[01LUGrad]

I know, all of the Braves fans on this board have already moved on to football, but I can't help but be excited about October approaching. Most of you know by now that I am a 4th generation Cubs fan and have already brainwashed my 6 month old to be the 5th. My grandpa has been through all kinds of heartbreaking seasons and even suffered a heart attack a few years ago while walking to Wrigley to buy tickets. He lives in NW Indiana and took me to games all the time when I was growing up. He still calls me after every big Cubs win and is as excited as ever, even at 79 years old. I know God doesn't care about sporting events, but man, I am going to be pulling every string I can think of in the next month and a half to be able to have a phone conversation with Grandpa after the Cubs have won it all.

Me and my little guy at his first Cubs game this summer. His Great-Grandpa was sitting to our left.

[adam42381]

If Boston can't win it, I really hope the Cubs can.

[flamesbball84]

If Boston can't win it, I really hope the Cubs can.

agreed, the cubs have always been my second favorite team, red sox being first.

[adam42381]

I've always pulled for the Cubs and Braves in the NL. I guess it goes back to my afternoons watching WGN and evenings watching TBS as a kid.

[Sly Fox]

Excuse me while I try not to hurl.

[RubberMallet]

still realling over 16 innings of no hit baseball?

[Sly Fox]

Uh, those 16 innings occurred while their homes were facing the ravages of Ike. Forgive them for feeling a bit distracted.

Actually as a native Cincinnatian, I have been surrounded by the Cubs fans and their supposed angst for my entire life. I'm not buying it.

[01LUGrad]

Sorry for making you sick with my family's "supposed angst"- whatever that means.

[Fumblerooskies]

still realling over 16 innings of no hit baseball after getting bent over by Bud and having to play at Chicago, North?

FIFY...
...and I bet Sly will agree.

[Sly Fox]

Sorry for making you sick with my family's "supposed angst"- whatever that means.

[RubberMallet]

Uh, those 16 innings occurred while their homes were facing the ravages of Ike. Forgive them for feeling a bit distracted.

whatever gets you through it

[RubberMallet]

still realling over 16 innings of no hit baseball after getting bent over by Bud and having to play at Chicago, North?

FIFY...
...and I bet Sly will agree.

they've never played an away game before?

"oh man, look at all these cubs fans we've never experienced THIS before!!!"

[SumItUp]

This was the first time in years that the Astros team (like most MLB teams) traveled on the day of the game. Some players got in cars as early as 4am to drive to the airport for a 10AM flight to Milwaukee. Any comparison between what happened in that two game set and any other "away game"(even though they go on the record as home games) or game in front of hostile or difficult fans is not an equitable comparison.

Bud Selig is an ***.

[SumItUp]

Bud Selig is an ***.

For clarification purposes, *** = ape.

[RubberMallet]

so they've never traveled the day of the game before? reaaaaly? reeeeeeeeeaaly? never?

[01LUGrad]

I think the Astros shouldn't be allowed to count their wins against the Cubs on Sept. 1-3. Hurricane Gustav was bearing down on Louisiana at the time. 5 of the Cubs players had family whose homes were damaged by the storm. How were they supposed to concentrate on a game while that was going on? The mean Astros fans were actually cheering against them! What a bunch of classless fans!

[01LUGrad]

Division clincher yesterday! First back-to-back playoff appearances in, you guessed it, 100 years.

Lou has a week and a half to go to tweak the rotation and keep things sharp. I'm still not sure who I want them to play in the first round. Any suggestions?

Whatever happens from here on, the season will end with me crying.

[RubberMallet]

it will be zambrano, harden, dempster in 3 game.

[01LUGrad]

it will be zambrano, harden, dempster in 3 game.

The only thing I might change about that is getting Dempster a start at home. We all know what his home/road record is...

Which team are you pulling for as a first round opponent? I kinda like the idea of the Mets' bullpen up against the Cubs' late inning rallies. Although the Dodgers' hitting doesn't scare me either. Philly is the only team that makes me nervous.

[RubberMallet]

but his home era/away era are just a few points off. he gets 3-4 runs less of support on the road than he does at home. not something he really has a whole lot of control of.

harden is teh true ace of the staff, lets be honest.

zambrano - you have to start him the first game because he's insane and a basketcase and will probbaly explode if he doesn't start game 1. but i'm on record saying he shouldn't start game 1

if we go zambrano, then dempster only because of his home/away record (wins and losses to me or so vastly overrated in baseball its unbelievable), then the best pitcher you have the pitcher who gives you the best chance to win a game won't start until game three and won't get a 2nd start inteh series if needed. i dont' like that.

and if that is what happens, and we lose, the talking heads will kill us for starting harden in game 3.

[01LUGrad]

Harden on short rest? Eh. The dude is flat out nasty, but he usually packs it in after 5 innings because of a high pitch count. That being said, I would feel comfortable against anyone with Z, Harden, and Demp on the road. You are right about Z's head blowing up if he didn't get the game one start. Let's just hope Lou doesn't decide to pull him after 5 innings to save him for game 4 like last year...ugh.

[Fumblerooskies]

Harden's start has been pushed to Thursday this week...to set him up to go between Zambrano and Dempster.

[RubberMallet]

Harden on short rest? Eh. The dude is flat out nasty, but he usually packs it in after 5 innings because of a high pitch count. That being said, I would feel comfortable against anyone with Z, Harden, and Demp on the road. You are right about Z's head blowing up if he didn't get the game one start. Let's just hope Lou doesn't decide to pull him after 5 innings to save him for game 4 like last year...ugh.

harden's been on longer rests and pitch counts FOR the playoffs...that all goes out the door once october hits.

[qkslvrsrfrboy]

How did I not find this til now? About time we talk about something other than the Braves or the stupid "biggest rivalry ever" duke and NC, that no one outside of North carolina really cares about, but plenty of people at liberty pretend its a big deal.

This IS the cubs year. After last nights win, the Mets might not be too bad of a first round opponent, but at this point, we really could take on anyone and not lose.

01LUGrad, nice seats. Im very upset that it doesnt look like I can be in Chicago to celebrate the world series victory in a few weeks. Stupid classes.

[01LUGrad]

01LUGrad, nice seats. Im very upset that it doesnt look like I can be in Chicago to celebrate the world series victory in a few weeks. Stupid classes.

I have a few cousins between here and Chicago and we are seriously considering making the drive if there is a clincher at Wrigley...or Cellular One. Of course, we wouldn't buy tickets, we would just stand outside and be a part of the party.