That was not a 'hindsight call'. It's just that anyone who was realistic about the Cubs, even if unbiased as ever, were hung up on and written off as a bitter Sox fan.

You look at the standings (Arizona winning the toughest division in the league and coming off tough games against Col vs the Cubs winning 85 against no competition, a division where teams like Toronto or Seattle would compete. Even the horrible Mets who performed one of the greatest collapses in history would've made the playoffs in that division),

look at the pitching matchups (Cy Webb and Davis, soft throwing lefty type who shuts down either Chicago team)

look at the week before, where the Cubs got swept by the Marlins and needed a Reds minor league team to get back on track...

Not that much of a shock

I did not like the match-up with Arizona either. But I called in a week before they started the series, when I saw they might be matched with the D-backs. I thought that Webb was the best starter on either team and that Davis might do well also, as he had good luck against the Cub's in his past. Your point about them having 5 more wins and that having been accomplished with them playing in a superior division, is very valid as well.

Elmhurst Steve