It's going to be a loooong 24 hour wait...

I feel suicidal, My heart is pained severly.
I have nothing else to say tonight.

I'd right there with you Tinley Park Jim,

I went from psyched-up to totally drained in about 2 hours.

If there's 1 thing Z is going to give you fer sure --- thats gonna be SPIRIT....he's not going down quietly, thats for sure.

I have been away for a bit due to work, so this will seem like monday morning quarterbacking, but I never agreed with Dempster as Game #1 starter.

No one, I repeat, no one, was a consistenly better pitcher than Rich Harden.

The Cubs have historically sucked against groundball pitchers like Derek Lowe...so you knew we needed an Ace out there.

Should have pitched Harden. If Harden goes 6, Marmol goes 2, and Wood closes, this could have been a 2-1 Cubs victory.

As long as we get the no-hitter Z, and not the arm-is-tired Z, we will get Game 2, Harden will win Game 3 (provided the bullpen comes through) and then Lilly will win the series.

Then Demp can redeem himself in the NLCS!

I also believe that BigZ tomorrow will not go down quietly. I know he's been struggling lately, but for the most part of his career he's always stepped up when it matters the most. I look for him to have a big night with his BAT and Glove. If he gives us a good start look for this team to rally behind him and really turn it on.

Zambrano has never won a post-season game. He might've had a chance if Lou didn't pull him out after 6 solid innings last year, only to have the pen blow it.

I know Zambrano is gonna give it everything he's got tomorrow. I look forward to his outing. I'm sure he's got a lot to prove to all of his doubters. Plus, I'm sure he was hurt just a little that Lou picked Dempster to be the opening starter, and not him. Some guys keep it inside and get down on themselves. Other guys have the balls to ante up and prove their worth. Let's see which one Zambrano is tomorrow.

Holy Crap???!!!! What is with all the pissing and moaning on the last blog??? Damn, I hated the game too....sucked that Demp walked 7...sucked Lou left him in too long....but shit guys it's one game.

There were many pissing and moaning comments on here...but David--no disrespect--your two "essays" stood out....especially the one talking about our team being a bunch or cry babies? Well, read your rather lengthy posts....isnt that sort of what you are doing???

Hell be disappointed....we all were. Be pissed. But all this crap...oh woh is me it's all over. You shouldnt call yourself a fan of the team. I dont care what the history of the team is. Like Lou says...this team is not the teams of past....and Lou has done what no other manager has done in 100 years and led us to the playoffs back to back years.

We have alot to keep our heads up for....we have one of the best offenses in baseball. Even the best can disappear at times. We still have three pretty damn good pitchers to go in Zambrano Harden and Lilly. And if it bounces back to a game 5 back at Wrigley and Dempster....I'm betting he doesnt have back to back shitty games.

So for crying out loud people.....be a fan of the team and cheer the team on....and quit whining about it. If it's really that bad for anyone....perhaps tune in Nickelodeon and watch a Spongebob marathon.

I know this is a Cubs blog, and I am a die hard Dodger fan. Im not here to talk crap though. But i read 2 dumb things: Someone said to start Harden over Dempster? Harden was not on the team long enough to start over Dempster, who went 14-6 with and era

Which Z will show up? No-No, Tired arm, or I have to do it all? I fear the "I have to do it all Z" more than the tired arm Z! I also would like to see the top of the order show up!

Don't think I can watch this one. Stayed up most of the night tossing and turning over last night's game, and it doesn't start until 9:30 on the East Coast. No time for a nap today either. Hope to read about some good news tomorrow!!!!!

While I think we can (and will) bounce back tonight, I think Lou really needs to adjust the top of the lineup. While I'll take heat for this, we have to move Soriano out of the lineup and insert Johnson to leadoff. Soriano is back to his "swing at anything" mentality (did Lowe throw one strike to him all night?), and get a contact hitter in there that can create an inning. And then get Theriot back into the "2" hole. When you get nothing (and I mean nothing) from the 1 and 2 spots, it sets the whole tone for the lineup. Time for Lou to forgot about fat contracts and veteran loyalty.

Additionally, Lou has to have a short leash on Z tonight. If he starts unraveling early we need to consider Lilly as the backup. Tonight will be no time for a Z meltdown.

As dissapointed as I was last night after the game, I didn't have the same feeling I had last year. This team hasn't quit all year, and I don't expect them to now.

I would have done the say thing Lou did last night with starting Demp, he earned it, but I think tonight and Saturday, we are going to see two pitchers, pitch like they are both the aces of this team. I think Z will be on a mission tonight.

Joe S.,

Thanks for your comments. I could not have said it any better. I feel exactly the same.

GO CUBS!

Nick, I hope you are right. Today is when you justify incredibly high contracts with a win. The Stars have to shine, period.

Game 1 was a wake up call. For Lou too.

I agree with Joe S. While it was disheartening, I still believed with 2 outs in the ninth that we could pull it out. Especially against Mad Dog, but apparently he only gives up runs in the first inning.

I do agree with Demp starting game 1. The guy was solid all year and this was the first time he has given up that many walks since 99 and that only the second time all year that he only lasted 4 and 2/3rds, so he should have still gotten the start.

I don't agree with Fukudome batting second though. I'm fine with Sori at leadoff - I don't see how you can change that now and expect good things from the change. If he starts off on one of his streaks there would be no discussion. But Theriot should bat second. Put Fukudome at the bottom.

Guys, this is what I was talking about with killer instinct and leadership:
"We didn't play our best game," Lee said. "We really didn't give ourselves any opportunities to put some runs on the board."

Really Lee? You weren't given any opportunities to put runs on the board? Let's see...You had a GIDP. pretty sure you had a chance there. ARAM had a GIDP. pretty sure he had a chance there. Soriano had a chance, yet popped out with a runner on, and went 0-5. Pretty sure 1-4 did NOTHING to help us win.

Whereas, if you look at REAL leadership, they'll say something like this: Center fielder Jim Edmonds wasn't on that 2007 team. But as a seasoned playoff hitter, he knows what it takes to come through in October.

"You've got to concentrate," Edmonds said. "You've got to swing at strikes. You've got to be patient, take walks and you have to put pressure on the pitcher. We didn't do that tonight, and it showed."

I am starting a petition to have Lee removed from the lineup.

Oh, by the way, a few days ago you were talking on here about playoff rosters, and "veteran presence" being why Ward was on the team, despite an awful year. How'd he do yesterday? Oh, yeah, weak grounder to first base like usual. hmmmmmmmm

The thing is, Cubs management, and fans alike, keep hoping to turn crap into gold. HOPING...
-that Lee all of a sudden morphs into a true #3 hitter this season
-that Soriano doesn't swing at everything in the playoffs from the #1 hole, putting us in a real "hole" off the bat
-that Ward resembles a clutch pinch hitter
-that Howry can finally get guys out despite a 5+ ERA
-that Marquis ISN'T indeed Marquis, and pitches more like Maddux
-that Lee stops hitting into double plays, and has big hits for us in the playoffs

*these were all bets that management and fans alike had...which is what I was referring to last night--that we do not, in fact, have the right guys to get the job done.

I would have been much more happier with Hoffpauir and Guzman, because Hoffpauir has actually proven his value to the team, just as Soto did in limited time last year, and we all know Guzman has the stuff. If Piniella really had faith in Marquis, don't you think he would've put him in the game once Dempster reached 5 walks, and before he walked the bases loaded, clearly showing he didn't have it last night? I believe he didn't go that route, because Marquis doesn't have what it takes to be an effective starter to begin with. Essentially, what he needed last night was a REAL starter not named Lilly to come into the game, and pick up where Dempster should've been, and in my mind, that would've been Guzman. If he gives you 4 decent innings, then it bridges to Marmol and Wood, and we're up 2-0 in the game, and probably go onto win it.

I realize Guzman is pure speculation, but Piniella really liked him the other year before he got hurt, so why wasn't he on our roster?

If I had to guess, I would say Guzman didn't stay on the roster because of his stats:
5.59 ERA in 6 games and 9.2 innings. He gave up 10 runs, 6 hits and 6 earned runs. He did strikeout 10 compared to 4 walks, but that is not a line I want pitching in the playoffs. I was never high on Guzman before he got injured, but I felt his callup in September was unjustified. He didn't even do well in his rehab starts and I can't think of one time he pitched this year in september when he looked good. I may have missed that one game, but I don't think he cut it. I would definately go with Marquis over Guzman.....at least this year anyways.

Driving home from work I heard Derosa's two run dinger.Honking my horn,fist pumping here in San diego.
Pick up my kids and wife.
I get a flat tire.
Change the tire.
Back in the car I hear"AND IT'S A GRAND SLAM"

Well,we will get em today boys
Bardo

Dodger Fan,

Harden has a 2.00 ERA.
He has always been a phenom.
Dempster's year came out of nowhere, and as a reliever he was often shaky. Solid pitcher, don't get me wrong, but I still don't trust him as an "Ace".

The argument that he wasn't here long enough has no merit.

CC Sabathia and Harden were both traded around the same time. Sabathia got more press for all his complete games, but Harden was putting up 1-hitters with 3-4 consecutive 10 strikeout games, typically giving up 1 run or less in most of his starts.

Would you also say the Brewers shouldn't start CC first?

(the only reason CC wouldn't be the starting pitcher is because he had to pitch the last game of the year for them to get in the playoffs, on 3 days rest, again.)

Sorry guys, it is just too easy to sit back after a game and second guess the manager and players.

The Cubs are a very good team. And they have a great manager. They won 97 games this year and it was not done with mirrors.

Yes, the game last night was terrible what with all the free passes and no clutch hitting, but this same team can come back and win 3 in a row. And to those that say they looked disinterested....good pitching will always make a team look like that.

I prefer to look positively at the Cubs. I can't do anything about who to play and what they should do regarding playoff rosters. This is my team. And I will always be a Cub fan. Here's hoping we win 3 in a row. GO CUBS!

Oh, by the way.......is david the 2nd coming of Aaron?

david, "we do not, in fact, have the right guys to get the job done."? We did not win the WEAK Central, we won the toughest division in the National League, with 97 wins. The "wrong" guys don't do that. This team has been so good all year, when we do lose and have a bad game, it is magnigied and people dwell on it.

I know this is an open forum and people are aloud to say what they want and what they feel, but before the seires started, you called for a sweep, last night you said we were done, and now you say we don't have the team to do it. We are all frustrated by the loss, but come on, Enough IS Enough!!

Look, I have been a fan for 21 years, I have not seen as much heart break as some of you have, but I have seen my share. But in all of those years I have never seen a seaon like this, or a team like this. There is just something about this team, I know it could be just a feeling, but it is one I haven't had about any Cub team in a long time, if ever. So to steel a line I read earlier "The best is yet to come"!

Until our post season is over we have only Lou's tactics and strategy and whether or not our "regular" players perform on a game-by-game to talk about. Soriano and Lee aren't going to be benched or moved in the order. Z, Harden and Lilly, Marmol and Wood either win it for us or get us to game 5 (where D gets another chance)---or they don't. Our offense by committee with periodic Star Power plays to season-long form or it doesn't. If comebacks are our forte, we now have the opportunity for the biggest one of the year in a competiton with the rest of the elite.

So what is suggested by Lou's tactics and strategy. His tactical bias is for veterans and for (career) form prevailing. Those tactics can be too conservative and can be managing to mimimize criticism when the results aren't good. Sometimes, of course, form prevails. Those tactics work better in a long season and may blow up in your face in a short series. The latter is especially a risk if late season form for some veterans is not good. Ward, Howry, Dome, Edmonds and Z were not showing good form (or sometimes health) at the end of the season.

Lou's strategy bias (game management) also gives the benefit of the doubt to veterans, especially if they have been performing well or if they have some history of exceptional performance. So Dempster stayed in while a quicker hook manager would think, "Ive seen enough tonight, if D walks the pitcher too". The agony of baseball is that four times out of five, Loney would not hit the ball out against D in similar circumstances. And Lou's mindset was also thinking form too, when he looked at the bottom half of his pen.

Tactically, I thought "Old Lou" needed to become "Daring or Hot-Hand Lou" and go with Hoffpauir over Ward and somebody else over Howry. As has been debated heavily for the whole year, the Cubs and most teams are committed to the Star System which means that Soriano, Aram, Lee and Z are going to play unless seriously injured.

Strategicly, I think Lou needs to be quicker to act in a short series. He tried stacking the bottom of the order with DeRosa and Theriot thinking (likely) that Soriano would hit with authority. DeRo and Riot did their parts, Sori didn't. Lou played Dome for defense, and it turned out we needed offense.

Tonight and going forward, I think Theriot and DeRo will be in their more accustomed places and we'll see more of Johnson. Dome will be a late inning defensive replacement.

Lou will still likely give Z and H the benefit of the doubt in the early innings at least, because they are Stars and the pen is iffy. Lilly will likely give up 3 runs in 6 innings--but that ought to be good enough--if we get to Lilly. All three should give us a chance to win. If our offense doesn't perform well (four or more runs per game), we have the wrong mix of Stars, and we will have the off-season to ponder changes.

LET THE COMEBACK BEGIN TONIGHT!!!!

Gramps, you took the words right out of my mouth regardin the second coming of Aaron. As bad as last night was, I seriously expected to see a return of him to this site.

There is no doubt that this team has the talent to win it all. No reason to blow up the roster, lineup, manager, etc for next year. Teams can always improve but let's not exaggerate and call one of the best teams the Cubs have had a disaster.

What in God's name was Fukedome doing in the number two hole? Left-handed or not, Theriot needs to be there! I am blaming this one on Lou...he should have pulled Dempster after he loaded the bases! At least, he should have had someone up in the pen after the second walk in the inning! It was clear that Dempster wasn't going to last. He laid a HUGE egg last night, and I am awfully worried that we will play with very tight a$$holes tonight. The Cubs are 0-10 after losing game 1 of a playoff series...

Gramps, I have no doubt...that is Aaron.
Was going to post it and then I read your
Post.
Hey BigZ...get your chip, put it on the Shoulder and
Proove Lou wrong for second guessing you. This might
Actually pump our ace. If we win today, it's our series... If we loose
We go home. Go Cachorros Go

I don't know if I believe in the "if we lose tonight, we go home" mentality. I think this team still has some resiliency, and with a Hardin and Lilly still awaiting in the following games, we can still strike effectively.

I agree with an earlier post though that Lou needs to manage with a bit more urgency and decisiveness tonight, and thru the rest of the series. It was obvious early on that Dempster was not sharp yesterday. It should be "all hands on deck", so perhaps inserting a Lilly after 3 last night, and then have Dempster ready for several innings of potential game 4 could have worked (though his pitch count mounted early). Now's no time for conservative "normal days of rest" for the staff. Throw out the conventional, and figure out how best to insert and juggle four top aces in a short series. Once you get thru a short series, then you can manage a bit differently with the rotation.

Man-o-man, what's wrong with being a little pissed after last night? I don't know about some of you, but I AM SICK AND TIRED of being a laughing stock of MLB. Come on 100 years. This IS the best team we've had over the years (1984, 1989, 1998,2003,2007)and then we get our asses handed to us by an average pitcher and an average ball club who barely made it in to the playoofs, and when opur best pitcher walks 7 and we only score 2 runs by a FLUKE homer by a guy who's hurt? What? it's only 1 game? I am sick and tired of losing....I am NOT a loser and I've had it. We Cub fans have the right to complain. Maybe that's what's wrong here! "Wait til next year".... Damn it!

Well Rich, with a year full of first, I say we end that streak starting tonight.

what kills us is dero's calf. lou is protecting him a bit by keeping him at second. if he can do anything in right put him there and have fonty at second, and johnson in center.

Good grief, you guys sure know how to welcome someone to the site. Who the hell is Aaron? And obviously you guys have too thin of skins to accept someone else's opinion.

It doesn't appear that you guys are very knowledgeable. You are almost like lemmings. Maybe that's a little before your time, but anyways.

I'm retired, so I have plenty of time to catch up on my Cubbies, and I often watch re-runs of Sportscenter all day, including ESPN radio. IF any of you listen to it, maybe you heard Sutcliffe this morning.

Sutcliffe met up with Zambrano in the outfield before last night's game. HE asked him point-blank, "How is your shoulder doin' big guy?" To which Zambrano responded by thumping his chest, "My heart is strong."

Many of you believe that Zambrano is the answer, and will come up huge, but make no mistake about it, something is wrong with his shoulder, as evidenced by his last two starts, which is also why he didn't have a "tune-up" start against the Brewers, opting to have a bullpen session. Fact is, he wanted to save his bullets for a game that really counted because his arm was hurting.

I might've only been 5 years old when the Cubs last made the World Series in 1945, but I remember it vividly, partly because my father instilled it in me. We were a winning franchise. Many of you have not experienced that. My dad was telling me how the team was expected to win. There was a time between the 1920's and 1930's when we made it to the World Series every 2-3 years. Sure, we lost, but we were almost like the Braves of the 1990's. We didn't have 6 divisions in baseball like we have now, and were always at the top.

Some of you are being disrespectful, and if you were my kid, I'd put you in your place. Gramps, I highly doubt you are my age based on your tone. I'm sorry I don't type as fast as some of you younger people, and my posts are longer and infrequent, but am I allowed an opinion on here?

"A Site For the Faithful". It seems more like, "A Site Only For Those Who Think Alike"---as I like to call "lemmings"

Nick,

Just to let everyone know, I haven't given up, but this IS a MUST WIN tonight! I am so hoping that that streak ends, but watching those guys play last night, you could just tell that they were playing tight, even after Derosa's HR! Why? I have no idea! Maybe because we are an older, beat up team!

My recommended line-up:

Soriano
Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Edmonds
Derosa
Soto
Fotenot
Zambrano

Rich, I hope you didn't think I was saying that you were giving up, I was definately not, I am just hoping that we can end that streak.

I like that lineup, and hope Lou goes with that. also.

I am not sure if it is Dero's calf. I think Lou went with what he feels is his best defensive line up with a sinker baller on the mound, on a chilly evening, with the wind blowing in. I think we will see Fontenot at 2nd, Dero in right and Fuku on the bench tonight.

I think its alright to be a little pissed after the game last night but lets not jump off the bridge quite yet. Lowe has been hot lately, and he got the perfect conditions to pitch in. He is a gamer and always has been.

I think last nights issues start with the fact that there has been so much talk about this being the year, that there was also huge stretch of time to think and talk about the playoffs since the last meaningful game, the fans at the game appeared to be nervous as hell and waiting for something to go wrong - what it comes down to is we played flat, nervous, choked, whatever you want to call it. It sucks, I agree, but the best part it is today is a new day!!!

And you know what, the critics, the haters, the talking heads, can say what they want about Z but if you talking about a team that is nervous/flat AND a fan base that needs a shot in the arm there is no one else I would rather have on the mound for this situation the Mr. Zambrano. I predict he change the entire nature of this series tonight. I think his energy bring life to the crowd, the bats, and the entire team. An energy that will fly with them to L.A. and finish this series without the need for a game 5! Last night was tough to handle - but they need us now more than ever - don't give up that is what the baseball gods want - if you are fortunate enough to go to the game tonight I sayvpump life into our team from the opening pitch - yell like hell - and please do not BOO! It only makes them play worse! Everyone have fun tonight with Z's lights out performance!

Go Cubs!

my pep rally speech.

my pep rally speech with tons of typos, sorry, I am looking over my shoulder at work, can't concentrate a lick with this game looming.

Someone here(not sure who)wanted somthing "bad" to happen(Bartman,black cat,etc....)so the Cubs could get over it.
Well,last night WAS somthing bad and now it's time to show our true colors and win this dang thing and start our run!
Go Cubs!
Never give up!
Never surrender!

OK, guys... the team looked real tight to me last night. I thought for sure when we got the lead we would pull away... no such luck. I agree with all of those who said the crowd was pretty much sitting on their hands waiting... we've got to rock the place from the start. If we don't hit, do it when the Dodgers have 2 stikes. Stay behind our guys... we can help pull them through!!

david - sure you are entitled to your opinion, but on the same note others are entitled to respond to your opinion with their own. most of cubdom is agitated as a result of last nights game, so there will be some heated arguments and the fact is everyone has different ideas as to what Lou or the Cubs should have done differently.

I tend to agree with you on Big Z....he only had one good start since the begining of August. However, he is a spark plug for this team, as we saw when he went on the DL earlier and we hit our losing streak right after the break. But when he brings his energy to the game tonight, I believe the rest of the team will respond and we'll see a different mentality than we saw last night.

david,
Aaron was another poster on this site who tended to be overly negative, although normally very well versed in baseball history and stats. Thus the comparison. My apologies if you did not feel welcome in your first posts, but you really chose one of the most heated times to join the family of posters here!!

You have the right to your opinion. But when people think your opinion is ridiculous, check the thickness of your own skin before complaining when they rip on you. It has nothing to do with "age" or how long posters have been Cubs fans.

I think we are all pretty mad at the effort and result of last night, and this is definitely the right place to vent.

So vent away, but realize that someone else jumping all over your case may just be them venting as well.

david....Trevor is likely less than half our age, but like Gramps and me (who are older than you) and another youngster, Agustin, he is capable of sound views and advice. On this site most of us take on the mantra of being wrong occasionally, but never in doubt.

Regarding your welcome, look in the mirror and see part of the problem. Rather than emphasizing the importance of momemtum and being clutch (good points), you claim evidence where it is meager if it exists at all. You abound in 20--20 hindsight. And you make silly assertions like it's clear a 97 win team can be the worst ever 97 win team.

You site the Cubs in the Series every two or three years in a vague period at least seeming to include the 20's through the 40's or 50's. In fact, from the 20's through the 50's the Cubs were in the Series a total of 5 times, and they only were in 4 times in the 20's and 30's.

You say the regular season is relatively meaningless and "It's how you finish". By that measure, Soto and Edmonds who were 9 for 37 in their last 7 shouldn't be expected to perform and DeRosa who hit .234 in September wouldn't be playing. I suppose Wood wouldn't be the closer either.

Feel welcome, but walk a mile in our shoes before you condemn us. That way, you could be a mile away and have our shoes. You could be right in your prediction that the "Cubs are done" after a game 1 loss. We all know the odds, but most of us would like to play the games anyway. How about an upfront on Z tonight. You imply that his arm is hurt and that he told Sutcliffe that, in so many words. So should Lou start him tonight or not?

My rant goes out not to the team (which, I agree, played awful) but to the the fans at the game. We are known throughout the world as fans who root for their team through thick and thin. Then why was everyone sitting on their hands and waiting for the doom to arrive? Get up off your seat and encourage your Cubs to a victory. That was the quietest I've heard Wrigley Field in I don't know how long. This team has come back all year long from deficits and not just because they are a great ballclub but also because they have the greatest fans in baseball who never give up on them. Do you think booing the team at the end of the game really helps? I understand that's how we all felt but all it does is make the players press even more. So my "boo" goes to the fans at Wrigley last night. Instead of playing into this nation-wide "Cubs will always be losers" theme let's get it together and show the world the CUBS NATION!!!

Watching the Rays/Sox game, and gee...

The Sox had the bases loaded and 1 out in the 7th, and Maddon from the Rays doesn't hesitate to pull his pitcher...and the reliever shuts down the inning with no runs. Though it's the 7th v. the 5th last night, how great that a manager can see that his pitcher is spent, and isn't looking for miracles.

Here's hoping Z and turn this around.

How do you young men type so damn fast. I'm amazed. I barely hit this send button, and there is already a response.

JimK, you claim to be older than me. Perhaps you are, as you apparently lost eyesight and cannot read (sorry, the Bronx in me is starting to come out in brashness). I stated between the 20's and 30's, and you're claiming I said between the 20's and 50's, which is ridiculous, and you make yourself look inept with that comment.

I long for the days my father told me about with Stan Hack, Andy Pafko, Hornsby, Hack Wilson, Charlie Root, Gabby Hartnett, Phil Cavarretta. These guys were tough sons of bitches that got the most out of their talent, and played for the love of the game. They weren't million dollar cry babies like we have. Our left fielder loafs after balls and gets paid millions, our first baseman can't come through in the clutch, and our best pitcher coming into the year also can't come through in the clutch for us. He had a no hitter against a team with much burden on their hearts, and the last thing they were thinking about was baseball.

My son says I'm old school. I say I'm from the "right" school. By "right", I mean, I've earned the right being a fan of the game so long to comment on the horseshit I see on the field nowadays, and it's not just the Cubs.

My father used to tell me stories about Hack Wilson, and how he was a great man with a mean streak, and played ball like an animal. He used to see him at bars occasionally, stupid drunk, and trying to pick fights. He told me he was a midget-like man. He was the National League version of Babe Ruth, and I kid you not, my dad once told me everyone was expecting him to best Babe Ruth's home run record, and if he didn't drink so much, my dad said it probably would've happened as he hit 56 home runs. He crossed my dad a few times, and intimated to him that he had a tremendous weight on him to accomplish the feat. The following year, he hardly hit any, as he became even more of a detriment to himself off the field in the bars.

Anyway, I was watching the World Series a few years ago when that little shortstop of the Angels willed his team to the playoffs and won the World Series. It reminded me of Hack Wilson. While he didn't have the power that Hack had, he had the grit and determination (and I'm sure not the alcohol problem). I see two young gentlemen on our team that exude the same grit and determination in Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot. I heard they were winners in college and winners in the minor leagues as well, so that doesn't surprise me. But, heck, Mike Fontenot hits the tar out of the ball with authority, and if he put on 50 more pounds like Hack Wilson, he might just hit for even more power. I want to see more of the kid, and less of Fukudome.

I do not want to compose another offseason list of players I would do away with on our team, but watching them play is so painful to me given the days of yore.

By the way JimK, here are the years we made it, which is right in my timeline:
1929
1932
1935
1938

I said 2-3 years, so I was exaggerating a little bit, but my point is proven.

david, I will agree with you on Fontenot, I would like to see more of him also, the first thing he did last night when he came in was get a hit, there is a reason he was a first round draft pick, and he has been showing it lately.