-27 in seven games against the Yankees, just like it didn't matter to the 1984 Padres (yeah, I said it...) that they lost Game 1 to the Cubs 13-0. Put those losses behind you and go out there trying to win more games than the other guys, and good things happen.
After 153 games, the Cubs are going into the bell lap in first place. They don’t have the record of the other division leaders, but first place is first place and as recent history shows, it’s not just a cliché that anything can happen in the playoffs.
I don’t want to hear talk about a goal of being division champs. Division champs are footnotes. It’s time for a World Championship. And looking at this team, how many of them will be back next year, how many young players are making an impact and are still on the upswing in their careers, this is only the beginning.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Go time
My fantasy league is over, so I have more time to write. I have a post coming on tonight's huge win over the Reds, but in the meantime here's another vintage reminder of the Cubs' World Series champs. Makes a nice wallpaper.
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