Here we go...

Ok, I did not root root root for anyone but the Cubs. I honestly would've loved to see the Mets, but the Dodgers were #2 on the list. With Ramirez, Ethier, Kemp, Blake, Martin. That's a heck of a lineup.

I hate to see if but if Zambrano freaks out again, this is going to be a tough series. If he can stop psyching himself out and just pitch how he's capable, then we're golden. The first two games will determine the rest of the series. Dempster needs to grab that first win, so Z doesn't put even more pressure on himself. If we split, I can live with that. If the Dodgers win 2, may as well go out and party Sat night, cuz there won't be anything else happening...

If Z does blow his top, all is not lost. I feel good about Dempster, Harden and Lilly. If Zambrano steps up and proves he's the ace of this staff - grow up dude - then we can all start booking hotels.

With Lowe's sinker, the Cubs are going to be hard-pressed to get the big hits. It's therefore necessary on them to just hit the ball. Preferably to the holes in the infield. No swinging for the fences unless he's leaving them up. If he's not, God help us all...

It's on...

Ok Cubs fans, here we go -

Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda

Let's take a look shall we?

Derek Lowe - 14 - 11, 3.24
Chad Billingsley - 16 - 10 - 3.14
Hiroki Kuroda - 9 - 10 - 3.84

Hmm...not great...
Lowe - 7IP, 4H, 0ER May 28 @ Wrigley
Chad Billingsley - 6IP, 4H 2ER May 26@ Wrigley
Kuroda - MLB.com freaked out when looking him up.

Overall, not pretty. Tell me again - why did we want to play them? Stupid Mets...But hey, last time I rooted for a team to play against the Cubs in the Playoffs, it was Florida, so I'm just gonna shut up and say, bring 'em on!!

Won't be going to Wrigley for this leg, due to the completely ridiculous "Ticket Lottery" crap the Cubs (maybe other teams) are pulling for this, so I'll be safely ensconced at home. Cross those fingers kiddies - It's go time.

Looking to the future

My HTML is goofy - scroll down...

	Home		Away		Total
	W	L	W	L	W	L
Phillies	2	2	1	2	3	4
Mets	2	0	?	?	2?	0?
Brewers	4	5	4?	0?	8?	5?
Dodgers	3	0	2	2	5	2
Diamondsbacks	3	0	1	2	4	2
Marlins	2	2	2	1	4	3
Astros	4	5	4	4?	8	9?

So here's the realistic list of opponents in the NL Playoffs, and the cubs respective records against them home/away. Kinda surprising actually.

Astros and Brewers have owned the Cubs at home - losing records against both at home. Milwaukee is pretty much our beeotch in Miller, but that's based on one series. We only have an overall losing record to the Phillies, but I can live with 4 and 3. We can eliminate the Astros and Milwaukee for round 1 - same division. Let's look a bit deeper.

Phillies - Great power lineup, but not as deep as the Cubs. Pitching staff is very good 1,2,3, and if you're not winning in the 9th, you're not winning. I'll take Cubs pitching over Phil's, but that doesn't mean I want to face them.

Mets - Much like the Brewers, you could be down 10 runs in the 9th, and not be out of it. In fact, I heard a rumor that the Mets bullpen tried to pull a parakeet out of a toilet after a game, and didn't save that either. Santana scares me, but the rest of their staff is above average, but hittable.

Dodgers - Manny and Blake made this a good lineup, but the rest of the team is not scary at all. The pitching staff is dang good - lowest NL ERA, and yet the Cubs did seep them at home and split on the road. This all happened pre-Manny/Blake tho.

Diamondbacks - Their pitching rotation scaqres the livving crap out of me. They have just enough hitters to not suck, but this is why they're probably not in consideration. We don't have to worry aobut the West unless the Brewers sell their balls to the Devil, so I'm trying not to freak too much. Prolly a little 2007 left in me as well...

Marlins - Oh, I'm sorry...were we supposed to take them seriously?

If I had a choice, in order of preference or most to least, I'd like to face Mets, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, then Phillies.

We'll see how it turns out. Another minute in the future...