Did anyone notice a black cat on the field lately? If not, we should pull out of this pretty soon. Lou said it politely and well, but somehow I feel there might be an ejection in the very near future.

GO CUBS (my W Flag is collecting dust in the garage and needs a good long airing out)!

How wonderful to see a first place team (a) sulk in the dugout after a pitiful loss and (b) express platitudes like "we need to start having fun" after the game.

As I recollect, each of these professionals are getting paid millions to "win". "Fun" doesn't have to be part of the equation, nor is "fun" and "success" necessarily tied in the real business world. And candidly, I'm getting really tired of Derrick Lee's laissez faire attitude with all this. It's time for each player to express some personal accountability for what's occurring, and start producing. And for as much as I respect Dempster all year, even with runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs, you cannot allow Pujols to tie the game with one swing of the bat. Worst case, nibble on the corners, let him take a walk, and work thru minimizing the damage without creating a momentum changing event.

I also believe that Lou pulled a bone-head in having Soto bunt in the 8th. The guy (along with Theriot) is our best opposite field hitter, and already had two hits on the night. With speed to burn at first, how about a damn hit and run there.

Overall, just downright sad!

I love Lou's comment to the media that he doesn't plan on talking to the team regarding his outburst. Oh, ok, let the players see it on ESPN or thru the local media outlets.

Hey Lou, show some guts and address your team with candor and conviction. Don't hide behind the media. What a joke!

Lou should be mad at himself for this loss. He should have pinch hit for Dempster in the 6th when he had a chance to put the Cards away, and he never should have had Soto bunt. Tonight, the Cubs have every teams favorite BP pitcher going, "The Chihuahua" and we all saw what he did last time out when the Cubs desperately needed a win. So, expect the ugliness to continue at least on more game.

If it's all about the players producing on the field, why do managers get paid millions as well. I think the average "Joe" can fill out a darn lineup card, and realize when to make a pitching change.

Isn't this the time for managers (and his braintrust assistant coaches) to start inspire, motivate, prod, or whatever some better performance and mental toughness.

I really don't like managers who vent their frustrations to the press v. directly to their players, and who never accept their personal actions for games lost as well. How many "L's" have we taken this year for Lou (and his coaches) strategic and tactical decision gaffes?

The ship is sinking a bit, and you have a manager placing blame on all the shipmates. How about this bloated manager come out and state, "you know, we have the best balanced talent of anyone in this league. Myself and my coaches have to do a better job of getting each and every player ready each day to mentally and fundamentally produce to their optimal capability...that's our job, and we're not doing it very well lately".

Gee, the lucky hat was found yesterday, and we still lost. I hope we can cut out that sillyness now.

Hey David, layoff on the hat comment man. You did that yesterday as well. Everybody has their thing...and that is Jerljr's.

Let's all remember to Stay Classy

With all the commentary, emotion and at times profanity on numerous topics over the months on this site, this was an interesting comment for you to jump on Neil. But hey, it's your site.

I am not going to disagree with you guys on the bone head calls Lou has made lately. But if Lou calls a play it is up to the Player to get the job done.
I didn't like Soto bunting either, but that was the call so Soto has to do HIS job and get the bunt down and get the runner over, period.

I don't mind seeing Lou blow up at the press, who says he didn't rip the players ass's right before he went to the conference room, or afterwards, I know he said he wasn't going to confront the team, but that doesn't mean he didn't, we don't know what goes on behind closed doors, and either does all the media. Lou exploded at a conference last year after the Barrett and Zambrano fight, and that seemed to work.
With that being said, yes Lou is part of the blame because he is the Coach and part of the team, but when he makes out the lineup and the players take the field it is up the THEM to perform, and right now they just aren't!

Solomon Torres is a jag and should keep his mouth shut and worry about doing his job instead of being some wannabe Nostrodomus gas can!

Neil,

I'm the David that has been posting on the site for the last couple years. I was the only David until recently so I'm now going by David F. I just wanted to make sure you knew I was not the David who made those silly "hat" comments.

Just a little humor about the hat nto meant to be serious. I will continue with serious subjects.

As far as pinch hitting for Dempster, I was thinking that it was a tough decision. Dempster was pitching good up to that point but we needed a productive at-bat at that point to put it away. But if we pinch hit there, and we don't produce any runs(which happened anyway)we have 4 innings that are we got to go with our bullpen. With Gaudin hurt, Howry(as people have pointed out) stinking up the place, Woods having to to be saved for the 9th inning, that would be a lot of innings to stretch our over our bullpen. It was a tough decision but, if he went the other way it still might not of worked out.

But as for Soto in the eight. I agree that I would go with a hit and run or just let him hit in that situation.

As fad as David(not David F), all I got to say is lighten up.

You gotta love personal disclaimers.

I just hope we can turn this around and start building some momentum back. Let's get a well played "W" tonight.

With that said I don't think "David" deserved the quick reaction he got (especially based on our "tolerance" of a lot of other questionable posts.

I sense he's just not superstitious that finding a lucky hat will now ensure our WS. To each their own, but this wasn't a big deal at all.

Everybody keep in mind,

just because a decision didn't work out, that doesn't mean that it was the wrong decision.

Keep that in mind when you criticize Lou's decisions.

All I'm saying is that you got to look deeper then the results. Was it the right decision at the time.

The Dempster decision, I believe was the right decision whether it worked out or not. 3-run lead with our most consistant starter on the mound and all the other comments I made in my earlier post.

I disagree Bryan.

Nothing has been said to David to put him down or critisize him. Maybe disagree with him. But his comments like "What game you watching" and "If your sorry that people misunderstand your post, then review your post before you post it" and his comments about a joke that I make about my lucky hat. Have been "put downs" and uncalled for.

I could say more but I'll refrain.

But I will say that if you dont like my post dont read them. I really dont care.

But I will say that it would of been nice to have a veteran reliever to come into that game last night to shut them down last night instead of having Marmol go two innings. Would of been nice.

I agree jerljr, second guessing the manager is easy. Hindsight is always 20-20. If he pulls Demp while pitching a shutout, and Samardzija gets lit up, we're jumping on Lou for THAT.

It's the players. They're not playing well. Pretty simple. Some players are cold, and nobody is hot right now, first time all season.

Despite all this, we are right back where we were at the beginning of the month: 4.5 games up. If you think our bullpen is bad lately, just check out the Brew Crew's. WOW, they are sucking.

Wow, who was it that said that?

Sorry for the last comment. I'm a little peeved.

It has been a while, boys and girls. Life got in the way for the past month.

I am confused. Lou was a genius and the greatest managers 45 days ago. What happened? Just about every team has a run of losses, bad luck, questionable decisions and untimely hitting.

The Cubs' bad run happens to come at the beginning of September which has the billy-goat and black-cat-fans crowing.

What about being 1-8 to start the season? The Cubs and their fans are lucky that the team has played well enough all season to endure a streak like this. I think the Diamondbacks would happily switch places ... don't ya think?

The Cubs have 18 games to play, including many against the teams chasing them. By no means is it over. But after the last 9 games, it could be a lot worse than being in first place with a 4.5 game lead.

David - Neil does not speak up like that a lot. He owns this site, runs this site and puts hours of effort into it on a daily basis AFTER his day job. He praises respect because he respects us all. Let's not forget that.

Keep up the discourse, it is cathartic for us all.

Stay Classy Cubs Fans!

David F: Thanks for the clarification, but based on the email addresses, I know who posts comments.

'Lucky Hats' may not be for everyone, and thats fine. My wife has a 'Lucky Cubs Jersey' for our dog, if you can believe that :)

Brain, very well put.

When it comes down to it. All they got to do is get it going sometime before the end of the season.

Just two weeks ago, we were kicking everybody's butts and now were getting kick.

If it can get this bad this quickly it can change back just as quickly.

The Cubs have the talent. You dont have the season they have had on luck or momentum. Thats while major changes are not needed. maybe add a guy to the bench or the bullpen. Little tweaks but no big changes.

You dont change what got you hear.

A lot of people don't take much stock in this but I do.

On short spurts, like the last few series, Momentum, confidence, state of mind can be the causes for losing streaks and the reason for winning streaks.

Who knows what caused this losing streak. The news of all the tired arms. Zambrano refusing to do a MRI, the obvious change in confidence in Fukodome(who you have to admit whether he produced or not his style of play was very refreshing and uplifting), all the errors. Probably a combo. There is a lot of issues going on right now

But all it would takes to change it around would be a good solid win, a come from behind win, a series win, Lee having a good day, Soriano hitting two home runs, Pinella getting thrown out of a game, Fuko dome having a good day, who knows. Hell a good bench clearing brawl might do it.

But the basic team is fine(when healthy), and the little nuances that get overlooked sometimes need to go our way. They need a spark!!!!

This is the history of the Cubs in a nutshell. But remember how you felt two weeks ago when we were on our winning streak. Hell, all season long. Its the same team. They dont all of the sudden suck. This year its different. And my prediction is it will come. Before the year is over.

Call it Cub goggles, or call it zoo-doo.

But if you think this game isn't mental too.....

We've had a good mindset all year long, until these last two weeks. But it can easily change.

Now I got to get to work. if you couldn't tell by all my grammar errors, I was working while I posted.

Just some of my thoughts:

Soto bunting? Yes, I agree if that is what Lou wanted. Why not? Imagine the screaming if Pie ran on a hit and run and got thrown out because LaRussa called a pitchout! Or not bunting and hitting into a double play! I can't understand the logic of baseball the way it is played now. The goal is to WIN THE GAME! These are major leaguers. I hate the logic that "he is there to knock in runs" or "he is a power hitter". My thoughts are that "he" is a baseball player that should be able to do whatever his manager asks.

On these losing ways: We still have a substantial lead at this time of the season. Why do we have it? Because we have played the best over the long haul. This is a good team. I don't like the losing now but I would rather have it now than when the playoffs start.

Lou Piniella:
Name me another manager that you would rather have managing the Cubs right now. Sure he does some strange things but that is what makes him unique. He is the best manager the Cubs have had in the 60 years that I have been a fan.

Now let's all get together and root for them to start winning again. GO CUBS!

Cubs fans. I realize things have been a little tense of late with the poor play by our beloved Cubbies but please don't panic. We are still well in control of things in the Central and even if it was to be a Wild Card year we have control of that as well. The goal is the playoffs and although I would rahter have home field advantage throughout....being there is what counts.

A little adversity late in the season might be a good thing to get the team focused again and ready for whatever comes next. Lets not dump on them because they aren't playing as well as they have been. If not for the the players and the coaches the Cubs wouldn't be where they are now.

Lou has done a great job of coaching this team all year and I agree that he has to be one of the better managers I have been witness to. I realize the history of the Cubs has us all in a panic but the team on the field got us here and I have faith they will get things back on track and finish the regular season strong.

Go Cubs!!

Actually,

The Wild-card may not be such an un-wise move....

In a 5 game series, who do you rather face --

Webb-Haren-Johnson/Billingsley-Lowe-Kershaw

or the Mets/Phillies rotations...?

If the Cubs win the division its the DBacks or the Dodgers.... The wildcard will get the Mets or Phillies...

those teams seem less scary in a short series than the NL West