The Cubs will try to run their consecutive series winning streak to 10, as they face the Phillidelphia Phillies at the shrine, for a 4 game set. That means they have to take 3 of 4, to maintain their streak. Now that will not be easy! Talk about not easy, how about the game 1 match-up. It will be lefty Cole Hamels (11-8 3.20 ERA) facing Dempster (15-5 2.85 ERA) Dempster will be facing a dynamite lineup that features Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell. But Ryan has been tremendously successful at the shrine this year. Going 11-2 with a 2.77 ERA there) . With Harden, Lilly and Zambrano working the last 3 games, I like their chances at home, where they are 30 games over .500,-to continuing the series streak. It should be interesting to see ex-Cubs Jaime Moyer (pitching the last game of the series) and Scott Eyre (in their bullpen) again. The Cubs have done pretty well against Lefties this season. Of course, they have done well against pretty much eveyone....Now 33 games over .500 at 83-50.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I like our chances with the 4 guys we got going to the mound.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I am really looking forward to this series. The Phillies have a lot to play for
after fallling behind the Mets in their own division. I haven't been this excited
for a Cubs series since they played in Milwaukee. I think it will have a bit of
playoff atmosphere to it, let's hope the Cubs can hang in there against these
scrappy Phillies. If they take 3 of 4 I would be estatic.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Jimmy Mac in the booth! He can't seriously be a Cub fan can he?

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-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

Well, this was an unfortunate evening, wasn't it.

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If the price is right, I'm sure he'd be.

Big homer by Fontenot!

Bases juiced!

I wonder if Lee thinks everyone that was standing and cheering for him was just there to socialize lol

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

PWNED!!!!!

GRAND SLAM!!!

Holy shit!

DAMN, he crushed that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

99 RBIs now for ARAM

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Hahaha. Dry ice burn.

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Aramis is sick. He has to be in top 5 for MVP voting.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

The center fielder's reaction was priceless....

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It sure was.

I cannot even fathom what that must feel like to hit a ball like that and know it is gone and with that crowd and all...it must be an amazing feeling!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Reed Johnson is really dumb on the bases, he has been picked off a few times this season.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

that was a big win.

great win tonight!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Great win for the Cubbies.
A-Ram was certainly "The Man" tonight.

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President of Blake Shetlon fan club

Wow, what a win. I was at my standard BW3 "wing night" with my friends; when Dempster gave up those runs, my friend turned to me and said "the Cubs are going to lose tonight." "Probably," I replied, ".. but then, their specialty has been getting into the bullpen and beating the shit out of it." Pocket-rocket comes up, and I'm all singing the pocket-rocket song and shit, and then *bam*, he comes through yet again. The Phillies bring in Darby, and my friends and I decided the Cubs need to play some "home run Darby." Cubs load the bases, and Ramirez smokes the ball; off the bat, I thought it was in play, and I start to say "damn," when suddenly I saw the center-fielder's reaction, and I just sat there in stunned disbelief as the Cubs went ahead with a grand slam. Incredible. My friend turned to me and said "ha, you were right about the bullpen." Indeed; this team feasts on bullpen pitching!

I'm starting to believe we're seeing the proverbial "TOD."

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Heard this on the ride home from Racine, I think I freaked out some people in southern Wisconsin when I started honking the horn and yelling out the window. Good stuff.

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Only if you are a hating Sox fan, a Brewers fan or a Phillies fan.

For Cubs fans it was pure Bliss!!! Another big win against a quality opponant and a tough pitcher as well. Well-to be fair, they didn't do much at all against Hamels. As Matt in the Crown pointed out, it was another game where they beat the oposing bullpen. But it was huge to win the game Hamels started. 34 games over and 1/3 of the way to a 10th winning series.Big knock again by Aramis. Great job by Kerry against their top hitters in the 9th. He earned this save. This is fun!!!

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Go Cubs!!!!

IIRC, they only need to go 2 over .500 to win 100. Awesome.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Great game last night indeed. This team never seems to be out of it
even when the chips are down. Last day of summer hours today so
I will be home to enjoy the game this afternoon. I hope Harden can
have another solid outing and we start hitting the ball around the park
early.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I spoke too soon regarding the unfortunate evening. I heart the Phillies bullpen.

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This is a big one. If the Cubs are to keep the winning series streak alive, this is a game that may be crucial, as tomorrows starter, Brett Myers is not only on a hot streak (16 scoreless innings, including 7 shutout innings against the Dodgers in his last start) but also has a very good record against the Cubs-6-3 with a 2.63 ERA. Overall on the season, he is a less stellar 7-10 with a 4.49 ERA. He will be facing Ted Lilly 13-7 4.23 ERA.

In todays match-up Joe Blanton will take the mound having never faced the Cubs (usually not great for the opposing team) He is 6-12 overall on the season with a 4.75 ERA. But since being traded to the Phillies, he is 1-0 with a 4.03 ERA. However, we have Rich Harden going for the Cubs. He's sporting a nifty 4-1 record (should be 6-1, but for some loust bullpen work) with a 1.47 ERA with the Cubs. Overall, he is 9-2 with a 2.00 ERA. If Harden is able to get the win today, then even if Myers continues his hot streak and career trend against the Cubs, it would mean they would have Big Z going against Jaime Moyer for the series win. Even with Zambrano having a rough patch in the season lately, I believe he will be at his best for this one. Plus, I think they be able to get to Moyer.

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Go Cubs!!!!

The Cubs aren't exactly world beaters when they are facing a pitcher for the first time. We'll see how much information Harden will be able to give the Cubs hitters when facing his ex-teammate.

Harden a little shaky early but the Cubs have a duck on the pond in the form of Soriano in the
1st. We will see what happens.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Got Soriano to 3rd and Aramis had a 3-0 count going and then I think his
head started to swell and put pressure on his brain. Took a quetionable
strike and then swung wildly at one. Bounced back to the pitcher. Let's
hope Harden can pull it together here.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami