Bruiser Chong

Adding to the theme, Armando Benitez hurts himself recording the last out of the game.

Isringhausen just left the game with a groin injury.

It should be noted that with two outs, Hollandsworth was up in a spot that was originally Dubois'. Of course, Dubois getting to play a complete game is unacceptable, especially when Holly's .214 clutch bat is rotting away on the bench.

Well, I guess we'll need another closer. Fox enters a seven-run game, walks three, gives up a homer and only records one out. And he left with an injury. I hate to sound mean, but this could be a blessing in disguise. Next?

In all fairness, those shutouts have come against Hudson, Mulder and Perez.

Damn you, Marvin! And great. Wood can't go more than five starts without having some bullshit problem.

Their offense is horribly inconsistent. It's feast or fathom with them. And while Fox got the ball today, sounds like it's going to be closer by situation for now. I'd rather see Wuertz get the ball if I had to choose from what we've got.

Ejections: Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Lance Carter ejected by 2B umpire Rick Reed. (7th); Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Dewon Brazelton ejected by HP umpire Ted Barrett. (7th); Tampa Bay Devil Rays Manager Lou Piniella ejected by HP umpire Ted Barrett. (7th); Boston Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon ejected by HP umpire Ted Barrett. (7th); Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona ejected by HP umpire Ted Barrett. (7th); Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo ejected by HP umpire Ted Barrett. (7th).

God dammit. Classic Dusty Baker here. Our new closer by default is Chad Fox. Thanks for favoring the vets again, you dumb bastard.

The Dodgers should be more ashamed that they've had two extra basehits in this series so far.

Wood only went five, gave up two, struck out eight and walked three (all leadoff walks). He only threw 76 pitches so I wonder what's going on. Or maybe I don't want to know.

It's real bad here (I live 90 minutes from Detroit). It looks like it's the middle of January right now.

The Yanks are banking way too much on RJ pitching like that today. Watching their broadcast yesterday, they were talking like everything is going to swing the other way starting today because Johnson's starting. For novelty's sake, here's hoping to a Rangers' win! And word of mouth is starting whenever the situation applies, LaTroy is back in the set-up role and Michael Wuertz will be the new closer.

It's not that Pavano's bad. He was just overrated going into this season because of one great season. Aside from 2004, he was average at best and I think that's what the Yankees are going to get. Unfortunately, what they paid for was the 2004 Pavano. That's not going to happen again and thus, they overpaid.

This had to be one of the most unbearable shows Nick has ever aired. I enjoyed the first season of it, but after that, what a load of trite garbage.

The Royals only lost because they don't know how to run the bases.

Why? Are they playing tonight? I need to have that mindset more often. And I must've been high when I decided not to bench Odalis Perez tonight. Seven earned runs in five innings of work. God damn Coors.

Al's gonna need to keep those positive spins going with the way the Phillies have been playing lately.

It's a skill you have to have to survive as a baseball fan, honestly. Cubs fans have been doing it for nearly a century.

He got two outs, but not before giving up the homer and walking the winning run. I know closers don't always get the job done, but it seems like unless Hawkins has a lead of at least two, he'll blow it. Something I have noticed, though, is the blown saves seem to happen at home. I'm one of the people who thinks Hawkins needs to be moved to the set-up role where he excells. But off the top of my head, the Cubs don't have anyone that could fill the closer role. I think there are maybe five truly dominant closers that are almost always lights out, so I don't expect them to land such a closer. People say they should've gone after Benitez and Percival, but judging by their performances so far, I'd say it was a better bet that they didn't. Al would make a better Cubs fan than any of us on the board since he's always able to put a positive spin on bad situations. It's just becoming clear that Dusty at the helm isn't going to get the job done.

I don't think that's true. They were a more talented team in '04 than in '03. They just got lucky and hot at the right time in 2003. People act like this team has gone to hell without Sosa and Alou. They're not playing well right now, but it'd be no better with those two. Alou's played one game and Sosa's not doing a whole lot in Baltimore so far. It really boils down to Dusty. And on the Braves game, Chip Carey just said the Yanks placed Wright on the DL.

I don't think they have a chance with him as the closer. But from the sounds of the press conference that followed the game, they may be changing that. I just don't see how anyone can watch a single Cubs game and still defend Baker and praise him as a genius.

I'm convinced this team will not contend unless Hawkins is moved into the set-up role and Dusty goes. The former is probably going to happen, but the latter, fat chance. He's one of the worst managers I've ever seen in the game and the fact that he continues to be praised sickens me.

I hate how the Cubs will seemingly be done, make a comeback and then it falls short. Patterson K's with the tying run on third to end the game. Dusty needs to go and we need to get LaTroy into the set-up spot.

And with only 101 pitches, I see. Bucs lead now and with the bottom of the order up, looks like it'll be another trip below .500 for this maddening group of Cubbies. Let's try and make Mesa throw some pitches, though, okay?