I noticed that, once the D'Backs put up a few runs on the board, they looked completely relaxed at the plate, whereas we looked incredibly tense. Those early runs could make the biggest difference, as I dont think the Dbacks felt any pressure whatsoever after the middle innings.

The key to beating Davis tonight is going to be PATIENCE. He's a control pitcher who nibbles on the corners and doesn't throw over the plate. The Cubs are going to have to take some walks, put some guys on base and put some pressure on him. If they can get men on base and put some pressure on Davis, they can force him to challenge the hitters.

If he has to challenge hitters, he can be hit HARD because he doesn't have overpowering stuff. We'll be able to tell immediately tonight if the Cubs hitters are going to have the right approach to win this game.

I saw a lot of jitters last night. Nobody looked comfortable at the plate. And Marmol was way too jacked up to get his slider over, so he became a one-pitch pitcher. And the Arizona hitters made him pay for that.

Hopefully that was just 1st game jitters and they'll relax a little tonight. A win tonight will put the Cubs firmly in control of the series.

I love Soto for his power and arm but Kendall does exhibit better patience at the plate and will make the pitcher work... Think that Jason will get the start tonight?

Trevor, I would'nt be surprised to see Kendall today, but Soto was not the problem.

No, he wasn't the problem. The entire offense was the problem. Although DeRosa was able to find a way on base.

Hey all,

I would like to share something with all of you:

I received an email from one of those Bridgeport guys about how long it has been since our Cubs have won a World Series and it named all the things that happened since they last won. I sent him the following:

"Those who live in the past are cowards and losers"

The above saying is a quote from Mike Ditka. Yes, the Cubs have not won a World Series for a long time. But I am a Cubs fan who lives for today. What happened in previous years is not important to me. And what the future holds is a mystery to everybody. So, I am left with today. And I am having a great time enjoying every minute of it. I know of a saying that says a person with one foot in the past and one foot in the future can only do one thing about today. And that is to piss all over it!!! And this guy is not going to do that.

Gramps...well said! Go Cubs Go!!

Gramps....would you wanna be my Gramps? We have a beach house in Puerto Rico! I feel like winning today!!!

Agustin:

I won't be your abuelo,but I will be a great friend.
Beach House, Latinas, cerveza we gotta hang out!

Tonight's lineup....

Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Murton - RF
Soto - C
DeRosa - 2B
Jones - CF
Lilly - P

Neil...I faith in this lineup. Jim, believe me we will!

Ok, last night I went with luck in 12 oz cans. Tonight, we need a little more luck so I'm switching to 40's. Bless you that don't drink, but tonight is going to be me, the Cubs, a keyboard, and malt magic.

The Millionaire club (Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Jones,
Derosa) must produce tonight. I hope last night is behind us.

Men this is ridiculous, TBS signal has been intercepted in PR and they are transmitting it through CNN en Espanol…CNN in Spanish. The narrators appear to be narrating a soccer game and it is just plain awful. They have more interest in the emails they receive of ladies “prasing” their marvelous job!@#$ I can’t take it…I never thought I would actually miss Joe Morgan. [Just kidding but not that far off].

Atraaaaaassssss laaaaa peeeeelooootaaaaaaaaaa yyyyyy nonononnonononononoononooo!!! Dile queeee noo a esaaaaa pelooootaaaaaaa!
UHHHHH! It is unbearable.

Dear God…can we get a win today? GO CUBS

Trevor,
I'm going with 7&7 tonight. 7 is a lucky number, right?

Gramps, you and I are on the same page. Neil, you too. Let's get it on and crush these guys! I'm ready for the LUMBER!

Ditto Scott, Hello CCO, Go Cubs!

Have a feeling it's going to be a long night for Ted Lilly and Co. I do like this blog. Good read. Just don't think the Cubs can get it done tonight. Come hold your own at CubsSuckClub.com

Trevor,

Cap'n Morgan n Diet Soda for me. Carbs killed me last year... lol!

THE RIOT!!

yeah baby!

I love that kid!

Thank GOD we didn't hit into a DP!

Stockton is a complete IDIOT. He just referred to Lee as Theriot.

Soriano, Lee and Ramirez look weak!

why is chip carey, AND bob brenly doing the indians game...i miss some of chips calls

cant walk ppl tonite, we have to TAKE walks. and show some patience against davis..

Please calm down Lily..

HUGE!

He is SOOOOO tight.

FINALLY! Way to go Lilly, and good job Soto!

WHEW!

man, i really love that Piniella commercial for aquafina water, its great.

kendall lovers pipe down...

Soto is OUR catcher ... period!!

I'm am SOOOO glad we didn't start Kendall!!! LOL!!

I'm screaming like a banshee right now! GO SOTO!!!

Breaking balls...

You hang em, we bang em

GEO-VA-NY!! (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)

Okay, it's time for the small ball....LILLY GET THE FREAKING BUNT DOWN!!!!

Man, I'm happy with the homer, but why can't our pitchers get the damn bunt down??????????????

Is it me, or does Soriano look a lot like Sammy? except that he can't hit breaking balls, Sammy couldn't hit fastballs

How can Soriano be OH FOR EIGHT!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

COME ON.

Lilly has to be able to get that bunt down....

Soriano has to get his stroke back and stop swinging at those balls in the dirt.

Good inning and they are making Davis work.

Im glad Ted has his curve working, but hes relying too much on it. Im afraid hes curve happy.

Kerry Wood needs to get up in a hurry... we need 2-3 innings from him tonite..

Lilly sucks tonite

I'm so pissed right now I can hardly type.

Are you serious.

Think that overuse of the curve let them sit on the fastball like that? Its what I was worried about...

Lilly cannot pitch the 3rd... .time for dynamic thinking..

Grrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lou is a friggin APE... yank this guy right NOW!

Lets put back the pressure on Davis, this aint out of reach! COME ON CUB BATS!

The good news is that Davis is no Webb, 2 runs is nothing to come back from against this guy. Our pitchers have to stop giving them up though.

im so upset i just punched my wall and cant feel my hand.... cant believe this would happen with lilly on the mind

Bottom line guys, the 'Big 3' have to hit.

Lilly has allowed 7 baserunners( 4 hits, 3 walks) in 2 innings and has thrown almost 60 pitches... He stinks really bad tonite...

can our big 3 produce!!!!!!!!!!

The Big 3 are 2 for 17 with 0 HR and 0 RBI....

Soriano and Ramirez are hitless in the series. Aramis has at least hit the ball hard, but Soriano is swinging and missing. They are all pressing again. Look at what Lilly did by throwing his glove to the ground. If they would just relax....

We're Done!

SOMEBODY explain to me why lilly is still in the game after allowing 5 hits and 3 walks with 0 outs in the 3rd inning..

Holy crap Theriot! Nice play!

is it just me or does theriot just look awesome on defense lately flying around... he's really acting like a spark plug, and HOPEFULLY HE CAN START THIS TEAM!!

Good quick inning, good for momentum.

Solid play by Theriot and a good pick up by DeRosa....a pitcher's best friend.

Soto with a nice play as well. Lilly faced the minimum on just 6 pitches.

Will Someone please find our bats, Come on OFFENSE!! Time to start hitting like we know we can, how about a big rally.

Our offense looks 3rd rate right now... I hope that changes....

the guy with 18 games on the season has driven in our only runs tonite

Augie Bleepin' Ojeda!!!! He was out of the baseline.

Holy crap, how far can you run out of the line?

The foot prints show that!?!?!?!

what is the rule on baseline, cuz he was almost on the grass?

i honestly don't know if i can watch lilly overthrow like this anymore, this game is just becoming sickening to me

Lilly looks god-awful tonite... simply horrendous!!!

yet, Lou is stickin with him..... its inexplicable.... there is no reasoning for it... ZERO!!

well looks like the years been fun, but over

This is realy dumb hillbilly managing here

WOW!!! I am in shock

So, were being manhandled by a largely AA team?

how dont think ive ever been this disappointed with this team. they just arent able to perform on this stage it seems like

I really hate to be negative, but this game is over. The Cubs look absolutely lifeless out there, no emotion or anything. Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez look like little leaguers at the plate. I am not a negative person at all, but this is NOT good, not good at all.

Dusty Baker + $300 million + Soriano + Floyd + Ward + Lilly = Lou Piniella..

i have seen no brilliant managing in the last 2 games...

Calm yourself baron. Pinella is not losing us these games. Our lack of offense is.

There is still a lot of game left but the Cubs need to to find a way to start chipping away at that lead.

Yup, still early, and a little here and a little there will go a long way. Trying to keep the faith.

Maybe next f-ing year, huh? Typical f-ing Cubs. What a joke.....I'm going to bed. God damn it!

Webb was just dominant yesterday. Today is a different story, the offense is just limp. fucking doug davis, come on. they should manage 5-6 runs off this guy. chances are looking slim to none if we go 0-2 into the chi. homefield advantage is certainly a factor here as well.

Good riddance, Mark.

Was Hitler a Cub fan? Is that why God hates us? What did we do?

Good job by Kevin Hart.

Fly out to warning track by Theriot....can the ball please bounce the Cubs way, or maybe an umps call?

Dick Stockton's highly insightful comment "It has not been a pleasant postseason for the Cubs and their fans"

Soriano, Lee and Ramirez make on average 30-40 times more per year than Chris Young. Yet, Young has more HR than them...

Anyone else see a riot coming Saturday? Those D-Back fans were insufferable when they came to Wrigley in July, and they're probably going to be doing the wrong thing in the wrong place at the absolute worst time if the Cubs keep this up. I don't envy people in Wrigleyville.

Baron, here is one that will get you....Augie Ojeda has more hits in the series than Soriano, Lee and Ramirez combined....3.

They are trying to make something happen again. Davis is pitching them away and they are trying to pull everything.

so....
let me get this straight....Lou takes out Z as he's pitching a hell of a game in order to "save him for game 4"???????? According to ESPN radio this morning, approximately 70% of teams that win the first game, go on to win the whole series.

in the words of Herm Edwards, "you play to win the game....." you don't play to win future games.

What was Lou thinking?

Furthermore, we're flat, overpaid, and just look not into the game in general.

Consider this, the Indians, Rockies, and D'Backs are all young, inexpensive teams, while they have handily taken it to the Yankees, Phillies, and Cubs----all overpaid, veteran dominated teams.

I know I'll catch heat for it, but I almost would rather have been out of it during the season than get thoroughly taken by a lesser team in the playoffs.

I love the Cubs, and I love it when they make the postseason, but in '89, '98, and now '07, we've been made to look like posers, and it's absolutely maddening to watch this crap.

No, Aaron. No heat. Youre dead on. You caught Jayson Smith and Colin Calherd, eh? They rightfully grilled Lou. This has been a pain to watch.

another thing....I know it's a terrible thing to say, but I freakin' hate Augie freakin' Ojeda....

he was a loser who couldn't hit his weight in many many many opportunities with the Cubs, and then he all of a sudden starts to hit....unbelievable.....it'd be like Cedeno going to another team, and hitting .280 or something like that.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was receiving something from that florida pharmacy, because at 32 or whatever he is, you don't all of a sudden turn it on like that.

A-Ram and D.Lee have been pretty good... but Note that this ass whuppin by the DBacks is the highlight of the Cubs since their arrival in 2003....

I hate Ojeda as well.

They need to either start seriously testing and punishing partakers of the illegal drugs, or else make them legal so THEY ALL can use them if they want.

Hello everyone, I took a vacation day from work so I can stay home and watch this game tonight.

Aaron,

Frankly, I would call that pharmacy, and hook some of our hitters up with some cream and clear...

What is going on!?!???!?!?!??? Im going to drink this whole bottle of whisky right now.

Hey Rose...Good Evening!

Make that 4 hits for Ojeda

furthermore, this is the same team that was like last in the league in hitting or something and didn't even have a .300 hitter, right?

My oh my, how we always seem to make the career journeyman pitchers look like Cy Young winners, and entire teams full of can't hack it hitters into looking like a bunch of silver sluggers.

It's so frustrating watching this crap...I think I'm going to have a friggin' breakdown....I've already smashed a hole in the wall.

IMO---a very humble one at that----if we can't win at least one damn series in the playoffs, then we should have a firesale of our veterans and get some young guys in here that actually give a damn----start with Fontenot, Theriot, Soto, Marmol, Hart, Marshall, Wood, Hill, Zambrano, and ARAM (because he's clutch......sometimes), and maybe Murton

You could get a king's ransom for Lee, Soriano, Lilly, and some of the rest.....but I think we need ot re-invent the wheel.

After all, you certainly can buy yourself a championship like the D'Backs and Marlins had done, and get to the playoffs every year like the Yankees and Red Sox have done, but you're banking a lot on those veterans being healthy, which is a rare occurence, so you must start from scratch, build a good farm system, and hope you have a team together for an extended period of time.

But consider all of our playoff teams of '84, '89, '98, and '03.....and now '07....they were ALL dominated by high-priced, veteran players, and not only did it not end up well for us in those respective years, but also, it left nothing to build upon....

anyway, basically what I'm saying is you can't keep trying the same formula if it isn't working, and in my memory, I cannot recall us EVER having a firesale like so many other teams. I blame a lot of that on the Tribune wanting to draw fans with "big name" players and the like, and not really caring about the long term effect.

I know they don't want to go 100 years without, so they won't next year, but is that really smart? It'll only set us back longer, right? I mean, weren't the D'Backs and Rockies supposed to be rebuilding? Weren't the Twins and A's perennial "rebuilders" too, yet they always found a way to get the right mix of young guys in there.

oh well.....I'll look forward to the new owners....hopefully they'll have a resemblance of a brain....guess it'd be fitting, right, if the Trib and Zell pulled the team off the market....LOL, I'd kill myself

Hey Neil!

Someone needs to go in that dugout and light a fire under some butts or something! They are just so lethargic tonight. C'mon Cubbies, this is the playoffs!

i am seriously one of the most positive people ever. especially watching the cubs, but theyre not showing any signs of life, or spunk, or scrappiness, or anything... especially the big 3. soriano swingin at everything that is pitched to him, or the imaginary left handed batter during his at bats i should say. i feel cynical right now. but im trying to reamin positive. y the hell cant we ever throw a 1,2,3 inning, there always has to be a high stress, lot of pitches inning. christ... i actually left my house back in the 4th or 5th, and i never do that. we are not doing anything fundementally either, bunting for instance...

Jim Hendry picked up Soriano to save his own job...

He has got some good veterans(mostly threw completely gypping the Pirates) -- but our AA/AAA call ups, save the Riot and Marmol have been EXTREMELY mediocre..

Now, Piniella has Wood up in the bullpen to throw in an 8-2 game..... That would be truly imbecilic.

Soriano is major reason why we got to the playoffs baron. A huge reason in September in fact.

I have no idea what is going on with these Cubs in the playoffs.

I'm going to stop reading the posts for the night. I plan on intaking enough in the next few minutes that I will not be able to see straight. Something has to stop the pain, and right now it doesn't look like the Cubs bats are the right RX.

Quick side note, how sweet would it be to take out Cruz?

D-WARD!

Damn Sori and his strikeouts in key situations. This team kills me with its ability to draw me back in, tease me, and then let me down.

why is soriano unable to hit a ball when we need him to. i mean, he jerks a homer out there were right back in it, but instead he strikes out on a ball that nearly hit him in the face

should we transfer the nickname "kid K" to Soriano?

wait....Kerry Wood is much better than he is.

Soriano, yes, he did hit the home runs in September....but he was mostly absent the rest of the year....sure, you can't place the blame squarely on him as our big three---Soriano, Lee, and ARAM haven't done squat, and all they have done is collect nearly 50 million combined this year in salary.

Anyway, let's go Wood.....always have a soft spot for him---even when he struggles, I still love the guy----man crush----absolutely---LOL

Woody just looks good. It took awhile but check his velocity and movement, not too shabby.

Aaron,
I understand and share your frustration, but going young isn't a proven formula either. With the exception of the 2003 Marlins (who did still have their share of veterans) most of the recent championship teams (and division winners for that matter) have a fairly robust veteran presence. Red Sox in 2004, White Sox in 2005, Cardinals in 2006, and the likely World Series-winning Red Sox of 2008.

I don't have a problem with how the Cubs were constructed (with a few exceptions being CF and RF) this year. We have a lot of new veteran faces mixed with young farm talent...that takes time to gel. This team did well the 2nd half of the year, but still seemed very up-and-down...not sure of it's identity. Zambrano's year is a snapshot of the Cubs year as a team...really good in some stretches...really bad in other stretches...but mostly good.

Right now...looks like we are getting the "really bad" version, unfortunately.

I think Lou is guilty of getting too cute, and doing too much "by the gut" managing, when a hands-off by-the-book approach would work just fine with this team.

Baron,
I agree on Wood...if he gets in the game now (versus Wuertz for example) that is just silly.

We can easily comeback in this series...I wouldn't be surprised if they get swept, and I wouldn't be surprised if they won the next 3 in a row either.

The future is very bright, though: Aramis, Soriano, Lee, Theriot, Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marmol, and Soto all look solid. I would also throw in there Wood and DeRosa (who has earned my respect this year as an everyday player).

We are only a couple smart free-agent OF moves, or a couple of good rookies (Pie, Patterson, an improved Marshall) from being a truly dominant team. Soriano will only get better in Wrigley.

As good as this team has been, to make it to the playoffs this year, combined with how bright the future looks, makes me a very happy Cubs fan.

The only thing I guard against is the return of an entitled-and-lack-of-personal-responsibility type of attitude that we saw from the Dusty Bunch. If we can avoid that, then we have a great future to add to the currently great season the Cubs are having right now!

Way to go, Kerry.

Aaron, any rumors whether there's a chance Kerry might try starting next year?

Rose, we think alike. That would be nice.

Woody looked excellent... Unfortunately, our offense looks woeful as it does a lot of the time....

Another DP...Aramis does not have a hit in the series...WOW!!

Yes it would, he shows such great command, doesn't seem to get rattled.

Rose, my gut says they at least give it a look with him. He has stated that he prefers that, but added that he has also grown accustomed to the new role---one in which his performances have indicated he is finally getting into a groove.

On one hand, you'd love to see it happen because it'd be a "feel-good" story if he did---well, it's already a feel good story anyhow, but you know what I mean....

on the other hand, what happens if he gets hurt again in the starter's role. Then, everyone will be second guessing that move. I think there's a very very good chance that we could see him in the closer's role next year. Dempster has been looking to return as a starter the last 2 years, and has made such comments as well that he'd like to go back to that role....Maybe the Cubs could trade him, and insert Wood into that role. If anything, at least you have Marmol that could fill that role if Woody doesn't pan out.

I don't know how Prior's rehab is going, but what if he could switch roles with Wood, and start in the bullpen to gain arm strength? Maybe next year you have a rotation like:
Zambrano
Lilly
Wood
Hill
Marshall

I've also been impressed with Hart, so maybe he figures in---let's not forget Gallagher and possibly Veal too, along with Samardzija (who still needs to develop a good 3rd pitch though).

I don't think there's anyway you start the year with Marquis or Ohman on the roster, which would free up two spots on the staff

Wow, thanks Aaron, very insightful. Kerry is definitely more of what a closer SHOULD look like.

I say that, and then Dempster goes 3 up/3 down, lol. Atta boy Dempster.

Hey, who was that on here that met that so-called "witch" at Wrigley earlier this season?

What all did she say?

I sure hope it's true, but it's not looking that way.....I had visions earlier tonight that Soto would hit 2 bombs, one being a grand slam.....but it's not looking too good right now.....

hopefully we can put pressure on these stupid D'Backs who shouldn't even be in the playoffs, being outscored by like 40 runs during the season.....

We need to find a way to win...this is why Piniella gets paid big bucks---to motivate these players.

By the way, if I'm the new owner, I fire the entire scouting department, as I believe we've been seriously jipped with the scouting reports

by the way...thought I'd share this....found on chicagosports.com

kind of funny Grace noticed it too:

PHOENIX -- As the Cubs took the field in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 2, D’backs analyst Mark Grace blasted them for hanging their heads.

The former Cubs star said he saw a lot of “bad body language” in the Cubs dugout during the top half of the fifth, as if the team already had given up any hopes of a comeback, trailing 6-2.

“They’re looking at their toes instead of being on their toes,” Grace told his radio audience.

The Cubs trail 8-2 in the top of the sixth
bgg

well, excuse me while I choke myself....

gagggggggggggg

wow, we're a bunch of chokers...

"save him for the 4th game"....wow, still can't get that load of sh#t out of my head...there won't even be one

Yup, that says it all man.

Lou Piniella is joking in the press conference...Doesnt he realize what he just saw?!?!

Aaron...yeah, it really was that obvious, I just don't get it though. I mean, they can't expect an easy win, we have to go out there and fight for it. Maybe when they get back to Wrigley and an earlier gametime they'll give these guys a run for their money, I don't know.

I saw nothing bad from Hart today. Those earned runs wouldn't have scored at all, but Lou put in one of his inherited runner-inept pitches in Scott Eyre and the obvious thing happened: he knocked them in while avoiding damage to himself. Marmol's struggles yesterday were excusable since he was put in in a high pressure situation in his first postseason appearance (which is going to haunt the offseason as the bonehead play of the year since Z may not have a Game 4 to pitch). Hart...not so much. Hart's going to get a lot of heat from the media and the idiot section of our fanbase, unjustified heat mind you, and it's going to stick with him. He'll carry that stigma of putting the game out of reach for the Cubs with him if they do not rebound big.

For all the good Lou did this year, if he doesn't make the playoffs next year, he needs to be run out of town like Dusty was, but maybe in a nicer way. And if Hendry is still with the team, he needs to be tarred and feathered on his way out for failing on the whole "win now" idea rather than going with a safer bet rebuilding season.

No one is burning Hart. No problem with him there.

Nope, no problem with Hart here either. I like Lou alot also, but I think he over-tinkered recently.

I still believe... we can take 2 in Wrigley and on a decisive game 5 who knows??? It is not over.

Oh I know no one here will give Hart grief of any sort. But I expect tommorow to see ESPN or ESPNews or Douchebag Marrioti talking about Hart as one of the keys to the loss. All it'll take is one of those self-righteous douches, maybe even over at FSN or CSN, to say that Hart was not good solely because of those 2 runs Eyre gave up for him (besides those two walks, he was better than expected) and those idiots who jumped ship from the White Sox to the Cubs or the ones that just wear a Cubs jersey so they can bitch about the team are going to be all over him. It's the sheep fans I'm worried about because they may be a minority, but they're a very vocal minority.

cubs sux & will never live a world series because they are loser. sorry they really need to step up their game