The Chicago Cubs will make the NL playoffs. Saying this as the Cubbies just dropped their 6th game in a row is being optimistic, or am I blinded by the sun in right field in Wrigley?

I know that Zambrano is out and Harden is going to miss a start, and the team forgot how to hit. But this team has to be tested to know it is that good. A week ago, they were clearly the best team in the National League. Analysts said it, announcers said it.  The evidence was clear in their wins on national TV. Now, they've run into a tough patch.

Every team runs into one. It's how you get out of them that says a lot about the team's makeup and character.  This team is made up of veterans and young players. Some have seen playoff action. Some have not. It does bear noting that since their infamous collapse in the 2003 playoffs, the club has been rebuilt bottom to top. New GM, new manager, new players. And, a week ago, everyone was singing their praises. Now, they've hit a wall.

Continue reading "It's Just a Slump...Isn't It?"

At least we know Brett Favre won't beat the Bears this season.  He's out of the Division and now in the AFC.  The Bears will look ugly on offense.  The defense will have to carry this team. Devin Hester will play so much he may be carried off the field from exhaustion, or worse, get injured.   The Bears will finish 6-10 this year. That's my prediction.  I may be wrong and would be glad to eat my words, but I don't see it being a heck of a lot different.

They aren't going to the playoffs this season.  Because you have to score points and the QB position is weak.

The Bears have a no-name backfield with a rookie running back who figures to see a lot of action. I don't like watching the Bears lose games. I love the Bears. But unless they play a ball controlled offense, with effective passing to an experienced group of receivers, they won't win too many games.  The Bears don't have that offense.

Continue reading "A Tough Year For Da Bears"

The Chicago Bears played like Da Bears and  found they have a very good defense, a ground game, and a QB who doesn't make mistakes.  In the process, they upset the Colts 29-13 and started off the season great.

Frankly, they did all the things I hoped they would do.  Lance Briggs picks up a fumble and runs it in for a TD, the Bears get a safety when they stopped the Colts in the end zone. Kyle Orton didn't look like a guy who sees a deer in the headlights, and he played calmly and made some nice throws.  And, most surprisingly, Matt Forte showed he has the heart and played great. His long run for a TD looked like a gift sent from the heavens. A Bear running back who can run!  He gained over 120 yards, by far, the most for a rookie in his debut game.  Heck, he even outplayed a man named Walter Payton in his first game.  It couldn't have been a better start for the Bears, who whipped the Colts on the line of scrimmage, beat them up, and left the Colts and their hometown fans stunned.

Continue reading "Bears Win Big At Indy!"

The Chicago Cubs found out that Carlos Zambrano's shoulder and arm are fine. He didn't get that finding in a simulated game. He didn't get that finding going down to Iowa to pitch to the minors.  He did it by pitching a no-hitter, 10 strike out gem.  The Cubs beat Houston 5-0 before a makeshift crowd of some 23,000 Cubs fans who "rented" The Brewers home park and cheered loudly and long as Zambrano mowed 'em down.

What a way to find out your arm is OK!  Zambrano looked like shades of Kerry Wood and he fanned batters who had no clue where the ball was.  His heat was on --clocking in the high 90's.  If Carlos wants to take another week off and rest his arm, it is fine by me.  It's the first no-hitter since Milt Pappas did it in 1972.  He pitched in the American League for years, and wasn't really a Cub.  Zambrano is.  He truly loves to play and hit for this team.  He is the ace of the staff and will likely get to start a playoff series, assuming, the Cubs make it, and he is healthy. After all, this is the Cubs, and you have to qualify everything. I have learned to never assume anything. They should make the playoffs, but I would want them to finish strong and have players be healthy than to stagger in to the finish line, a couple of guys hurting.  I will say this, if this team is firing on all cylinders, they will go deep this year.

Continue reading "Cubs' Zambrano Tests Arm and Throws a No-Hitter!"

The Chicago White Sox are contending for the AL Central crown with less than two weeks in this dwindling season.

With Minnesota trailing 8-1 to Cleveland, and the White Sox now ahead of The New York Yankees 4-2 in the fifth inning, every game counts.  Actually, every inning counts. The Sox have a slim game and a half lead over the Twins with 12 to play. And, it looks like the 3 game series with Minnesota on the road could be decisive in determining who will play in the post-season.  The White Sox aren't playing small ball this season, they seem to live and die with the long ball. Losing Carlos Quentin for the year was a tough blow. He currently leads the AL in home runs with 36. 

The big questions are can the White Sox starting rotation hold up and can the Sox manufacture runs. 

Continue reading "ChiSox Need Wins"

The Milwaukee Brewers are getting trounced tonight by the Reds and will likely lose their game. Since Ned Yost was shockingly dismissed as manager of the Brewers, the Brew Crew has won only one game with Dale Sveum as his replacement. One of the losses was a nightmare, blowing a 4 runs lead in the 9th, needing just one out, for the win, catcher Geovanny Soto clubbed a three-run HR to dramatically tie the game in the 9th. And, Derrick Lee drove home the winning run in the 12th inning to win, 7-6.  The Cubs edged closer to clinching the NL Central Division.

Whatever the reasons for firing Yost, the cost of firing him isn't paying off right now for the Brewers. This appears to have been a management decision.  It wasn't a baseball one.

The firing appears to have made the team tight as Milwaukee tries to compete for a wild-card berth in the playoffs. A loss tonight and a Mets win, will put them 2 1/2 games out and the noose will get tighter.  A week ago, the Brewers had a lead in the Wild Card. And, Lehman Brothers was still in business. Now, one giant company went belly-up, and the Brewers are on their way.

Continue reading "Firing Yost Was A Bad Decision"

I can hear Harry Caray shout "Cubs Win!"...as the Cubs clinched the NL Central.  Yes, that's clinch the division, a week and a day before the season ends. I can stop chewing my nails for a few weeks.

The Cubs are in the post-season. They have won 93 games this year and if they finish a projected 96-66, that is a heck of a regular season. Clearly the best record in the Natonal League. 

Boy, this is a lot of excitement lately. Carlos Zambrano's end of season no-hitter and shortly after that event, the Cubs clinch at home.  Somewhere, Jack Quinlan, who announced Cubs' games on the radio is smiling. Vince Lloyd and Lou Boudreau are happy. They were an announcing team while I was in high school. And, the late Jack Brickhouse, who called many of Ernie Banks' home runs with an affectionate "atta boy, Ernie!" is calling out a big "Hey Hey."

Continue reading "Cubs Win! Cubs Win!"