As bad as Kosuke has been....his is more of an ongoing season issue.....but many other have had issues in this playoff series.

As I stated on a previous post....I hope someone (a player not Lou) went old school and destroyed the clubhouse dinner spread among other things. Somone has to stand up, be a leader and wake this team up.

I still hold hope!!!!

i still hope for 3 wins in a row...i really do. but it doesn't look good, not with our players. i was looking at some stats tonight. i truely believe that hendry put together a real good regular season baseball team. but what about post season stats? soriano has played in 9 post season series and has a whopping .218 batting average with lots of strike outs and very few rbi's. lee has played in five series and has a .230 average with only 8 rbi's(almost all where against the cubs in 2003). ramirez played well in 2003 for us in the post season, but since has gone 2 for 20.

after pondering the bad stats of our "big three" in the post season, i looked at some of the key players in the 2003 season. kenny loften, eric karros, and moises alou all had good playoff stats for their career. i think all of us would agree that this years team...on paper...is better up and down the lineup. but it doesnt matter. we have assembled a lineup under achieving post season players. i really hope they prove me wrong. and what scares me the most is that they are teaching our young players bad habits in the post season. soto and theriot should be very good players for years to come. im afraid that we are teaching them how to loose in the post season.

i may get lynched for this...but i really think we need a small face lift in the off season. derek lee needs to go. for being our captain...he sure has bad post season numbers. not to mention a steady decline in his numbers for the past couple years. but more importantly...look at how many times he has grounded into double plays this year. we have a perfect replacement in hoffpauer(sp?). he does nothing but hit in the minors and when he gets called up. we could possibly trade lee for a legitamate center fielder with hopefully some post season success.

all i know is that we need to get some proven winners on our team...cause right now...we have none.

Cursed.

I have to agree with Joe S. on this one, someone (maybe even Lou) really needs to have some kind of meltdown to wake this team up. I know they're trying their best and want to win, but it's apparent the last two years that the "big boys" (specifically Soriano...this is PRECISELY why he shouldn't bat lead-off; also, where is Gerald Perry with his plate discipline!?) don't seem to understand. This isn't a "get to the postseason" league, this is a "get to the World Series NOW" league.
Not to mention they picked the worst possible night to have the worst game of the year. This is probably the single most pathetic post-season showing this team has ever had. Home-field advantage up to the World Series, best offense, one of the best pitching staffs, excellent defense...and they toss this two stinkers of games to start the playoffs.
As mike said, we need some players who can win in the PLAYOFFS. I for one don't care about the regular season as long as we make the postseason. Winning in the playoffs is all that matters at this point, and this is getting tiring fast.
That little rant probably came from aggrivation more than anything, but after two stinkers of post season appearances, something needs to be changed...

Don't forget what the Padres did to us in 1984. It can happen!!!!!

We need to pull a Boston!!! 3 straight wins in a row. I really like Kosuke, however when you have 2 backwards K's, it's time to go. Fontenot at 2nd & De-ro in right. We can do it, we just have to play the type of ball we know we can. GO CUBS GO!!!

I knew the cubs were 100percent doomed when dempster gave up the grand slam in the first game. other teams you would say, OK, your only down 4-2, still a long game and series to go. Not with the Cubs. As a Cub fan you just know these things.Over and done with at that very moment. Like in 2003, the Bartman incident. Your still only 5 outs away and still winning 3-0 with the best pitcher in baseball on the mound. But its easy for a cub fan recognize that moment that signifies the end is near.

Funny thing though. Usually when the cubs implode (Garvey HR in 84, Bartman incident 03) they lose the next game which ends the series. Well here the Cubs imploded with the grand slam, carried the hangover to the second game where they booted the ball around like little kids. BUT-there still is one more game to lose. The cubs never have had that before-that one more game. I saw on a discussion board someone said if the cubs will ever win the world series they will need a red sox like comeback from 0-2 or 0-3. Kind of makes sense. Like in a movie, or really in life itself, one has to go down to the deepest, darkest depths of despair before becoming reborn. For that reason, I say Cubs in 5.

Mike i couldn't agree with you more...D Lee needs to go...declining play ever since he broke his wrist 2yrs ago, and not a post season player..even against cubs in 2003 he didn't hit in the playoffs for marlins until his double in 8 run 8th inning of game six. Soriano is the biggest waste of money, period.. When was the last time you've seen him dive for a ball in the field? Oh never, imagine that, just a plain lazy ball player that only wants to bat leadoff, give me a break.. Zambrano deserved better, he made all the pitches to win this game, but no one behind him knows how to play winning post season baseball..time for a major off season overhaul, starting with D. Lee...

I was going to post last night, but I was too dissapointed and pissed. Zambrano did exactly what we needed him to and our fielding let him down, let everyone down.

I just want something to be excited for, something to cheer about this post season. It's not over till it's over, that is one thing this team has shown us this year.

Aaron, welcome back, and hope everything works out for you in you pursut in the MLB.

Good commentary this morning. Regardless of "do or die", I would inject a Game 3 lineup of:

Johnson LF
Theriot SS
DeRosa RF
Ramirez 3B
Fontenot 2B
Soto C
Edmonds CF
Lee 1B

Win or lose, you send a message to the high priced Lee and Soriano either for the rest of the series or the off-season.

I really like that lineup Bryan! Lou's too stubborn to field it but it would work.

I also agree...get rid of Lee and ship Fukudome back where he belongs!

Every time these guys rip my heart out I say it's the last time....then it happens again...and again...and again...I really really hate it

We can do it! I have all the confidence that Harden can bring this team back. I thought it would have been Z, and it should have been except for all of those errors, but Harden should definately be able to keep them off the board. And then Lilly....I have always liked Lilly and he has been none as our stopper before. Here's hoping the cobwebs get shaken and that the final game at Wrigley for the year has yet to be played!

Mike - I agree with some of what you said and also have some ideas for the offseason, but I refuse to get into that now as this season has a ways to go yet. Keep believing!!

On another note, I was actually prouder of the fans at the ballpark last night. A totally different atmosphere.

seeing these last two games, i'd take manny over soriano anytime...better hitter, better fielder, yes better in the field, manny goes after balls hard and tries to make plays, soriano doesn't go after anything hard, and then there's clutch hitting and driving in rbi's, manny overwhelms soriano in these stats..And one more thing, its time for Piniella to take control of this team and put soriano where he belongs in the lineup, not where he wants to bat..this prima-donna needs to be knocked off his high horse and shown its a team game , not about "i want to bat leadoff and only leadoff"

1984 - Up 2-0 - No team had come back from an 0-2 deficit to win the series. We know what happened.

2003 - Up 3-1 - They were all saying there is no way the Marlins could beat both Prior and Wood. We know what happened.

2008 - Cubs down 0-2 - Only one team has come back to win the series with HFA. I have to say this is what it will take for the Cubs to win it all. Do the complete opposite of what has been done to them.

Look at it this way. If we were up 2-0 would we feel anymore confident than we do now? We are Cubs fans....we know Karma and this year it is our turn for the Karma.

cubfaninnewguinea you are right on target!!! Having been through more of these seasons then most, I cannot drink the coolaide. I said what you said in one word...Cursed. I think it will be a while before we are disproved. I will continue root on in the mean time! Go Cubs

I don't think you'll see the Dodgers play like clowns for two games in front of their home crowd and that's about what it would take. This team couldn't even compete in Chicago with two weeks to prepare so I don't think they will find Dodger stadium a place where their disjointed effort will turn things around. I would love to be surprised and see them take at least one in LA. Typically, they might look like a team for a few innings, build up some hope and then get crushed. Then we can all start to rationalize again, give out bouquets, say how much we enjoyed the season and start proposing ludicrous off season moves that somehow Jim Hendry will break form and suddenly be able to execute.

If you had a great team that had a few bad breaks it is conceivable you fight through game 3 and force a game 4 where your pitching takes over...sorry folks this is not the script for this team. I believe they will be a perfect character actor in the Dodger highlight reels for what might be their dream season. I was caught up wishing to catch lightening in a bottle...play well stay focused respect the opponent and good things could start and snowball into a great moment for Cub fans. They did not rise to the occasion, in fact came unprepared unfocued and uncommitted, top to bottom.

It will not be easy to fix this team, at least not with the current GM or for that matter anyone but a great one. The Cubs hopes in the next five years depend on good change at the top. If you want to enjoy a baseball game with a beer in the summer accept delusion mediocrity and second tier baseball, fine...for myself I'd like to be associated with a baseball team that plays great baseball the way it is supposed to be played and enjoy the fruits of success that would come with it and I will not be non-critical about this franchise until that happens.

Why are we talking about Soriano. You can't argue with the results he has as a leadoff hitter. With him in the lineup we were 25+ games over .500. Why change that now?! Look, I was more pissed than anyone last night, I can promise you that, but it's over. Yea, someone needed to be lit up last night, Lou needs to stop sitting there in silence, he needs to use his instincts when it comes to these games. He's not a moron, he noticed that Theriot, Fontenot and Soto all could play and gave them a chance. He has an eye for talent. I think his hands are tied because of the money some of these guys make. Fukudome has no business playing in these games. Defensive replacement at best. Micah should be on the playoff roster. He's been hot all year. The only difference between he and Soto is that Soto didn't have a high dollar player in front of him at his position. Right now, Hoff is a better hitter than Lee. Lee is not a 3 hole hitter. Hasn't been one since May and before that, 2005. I am doing my best to stay positive. I am right a lot about things with baseball. I consider myself Steve Stone-like when it comes to predictions and I've done really well this year, called a lot of comebacks, HRs, and just odd happenings. I absolutely dominated my fantasy baseball league, it was over for about a month before the seasons end. I know it's only fantasy baseball, but the dominance came because of playing the hot hand. I didn't sit around and wait for someone to come around or say, well, he's got experience. It doesn't matter. You MUST play your best at their best when it comes to the playoffs. There are a lot of great regular season guys with great stats, hall of famers even, who have had terrible post-season games, stats, careers. The success doesn't always transfer over. But back to my point...I still have faith. I have a feeling it was suppose to be like this. It wasn't suppose to be easy. If we win tonight, I don't care what kind of win it is, good, bad, dominating, or a come from behind, it will excite new life into this team. Lilly will be the bulldog and Wrigley will come alive as Dempster redeems himself in game 5. I could be wrong, and I may be drinking the Kool-Aid, but god damnit, it's not so much "It's going to happen." It's that it NEEDS to happen, it MUST happen. This team has been great all year, it can't end like this. Watching the past two games have been miserable and heartbreaking. But they're over. They need a leader and I'm sorry, it can't be Edmonds. I love him, I think he's great, but how on Earth can the NEW GUY, the former bad guy be this team's leader?!?! Where is Lou going nuts?!? Where is Theriot, Aram, Woody?!?!? Come on, go nuts. We are going to do this and it's going to be awesome. If not...I don't know. I'll probably kick the shit out of a homeless guy or something. Not really, but in all honesty, it's not over. By the way, someone finally just asked me about "my Cubs". A lame Cardinals fan...go figure. Oh well...Saturday will be the turning point. Just gotta keep watching and hoping.

I meant Saturday night, we obviously don't play tonight....

Lows...without trying to get into a debate to your comment of "Why are we talking about Soriano. You can't argue with the results he has as a leadoff hitter. With him in the lineup we were 25+ games over .500. Why change that now?"

Numerous posts here indicate the sub-par and unacceptable statistics of guys like Soriano and Lee come playoff time. What occurred in the regular season is truly history (it's like when you enter college...your HS grades don't mean squat anymore...it's all about your college GPA). When you have your leadoff and #3 hitters not producing, it sets the whole tone for the rest of the lineup. I would rather see a pretty good shakeup of the lineup v. going down with the "same ol/same ol" because of the lucrative salaries. It's "produce or move aside".

There is some....very very little, however...optimism left.

We DO have Harden going. However, you MUST look at who he is going against. Kuroda has absolutely 100% owned us this year, and it's not even close...It's almost on the Randy Johnson level of owning us. Sure, if you line one off his arm, we might have a chance, or in the VERY unlikely lightning in a bottle hope that the Dodgers have a similar defensive meltdown that we had in Game 2, or if the Cubs, in the unlikely event of defensive miscues, take advantage of the Dodgers mistakes---also, unlikely given our hitters, then, we might have a chance....or, if Harden pitches a perfect game no-hitter, filled with 27 strikeouts, which is what it'd take to completely negate our inept defense.

I mean, that's an awful lot of "ifs", and I know most of you don't want to hear it, but fact is, a miracle really needs to happen to get in it.

I 100,000% agree with cubfaninnewguinea....that's a tremendous outlook and observation. I really believe that if the Cubs win the World Series, it will have to come in a moment like that. After all, it's how the BoSox lifted the supposed "Curse of the Bambino". And they really had their asses handed to them in Game 2, much like we had our asses handed to us. But at the same time, they had guy like Damon, Millar, Manny, Lowe, etc.---the "dirtbag" crew as they called themselves, that could really ignore what happened the day before and just played their games.

I don't know if we have anyone but Edmonds and possibly Theriot and Fontenot that could do that. Looking at ARAM's face when he made the error, or Lee fumbling around after that ground ball, or DeRosa in the dugout after Game 1, or Fukudome shrugging his shoulders after striking ot looking in the 9th....faces tell it all. Honestly, the Red Sox would've laughed it off, and come to play in Game 3...I think this sticks with us, and it'll stick with us until we get rid of some weak links, and bring in some players with fire and grit.

Here's to hoping Harden is the biggest dirtbag of them all, and can pitch a no-no in the playoffs for us

You probably wont see me on this website for a while. I'm just disgusted right now. I don't even want to think about baseball.

Our "situation" this year doesn't involve a black cat, billy goat, or Bartman. This one you can blame on the players. The defense last night was horrible. First Theriot trying to bare hand a ball, then Derose bobbling a double play ball, and then Lee bobbling his. The self destructed in front of our eyes.

I'm just disgusted. I would love to be positive and say we can win three games and of course I'm going to root for that to happen, but I definitely dont think its going to happen.

I haven't even read anybody's posting because I got enough negitive BS going through my head as it is.

But I want to comment, as I said in a posting a few days ago, that if we have a "situation" and we come back from it then we'll be alright. And this team can do it. even though they dont look like it right now. We had our situation, now its there choice whether they are going to come back from it.

This will be my last posting for a while(unless they come back, of course) Good luck everyone, hopefully our team will find a heart and do something special. Please God.

Post-season Batting stats of 'THE BIG 3' through their Careers -->

1. Alfonso Soriano: 37 for 169, .219 Average, .271 OBP, 4 HR 18 RBI(43 Games)

2. D. Lee: 22 for 91, .242 Avg, .303 OBP, 1 Hr 8 RBI (22 GameS)

3. A-Ram: 13 for 64, .203 Avg, .301 OBP, 4 HR 10 RBI (17 Games)

Just as a Comparison:

Manny Ramirez - 100 for 361, .275 Avg, .381 OBP, 26 HR, 67 RBI in 97 Games

They may be 'THE BIG 3' --- but they ain't no Manny

Will someone please slap me!?

I have just witnessed two of the worst games I have seen this club play all year, and for some reason, there is a part of that can't stop thinking we are going do it, (not Much of me thinks it) but their is just a part of me that keeps telling me, it will happen, it will happen. I don't know if it is because this team is capaple of turning it on like a light switch, like when we got swept by the Rays, then turned around and swept the White Sox, or like after the All-Star break when we were playing like crap then went into Miller Park against Sabathia and Sheets and swept the Brewers in four.

I don't know, I guess it's not over till the last out is made, right.

I know what you're saying about Soriano. Trust me, it's frustrating, but for awhile there Peyton manning couldnt win the big game, they would dominate the regular season but lose in the afc championship game to either the pats or the steelers. You wouldn't say hey, thanks peyton, then replace him in the post season, same thing for soriano. He's been there all year, this is not the time to tinker with that. Wouldn't make sense, at all. If you're saying he shouldn't be there at all, I agree, but he's been there all season, with 97 wins, no chance of changing that now. Lee and Aram, they NEED to produce, that's their job. I know what I'm getting with Soriano, Lee and Aram disappoint because I expect more, especially in their spots of the lineup. The Manny comparisons...we don't need them to be Manny, we need them to do what they did in the regular season. Manny is a sure hall of famer, no doubter. The comparisons mean nothing and to be honest are unfair. I just want to win, that's all. I want Lou to be in a situation where he doesn't feel obligated to put someone in a spot because of a contract or their past. Forget that. Howry should have been DFA'd a long time ago, looooong time ago. I don't care about his experience. Same thing with Ward. Yea dude, nice year, and yea, so I called your HR earlier in the year when you were 2-41 or something at the time, but big deal, you stink. Bring Hoff up and let him be our bat off the bench. Have some baseball knowledge, Lou...actually, I know you have it, just use it.

Also, if you think the Peyton example stinks, try this. How about Maddux. Hall of famer, tons of wins in the 90s with the Braves. Terrible post season pitcher. Are they going to leave him out of the rotation?! no...He's Greg Maddux. Some guys for whatever reason don't have good numbers in the playoffs. Unfortunately, it's magnefied, and the small sample size in terms of numbers can kill. Few bad games and you're forever a stinker in the playoffs, especially if you only go a couple times.

About Ward, I meant nice year last year...this year he was poo.

Nick, dude...absolutely right. If you didn't think or hope that they could do it then you wouldn't be a fan, and that's completely natural, even to pessimists like me.

One of the great things about baseball is it's NOT football. In football, if you have a bad Superbowl, or playoff game...you ain't getting another chance, whereas in baseball, you can totally redeem yourself. In football, though, the great thing is you can turn around a game a lot quicker than you can a series in baseball. Baseball, there's a lot of sitting around, agonizing, etc. before you play the next game.

Anyone listen to Colin Cowherd on ESPN? Yesterday, he was talking about how good baseball teams in the postseason have a lot of mean looking huge, muscular athletes. He didn't see that with the Cubs. Look at the Dodgers, and you'll see the mammoth Broxton who could play O-Line for some NFL teams, Manny, Loney and Eithier are ripped, Furcal is ripped, Kemp is ripped, Martin is ripped, Billingsley just looks like an athlete. Their whole team practically is stacked from top to bottom with mean looking athletes.

We have a bunch of puppy dogs. Soriano is feeble looking, Lee looks like a puppy dog...I see Zambrano, Harden, Samardzija, Reed Johnson, Wood (post arm recovery after all his exercisng), Marmol. A lot of our guys look like they could play beer league softball....Anyway, I thought Colin was DEFINITELY stretching it a little bit, but it kind of makes you notice more, and think maybe that's the key---getting a ton of athlete-type mean players, and you'll go far in the postseason.

Another thing that he commented on though was about how baseball and golf are the two toughest sports, and the reason for that, is there's a lot of standing around, and waiting for something to happen. It gives you more time to think, and the more time you have to think, the chances increase that you will make a huge mistake. He brought up the "shark"--Greg Norman in that one tournament where he completely choked, and how in baseball, and especially with the Cubs, once you're down like that, everything kind of snowballs, and that's exactly what we saw in 1984, and in 2003. It's also why it's tough to overcome a 2-0 deficit two years in a row when all the weight of the world is on your team to produce a championship.

I really feel for the guys, and I don't buy the fact that it's not weighing on them as DeRosa and Edmonds seemed to suggest. Yeah, maybe not for the team, but when you ask the two guys that seem to be locked in with the postseason, of course they'll tell you that, because they don't look a locker over and see puppy-dog Lee get his shit handed to him two postseasons in a row.

First of all,
WHO WERE THOSE GUY'S???
They were NOT the same Cubs I have been watching ALL year.
I have been a Cub fan since 1969 and have had to deal with dissappointments my whole life but I'll tell you.
This was the BEST regular season of my life.
I have one more game to enjoy for sure this year.After that we will see.

Thanks Aaron,

I know you have been given a lot of crap for some of your post, I will admit I have been one of them, but it is good to have you back posting.

Man, I thought I was whining, but you kids really take the cake.

It's the Cubs, and they don't have it this postseason, and never really had it all year, save for the first two months. It's almost like the Angels. Everyone was jumping on their bandwagon with the best record in the league, but look how they're faring in the postseason. They played in a horrible division, which is where most of their games are played.

We played in a division that includes such powerhouses as the Reds and Pirates, and we only seemed to handle the Pirates. The Astros had injury and rotation issues, the Cardinals, likewise. Maybe I am just reaching, but it seems like we played in an easier division than you all seem to think, and we're losing to a team that played in cupcake-land.

The winner of the World Series will come from the AL East. The reason is simple: From top to bottom, they had four teams above .500 in a 5 team division, and their worst team---the Blue Jays, was 10 games over .500. Consider this, their very worst .500 team was better than the Dodgers, and 11 games behind us. That's a 4th place team!

The fact is, when you play high level competition, it comes down to schedules and your level of difficulty. It's why college football, with the BCS weighs your schedule. The reason is, they don't want BYU, or Utah, or teams like that getting the number one ranking because they go undefeated in a cupcake conference. It's no wonder then, when those teams land in a Bowl game, they get trounced in the playoffs.

Teams like the Rays destroyed us. The Phillies also dominated us, even though we went 3-4 against them. If you recall, the three games we did win were after their starters were pulled prematurely, and we got to their bullpen. The reason I bring that up, is because when you play those guys in the postseason, their starters will be allowed to go deeper into games.

Even if we made the World Series, the only team I think we could beat would be the Angels.

Anyway, I'm too pissed to type on here anymore. You kids will never know good baseball like we had growing up, and that is unfortunate.

David...I'm sorry, but everything you said was wrong. I can't say that I agree with one thing, outside of the AL East stats. Your opinions are garbage and to say we don't know good baseball is a slap in the face. What is "good baseball"? Enlighten me...The Cubs didn't have it all year?! Are you serious...please. YOU apparently don't know baseball, let alone GOOD baseball. The Central was hardly a cupcake division. The AL Central maybe, but outside of the AL East, the NL Central was the most competitive divsion in the entire MLB. ..."starters pulled prematurely"...could be the fact that we made them throw a lot of pitches and got to the bullpen. That's a sign of a good offense. What is happening here is you are jumping ship. I bet you were sooooo damn proud of this team 3 days ago. And if we were up 2-0, you would be talking about how good this team is, and how they play "good" baseball. But they've played bad, and they're down 0-2, sucks, but don't jump ship and claim we are ignorant fools and will never witness or experience "good" baseball. They played GREAT baseball for most of the year. At time they played OUTSTANDING baseball. We played in a division with the Reds and Pirates, yes...you're correct, but we Also played in a division with the Brewers, good team all year, especially after getting CC, Sept was a different story, but what they did early put them in position to still get in. The Cards were pesky all year, not a team to take lightly, and don't forget the run the Astros went on in late august to Sept. Basically what I'm saying is you're wrong and a real dick to say some of that. It's okay to be pissed, but don't jump ship and claim we're all wrong and will never see good baseball "like you had growing up." please...

By the way, the BCS is a joke.

sorry everyone, but I just had to respond to this one....

David - I wouldn't go as far as to say I don't know good baseball or not, as I'm 30 and don't know what golden age of baseball you're talking about, but I'd be a lot happier in life without having to read your posts. I'll be sure to skip yours in the future...but honestly if all you want to do is yell and complain...why are you wasting your time typing in the first place?

I mean, I get mad and want to vent and all that, but there comes a point where 'if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all'. I understand the pain and anquish, but I'm not going to sit around and b@#$% and moan all day to people I can't see. That's for a psych or something. I'm going to continue to build my hope and look to lovely sites like this for reinforcement that I'm not alone in cheering on this great time that had a great year!

Sorry everyone else....I just had to get that off my chest.

I agree with everyone here...on this sad morning.

The one thing i felt ( like Joe S.) we needed someone to step up. Lou needed to do it, on the field, when we got robbed on the fair ball that hit the edge of the line in left. The TV crew was showing Lou in the dugout, looking kinda pissed, he got up like he was going to argue...but then just sat back down. Even if it was a foul ball (which it wasnt) it was the only opportunity HE had to get out and change some things with the atmosphere. Get out and kick some dirt!

Still hopeful for Saturday.

Just depressing

Aaron, not trying to give you a backhanded compliment, but your posts the last two days have been the most level-headed comments in trying times I have seen from you. Kudos.

Wanted to point out a positive note. Jim Edmonds. The guy has truly provided "veteran leadership" in the postseason. You can just tell that he is not nervous but very focused. I'll bet this collapse is driving him insane right now.

This is not over yet, and Harden and Lily have actually pitched very, very well lately. For sure it is a tall task and I have no illusions but I just can't believe that a team this great, (and they were great this year), can play this bad for 3 games in a row.

david, us "kids" have seen good baseball, for the almost 100 wins the Cubs put up this year. And the fact that Lou helped piece together back-to-back Central championships for the first time in a long while. Stop being so infatuated with the golden days of yore and join the rest of us in being excited about the new era of Cubs baseball: consistently giving ourselves a chance to win it all.

One other note. I don't necessarily think Lee is worthless or should be dealt. He batted around .290 I think. I just don't think he should be in the 3 hole.

If Edmonds retires, and we make no moves..

1. Johnson/Pie platoon
2. Theriot
3. Sori
4. Ramirez
5. Soto
6. Lee
7. DeRosa
8. Fontenot

Also, I think Lou should not have started Fuk in the first two games, but SHOULD have started him in Game 3, versus a pitcher he had good results against in Japan.

It is what it is. Lets go get em on Saturday. Playing away from wrigley might help this assembly of 24 head cases settle down a bit. Can't blame Hendry, can't blaim lou, and you can't blame the payroll. The players need to start executing, period. Go Cubs!

That a good point Trevor about the matchup with Fuko and the Japanese picher the dodgers are throwing out there Saturday.

Fuko done. He is being too patient. And he has lost all his confidence. I don't kknow if the strike zone is tighter in Japan. But that pitch he struck out on at the end of the game was right down the middle.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/tom_verducci/10/03/fivecuts.LDS/index.html?eref=T1

Verducci makes a good point about our lack of left-handed hitting ---- The Dodgers have pitched almost 80 innings against the Cubs this year, and have yet to use a lefty pitcher for a SINGLE PITCH.....

that 'LEFT HANDED POWER BAT' never worked out -- we don't have one ... well, maybe Edmonds, but he came in much later...

In the words of Jimmy Dugan:

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great"

There's no doubt that the Mets would of been a better matchup for us. But, this shouldn't have happened. Maybe one loss at home but to be beat both games. That just doesn't work. Especially yesterday. They flat-out choked. That second inning was ridiculous. They should of scored one run, if any, in that inning.

Maybe with the dayoff and them getting away from Wrigley(different setting), Hardin and Lilly pitching and come back with Zambrano for game five, will switch things around. Sorry guys but that about as optimistic I can get right now.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-plaschke3-2008oct03,0,6065145.column

post it in the visitors clubhouse in LA. Read it...take it to heart...prove'm wrong. We will prevail boys, believe me.

Man, I thought I was negative. David needs to calm down, but David, honestly, I was there where you are now, but earlier in the season. I was driving myself nuts, as well as others on here when I kept re-iterating myself. I wouldn't take it personally, as I once did, but if you complain over and over again about the same stuff, they'll jump on you.

I do, however, think David is right guys, because I've known several guys like him complaining about baseball nowadays. It isn't the same. Face it, most of us on here were born in the 1960s or after...a time when the Cubs sucked, and had star power, but never made the playoffs, save for 1984, 89, 1998, 2003, 2007, and now. Between 1945, and 1984, there were NO postseason appearances. The Brewers fans bemoaned the 20 + year drought, but imagine going 39 years without an appearance...nearly 4 freaking decades!!!!! WOW! So, I understand older people reminiscing about how good the team used to be and all. They really were pretty good. Looking back at this: http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/
it shows that they were really pretty good in the late 20s and 30's into 45. It's really pretty tough to make the postseason nowadays even with 3 divisions, but imagine how tough it was back then, and that's not even talking about making the World Series. Do you realize that in a 15 year period, the Cubs made the World Series 5 times. And that's not even going back to the early 1900s, when between 1906 and 1918 they made it 5 times, winning twice, and in the 1800s, when they made it 6 times to the championship (though not called the World Series) from 1876 to 1886. It seemed like every 15 years in the early stages, the Cubs would make it to the championship 5-6 times within the 15 year period, then go on hiatus, then be back again. I mean, not that many fans can say that about their teams. I really fault the "college of coaches" for putting us in the lovable losers category. There was just no continuity with the team, and they struggled mightily to recover from that (39 years in fact)

I think we all can take solace in the fact that we were the SHIT...not shitty like we are in the season, but literally, THE SHIT back in the day. That's a lot of championship appearances. While we only won twice, , and our success pales in comparison to the Yankees in postseason, it's still an incredible feat to make it to that many championships.

I believe that it was the right move to extend Piniella another year, and I hope he stays next year and the following year. He really has changed the culture of the team, and he's a rare breed when it comes to that. He knows how to motivate....he does have a couple "senior moments" every now and then, but I'd much rather have a New York kind of guy than a Baker, excuse-making California guy running the show.

Yes, he made some mistakes the first two games, but he's only operating a team of guys that the GM has given him, and Hendry hasn't exactly given him the tools necessary to succeed in the postseason. Piniella even said at the deadline that they needed a bat as well. However, as much as I criticize Hendry, unless we can get a Gillick, Beane, Dombrowski, or Epstein (which would never happen anyway), then we need to hang onto him as well. The reason, as mentioned, is simple...it's all about continuity. I mean, how many GM's have we gone through? It's mind-blowing....Frey, Himes, Lynch, MacFailed, and now Hendry...I know I'm missing some, but you get the point. Without continuity at the top, it's tough to create any type of consistency on the field as each regime, typically, has a different philosophy. It's like college football...My alma mater...the Nebraska Cornhuskers, when they switched from Osborne to Solich to Callahan, and now to Pelini. It's like fans expect an istant fix, but each coach takes approximately 4 years to change his team with his own recruits and philosophy, and the same can be said of baseball, unless you're the Yankees, who are in the business of trying to buy championships in lieu of player development.

anyway, blah, blah, blah...I'm proud to be a Cub fan, even though the team is an embarrassment. I am proud, because of tradition...same reason I'm a Husker fan...because of tradition...same reason I'm a Bears fan---monsters of the Midway....Papa Bear Halas, Da Coach, Osborne, Piniella...man, those guys were/are demanding, and they get the most out of their players.

I hope Sandberg can be like Piniella when he eventually retires. We need a long-term, dynamic solution to carry the torch when he leaves. I love Piniella's no excuses tactics. I loved his postgame press conferences when we were struggling this season, and even more so last night when describing Fukudome and the whole team...It's a no-nonsense approach, and I love him for it.

I am praying for a win tomorrow. I will be at the Husker game, doing likewise for them against a mighty Missouri team. Here's hoping both teams can pull off the upset tomorrow, and create long runs into the postseason.

I don't like the Star System that prevails in baseball today--but it is what it is. The contenders (mainly) have 3 or 4 big money players or Stars (big people) who sit at the top of the pecking order, a couple of rising stars and many role players (little people) that I also call trenchermen. The big people set the tone, provide leadership (or there isn't much) and either step up in critical games or don't. The big people get away with "stylin" (Sammy's boom box and late arrivals, e.g.), and Sori's hop and deciding where he hits in the batting order. The little people mostly stick to their job description and know their place. A rising star, like Soto, does gather increasing leadership responsibility, but if the bigs don't lead and step up, the team falters in critical situations.

Our big people have not performed and a couple of them have to go for the Cubs to be better in the future. The changes won't be easy given the big contracts and performance issues, and a step back in team building may be required to move ahead.

Our big people are Rameriz, Soriano, Lee and Z, and I want to keep Aram and Z. Soriano and Lee may be tradeable this off-season--after the big three free agents decide where they are going. Sabathia wants to stay in the NL, and the Dodgers may have the edge for his services. Manny, too, may stay with the Dodgers, but the Dodgers don't have the deep pockets to go overboard. So I'm thinking Yankees for Manny. Texiera (sp) likely stays with the Angels who do have deep pockets. That saves him the turmoil of the Yankees. (Yes, I would be happy to get in the hunt for Sabathia and Texiera but not the aging and tempermental Manny.)

I believe the Mets would trade for Soriano. They could ditch Delgado's $16 mil and will drop Pedro's 11, Alou's 9 and El Duque's 7. A quick study (we're still playing real games) says we would have to settle for "futures" including 22 year old, LSP, Niese, a Carp and a Wilmer. The Carp is 22 year old first baseman Mike Carp (.299-17-72 at AA) and Wilmer is a 17 year old Wilmer Flores, a prospective SS whose line was .310-8-41 in the Rookie League. (Of course, I would like SS, Reyes, but that's not likely unless we include Samardzija.)

I think Lee could be traded to the Yankees for 35 year old Johnny Damon (.303-17-71 and 29 SB in 37 attempts). Damon would play the OF positon with the greatest need. Hoffpauir would have first shot at 1B. With Giambi gone, Lee would play first for the Yanks.

Our power numbers would suffer with this "housecleaning", and we would have to look for a power bat in free agency or another trade.

thought I'd add a little intrigue for the offseason here...I found this from another author on mlbtraderumors:

Just for fun - let's say you're a GM with a ton of money to spend and a quality farm system. You want to build the best 2009 team possible. What would it look like? Here's my take:

C - Gerald Laird
1B - Mark Teixeira
2B - Orlando Hudson
SS - Rafael Furcal
3B - Adrian Beltre
LF - Manny Ramirez
CF - Marlon Byrd
RF - Matt Holliday
DH - Aubrey Huff

SP - C.C. Sabathia
SP - Jake Peavy
SP - Derek Lowe
SP - A.J. Burnett
SP - Ryan Dempster

RP - Francisco Rodriguez
RP - Brian Fuentes
RP - Huston Street

Me, personally, I agree with this team, as all players listed are either free agents, or on the block right now.

If I were Hendry, I'd go all out to get Teixeira, then Furcal (he's a spark plug, and hits for power, something Theriot does not), Manny, Fuentes, and FROD, and Holliday (if it only costs 2-3 prospects...I'm thinking Hoffpauir, Rich Hill, Marshall, and Colvin), and I'd trade about the farm for Peavy.

think about the last two postseasons...what's our weakest links? Our weakest links were middle of the order and bullpen. I think, perhaps, our double plays were magnified by lack of speed. I mean, the Dodgers have Kemp, Furcal, Pierre, etc. at their disposal. We have a gimpy Soriano, Pie whom we never use, and Theriot who has about equal amounts of caught stealing as actual steals.

If you get Furcal, that allows you to run more, then you can move Theriot to 2B or trade him while his value is high, and move DeRosa to super utility which is where his value is highest, and give your regulars more time off. But it starts at the top, and make no mistake about it, Teixeira is the prize, and we need to do whatever it takes to get him, and if you move Lee, Marquis, let Howry and Wuertz walk, and find a taker for Fukudome, then it frees up all that cash to get these guys that we so desperately need. I'd love Holliday by the way, and I experienced him first hand here in Colorado, with his grit and determination, and bloodied face in the playoffs, he willed the Rockies to the World Series, and he'd be tremendous in RF for us.

Anyway, I'm dreaming, and a little excited about opportunites presenting themselves this offseason.

Jim K, if we could indeed move a Soriano contract we should indeed make that happen, and I agree that the Mets would likely be suitors (as might the Yankees again).

Lee has to go, for no other reason than to provide a spot for Hoffpauer, or more importantly Texeira.

No question there are dollars available with the potential departures of Soriano, Lee, Howry, Marquis, and perhaps even Dempster (can he truly repeat the performance of this year). Without being too negative on the guy, unloading 6 more years of Fonzie's contract would go a long way (I'd trade those dollars for Texeira, Holliday or a Lowe anyday).

I usually read this blog everyday however the past few days i have not been able to as the play on the field has depressed me enough i do not need to add insult to injury. At that note i just wanted to come on and say one thing. I hope (and hope has been a difficult word for me to comprehend lately) that the headlines in the monday paper looks like this - Game 5.... the Redempster game!

Mike, I think we're all with you on that hope for a Monday headline. That would indeed be sweet. One game at a time. Let's hope for an energized, all out great performance tomorrow, and let the cards fall where they may...but let's not give it away.

Everyone wanting to dump D-Lee.... you do realize he has a no-trade clause, right? He isn't going anywhere.

Neither is Soriano, A-Ram, or Fuku, all for the same reason: They all have No-Trade clauses that they would have to waive. I don't see anyone wanting to get traded away from us at this point.

I would not put it past Hendry however to make some trades. We still have a need in CF, and possible upgrade at SS. If we don't re-sign Dempster, our #1 need is for a shut-down starter. And need #2 is for a solid LHRP out of the pen.

EDIT: Fukudome does not have a full no-trade like A-Ram, Lee, and Sori do, but he does have trade protection (maybe veto certain teams?). Either way, good luck finding a taker for the $38 Mil we owe him.

Jimk,

I like your thinking on the trade. However, I might opt to trade Soriano straight up for Beltran, as I know he hasn't exactly had the greatest of times in NY. And, if you're looking for someone to produce in the postseason....if he'd gone more often, Beltran would have even better stats than Manny. Keep in mind Beltran averages close to 30 hr and 100 rbi every year to compliment about 20 stolen bases. Hell, I'd even throw in someone like Hoffpauir, Rich Hill, Marshall, or another prospect in exchange for Beltran and Carp or that shortstop you mentioned. Once you do that, you can slide Beltran to LF, Pie in CF, and trade for Holliday or sign Manny. After you trade Lee to the Yankees (if they'll even take him), then hopefully you get a few of their prospects to bring along slowly while we make a strong play for Teixeira. Rest assured, if we pull off a trade for Beltran and sign Teixeira, we'd have two of the best switch hitters in the game, middle of the order talent, and we'd guarantee ourselves a trip to the World Series, assuming the staff remains intact. Teixeir and Beltran would equalize any lefty and righty match-ups that guys like LaRussa often exploit, and make it tough like the Dodgers lineup is to our pitchers with all the lefty, righty match-ups.

If you throw in Furcal, that'd give us 3 switch-hitters. I know I'm crazy, and probably dreaming WAY out of our league, but it'd be fun to think of this lineup:

Furcal-ss
Pie-CF
Beltran-LF
ARAM-3B
Teixeira-1B
Soto-C
Milton Bradley-RF
DeRosa-2B

Actually, isn't Bradley a switch-hitter too? That'd make it even better.

We would probably have the most athletic team ever if that happened. We would create havoc for pitchers the likes of which have NEVER been seen from a Cubs team.

The trade for Beltran would probably have to include Soriano and Pie at the very least, so that'd affect my lineup, but still...

This team is in need of a MAJOR overhaul in the off season. We have way too many players that don't produce in the post season. Time to clean house. GOSH! I wish it were that easy! I'm sick of the losing and feel they are playing like they are satisfied to win the division only. How can they not play with fire and attitude? They sure don't even seem to be playing for pride now. They look defeated and play like it. THIS TEAM STINKS AND I AM TIRED OF THE LOSING. LOUSY STINKIN' CHOKE ARTISTS! Now that I have thrown my temper tantrum, I think they are about done but stranger things have happened. Remember Boston's comeback?

I know we're all thinking about potential off-season trades/acquisitions (Aaron, that's an ambitious wish list buddy), but let's hope we get a "W" tomorrow, and forego the potential lively shakeup discussions for at least awhile.

Yes, Keith, I'm aware of no-trade contracts, and I've suggested previously that Lee's family situation and 2 contract years remaining would prompt him to resist a trade. Soriano's ego might get him to opt for a Mets or Yankees deal. Given the heat on Lee and Soriano the last two years, maybe they would drop their no trades for anticipated peace of mind. There are always financial arrangemetns that can be a motivator.

Lee has actually been my favorite player since he became a Cub--because I too was a right handed first baseman who wore # 25. I joked with him at spring training that his check for the use of my number must still be in the mail. My over-riding concern is winning, and our big people (like Lee and Soriano) haven't stepped up in critical situations. I do like your idea of adding power at the shortstop position. And I'd love to somehow manage a trade for Holliday.

OK.....I'm holding out faith!! Not only because I love this damn team come hell or high waters.....BUT because I just purchased tickets to the potential WORLD SERIES clinching game 6 of the NLCS!!! C'mon Cubbies!!!!!!!!! To quote a very wise sports man.......

"DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES??????? YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

I'm hurting as much as the rest of you as this series has been incredibly painful, but I think there needs to be a little perspective. The baseball playoffs are luck ... San Diego or Pittsburgh could likely beat the Angels in a 5 game series 35% of the time. The Cubs won more games that any team in the NL over a 162 game season and it would be foolish to break up the team. Losing in the playoffs says very little about the caliber of your team ... that's why the best team often doesn't win the World Series.

I think we, as Cubs fans often hold the romantic view that everything will be sunny tomorrow, and "there's always next year", blah blah blah. I was probably the biggest romanticist growing up. I remember being down like 10 runs in the 9th inning when Dawson and Sandberg were on the team, and thinking we really could come back. One of the two would hit a home run, and Grace would be on base, and the other would follow with a double, and I'd be like, "wow, this really could happen", but the next 3 would go down in order, because we had no supporting cast. Well, guess what, we have the big thumpers Soriano and ARAM, and should be Lee (though his power is highly suspect), but we can't get it done. You look at Dawson and Sandberg, and you think "clutch". You look at Soriano and Lee, and you think "what the hell is gonna happen now?"

We dream of things that are near impossible (just consider my offseason wish list for example), or perhaps other trade/signing ideas that have been suggested on this site in the past, and they border on completely ridiculous and far-fetched. But we all have something in common...We want to see a winner, and we don't want it 5 years down the line...we want it now!!! We dream of coming back from 2 down in a 5 game series, or down 10-1 in the 9th. But we are the Cubs, and things like that just don't happen to us. We're not the dirtbags of Boston. We are the barfbags of Chicago. The White Sox won before we did...I hate them so much I can't believe to tell you. I hung out with their team from 2001-2003, because I had a friend on the team, but Kenny Williams is a douschbag, and so is Ozzie Guillen, and so is Pierzynski, etc. About the only ones I can stand are Thome, Konerko, and Dye...but them winning it before us was perhaps the most painful thing I've ever witnessed in my life. We were supposed to win. Hell, anyone of us on this site could've been Steve Bartman. Many others reached over to grab it before it fell in his hands----I still feel awful for the kid.

As Lou likes to call it...it's a Cubbie occurrence. The 7 walks by Dempster who was always in control during the season, the 4 errors by our ENTIRE damn F#%king infield last night...the long fly balls Edmonds hit that stayed in the park, while others hit by the Dodgers that were not hit as well (save for Manny's blasts) still sailed out of the park, and don't even mention Manny's shoe-top home run.

Is all of this just coincidence, or is there really such a thing as a curse? Sure, the Red Sox lost with Bucknor's boot, but we lost with Durham's boot, and AGonz's boot, and all 4 of our infielder's boots last night.

Fact: the Red Sox have been to 6 World Series since we last appeared in 1945
Fact: Both the Marlins and Rockies have been--two expansion teams, and the Marlins have won twice
Fact: The Diamondbacks, and expansion team have also won, and now, the Rays can pull off the feat.
Fact: Not only do we have the longest streak without winning a World Series, but we also have the longest streak of not even being to a World Series

I've been thinking all day and all night about this postseason, and it's been eating me alive. I can't put my finger on it. Do you guys realize the talent that we've had come through our clubhouse: Dawson, Sutcliffe, Sandberg, Grace, Maddux, Eckersley, Moyer, Alou, McGriff, ARAM, Soriano, Zambrano, Wood, Prior, etc., etc. We have had tremendous talent, and still haven't gotten it done. We've had great skippers like Durocher, Frey, Zimmer, and Piniella, and we still can't even get a lick of the World Series. What other explanation is there other than a curse? And why us? We didn't trade the greatest player that ever lived for money to support a Broadway show like Boston did....We said no to an animal in the stadium. Is that so bad? I don't know, I mean, it's just a damn shame, and I don't know why this couldn't have been our year. It's true, it was our best year statistically speaking, and I know it was inflated by April, May, and August, but still....we need to win...I know we don't have all the chips to win, but we need to all, collectively, just will this team to victory.

Maybe that's the end of the curse....fans willing the team to victory. Instead of thinking, "man, we just gave the game away in the 2nd inning" like most of us thought, maybe if everyone in Cub nation stopped thinking of the past, and went "oh well, we'll get them next inning with a huge grand slam." or whatever. I think a lot can be said for vibe. Usually, when you think bad things, they do end up happening. Usually, when you think good things, it tends to go your way.

I hope someone like DeRosa or Edmonds, or Piniella can look these guys in the face, and be like, "you know what? If we're down 2-0 in the series, who gives a shit. It's the Dodgers that are against a wall. They have to protect their lead. We have absolutely NOTHING to lose. If we give up a run, or have an error, let's pick up our teammate, and smack one out of the yard for him, and get those runs right back, because DAMNIT, we're the Cubs, and we have a proud tradition of winning. We were one of the premier franchises in the early 1900s. We need to bring that back and make everyone believe in us again."

holy shit, that was therapeutic letting all that out. I hope someone says something like that to the team, and I know we can come back. Harden is as capable of anyone we have of throwing a no-hitter, or one-hitter, or shutout, and completely turning our season around. DeRosa has showed up with good numbers in the postseason, and Zambrano showed grit, overcoming the best he could the horrible defense. WE are winners DAMMIT...now, let's make them believe!!!!!!

Favorite Aaron post. Ever.

Aaron....The Mets are trying to get to the post season too. I can't imagine them trading Beltran for Soriano or Soriano + + because they would still need a top of the line outfielder. Beltran is better than Soriano in every respect and a year younger. Maybe the Mets would do a Soriano, Samardzija and Atkins for Reyes, Niese and Carp. Reyes is an all-star potential SS with some power--and an ideal leadoff hitter. I would move the Riot to 2B. I don't think we have enough chips (that we want to trade) to get Holliday, but there are other competent OF bats with some power who would help.

I think Lee would be a good fit with the Hankees. Did you get the memo that Hank S. was changing the name to put his stamp on the team? I look for them to end up with Manny for power and Burnett for another arm. Lee plays excellent D, leads us in hits and is second in RBI's. He would help the Yanks.

I'm done trading for now. I'm starting to get my mojo on for tomorrow's victory over the Dodgers. Someone mentioned curse (above). The last manager to win 2 Division Series games and then lose 3 in a row was.........................Mr. and Mrs. Torre's little boy. My people are going to be in and around Dodger Stadium with signs that say, "It Can Happen Again, Joe!"

What a pleasure watching the Rays play. Just a bunch of young kids playing relaxed, and with energy and speed.

Gramps is not happy!

Gramps is pissed about how the Cubs have played the last 2 games.

But....

Gramps is still hopeful. I will still be cheering and rooting for my favorite team. If they win 1, 2 or 3 games in this series, I will still be one of their biggest fans. And if they field the same team next year, I will still be a big fan. And if they trade some players, I will still be a big fan.

I love baseball and baseball to me is the Cubs. They have entertained me, win or lose, for 60 years now. Am I disappointed they have not been to the Series....SURE I am. But they have given me many memories and I have shared them and enjoyed them with my kids and my grandkids. I think maybe with the advent of sports radio and sites like this one (which by the way is the best) that maybe we all take this a little too seriously. Remember the good times people. Our time will come and I still hope this is the year. IT IS NOT OVER YET! GO CUBS!

It took Jordan several years before he became a winner in the playoffs.

And then he never stopped winning after that...

I'm watching Red Sox--Angels, and the Angels are trying to come back. It's 5-2 after 4 with the Angels hitting singles and the Red Sox mixing in the long ball and getting a lot of two out hits. Halos are like our guys so far with the bats--lacking effective and enough hitting. One team appears confident, the other doesn't. It looks like deja vu--the Angels' big guys hitting singles.

OK, so we're down - I get it. How about we all buck up and believe, and if they don't get it done, we still had a winning season, saw some miracles in the 9th, and it's October and we are still talking baseball? Do you think Yankees fans EVER give up, even this year when they didn't make the Post Season? I don't think so, so lets all have some guts and stop whining, be true fans, and hope for a miracle. My heart was breaking on Wednesday, just like everyone else, only I am 2,000 miles away from home, not a Cubs fan in sight, and I say lets all hope for a win tonight and go from there. GO CUBS!

Lisa O; I'll gladly follow your lead and take that win tonight...then we can hope for another day!

well said.