Wow.
What a turnaround from earlier in the season. This Cubs team looked to be stacked with talent before the season started, but played like absolute SHIT for the first half. But man oh man what a difference a few months make.
The Cubs beat the Pirates for the third time in a row today, and while nobody is saying the Pirates are exactly a World-Class Ballclub, they are a group that have tormeted the Cubs for the last few seasons. Zambrano beat Tom Gorzelanny today, showing that maybe he doesn't really have our number after all. I think he had beat us every time he pitched against us going into today.
And in Hotlanta, the Braves beat the Brewers for the third time in four games, dropping The Crew to 3.5 games behind the Cubs. I've already gotten several angry calls from Brewers fans today telling me that the refs screwed them out of the game, and I dont know if theres any truth to that, but I doubt it. Sounds like crying over spilled grapes and sour milk to me. This looks like a team, to me, that has finally had the pressure catch up to them. I'll be scared of them next year if they sign some pitchers, but I think they're done.
So with the seven games to play, the Cubs have a pretty comfortable lead and look HOT. Sori, cold early and then hurt late has hit 4 home runs in the last 4 games and 17 in the last 30. THAT is production. Aramis is hitting about 2 3-run jacks per game, and even Derek Lee has found his power-stroke. Oh, did I mention that our young prospect catcher, Geovany Soto, has finally found his way to the majors and is rampaging over opposing pitchers?
I know theres a bit to play yet, but I'm calling the division won. The Cardinals are officially out of contention, and the Brewers would have to win 6 of their last 7 to beat us out if we play even .500 ball. And I think we're better than that, especially facing off against the Marlins for the next 3. A series sweep wins it...
So thats the story. Cubs will likely take the Central and head into a Divisional Round matchup against the winner of the NL-East, be that the Phillies or the Mets. I'm not sure how confident I am against either one of those teams. I sure dont want to see Pedro and Glavine pitching against us, but I'm more afraid of those Phillies bats.
I said alot of bad things about this team early in the season, and I stand by all of them. They sucked. Now, they are playing great and I love them. Hell, I even bought a "Its Gonna Happen" t-shirt the other day, and have been gleefully wearing it about town here in Milwaukee.
I just got a text message from a Brewers-Fan friend who told me "Yeah, but the Packers will take the division".
I think that says it all.
GO CUBS.
-------------------- After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action. If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it. - Ernest Hemingway If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it. In the law courts, in business, in government. There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent. -Cormac MacCarthy He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus
|
Quote:
Pirates Manager Jim Tracy said, after the game...
"We ran into a buzz saw. It's that simple," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "They are very focused and on a mission. After today, personally I think they're going to accomplish it. ... Just everything is going right for them."
-------------------- After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action. If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it. - Ernest Hemingway If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it. In the law courts, in business, in government. There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent. -Cormac MacCarthy He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus
|