Big Z gets Big $$$

The Cubs finally signed Carlos Zambrano to an extension and put an end to months of speculation as to where he would play next season. Big Z signed a five year deal worth $91.2 million, a good chunk of change but well below what he would've made on the open market.

It says a lot about what type of person Zambrano is and what he thinks of the Cubs. He is 26 year-old ace pitcher who would've had made at least another $30-40 million by signing with the Mets or Yankees but he wants to be a Cub and the Cubs want him. Zambrano will eventually win multiple Cy Youngs, pitch the Cubs to Multiple World Series titles, and see his number hanging on the flag poles with Santo, Sandberg, Williams and Banks.

I hope the end of his contract negotiations will lead to a little more consistency on the field as Z has been going on runs of four great starts and three bad ones. If he can get his head straight, watch out.

Jacque of the Walk

The embattled Jacque Jones continued his torrid second half by hitting a game-winning two-run homer in the sixth and saving a run with a great catch at the wall in the fifth in the Cubs 2-1 victory over the red hot Cardinals.

"Filthy" Rich Hill didn't have great command but he battled and got key outs when he needed to. Hill went 7 innings, allowing just 3 hits, including a solo homer by Albert Poo Holes, and struck out 7. Bob Howry was great in the 8th and Ryan Dempster finally got another save, his last coming only July 29, with a perfect 9th. The Cubs played great game and Jones continued to produce, this is the exact type of game we needed to put an end to the losing. I really think we can sweep the Red Birds and actually have a two or three and a half game lead by Monday.

The Cubbies ended the Cards five-game winning streak and put themselves in a tie with the Brewers in first place. The Beermakers play Cincinnati tonight and first place will be ours with a Reds win. WOW!

As poorly as the Cubs have played this month--6-10, including two separate four-game losing streaks--it is amazing that they can be in first by themselves by the end of the night. It is one of those things that never happen to the Cubs. Usually when they stink, the team or teams ahead of them make a run and we are all left saying "What'til next year", well not this year. I truly believe this is THE YEAR, jinxes and curses be damned.

Rain, Rain went away

After a 1:31 minute rain delay, the Cubbies and Reds finally got under way. Theodore Roosevelt Lilly got off to a rough start but by the time he threw his first pitch the Brewers were already losing 7-1 to the Cards. Can the Lovable Ones finally take advantage of Milwaukee's poor play?

Lilly managed to escape the first, thanks to a couple of nice plays by Ryan Theriot, after surrendering a pair of singles to start the game but gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Jorgenson. The young catcher connected for his first major league hit and sent the ball well into the left field bleachers, 2-0 Reds. Cards up 8-2 as of 8:12 MST.

Jake Fox led off the second with his first major league hit, a double to left, and scored on Matt Murton's double a rocket to center. Jacque Jones followed with a with another double to tie the game at two. Jones, just trying to make contact on an 0-2 pitch, placed a grounder perfectly down the third place line, good job by Jacque. The freshly shaven Jason Kendall hit yet another double to score Jacque. Cubbies up 3-2 on four second inning doubles, who needs home runs when you can just hit doubles?

And just like that, Ken Griffey Jr. tied the game at three with an RBI single. Lilly has allowed the lead off man to reach in all three innings, that's not so good. Even worse, Jeff Conine cranked a three run homer to left to give the Reds a 6-3 lead. Lilly just does not have it tonight and after Zambrano's performance last night we really needed Lilly to step up. If Z and Lilly keep pitching like this we can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Speaking of bad pitching, Reds starter Phil Dumatrait lasted only 2 + innings, gave up five hits, walked four and gave up

After hitting four doubles in the 2nd, the Cubs drew four straight walks to start the 3rd. Jacque got another RBI with his walk and cut the Reds lead to 6-4. Following a Ted Lilly K, Theriot tied the game up with a two-run single, 6-6 baby. Also, its final in Milwaukee, Cards win 8-3. Right now the Cubs are just one game back.

Lilly finally set the Reds down in order in the fourth and Aramis Ramirez led off the Cubs half of the inning with a long home run to put the Cubs on top 7-6. Jason Kendall hit his first homer as a Cub, a two-run shot in the 5th to provide some much needed insurance runs.

Kendall's homer was huge as Michael Wuertz did his best to blow the game, giving up three runs and allowing the Reds to tie it up 9-9. Ted Lilly, despite his poor perfromance, had a chance at the win before Wuertz's meltdown.

Carlos Marmol was shaky in relief, but kept the game tied. Bob Howry did his best Wuertz impression bu giving up a go ahed, two run homer to former drug addict Josh Hamilton.

And That's That. Another loss, this getting bad.

The Road Trip From Hell

The Cubbies are finally back in Chicago after a horrible 2-5 road trip and will play 17 of their next 23 games in the friendly confines. Thankfully, the Brewers stunk it up as well and the Cubs only lost one half game in the standings. The road trip came at the tail end of a 20 games in 20 days stretch in which the Cubs went 9-11 but managed to make a game and a half on the Brewers.

Anyway, the Cubs nearly stole one tonight, in fact, they fell just inches short of winning the game on as Mike Fontenot hit a ball to the right field wall that looked like it was going out but was caught to the end the game. Matt Murton hit a rocket to left earlier in the 9th but the ball was also caught at the wall. Being SO Close to a winning game we had no right to win with the way Zambrano pitched coupled with the Brewers loss to St. Louis makes the loss a little easier to take but this is getting ridiculous.

Now is the time to make a run, Big Z needs to get his head straight after two horrible starts, including tonight's 7 innings, 13 hits and 6 runs allowed, zero strikeout effort against Cincinnati. when Z is going good, the Cubs win, when he's not, neither are the Cubs. He sort of sets the tone for the rest of the team.

The Lovable Ones finally rediscovered their power stroke, hitting three homers--by D-Lee, Aramis, and the one formally known as "the struggling" Jacque Jones. If we are going to make a run deep into the postseason it's going to be because Zambrano and the sluggers.

In the reshuffled bullpen, Bob Howry was perfect in the 9th and Carlos Marmol did a great job after loading the bases in the 8th, striking out Jeff Keppinger and Ken Griffey Jr., and getting Brandon Phillips to pop out to end the threat and keep the Reds lead at 6-4. D-Lee followed that by hitting two out RBI single to make the score 6-5 and Aramis had a great at bat and drew a walk. Darryl Ward couldn't come through as he popped out to end the 8th. Ryan Dempster did not pitch but warmed up in the 8th. It is going to be interesting to see what Lou does with his new nasty boys. I want Demp in the 7th, Howry in the 8th, and Marmol in the 9th, assuming we ever get another save opportunity.

Let's get 'em tomorrow Cubbies.

Meet the new sluggers

Matt Murton, Jason Kendall and Jacque Jones both continued their respective hot streaks and carried the Cubs to a 6-2 win over the Rockies. Jason Marquis was surprisingly solid, allowing only one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings. Bob Howry saved an ineffective Carlos Marmol and the Cubs by getting out of a bases loaded jam in 8th. Once again, the Cubs got production from unlikely sources.

With Soriano on the DL, Aramis hurt and D-Lee struggling, Jones, Murton and Kendall have all stepped up in the last two games. You can read about Jones in the post below, Murton homered again, and Kendall had another three-hit game. This is exactly what good teams do: someone goes down, someone else steps up. The Cubbies have been doing this all year, from Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot to Michael Wuertz and Marmol. Everybody has contributed this season.

A scary moment occurred when Marquis drilled Jeff Baker in the face wit h a 91 mph fastball, let's hope Baker is O.k. and the Rox don't misinterpret the play as intentional. I have had enough of the fighting this season.

Those stinkin' Brewers won 5-4 in 11 innings against the unbeatable Astros so the Lovable Ones will have to wait another day to reclaim their rightful spot atop the N.L. Central Standings. Why delay the inevitable Brewers? It's gonna happen.

Jacque This Way

For whatever reason, Jacque Jones is enjoying batting second. Maybe its the extra fastballs he sees batting ahead of D-Lee, Maybe its the added confidence that comes with batting higher in the order. Whatever it is, keep Jacque in the two hole.



In his last two games, both of which Jones was batting second, Jones is 7-10 with a double, a homer and 6 RBI. WOW. For most of the season, Jones has been my least favorite Cub, I have pined for Hendry to trade him. Not anymore, Jones is carrying this club and to think, we almost gave him away to the Marlins. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make.

That's more like it

Somehow, some way, the Cubs scored 10 runs last night in Denver without Aramis and Fonzie, with DLee going 0-5, and with only one quadrabagger. That's cool.

The 10-2 win for the Lovable Ones puts them just a 1/2 game behind the Brew Crew. The Cubs put an end to their four-game losing streak by exploding for 10 runs in the first four innings.

Coincidentally, Sweet Lou held a pregame team meeting and I don't know what he said but it sure worked. Jacque Jones went 4-5 with 4 RBI, DeRosa had three hits, Theriot scored two runs, Kendall had three hits and my man Felix Pie had a pair of doubles. That is a lot of contribution from a lineup that has been struggling.

Theodore Roosevelt Lilly won his 13th game by allowing only two runs in six innings. The new Nasty Boys, Wood, Marmol, and Howry, combined to strike out five in three hitless innings.

This might have been the best the Cubs have played all year and they did so at a time when they had been struggling and their opponents were Red Hot. Good Job boys keep it going tonight and let's pray that Jason Marquis doesn't get shelled.

Why Can't We Win

Are you freakin' kidding me? The Cubs just got swept by the woeful Houston Astros. The silver lining is the Brewers got swept by the Rockies but still, we lost three in a row to the'stros.

Aside from Rich Hill on Monday, the starting pitching was horrible. Big Z stunk up the joint tonight, allowing 7 runs in 5 2/3 innings. He also broke a bat over his knee after striking out with the bases loaded in the third. Why does he do that? It is stupid, I realize he is an emotional guy but he is also a Cub, isn't that sort of tempting fate? He is our ACE, imagine if he got hurt breaking a bat over his knee, come on Carlos, THINK!

The Pitching looked solid compared to the impotent offense, I say impotent because they played without wood with runners in scoring position. For the series with RISP the Lovable Ones went 2-33. Seriously, 2-33. Tonight's 13 men left on base ran that total to 23 in the series. Wow. That Sucks.

Let's hope that sweet, thin Colorado air will give the Baby Bears bats a boost. Ted Lilly goes tomorrow and something tells me he is in for a pounding, I hope I'm wrong but I am seldom am.

Boo Brewers, Boo Birds.

Thank God the Brewers Suck too.

Despite losing four out their last five games, including three in a row, the Cubs are only a half a game out of first in the N.L. Central. The Cubs have looked sluggish and uninterested, of course losing Alfonso Soriano for two weeks doesn't help, but the Brew Crew have looked horrible.

The Beer Makers have lost four consecutive games and seven out of their last 10. Milwaukee has lost its last two games by a combined score of 30-8. In their last seven innings--the last three Tuesday and first four Wednesday--the Brewers have allowed 27 runs. The Cubs pitching is not looking good but at least they're not falling apart. So, as bad as the Lovable Ones have been the last few days, a win tonight against the 'stros and they're back in first. HA.

After watching Tom Glavine win his 300th game and Fonzie get hurt Sunday, The Cubs saw Eric Munson (who?) hit a walk-off single Monday to waste a great outing Filthy Rich Hill. Tuesday, Sean Marshall was bad and once again the Cubs' bats never got going. Angel Pagan got hurt and Will Ohman was sent to the minors--Thank God.

Ohman is my least favorite Cub, now that Jacque Jones is hitting, and I'm glad to see him go. Hopefully Scott Eyre has realized that the season has started and can step it up.

Soriano is out until at least Labor Day but with Eric "your brother sucks, I hope you don't too" Patterson and Felix Pie in the Show, we might be O.K., Soriano hasn't been hitting lately and his defense has been bad, so maybe he needs a break.

Big Z is going tonight and if he is to fulfill his destiny of winning the Cy Young, he must stop the bleeding of Cubbie Blue. The Mad Venezuelan is going against Roy Oswalt, so runs will be scarce. I hope Zambrano is on tonight because getting swept by the lowly Astros is not a good way to head into Colorado to face the Red-Hot Rockies.

Let's Go Cubbies get a win, get back in first and get the hell out of Houston.

Bow Down to the King

He did it. Barry Bonds just broke the All-Time Home Run record. No. 756 came on a 3-2 count in the 5th inning off of Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik. Congratulations Barroid.

Truthfully, I am so happy that I witnessed that. I don't really approve of what Bonds has allegedly done, but still its history. I wasn't alive when Hank Aaron hit 715.

So, for anyone who was born after April 8, 1974, like it or not, this is the difining sports moment of your lifetime.

Also, it was great to see Hank Aaron's video message to Bonds. If he can do that, why can't Bud Selig even show up for the record-breaker or clap when he tied it?

Brewers Won't Go AWAY

Prince Fielder and Corey Hart prevented the Cubbies from regaining the top spot of the N.L. Central Standings.

First things first, the Cubs shook off yesterday tough loss and rebounded to beat the Mets 6-2. Ted Lilly was solid going 7.2 and allowing only two runs, a pair of Solo homers to Mr. Pee Hands himself, Moises Alou. Jacque Jones went 3-4, DeRosa had two RBI and the Lovable Ones scored all their runs in the 3rd. The Cubs managed to chase John Maine, the Mets best pitcher this season after just 2.2 innings. All right, so far, so good.

The Phillies held a 5-1 lead over the Brewers and it looked as though the Cubbies would be back in first.

Life was good a couple of hours ago. Then Cole Hamels gave a two-run double to the pesky J.J. Hardy, and a RBI single to Prince Fatty.

The Phils took a 5-4 lead into the 8th and what happened? The Fat One cranked a two-run dong into the upper deck in right field.

Top 9, Cordero in for the save: Chris Roberson, inexplicably swings and misses at a pitch in the dirt with a 3-1 count and then flys lazily to right.
Noted Cub Killer, Tad Iguchi, follows and hits one high and deep, it could be, it might be, AWWWWW, it's caught by a leaping Corey Hart, who contrary to popular belief, does not wear his sunglasses at night. The replays show the ball would have cleared the fence easily. The nice play by Hart is followed by another Fly out to right and the Beer Makers remain in first. Whatever.

Sunday, Jason Marquis pitches for the Cubs and Tom Glavine goes for his 300th career victory for the Mets. As much as I like Glavine and would love to see probably the last guy to win 300 do so, Sunday's game is must win.

The Cubs beat up on a lot of bad teams during their torrid run and now they need to beat good ones. They split with the Phils and can win this series against the Mets.

Also, I have been trying to write the Brewers off for a long time, but they are a good team and they're not going away. I wish they would but I don't think so.

One last thing: Barry Bonds will tie the record tonight.

D-D-Dempster and the Mets

Once Again Ryan Dempster was destroyed by the Mets and once again the Cubs lost, this time 6-2. Dempster, our alleged closer, allowed four runs in the 9th as the Mets broke open a 2-2 ballgame.

His last appearance against the Mets saw Dempster give up five runs and blow a four-run lead in the 9th as Carlos Delgado hit a two-run walk-off single to give the Mets a 6-5 win on May 17th. Check out his stats against the best team in the N.L. this season:

Dempster vs. NYM: 135.00 ERA, 0-2, .750 BAA, Dear Sweet Lou, give Dempster the next two days off.

A couple of positive notes, Kerry Wood was activated and nearly entered the ballgame but Lou put in Bob Howry after Jason Kendall got his first big hit as a Cub and tied the game at two with a double in the 7th. Many fans thought Wood was coming in to pitch the 8th and began cheering only to see Howry come running in from the pen.

And the Red-Hot Derrek Lee went 2-4 with a HR. If he can rediscover his HR stroke, watch out. Lee is 6-12 with four doubles, a homer and 2 RBI in August. We are definitely going to need some more production out of our best hitter down the stretch.

Big Z didn't have it today but still only gave up one run in 5+ innings before leaving with heat related cramps. Zambrano tied a career high by walking 7 but made quality pitches when he needed to and kept the Cubs in the game.

Anyway, lets go Phillies tonight, beat the Brewers.

Welcome To Chi-Town

The N.Y. Mets are in town and are sporting the best record in the National League. The Cubbies, meanwhile, are still in first place, percentage points ahead of the Brewers.

Last time we saw the the Mets, on May 17, Ryan Dempster gave up five runs in the ninth as the Lovable Ones lost 6-5. Since then, the Cubs are 39-29.

Today's possible playoff preview features Orlando Hernandez taking on Big Z. Z is 5-1 with a minuscule 1.91 ERA in his last six starts. Let's hope he can keep that up against what is probably the best lineup in the league.

Kerry Wood is active and may pitch today, welcome back Kerry.

Hey Chicago whaddya say? The Cubs are gonna win today

Reflections of Loco Lou

Sweet" Lou Piniella is the best thing to happen to the Chicago Cubs ever. He has given the team a huge boost by instilling a great chemistry in the clubhouse and hatred of losing.

The Cubs have always had the mindsets of failures, they expected to lose and accepted it. Not anymore, Sweet Lou has changed that and taught the Cubbies that LOSING IS NOT O.K., it is unacceptable.

For the first two months of the season, the Cubs played like, well, the Cubs. Bad base-running, pitching, defense and a lack of clutch hitting continued to plague the group commonly referred to as the Lovable Losers.

Then Sweet Lou became Loco Lou on June 2. Since Loco Lou berated and kicked dirt all over poor Mark Wegner the Lovable Ones have the best record in all of baseball. They have eliminated nearly all of the mental mistakes, the bullpen quit sucking and the Cubbies are now in first place in the N.L. Central.
Many Cubs fans, including myself, were clamoring for Joe Giradi, Ryne Sandberg or even Jody Davis to get the managerial job before the season. Now, we all say, Thank God for Lou Piniella.

Go Cubs Go

Hey Chicago What Do You Say?

The Cubs Are Gonna Win Today

Loser...A Tribute To The Chicago Cubs

Losers NO More. Next Year is Finally Here

We're still in first place...

Despite a poor showing Thursday against the Phightin' Phils, the Lovable Ones are still in first. The Fading Fast Brewers lost again to the Mets, this time 10-3 and remain percentage points behind the Cubbies.

Sean Marshall,who has been great in his last four starts (1-1, 2.31), got shelled for seven runs in 2 2/3. Rocky Cherry (a good porno name, if anyone's looking), Scott Eyre and Michael Wuertz all pitched well out of the pen to keep the Cubs close.

Down 7-1, the Cubs kept chipping away and thanks to Ryan Theriot's RBI single in the 8th, cut the Phils lead to 7-6. Will Ohman allowed three runs in the 9th and the Phightin's escaped Wrigley with a four game split.

Next Up: the Mets, the best team in the N.L., it will be good to see how we fare against them. Also, Tom Glavine will attempt to capture win #300 Sunday Night on ESPN. I like Tommy G., but let's hope he can wait until next week.

Friday features a great pitching matchup between two guys with great nicknames. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez takes on "The Mad Venezuelan", Carloz Zambrano. Also, the long-awaited return of Kerry Wood.

Welcome back Kerry, Go Big Z, So Long Brewers and Hello Playoffs.

AC 00 00 00--It's Gonna Happen