At the end of this 16 game stretch, there will only be 22 games between the Cubs and a possible division. If we hold our ground during this stretch (and there is no reason why we shouldn't)get ready to have some fun.

I think those Sept. callups are right, and you always should call up a 3rd Catcher, and a bunch of arms to keep everyone fresh.

More interesting will be who makes the playoff roster. Many though Hoffpauir over Ward, but Ward may have saved himself Friday. Hart is pitching very well of late in Iowa, better than Howry.

I wouldn't discount somoene else not on 40-man, we have alot of deadweight right now on the 40-man that looks very droppable. I am thinking Sam Fuld, Piggy, Adam Harben, maybe Jake Fox.

Keep in mind, as far as the hart for howry, if they do switch them out, we will be going very young in our bullpen. Is that what we want going into the playoffs. Other then Kerry Woods, there wont be hardly any post season experience.

I think this is why Lou keeps going to Howry, hoping he gets out of this funk. And so do I.

Even though Marmol, the shark(not going to try to spell his name),Hart, Cotts, Gaudin are talented, there's not much post season experience there.

Remember last year that Marmol wasn't exactly lights out. Playoffs are a totally different experience.

Hey all...

I'd like to make a statement that has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Cubs baseball, but has a lot to do with me, personally. If you don't care, then skip it, and continue with your discussion. I don't want to "pollute" the site with non-baseball discussion; it doesn't require a reply, or a comment, but I hope that you understand where I'm coming from, and why I made it here, with you guys who live so far from me, and where I'm from.

I anticipate that, within the next month or so, people outside of New Orleans will find out about a program called NOAH (New Orleans Affordable Homeownership) which was federally funded...by YOUR tax dollars. This company is currently under investigation by the FBI for mismanagement, and, basically embezzlement. After a brief audit by the FBI, many MANY horrible things were discovered (for example, a contracter was paid >100,000 to paint a brick house. Yes...paint a brick house. Also, over 100 of the post-Katrina houses which were supposed to be gutted and cleaned after the storm don't even exist any longer). The Mayor and his "friends" will probably go to federal prison...

The reason I'm posting this here, is that, while I love my city, I am ashamed of it at times, and this is the worst one. I don't really have many "friends" outside of New Orleans...and though I don't post here often, I do keep up with the site, and read all of your comments...I consider you some of my "friends". You will hear things from people about how horrible we are in N.O...taking advantage of people's hospitality after Katrina, bringing disease and violence to their cities, sucking money from the Feds for absolutely nothing, etc. Some of these things are true...but I want you to understand that, while every city has it's untouchables, the good majority of the people in New Orleans are good people who are just as sick of the fraud and the corruption...especially when something like this happens that shows us in a negative light to the rest of the country.

The reason I'm posting this here is that you will hear comments about "those people in New Orleans", and I ask that you help people understand what blanket statments can do, negative or positive. Know that it is the people in power who are corrupted...not the everyday people. I apoligize for my mayor and his "friends", especially for the fact that YOUR tax dollars were abused.

If you'd like to discuss this further with me, don't hesitate to shoot me an email at yellowsootymoon@hotmail.com. Or you can go to the local news station which made the initial discovery--www.wwl.com. Just do a search for "NOAH" in the upper right hand corner.

MarioC

MarioC....Even before "W" Bush's infamous "Great job, Brownie," spoken to his incompetent FEMA director right after Katrina and continuing (apparently) to the present, the corruption and sleeze that runs rampant in New Orleans is the stuff of a long running disaster. The good people there are long suffering and probably have mostly that to look forward to.

I think the politics, corruption and plight of New Orleans (and to a lesser extent Louisiana as well) are a lot better known than you think. The following motto about New Orleans and the state is widely circulated: "We Don't Tolerate Corruption. We Insist Upon It." My (unsought) advice to you would be: Get educated (somewhere) and get out of the Big Easy. As Indiana's Janie Fricke sang, "It Ain't Easy Being Easy".

Taking nothing for granted, I'm with the old left fielder, Keith Morland, wondering who makes the playoff roster. Barring an injury, I'd say Ward and Howry have the best chance of being left off. They need to step up and perform with some consistency or they could be dropped.

I haven't looked into "usual" playoff roster configurations, but I think Lou would have no more than 4 starting pitchers and would drop from the current 12 to 11 pitchers. My inclination would be to carry 3 catchers to enable greater substitution flexibility. I could see Samardzjia and Hoffpauir making the roster if Howry and Ward falter and S and H do well down the stretch. With Marshall possibly being better suited to starting, JH may still add a lefty reliever to go with Cotts.

You usually are not wrong JimK, but Moreland played right field as left field was occupied by the Sarge.

You usually are not wrong JimK, but Moreland played right field as left field was occupied by the Sarge.

So...when the playoffs start...who is our #1 starter? According to msn.com: "Dempster is the Cubs' winningest pitcher with a record of 14-5, and his ERA of 2.92 is the best among Cubs starters. Zambrano is 12-5 with a 3.38 ERA. Several of Dempster's peripheral stats also top Zambrano's. His WHIP (walks plus hits per one inning pitched) is 1.16, compared with Zambrano's 1.25. Dempster has 149 strikeouts, compared with 107 strikeouts for Zambrano. Opposing batters have a .292 on-base percentage versus Dempster, compared with .310 off Zambrano".

While I like when others do my research for me, I would be hard pressed to put Demp in the #1 spot. Something about Z's ability to focus when the pressure is on makes me like him a little more in that situation.

Whether Zambrano is are best pitcher or not, he will start game one.

MarioC,
I won't argue about how well Dempster is doing. And certainly the numbers can't lie. But when Z is on, he is as good as ANYONE. Also, in the playoffs, you want to put your best lineup on the field. With Z starting, he adds a demension that Demp doesn't: Z's bat. Granted Dempster has done a fine job moving runners along via the sac bunt. Its hard for me to justify shaking things up, especially when nothing is broken. So I really think this is one for the sports writers and the radio personalities to fill print and air. Z is the Ace, and I don't see any reason to change that.

Jeff in AZ....In the main you are right--and that's close enough for government work. Jeff was pretty versatile. I remembered him in left and at third, but a quick check showed that his games in RF, 3B, C, 1B and LF were 561, 220, 169, 160 and 119 respectively.

I think another player who deserves a call up--but it would also take a 40 man roster move--is former big leaguer Jason Dubois. He is tearing it up with Hoffpauir in Iowa.

Dubois is definitely making a statement in AAA.
Don't think we can have both up here though. Especially if Ward gets hot again(which after one game I'm not convinced). But he definitely deserves a callup. Just don't see it happening.

As far as the playoff roster. Ward, Howry, Lieber have all struggled this year. But, if you guys think that they are going to replace all these guys with younsters like Hoffpauir and Hart. Its not going to happen. I think Marshall has a chance, because he's a lefty and Maybe Hart(if there's an injury). But unless Cedeno is dropped off or possibly Fontenot, Hoffpauir will not be on the playoff roster(unless there's an injury). Whether he deserves to be there or not. My opinion he deserves to be here now. But there's not a spot for him.

They will keep the experience of Howry and Ward.

SO you can start cringing now when they cal Howry's name

I agree that experience helps, but I think it is way overrated. Think of the past couple of years when Papelbon and Wainright both closed the World Series clinching games as rookies. There is also no history that supports that Ward and Howry are safe because they are veterans. Remember last year when Hart made the roster over Trachsel and Ohman and Pie made the roster over Craig Monroe. If Howry and Ward continue the struggle I fully expect Hoff (or Pie for his defense) and another pitcher to replace them.