Bruiser Chong

Now they're saying they won't be trading Ramirez.

Did you even watch the Astros the last month and a half of the season? They were the best team in the NL and for a while, held the distinct advantage over the Cards. Also remember that Carpenter, their best pitcher, was unavailable, making it even more of a topsy-turvy series. Yeah, coming back from 3-0 will do that for a series. Had they not made the incredible comeback, the other series would've been superior hands down. A classic all the way.

I was joking, because nobody watched the NLCS. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can you blame them? It was a foregone conclusion. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yeah, such a foregone conclusion that they had to play seven games to get a series winner.

Apparently it's a trade that'll send Park to San Diego and Nevin to the Rangers. Good move, Texas. Add an aging offensive player and trade away one of the few bright spots for your horrid pitching staff.

Call off the gun and booze. I'll still have the cake, though. I forgot that their closer is awful. Watching Valverde dominate in the eighth, I wonder why he isn't their closer.

I need a gun, alcohol, and perhaps, some sort of cake.

Astros are now tied for first in the NL WC race. Even though I can't stand them, it's been an amazing comeback.

That would pretty much be one of the worst trades of 2005. Especially since you guys don't even need a closer right now.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised if there's no stink made over LaRussa letting Marquis throw 132 pitches tonight.

Cubs win in their last at-bat again.

Because he was clearly tired. I think the type of pitches should be a factor, and Zambrano labored quite a few times today.

Dusty Baker is such an idiot. Zambrano was up to 109 pitches through seven. Is he done? Hell no. He's back out there for the eighth and prompty gives up two runs and the lead. I know the bullpen's tired, but you can't send out your tiring starter out there when he's already over 100 pitches.

I am really sick of Todd Hollandsworth. Murton's done nothing but good since being called up, we traded for another outfielder, and yet Holly gets all the playing time. Cubs about to waste an inning with a guy on third and no outs.

Dammit, you jinxed it. If the Giants don't score, we could be here all night. Cubs are under the impression you can't win in extras with anything but a homer.

Didn't take long for the Macias substitution to bite the Cubs in the ass. Ugh. They get them at the corners with one out again and can't score. You jackasses have been flying out all night, why can't you do it with a guy at third and one out?

The Padres are never going to win another game again.

Hawkins is going to slit his wrists in the clubhouse after this.

Unless Korey Patterson did a run-in and knocked Hairston out with a bat (after a couple of swing and misses, of course), there's no reason for him to be out when it's likely he'll get at least another plate appearance tonight.

Man, what the FUCK is Macias in the game for?

They should just forfeit any game where the wind's blowing in. It's not like they're facing great pitching or anything. You don't pay much attention to it when they're teeing off, but games like this, where their cleanup hitter can't get a run in from third with one out, it's quite maddening. Especially with the Astros winning and the Cards on their way.

He sure struggled in the seventh, though. I swear to god, the Cubs can't ever have a 1-2-3 top of the seventh in Wrigley.

Kill her.

I wish the Cub hitters would understand that the wind blowing straight in at about 840 MPH is going to making hitting homers damn near impossible tonight. Congrats to Greg, too.

Oh my god. My jaw just literally dropped. That had to be one of the hardest hit linedrives off a pitcher I've ever seen.

Aramis Ramirez. Guy has stacked up an incredible season, but he still gets little press.