Welcome back D-Ro!

2 run shot in his first swing in a week. I have a reliable source in the radio booth that says Ron Santo just pooped.

Bracket Challenge

So, MLB.com has this bracket challenge and while I know zilcho about the AL, here are my picks -
Divisional -
Brew/Phil - Phil in 4. This is to account for 1 Sabathia game.
Cubs/Dodgers - Cubs in 3. As much as ESPN hates the Cubs and despite John Kruk's prediction that the no-no completely screwed Zambrano, I think he steps up. This is OUR series boys.
Rays/Twins or Sox - Rays in 3 - Doesn't matter who wins that crappy AL Central, they really have no place here...
BoSox/Angels - Angels in 4 This one's a tough call, but I figure BoSox can scrap one win before going away and leaving us all in peace. Beckett's injury doesn't help.

Cubs/Phil - Cubs in 6. While the Cubs have home field advantage, I don't see them beating the Phils more than once at home, so I'm banking on Dempster and Z shutting them down here, winning one on the road of the three, then winning once more at home. If it goes to game 7, I'll poop.

Angels/Rays - I think this is where the Rays fold. I've got the Angels in 5, thinking the Rays can manage one win. But mostly I think the Angels offense, pitching and closer are just too much for the Baby Rays.

World Series -

This is mostly a vanity pick. I've got the Cubs in 6. How this is all gonna play out, I have no idea, but I have to believe that this is the best Cubs team in decades and if it ain't won this year, I'm not sure how many other chances we get. So, this one is a complete flyer judging from the facts, but there ya go...

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.

Playoff roster part II

Lou today indicated that the playoff roster would probably include 11 pitchers. So let's reorganize the list a bit.

Pitchers:

Duh

1. Ryan Dempster - the most consistent pitcher of the year. Potentially a Game 1 Starter. Best beard/goatee (GOAT!!!!) on the team.
2. Rich Harden - He can only throw 16 pitches - but those 16 are NASTY!!
3. Ted Lilly - One hitter and a clincher in the past two starts.
4. Kerry Wood - Reliable - about as much as Dempster last year. Think about THAT you Dempster haters.
5. Carlos Marmol - who needs a lights out setup man in the post season? These are all 10 - 1 games right?
6. Carlos Zambrano - Dang did he piss Lou off the other day, but he's still an ace, as long as another grandmother doesn't die.

Maybe kinda sorta probably:

7. Jason Marquis - in the bullpen. Get over your ego and learn how to warm up quick. He's pitched well enough to earn it of late.
8. Neal Cotts - need a lefty specialist in there. Not horrible, but let's just hope the game's not on the line.
9. Sean Marshall - Long guy or lefty guy. Rumor has it, the opposing teams might have more than one lefty available to bat, and maybe not consecutively.
10. Bob Howry - he sucks A-holes, but Lou likes him. We can leave him wherever he is when it's over. No need to bring him back to Chicago. We'll mail him his stuff.
11. Chad Gaudin - This is assuming he doesn't attack another dumpster. And he's healthy enough. Seriously dude. Vicodin - look it up.

Position Players

Duh -

1. Geovanni MVP - Er, I mean Soto.
2. Henry Blanco - In case Soto dies or something.
3. Derek Lee - The post season needs double plays too.
4. Aramis Ramirez - Let's hope he's more Mr. Clutch this October as opposed to Mr. I Can't Find The Clutch in My Porsche While Driving Home From Another Frickin' 0-fer" from last post season.
5. Ryan Theriot - "The Riot" I would like to see him run more - like hit and run, not stealing, cuz that's like a 50-50 shot with him.
6. (Sigh) Ronny Cedeno - The only viable backup shortstop on the team which is by the way the only reason he's still employed. Freakin' Niche markets...
7. Mark DeRosa - Hasn't played Catcher, pitcher, or Center Field this season, but hey - that's what clinching early is for. Seriously, that'd be freakin' sweet.
8. Mike Fontenot - Left handed bat with a bit of power, but otherwise a good hitter line to line.
9. Alfonso Soriano - Give him a blind fold in the outfield - it might help, but he's a game changer.
10. Jim Edmonds - Veteran leadership, strong defense, left handed hitter with pop and a boatload of postseason experience. He is one ugly SOB though.
11. Kosuke Fukudome - At the beginning of the season, he'd be number 1 on this list. Now, he's a defensive upgrade. Sad...
12. Reed Johnson - This dude's a gamer. Now if only someone would tell him what game that was.

Maybe kinda sorta probably:

(13). (Sigh) Daryle Ward - I seriously think this could go either way, but he's our pinch hitter. Had a couple good AB's of late, so that'll prolly get him in.

The X-factor - here's the 11/12 pitcher flop.

(14). Felix Pie - Upgraded from "Don't bother packing" - A defensive upgrade with speed just isn't quite enough kid. I understand Iowa has a hotel room with his name burned into the door.

(12). Jeff Samardzija - Only problem here will be Lou spelling his name correctly on the Roster. Hate to lose him on a technicality.

It's a pretty well known fact that pitching/defense wins the playoffs. This is why I see either Sam or Pie making it. The Cubs already have 2 center fielders, so Pie's on the bubble. But they also have no real stolen base threat for late innings, so I'm leaning more toward Pie here. Sorry Jeff. Better luck next year.

The only major upsets I can see here are A. The Hoff knocks off Ward, but he'll have to have one hell of a week - facing at least 3 lefties no less - to make it, or B. If Lou goes with 12 pitchers, leaving only 5 bench players. Not a lot of mix and match if you do that tho.

Win today...

No, not today, today.

The one mistake Lou made last October, was a lack of "Win today" mentality. In Game 1, Z was unhittable, and yet Lou pulled him in favor of Marmol, so that Z could come back on short rest in Game 4. Only problem was - there was no Game 4. And Marmol who was as lights out last year as he was this year, got lit up for a Chris Young HR which ended up being the game winner.

In October, there is no tomorrow. No Game other than the one you're playing now. It's like a soldier holding down a fort, but saving ammo for when reinforcements arrive tomorrow. If 200 guys are charging you, USE THE DAMN AMMO!!!

At the point in the game last year, the D-Backs were so happy there was someone on the mound other than Z, it could've been Cy Young himself and they'd have felt on top of the world.

Lesson to be learned - if your starter is mowing them down like a tommy gun at a peace rally, leave him in. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Don't hold back. Kick them while they're down, burn them and then piss on the ashes.

Or there will be no more minutes...

Pitching thouhts for October...

So here's a few thoughts for the rotation in the postseason. First, Harden is a Game 2 or Game 4 guy. Probably game 4. Since it's pretty well documented that he will not be going deep into games, you're going to need to rest the bullpen after a start of his. Games 2 and 4 have an off day, so there ya go.

Dempster pitches better at home than on the road. Is he the #3 starter then? you can make that case. I certainly wouldn't mind.

Lilly can either be brilliant or very hittable. So you're making him starter number 2 or 4 as well for the same reason as Harden. Precautionary.

Zambrano, while he says he doesn't care when he starts - he cares. Make him #1. We'll need his A++ game against Santana, so run with it. He's also strong enough to go deep and if necessary come in in relief in game 3 or 4 to nail down the series, or come back in 5 if it's necessary.

so In the DS, I've got Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Harden.

Now a WS thought - not getting too far ahead of ourselves, but...

How about Zambrano and Dempster in Games 3 and 4. They're the best bat handlers in the lineup and those games are at Wrigley - in the NL. THIS CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED. In the NL, you have to think Defense and Offense from the number 9 slot. It'd give us one heck of an advantage over the AL counterpart.

Which makes Harden and Lilly games 1 and 2 starters on the road - former AL pitchers, used to the DH. The downside is, there's a better chance of previous AB's against them from the opposing lineup. Unfortunately, this is out-of-the-box thinking and will probably not enter Lou's head. Another option - Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, Lilly . This brings Z back in Game 5, also at Wrigley - if it gets to game 5. But it also means Harden goes game 6 with no off day after...

Soooo many possibilities in such a short minute...