Bruiser Chong

I didn't say that the pitching and defense weren't to blame for what happened, but it was all downhill after that incident. Personally, I think the rule is bullshit. If a player has a shot at the ball, it should be his domain, regardless if it breaks the plane of the stands.

I'm calling it right now, the Yanks take the game tomorrow and go on to beat the Marlins. I don't know why, but honestly, if it's the Marlins and Yanks, I'm all for the Yanks. There's just something I don't like about this team and it's probably what everyone's been discussing for the last couple of pages. I don't like their "fans," their management, and as talented as their team is, when put up against the Cubs like that, I just grew to dislike a lot of them. I can't see them keeping Pudge next year. I know he "wants to stay there," but with how he's played this season, he'll be commanding big bucks and I wouldn't be surprised to see that they're not willing to pay it. I'm still in shock, to be honest. Whereas I'd usually be stark-raving mad, these last two nights I've just been stunned, too much in shock to even break anything. As for the fan, his life will forever be changed. No, he wasn't the reason they gave up eight runs, but that incident triggered the rest of the actions of that odd 8th inning and whether it's his fault or not, this is something I doubt he ever gets over. If he actually isn't killed, I could see him killing himself over it. And no, I'm not trying to be funny, but that's the sad truth.

I give the Marlins credit but if the FOX announcers don't get off of Cabbera and Beckett's dicks, I'm gonna lose it.

I agree. His age is irrelevant. He's clearly a great manager, as his presence made a 30 game difference in the overall record. I think people are a little too hard on Dusty, even if he makes some bad moves. Think about it. The Cubs lost 95 times last year. To have them go from that to the World Series in one year would've been amazing and to expect it is a little much. Yeah, the fact that they were five outs from it last night hurts, but I consider this to be a great turnaround season and if they work out their pen problems, I can see them contending next year.

It's plays like those that make me even sadder to think he bobbled a GROUND BALL. He's great with the glove all season and that one play is what truly lost the game.

Two words for ya Bruiser: DAVE VERES. Damn I hate that man. Their pen was bound to cause major problems sooner or later and there it is. I really don't see why Clement isn't out there. This is so depressing.

The fact that they gave up those two runs in the top of the 7th is huge now. Without those, we've got a nail-biter. What we've got at the moment is a situation needing a miracle.

Um, I think Lofton did everything he possibly could to get to the ball. Blame Veres for leaving a pitch like that to hit.

By bringing in Veres, he's pretty much saying this is over. I've been behind Baker all year but this is insane. If the season's on the line, put Clement out there at least. I think Bernie jinxed them last night when he called the Cubs the champs. It was the next at-bat for the Marlins where the damage was done.

I'd like to be the first to say that if the Marlins hold on and the Yanks take it tomorrow, I will get behind the Yankees for the first time since 1996.

That's it. I can't watch anymore. I'm a hardcore Cubs fan, but that play just summed it all up and I really just can't bear to watch another pitch.

If the Marlins win here and the Yanks actually win tomorrow, I won't be able to stomach the WS. I know I said I'd rather have the Yanks win if the Marlins win here, but I take it back.

Wood'll be gone after this inning, but it could've gotten much uglier. It's never been more apparent that walks come back to bite you in the ass. This one's not over, by a long shot.

Beckett pitched a gem Sunday, but I don't know how wise it is to use him again so soon. Sure you gotta pull out all the stops, but putting him out there on two days rest is pushing it just a bit if it's for any more than one or two innings.

YES!!! This is exactly what the Cubs need to keep doing. Keep the fans in it and try and keep hitting well. Redman doesn't look like he'll go much longer and if Wood can be like he's been in the postseason so far, we could be in for something special tonight.

I don't see both pitchers going too deep into the game unless they get into a groove soon. Wood's up to almost 60 or more and Redman's already got 50+. Wood's gotta have a little more confidence at this point though, as Redman's already blown a three run lead. I see this one going out until the end, though.

That was simply a magical moment. This is what postseason's all about. Like Mik said, it's far from over, but that was just one of those moments that'll live in your mind forever. The sound the crowd made sent chills down my spine.

I agree they deserve the victory tonight. They've played this game like they belonged in the playoffs and that's how they played the majority of the season. Also nice to see the Yankee "loyals" heading for the exits. Not likely they'll come back, but didn't any of them see what happened last night? After that inning, I don't think anything's impossible. In regards to the Cubs' fan, after having a day to consider everything and cool off a bit, I actually feel pretty sorry for him. The guy is obviously a nice guy and didn't do it to screw the Cubs over. I just wish they could've let it go and moved on. I think Alou had the ball but that's neither here nor there. Everything that's gone down isn't important, it's all about the next nine innings of ball.

If the Sox and Cubs both win tonight, I'm all for the Sox taking game seven tomorrow. If the Marlins win, however, I'll actually be looking for a Yanks win tomorrow. I don't want a Yanks/Marlins WS, but there's just something about the way the Sox have carried themselves since the postseason began that's rubbed me the wrong way, fans included. I know the Cubs choked last night, but any Sox fans busting them for that incident needs to quiet up right now, since their own team has been playing like they don't even belong in the postseason half of the time.

I don't hang around the wrestling folder enough to argue your main point, but from the pictures I've seen, she certainly isn't fat, or anywhere close to it. And maybe I'm off but I vaguely remember something from way back when that has me thinking you're a bit on the hefty side, yourself. It might go back to even the EZBoard Smarks, but I coulda sworn you weren't exactly a posterboy for any fitness ads.

This isn't as extreme as last night, but I'm definitely have flashbacks to the 8th inning with the odd things that are going down in this inning.

Translation: People love the Cubs. It's been an intense series, but I'm calling it right now, if it's the Yanks and the Marlins in the WS, the ratings will be ass.

They sure pissed away that lead in a matter of moments. I'm having flashbacks to last night.

So you're saying that Florida fans aren't going to be pissed if Redman sucks tonight? I'll say that Wood has more pressure on him, but I'd Redman is under almost as much. If he doesn't do well tonight, last night's victory will be bittersweet. I agree that the fans of Chicago are actually, you know, loyal to their team and don't just come out to the park when the Cubs are winning, but there's gonna be some mighty unhappy people out there if the Marlins don't win tonight. I'd like to see the Cubs in the WS not because they're my favorite team, but just because the sight of them playing in Yankee Stadium, and the Yanks playing at Wrigley offers so much more mystique than the Marlins playing at Yankee Stadium or the Yanks playing at Pro Player. I'm not trying to cut down the Marlins here because they're obviously a good team, but with the Marlins in there against the Yanks, this will be quite the anti-climatic finish to a great postseason.

Everyone talks about how Wood's got the weight of the world on his shoulders tonight and I agree, but what about Redman? He's under a lot of pressure too, because if he doesn't turn out a good performance, it could mean that his team doesn't move onto the WS. I'm confident in Wood, because he's pitched in some very big games before and done well, but his defense and offense needs to back him up. Note that the games they lost also involved the Cubs making errors. You look back to the Atlanta series where they didn't make one error, and you see the results of that. The key is to play some solid defensive baseball, because if Wood's on, the offense can come through, then it's pretty much up to the defense to hold up their end of the deal. As for the game, loading the bases wasn't stupid because even though it cost them, it wasn't like it made a difference anyway. They still lost the game by five runs, not one. The Cubs just need to go out there and do what they've done so far in the postseason and they can pull it out. Thinking about last night is foolish as hard as it is not to think about. If you lose tonight, then last night will haunt them forever, but those memories will be overshadowed if they win it here tonight. Everyone looks at the stats and say this is all Marlins. Well, if we're looking at stats, don't forget that Wood hasn't lost to the Marlins in his career, and I can't remember the last time that Prior and Wood lost back-to-back starts. The stats leading up to the game are ultimately meaningless, though. What matters is what's done on the field tonight and hopefully, twelve hours from now, we will have something to celebrate. Here's hoping to ya.