Bruiser Chong

There's absolutely no way Santan isn't starting twice in a five-game series, and I'm almost positive they'd find a way to get him out there three times if they advanced to the next round.

Not much in the way of games today, although the Cubs face the Marlins for the last time in 2004 in a double-header. Pavano and Prior go head-to-head in Game 1. As you'll recall, Pavano started Game 1 in their last double-header with the Cubs and shut them out. This was helped by the likes of Tom Goodwin and Ramon Martinez being in there instead of Aramis Ramirez and Moises Alou. You'd figure Dusty would've learned his lesson, right? Nah. Aramis and Sammy are sitting in Game 1 and will play in Game 2 that's being started by DAVID WEATHERS. Why not load up the lineup against the Cy Young candidate and not the guy who's been traded and released all season?

Giants are back to 1.5 games behind the Dodgers and lost the WC lead to the Cubs with their defeat tonight. Schmidt pitched a stellar game, but a five-run Houston ninth dashed that away. I'm trying to figure out who I'd rather see win the West at this point.

I agree about the Bonds thing, since what he was aiming for was something we'll probably only see once in our time. By the same token, I agree that Maddux gets little credit. Yeah, he's praised everytime he's on the mound, but think about what he's done here. 17 straight years of at least 15 wins. That's amazing, especially when you consider he was playing for some pretty average / lousy Cubs teams and how off he was in the first half of the season. Pitching's almost always taken a backseat to hitting, but Maddux is one of those guys you just don't hear about these days. You can't hear about pitchers without hearing names like Schilling, Johnson and Santana (and rightfully so), but Maddux is almost always ommitted. Why? Because he's so low key and just does what he's paid to do: pitch well. He doesn't strike out in the double digits every outing, he'll give up some runs at times, but he rarely walks batters, he usually keeps his team in it and he almost always gives them at least six or seven quality innings. On top of that, he wins. Can't ask for a whole lot more.

Damn, I don't mind them winning, but getting three runs off of Dotel? It's a bad week for my relievers, considering I've got both Dotel and Smoltz, two closers who've been shelled this week.

That's because he goes out there, does his job and that's that. He isn't animated and isn't always stirring shit off the field because of his mouth. The media's so used to shining the attention down on people who are creating controversy that they don't know how to treat Maddux.

I was actually thinking about this the other day. If the Cards don't choke, they should make it to the WS easily. I'm thinking that with Johan being unhittable for the most part, the Twins have a great shot at advancing for once. In a seven-game series, you KNOW they'll find a way to get Johan out there three times. I'd personally love to see how the Cards would fare against Johan. That is, if the Cubs don't get to the postseason.

You know, at this point, I'm starting to think the Cubs may have to battle the Dodgers over that Wild Card spot.

SAMMMY! You suck at the plate and usually in the outfield, but that play may have just saved the game.

Speaking of leaving in too long, Zambrano stayed in for the 8th. Big mistake. Bases full with only one out and they've been forced to go to the pen. Pitch count was obviously the only reason he was still in, but it was clear he was fading in the 7th. Very frustrating, since our two supposed leaders couldn't score anyone with runners at the corners with one out.

Still 1-0 Cubs going into the bottom of the 7th. So far, this is all Carlos. He's pitching well *knock on wood* and has driven in the only run of the game. Perez is a great pitcher, but putting all of the offensive responsibilities on the shoulders of Carlos is pretty inexcusable.

Well, you love to see that. Cubs get the bases loaded, Zambrano earns a walk and then Patterson strikes out on three pitches. Some leadoff man. That's three on the night for him, by the way.

At this point, it doesn't seem worth keeping Clement around for next year. I know his record isn't entirely his fault, but he's really sputtered out in the second half, regardless of run support. Aside from Estes, he had been the weakest link in the Cubs' regular starting rotation for the last two years. That's not really a knock on him, but it shows how much depth they've got in their rotation. This means it's not so vital that he be kept around, especially since he'll be looking for some serious cash next season. Have fun with him, Yanks.

Figures that Ichiro would break out of his slump the week I face the team that has him in the aggrivating world of fantasy baseball. Four hits tonight and he's looking more likely to break the record by early next week.

Foulke just blew the 1-0 lead in the 9th, giving up a two-run homer to Lopez. Funny thing is there were two outs and two strikes on Lopez. This means no win for Schilling, which is a good thing for moi. Speaking of blown saves, Mr. LaTroy Hawkins blew a one-run lead, but the Cubs scored in the top of the 10th (thanks only to a wild pitch with a guy on third; clutch-hitting, indeed). Dempster came on in to lock it down, so it's not all loss tonight.

Got mine, too. After watching Monday Night Football, me and some buddies headed over to Wal-Mart. We were the only ones in the DVD department. I picked up the set ($42, fyi) and my friend picked up the Mean Girls DVD. He felt sorta dumb asking the guy for it since it wasn't on the shelves, but I guess his obsession with her over ruled that. Can't wait to break into this bad boy tomorrow, though. Wish I could tonight, but lousy school stands in the way.

But no homeruns mean no runs, period. They get two on and no out for the second time in the game and do absolutely nothing. Both times, the heart of the order was up, too, so no excuses. Whatever they do next season, I surely hope a new hitting instructor is brought in, because honestly, you can't win baseball games if you're all about the homerun ball and nothing else. You're not gonna hit homeruns in every game, so you're in serious trouble if that's what your offense completely relies on. And make it six K's for Lee. My fantasy team thanks you, big man.

Weathers looked like Cy Young in his four innings of work today. He struck out six and only gave up one run. The Cubs got a break in the top of the inning, getting the first two guys on when a double-play should've cleared the bases. Of course, they proceeded to squander it, not even moving the runners along. This team's so homerun reliant, it's sad. When they're hitting them, no one questions it; but then when they don't, it just sticks out like a sore thumb. As an aside, Derrek Lee has struck out five times so far today. He's really been horrible against his former team.

AS, have fun with Clement next season, as he's done nothing of late to indicate that the Cubs should keep him around next season. There's obviously something going on and I've gotta believe he's not nearly 100 percent, since he was so dominant for so much of the season. It's only the third inning, but it's beginning to look like the game we were seemingly a lock to win will be a loss.

Which is why the Cubs will falter. They seem to do their best work against pitchers they shouldn't and their worse against pitchers who they should hammer. True to form, they're down 3-0 already, with only one Florida hit on the board. Not just that, but Weathers is looking pretty good through two.

I still give him credit for taking him out before Cabrera came to the plate. I don't think he should've even been out there for the eighth, but at least Dusty got him out of there before he threw any more pitches.

Prior looks to be on his way to a win *knock on wood*. He looked like vintage Prior, going 7 2/3, giving up an earned run and striking out nine. He threw 128 pitches, too many I think, but Baker took him out before the inning was over, so at least he didn't leave him in there to an extreme.

He'll be a highly sought after free agent, even though many are going to wait for him to drop back to down to reality because of his New York days.

Bah. Please speak no more of fantasy baseball, as the collective collapse of the players I mentioned earlier basically saw me fall just short of the number one guy in the league. I must now settle for the stupid consolation brackett. And I'm starting to get this slow, sinking feeling that some how, the Giants are going to fall backwards into the postseason. I know they're not as bad as they seem, but I don't doubt that this team is getting eliminated in the first round should they make it that far.

AS, I believe this series keeps you from reasonably complaining about the Yankees. They more or less put a serious dent in the hopes of the Sox winning the East and did it in very convincing fashion.