A chance for the Cubs to continue in the positive direction appears, as they head into Houston, for a series vs the Astros. Houston has been pretty mediocre and Moehler (who starts game #1 vs Lilly) has not been the same pitcher as he was in 08. His hits to innings pitched and ERA are up and Lilly has a good record vs Houston, so hopefully the Cubs get the series off on the right foot. The favorite Astro of Sox fans-Roy Oswalt (said he would not even consider going to the pale hose) , goes in the finale on Thursday. I would love a sweep, but taking 2 of 3 on the road, would be easy to accept too.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Cubs got on em early but the Mike Fontenot fan club might be pissed about his baserunning.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Finally Lee is showing some signs of life. Not swinging at crap and he seems to be hitting the ball better.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Soto showing some signs of life too. Nice to see.

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

We'll see how they do against KW's BFF Oswalt.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Whats the saying,"momentum is next day's starting pitcher".

Wandi Rodriguez has made the Cubs his personal bitch in Houston over the last few years. I expect the
Cubs to muster up 1 or 2 runs at the most tomorrow. Hope I am wrong, we'll see.

a nice 0-6 for milton. Am I the only one who is perplexed by mike fontenot having more home runs than milton right now?? WTF??? I can not believe how hendry is not getting reamed right now for his god awful offseason. Nice work.

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

Obviously, you have not been paying attention.

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

Here is what I thought was an interesting observation I had. Bradley was 0 for 6...including striking out looking for the last out in the top of the 9th & was obviously pissed. He makes a nice hustling-diving catch for the first out in the bottom of the 9th. Then when the game is over and guys are going through their handshake-fist bump line....Theriot stops and gave a Big hug to Bradley and says something to him. They both laughed and Bradley had a huge grin on his face. I like that and hopefully there is team chemistry building...for whatever the hell that is worth.

Bradley is so lost right now...and if career numbers always "bear out"...then there is "gotta" be some F'n upside to this guys season somewhere! Anytime now would be nice.

_________________
Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

jim hendry is the only person that didnt predict this season from milton bradley. i mean cmon look at the guys career history. hes always injured

Obviously, as plenty of guys, including myself, have been critical of Hendry's choice of Bradley, over Abreau and Ibanez, who were also available ( at a lower salary too). Because the Cubs are still a winning team and in contention, the criticism is not taken as seriously. They may win the N.L. Central still, but not getting Roberts (a true leadoff man ) who was available also, was also bad. Add to that, the fact that he has a somewhat less than stellar bullpen and you must conclude that Jim did not do his best work this past winter.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

also not to keep piling up on the derosa bandwagon but he has 15 more rbi than the cubs team leader and he has more home runs than anyone on the cubs except soriano. meanwhile the cubs are platooning scales and blanco, neither of whom should even be on a major league team trying to win a division

I have to say that Soriano has convinced me he should be the leadoff hitter for the Cubs.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Back to the series. It was nice to see Fontenot have a great night with 4 hits, including a Homer. Soto also broke out of it, and added 3 hits. Another nice job by Lilly, who quietly has taken over as the most consistant quality pitcher on the staff. But they beat a mediocre pitcher (Moehler) who they took the lead from in the very first inning and really should have scored 3-4 runs more than they did, as once again, they stranded runners that were on 3rd with less than 2 outs. But its another notch on the post and they were able to creep another game closer to the top of the division-now tied with St Louis for 2nd. Zambrano vs Wandy Rodriguz tonight. Rodriguez was dominant last year at Minute Maid park and very hittable on the road. It should be a pretty good pitching match up. In the finale Dempster gets to face one of the objects of kenny Williams desires...Roy Oswalt. Oswalt is not the pitcher he once was and wants to be traded, but apparently not to the pale hose. That too, should be a pretty good pichers duel. Dempster has not been as good as last season, but he has consistently gotten the Cubs into the 7th inning with a chance to win. I hope the bats continue to sound as they did in game 1 of this series.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Although if he were still a Cub (which I too think he should be) he would be the regular 3rd baseman, while Ramirez is out. Fontenot would be at 2nd ( to replace DeRosa who would have shifted to 3rd) and the overall defense would be much better. But the team certainly would be better off, had that deal not been made too.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Am I the only person who is in no hurry for Miles/Freel to come back from the DL? Can we tell those guys to take another couple of weeks off?

_________________

It would have been nice to have a couple compensation picks in last nights draft instead of letting Kerry Wood walk away for nothing.

All this could have been avoided if the Cubs signed Geoff Blum in the off-season,like I wanted.
He has decent stats,looks like a good glove & is a Chicago Hero! Still can't figure out how the Sox let him go. They could use him now,too!

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

As far as I can tell, Miles brings little to the team. He's got the slowest bat on the club. Maybe he needs to be traded fr a low level prospect.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Darkside, you just do not look right dude.

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

It was time for a change. Saw this little gem while watching the game last night. Made me laugh.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Yeah and Jake Fox was actually hitting a bit off the bench. I dont know why you need to keep Miles Scales and Blanco all with the big club. Instead of signing Miles Hendry should have just soaked that money in Kerosene and took a match to it.

_________________

Like to see Milt swing a bit softer and just try to connect at this point.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Great game by Zambrano, but once again the bats and bullpen blow it. Really wish Miles was out for the season, really doesn't do much for me.

_________________
Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

when the pitching's alive, the bats sleep...

One f-ing run. Yet another pitching gem wasted. This is getting quite tedious.

Yeah Guzman lost it, but the bullpen is actually doing quite well... they have had ZERO margin for error all year long.

The starters have been alive all season, the bats and 'pen have been on vacation all season.

_________________
Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Thank God the Hurdle-less Rockies are beating up the Cards and Brewers!

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

now why couldnt zambrano come out in the 9th? he was pretty much shutting that offense down. i dont see why none of the starters on this team can throw a complete game. roy halladay does it almost every start.

and once again milton bradley looks like shit and injures himself. its getting old

We need Peavy!!!