BTW, I'd love a 4-3 trip.

Anthony, thanks for being so cool about it. I'm sure we would be good friends if we knew each other. And we want the same thing~~A Cubs World Series Championship!!!

Chad,

I have only one thing to say in regards to your response:

EXCELLENT POST, very well written. I totally understand where you are coming from now. Thanks for being understanding of my comments.

I agree with your sentiments that the fans are taking their frustrations out on mostly 1 player. That isn't fair !! It is just my opinion, however, that he seems to fail more often than any other player in critical situations.

Anyway, once again, very good thoughtful post.

Go Cubs !!!

ps. I think it would be a major success if we could go 4-3 on this road trip.

Yea that true it stinks the Brewers miss those guys and we end up with em.

nick, I still believe too. But I am worried for the first time this year. This weekend won't decide the year, but look at the pitching match-ups versus the Mets:

Brewers Suppan (5-2) @ Mets Sosa (1-0)

Sat. Sheets (2-2) @ Pelfrey (0-4)

Sun. Capuano (5-0) @ Perez (3-3)

They luckily miss Glavine (4-1) and Maine (5-0), who we get next Monday and Tuesday.

That is really bad luck for us. But they still have to play the games.

Go Cubs!!!

Chad, it is only the beginning of May, we aren't even close to being out of the Pennant race. The Brewers aren't going to keep this pace up all year, their down slide could start tonight against the Mets, lets hope so anyway.

Anthony, you are so wrong about me. I think JJ is an average MLB player. He is adequate in the field as long as his spasmadic throwing of last year doesn't return. He hits RH pitching pretty well with power and RBI's. He is woeful against LH pitching.

I have promoted the idea of bringing up Pagan several times the last two weeks here on CCO. I love the idea of Pagan and Murton vs. LH starters with Jones and Floyd against RH starters.

I think the Cubs should play the proven Jones instead of the not-quite-ready Felix Pie while we are still in the pennant race. I just think Pie needs a little more seasoning and confidence building.

Now, if we fall out of the race, which we aren't far from doing, I would definately trade Jones and play Pie everyday in a non-pennant race situation. But I would hate to kill Pie's confidence during a heated race with the Brewers.

My points about Jones on CCO has been that I think the criticism of him has been way out of line with reality. Not that he hasn't played very poorly at times, but that he is better than a lot of Cub fans think, in my opinion. He has become the target, unfairly so in my opinion, for all of the fans' frustrations. And we don't have better options right now. That's it. I don't think Jones is the best player in baseball.

I started a blog on MLB.com at the beginning of the season called "The Cubs Daily Den". It's more of a daily recap of the games and the standings. It is not even close to the great coverage Neil provides, but I think it will be fun to look back on during the off-season especially. If you ever look at it you won't find any monuments to JJ. My favorite player is D. Lee and my favorite pitcher is Hill.

I am an optimistic fan who prefers not to criticise our players very much. I only boo for lack of effort. I know I am in the minority, but at least you will hopefully understand where I am coming from.

Go Cubs!!!

Chad,

Murton's play, by the way I didn't see the replay until last night, was WOEFUL and he took full credit for the blunder. It was inexcusable and Lou is going to make him pay for it.

I just don't get your love affair with JJ though. Sincerely, you are the ONLY Cub fan I know that wants this guy starting everyday. Doesn't that tell you anything ?? It should.

I can see it now, Jones will have one good game in the next week or so, and suck the rest, but there you'll be with your "where are all the JJ haters now" comment. But you'll be silent as a church mouse when he continues to stink in critical game situations.

Plain and simple, the Ace of our staff is pitching just above horrible, our fifth starter is questionable, and we are NOT scoring with guys in scoring position, but we still managed to win five in a row and are at five hundred. My point, we are at five hundred, with out paying good baseball.

Prediction: Starting tonight Rich Hill will toss his first no no, with Lee going 2-4 with two HR's. then tonight will be the night, that come Sept. we are all going to look back and say that was the game that turned it all around for us. Let's go Cubs!

Yes Chad, I noticed how Matt made the mistake that cost the Cubs the ballgame, and nobody even blinked. And everybody is quick to find someway to squeeze JJ into the conversation when the Cubs lose.

I had a wonderful day of jury duty today, and while I was waiting around to be chosen, I picked up an old Sports Illustrated that had an article on the Cubs and their crazy spending spree this year. And it predicted that the Cubs were not THAT much better of a team because they failed to improve on what they most desperately needed: guys that can get on base. The Cubs were able to squeeze FOUR walks the entire series... and that is in 33 innings of baseball. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Can you guys imagine what the Cubs record would be if Lilly, Marquis, and Hill weren't pitching like cy young candidates? Scary.

A few thoughts....

* If we are lucky, a 2-5 road trip, I have nothing to base this on ,just a bad feeling.

* Pagan is probably a better option coming off the bench right now than Pie. Pie needs to play, kick ass down in Iowa and force Hendry to trade Jacque Jones for a mid level prospect.

* Where is Jim Hendry? I have not seen or heard from him since the Trib put the Cubs up for sale.