Same result, different reasons

So, I don't expect much from Jason Marquis starts. Haven't all year. Maybe that's not the most fair statement, especially recently, but hey...
With Sheets going to the mound, I gave it about a 30% chance the Cubs would win the game. Turns out I was right, but not for the reason I thought.

Sheets leaves - again - early because of shoulder stiffness. I call it "I'd rather not get slapped around like the little Bee-otch that I am" Stiffness, but you know - po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe. So one of the bottom 3 bullpens in the majors takes over for 7.1 innings, and we can't touch them. Argh. This is pretty much par for the course with how my day was going, so not entirely surprising.

Bottom line, the Boo-hoo Crew needed that game a lot more that the Cubs did. No biggie. We'll just spank Bush tomorrow and clinch over the weekend. Can't argue with that :).

Sheets pitched for about a minute right?

off day...

So the Cubs put the cap on a nice series yesterday. I just love it when the opposing team boots a ball and we turn it into 5 runs...And Chris Carpenter left the game on a medical...Hello Mark Mulder - where ya been? If that's not enough to drive the final nail into the coffin, I don't know what is...

So the Brewers won today - a-holes. The Diamondbacks picked up Adam "Dunn hit ball with little stick!!" (It sounds a lot funnier when I _say_ it, but anyway. Do they really think Dunn is the answer? Nothing against the guy, but boy oh boy, I hope the Dodgers don't have anything planned for October - they'll be busy. At least for 4 games while the Cubs wipe the floor with them. I'm factoring in one loss since we did split the series in LA this year.

Following that, if I had to pick the Phillies/Marlins/Mets vs Brewers, I'm going to have to go Brewers. History has proven though that we can beat them. It'll be an interesting series. I'm thinking Sheets v Zambrano, Sabathia v Harden, Parra v Dempster and with all the extra off days the networks throw in, prolly Sheets v Zambrano again. Or possbily Lilly v Busch? Not even sure where the Brewers rotation depth goes after Parra. We'll see...

I don't even know enough about the AL to make any predictions...

Howry.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the game yesterday, but I REALLY wanted to BEAT CC. 4 - and - 1, MF'er. But enter Gofer Howry, or possbily "Bomb" Howry. Throws a low-outside pitch to Russel Branyon. WHO THE HECK THROWS A LOW-OUTSIDE PITCH TO RUSSEL BRANYON. The fact that he can't hit a pitch above his shoelaces is well-documented...

Again, great win, so that rules. A buddy of mine asked if we should have a bet - who gets more wins - Harden or Gaudin? Not funny, but funny.

If I can figure out how to do a poll, maybe I'll put Bomb or Gopher up for a vote...

There's a minute for ya. Let's kick the crap out of Sheets

Brews Vs. Cubs

So here's an interesting series. Cubs need 2 to leave town in first place by themselves. So who's got more pressure? The Brewers are the chasers, this is true. The Cubs leaving town 1 back won't kill them, but will drive Cubs fans into a panic.

Bottom line - CC's tired - 3 complete games in a row. Without a lot of first-pitch swinging, he won't go 9. Sheets is a injury waiting to happen. He's also prone to steals. Cubbies better be running like jackrabbits tomorrow. Get them out of the game early - 6th or 7th inning, and we've got a good chance. Deep counts. I know I said that yesterday, but this is emphasis. The Brewers bullpen is an accident waiting to happen. Also keep an eye on Bill Hall in the late innings. He's on a bit of a hot streak. And we already know about Braun and Fielder.

If the Cubs win 3 of 4, I'm extatic. If they lose 3 of 4, it's not horrible, but it will certainly ruin my week. My best realistic hope - 2 of 4. I can live with that.

But also consider - the Cubs are 1 sweep away from just about burying the Brewers...Cross your fingers Cubs fans. They ARE on the road...[shudder]