163

It's been two months or so since the Cubs playoffs and when they embarrassed themselves, the fans and the city as a whole with their performance (or total lack thereof).

No need to rehash things. If you want to torture yourself further, please see my post-post season blog entry here.

I've taken my time and let the wounds heal a bit from this past October before deciding my course of action. Going forward I am going to continue to support the team (come on, I could NEVER root for the Sox), but not be an "all in" fan. Aka, I'm going to try my best not to read the paper or espn.com every day about the team. Not to watch or listen to 162 games. Not to attend my usual slate of 15-20 games. Not over analyze every single move by Piniella. Not to fret over injuries on the team. Not curse Soriano as he lally-gags another blooper in LF.

I simply don't have the energy to put that amount of time and passion into this team any more until they finally win a playoff game. As I learned the hard way last season, I simply do not put that type of devotion into a six month long marathon only to have them not win a single playoff game for the 2nd year in a row. Especially last year's team. They were the only Cubs team I can remember watching (I was too young in '84 to understand) that I truly thought had the talent and chemistry to do the unthinkable.

So, with that being said, I am looking forward to pitchers and catchers reporting in Feb and hearing Ron & Pat on spring training broadcasts in March. I will tune in to games on the radio when I have the time because I truly enjoy listening to Ron & Pat, but I won't schedule my life/summer around the Cubs schedule. If somebody offers me some free tickets to a game, I will go and I will enjoy myself and I will still keep score.

I think the Cubs will still be a very good team in '09 and depending on how the winter free agent market shakes out (can you believe CC is going to sign a 7 year, $161M deal with Yankees?) I truly think they can be a contender again. However, I'm of the mind set now that the Cubs owe me something in return. And that something is 1 playoff victory. I don't think that's asking for too much. In the mean time, let the new count down begin at 163.



On a final somewhat unrelated note to the team, I was disappointed once again by Ronnie being denied entrance to the HoF. I'm glad Ronnie doesn't seem to be crushed by this total lack of respect by Veterans Commitee like he seemed to be in the past. However, I truly think that Ron deserves to be in. I'm not going to go into a stat analysis of his career, but you can review his career stats here and see for yourself or read a good, in depth case for Santo making it in here or another recent post by Rob Neyer. He said on the day the Cubs retired his number back in October, 2003 that that ceremony was his Hall of Fame, but I know deep down he feels that getting inducted is unfinished business for him. I agree.

163

Winter is officially here

Just had to get the Mourning post off since it's been two solid months, I think the point has been made.

Please stay tuned for a new (more positive) post coming in the next day or two.

mourning

So, it's been almost a week since the Cubs season imploded in on the team, the city and the fans. I've taken some time to ponder what this has meant for me and what this could potentially mean to all the Cubs fans out there. Up until this time I haven't even had the strength to do this post. I'm sitting in the Las Vegas airport at 10:30pm after a week long work conference, waiting to catch the red eye to the East Coast for a good friend's wedding. Nothing is more depressing than the Vegas airport late at night with people waiting to take a red eye. I thought it an appropriate time to write this post.

I've been struggling with many emotions since the 5th inning of game 1 (which I did end up getting a pair of tickets to) when the wheels came off the 2008 season: shock, embarrassment, anger, hope, angst, shame and most of all despair. I think it's fair to say any die hard Cubs fan has experienced roughly the same emotions.

I'm sad to report that at this point I don't have any encouraging words for fans out there to take away. I'm sorry. I've always felt that this blog should be only positive, but this time it hurts too much. It actually hurts more than 2003. Maybe that memory has faded some and 2008 is still fresh so it seems to hurt more, but I don't think so. While 2003's crash and burn was only something that could happen to the Cubs, this year was the 1st time in my life where I truly felt it was THE year. This team was too good for it not to be....and by God, it was the 100 year anniversary sine their last World Championship. It was destiny.

Silly me for having that thought.

I think it also hurts so much more because of the feeling of despair and resignation that if this Cubs team couldn't win a single playoff game, then what hope is there that this will ever happen in my life time?

It also hurts because it became very clear that this was a total mental collapse. I won't go into any details of the series for the same reasons you wouldn't go into the details of a family member's long, painful death, but the Cubs couldn't have played much worse than they did. Game 2 was the worst game they played all season and it was down right embarrassing. I actually had pity for the announcers for Christ sake.

This has naturally led me to evaluate what I do now. These are my options as a Cubs fan:

• Forge on as a die hard fan and say "next year is the year!"
• Stop following the Cubs for good because I just can't take it any more
• Switch over to the dark side and start rooting for the Sox (my cousin pulled this trick out of his hat after '84 with his Father's permission and was rewarded for his Benedict Arnold-like move with a championship in 2005)
• Stop being an "all in" fan with the Cubs until they win one playoff game no matter how long it takes
• Take a step back, put this decision on hold until Spring training when the pain has subsided for a bit, root for the Bears and decide what to do in February

For now, I'm going to put this decision on hold, but I have to say that I'm heavily leaning towards pulling out until the Cubs win one playoff game. I don't mean I won't follow them at all, but I won't make an effort to go to games, I won't make an effort to watch them on tv or listen to the radio broadcasts (although Pat & Ron are often entertaining even without the game), I will stop reading the sports section every day about the Cubs, I will stop reading ESPN daily about the Cubs, etc.

One of my best friends Ed, decided to do this after game 1 and didn't even watch games 2 & 3. If he can pull that off, anyone can. When I sent him a text after inning 2 of game 2, he had no idea what had happened. At that point I envied him. Trust me when I say he's a die hard fan. At the time I thought it was a drastic, knee jerk decision. In retrospect, it was genius and I wish I had followed suit....it's a very tempting proposition. As my other good friend Mike said it best when he told me "I don't invest six months of my life following this team every day for the season to end like this."

Yes I know it's drastic, but desperate times call for drastic measures. When a friend of mine who lives in LA and who is a life long, die hard Dodgers fan (I didn't know they existed until I met him either) emailed me to seriously inquire into the state of my mental health after he didn't hear from me for a few days after the series ended (I owed him one deep dish Chicago pizza from our bet as well), I knew it was time to reconsider how seriously I was taking the Cubs.

I'm curious to know how this postseason's abject failure is affecting the other die hards out there. Please post a comment and let everybody know your thoughts on what, if anything, you're going to different going forward. I'm thinking I'm not the only one who's contemplating this decision.

So, I do apologize for not having anything more positive to say at this point, but that's how I'm feeling. I'll see if the long, cold, gray Chicago winter changes my tune when it's time for pitchers and catchers to report. That's it for now. I wish all the fans out there the best in getting through this off season.

--89 Cubs

11

Update: So, the season is over. Swept by the Dodgers. Not much to say, other than this feels familar but suprisingly worse than years past. Hang in there...

Chat will stay up. An update is coming...


It's playoff time! It's been nine days since I've had a Cubs game to be invested in and I have to say I have enjoyed the time off mentally. I was able to enjoy two Bears games (well, I watched two, but I only enjoyed one), keep tabs on the NL wild card race and even listen to a few Sox games (I am a baseball fan after all), all while getting projects done around the house in anticipation of being completely paralyzed the entire month of October. As I sit here writing this, the Sox make up game vs. Detroit is being delayed due to rain. I don't enjoy the Sox position of having two must win games to have the honor playing Tampa Bay in the 1st round...reminds me of the Cubs uphill climb in '98 and we all know how far that went.

But enough of the Sox, this is after all, CubsMagicNumber.com

On to the playoffs!

I am quite pleased the Brewers won the Wild Card enabling the Cubs to play the Dodgers in the first round instead of the Mets. I know not everybody agrees with me on this, but I think the Dodgers are much more vulnerable than the Mets. The other upside is a potential NLCS match up with the Brewers, which would be good for two reasons: 1. I suspect a good portion of any Miller Park crowd in that series would be Cubs fans. 2. The Brewers could actually beat the Phillies in a 5 game series if they can figure out a way to throw CC twice...which is key because the Phillies scare me. I don't think the Brewers are good enough to beat any other playoff team in a seven game series though, especially the Cubs. Who wouldn't want to play this guy in the NLCS?

Back to the NLDS vs. L.A. I really like our chances here. Here are the pitching match ups for the first three games:

Game 1: Lowe vs. Dempster
Game 2: Billingsley vs. Zambrano
Game 3: Harden vs. Kuroda

Yes, all three Dodgers started listed here are good and have impressive stats. BUT the Cubs have owned the NL West in general and the Dodgers in particular all season long (5-2 in '08 vs. L.A.)....and that was before we had Harden. And the Dodgers have lost one of their key bullpen pitchers for the series in Kuo. The Cubs offense lately seems to have had no problem with hitting very good pitchers which is why L.A.'s starters don't scare me too much. And of course, we have home field advantage.

The biggest advantage to the Cubs over the Dodgers, or anybody in the NL for that matter? The overwhelming feeling by everybody involved, players, management, press, fans, broadcasters, etc. that making the playoffs alone isn't good enough this year. The pervasive thinking is that making the playoffs this year was a foregone conclusion. That only winning the whole thing this year would suffice. That these Cubs and their fans have already been to the NLDS, NLCS...been there done that. We want it all now. Lord knows we've waited long enough that we've earned it. We have the best team in the NL and possibly the MLB so it's go time. Best of all, the players seem to think this as well since day one. Remember when Dempster had the balls to say it in Spring Training and he was laughed at? Well, it doesn't look so silly now.

Here are a few key points that will affect the series from the Cubs perspective:

• Z is a wild card. He could have his no hit stuff or he could melt down in 2/3 of an inning....I only hope it's the good Z that we see. I know he's an emotional guy, but even Z in his most immature moment has to realize how important this is and that the playoffs and everything this season stands for is bigger than him or any blown call, walk, hit batsmen, etc. that may not go his way. I haven't questioned Lou on too many decisions he's made this year, but anointing Z as the 2nd starter for the NLDS is one of them. I think Harden and Lilly have both earned a higher spot in the rotation than Z. Now we risk throwing Z in a pivotal game 5 if it comes to that. Let's hope it doesn't.....of course, he could make Lou look like a genius if he goes out with no hit stuff again. But that's why he's a wild card.
• We need DeRosa. He is my Cub MVP this year. He wasn't the best or most talented player, but he was the most important. Where would we be without his versatility, defense, leadership and career high stats in HR, RBI, SLG, OBP, OPS? He was sidelined last Sunday with a calf strain and hasn't played since. He's a veteran and a gamer, so you know he'll be in, but how effective will he be. The latest on DeRosa does sound promising, but we'll see for ourselves.
• We need Soto. He too has been fighting a small, nagging injury the past two weeks that he suffered in the game that he hit the game tying 2-run HR. Supposedly he'll be 100%, which is good, because we need him 100%. He's the only player that anybody could argue has been as pivotal to the Cubs success this year as DeRosa.
  
• Assuming he makes the roster over Pie, look for Hoffpauir to have some clutch hits in the playoffs. This kid has talent as evidence by his monster season in AAA this year, and so far doesn't appear to have cracked under the pressure in Wrigleyville. That one's just a hunch, but I said it first.
• How well will the Cubs bullpen hold up? We know we can depend on Marmol, but who else? Wood doesn't exactly instill a feeling of invincibility when he takes the mound these days. I'm still confused how Howry made the roster since he can only throw one pitch: a fat ball down the middle of the plate. Samardzjia is unproven and only 27 innings into a big league career (although he wins an award for the best player web site on the team). Gaudin is still recovering from a drunken stooper when he fell into the side of a dumpster after partying after a Cubs victory. It's not exactly the dominating bullpen we had back in June. Although I do feel better with Marquis in there in case some long relief is needed (re: Zambrano melt down).
  
• Cubs and Stubhub. Let's just hope there are real Cubs fans in the stands for the playoffs. It is very evident that the Cubs have decided to sell many tickets directly to Stub Hub for a bigger profit and not ever make them available the general public. This means only those who can afford $300 for a terrace reserved seat where you can't see the scoreboard will be at Wrigley. I wonder how loud and knowledgeable they'll be? (And yes, I'm bitter because I didn't get any tickets).

So, that's my take on the series as a whole from a Cubs perspective. I'll be watching game 1 with my Dad, Sister and a few other close friends. I will update this site after every game, so please come back to see updated posts and continue to count down the number of victories needed for the Cubs to win their third World Championship. Remember, all the Cubs need to do is go 11-8 and they will be World Champions!

0

THE CHICAGO CUBS HAVE CLINCHED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL DIVISION!!!

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!

Can we say anymore to add to this day? To all the Cubs fans out there, have fun celebrating this win and please be safe. Both 89 Cubs and Mister Pickles were able to get tickets to today's game, so say hello to them when you see them in the bars in Wrigleyville.

The Chicago Cubs have fought hard this year. The Cubs have come back to win games that some people felt we had no business to win. We won series after series. Our ace pitcher Carlos Zambrano pitched a no-hitter for the first time in 36 years. This has been a magical ride, but there is still more that needs to be done. Enjoy the champagne Cubs fans. Let's Go Cubs!!! It is time to see baseball played in Wrigley Field, IN OCTOBER!!!

----
Mister Pickles video from the game:

I highly recommend you go to YouTube to watch my videos as you can select "Watch in Higher Quality" link just below the video to the right which makes a big difference. These clips were all filmed in HD which standard You Tube butchers. Here's the link to my profile http://www.youtube.com/user/fh301
The CLINCH VIDEO!


Cubs emerge from the Clubhouse to celebrate on the field:



DeRosa gets interviewed, Theriot with his bottle:


The Cubs storm the Bleachers with Champagne:


The Cubs come right at me @ home plate. I didn't get wet but I could smell the champagne.


We moved to behind the dugout. You can hear me talk about posting the 0 post. Apparently, ILovLou's computer crashed and she couldn't post in time, so I had to email in a quick update.


Photos from the game where Mister Pickles sat:

Alfonso up for bat

I sat with scouts of other teams. They were gunning pitches and keeping notes. I just wanted a win!

The guy next to me from the Texas Rangers. He happened to sport a 1988 LA Dodgers Championship ring. A commenter to this post identified him as Mel Didier. Interesting bio: Link Here I am, happy to be there!
CUBS WIN!. There's the scoreboard with the Win flag and NL Central Champs on the scoreboard! (Click the image for higher res!)

0

000000

From the celebration at wrigley!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

1

BREWERS LOSE!

Magic Number is

ONE

I could comment on today's game in Wrigley, but I won't. I will say that Dusty Baker has helped the Cubs almost asure a clinch tomorrow for a playoff spot with his Reds today. In Dusty We Trusty! Well... When he's not the Cubs manager at least.

So, tomorrow brings two games that make the number go down that start at the same time. The Cubs take on the Cardinals @ 2:55pm at Wrigley AND the Brewers take on the Reds @ 2:55pm at the Great American Ballpark. Well, the likelihood of a clinch is high. It could happen even when the Cubs game is still going on! I'm working my angles to make sure I make it into Wrigley!

GO CUBS! and remember, cubsmagicnumber.com doesn't stop at 0. When the playoffs start, we reset to 11, which represents the wins needed for winning the World Series. We'll be counting down to 0 once again and end 100 years of patience! GO CUBS!

---

This magic number is dedicated to all the Cubs fans who have passed but we know would have wanted to be here with us to celebrate the Cubs.

I dedicate this number to Edward Jay Bennett's memory (his brick). He was a huge Cubs fan that arranged World Series tickets for me in 2003, which of course weren't played. He left us way too early just shy of 28. He would have wanted to be no where else than Wrigley when the Cubs clinch and won it all. I miss you big bud and would have loved you meet my son, Edward, "Teddy".

Add to the comments your story of a Cubby fan you've lost.

2

CUBS WIN!!

Listening to this one on the radio (while the TV was on mute) was great! If it's possible to die of happiness, I would imagine you would sound like Ron did during Soto's HR right before you expire.

WOW, what a game. There have been so many dramatic come backs this year, but this is probably my second favorite behind the infamous 8-run comeback vs. the Rockies on May 30. There's the opening day come back keyed by Fukudome's HR (remember when he could hit?), but we ultimately lost that game, so today beats that out.

So, the magic # is down to 2 and the Cubs can clinch as early as tomorrow night after they play a day game vs. the Cardinals. Personally, I like the prospect of the Cubs clinching on Saturday while they are still playing their game (it could happen if the Brewers lose before the Cubs win; both first pitches for the Cubs & Brewers on Sat. are at 2:55). Imagine that scenario...41,000 fans score board watching while the game in front of them at Wrigley is in the 8th and the Brewers game becomes a final? I wonder what the protocol on the field will be? Will the Cubs acknowledge that mid-game? I can't imagine a better opponent to clinch against than the Cardinals and LaRusa.....good stuff. Well, it would be interesting to see, but I won't be disappointed if the Cubs just clinch on Fri. night with a Brewers loss after the Cubs have already won in the afternoon.

Today's game:

• Nice to see Harden bounce back and have a quality game after a very bad 1st inning.
• Too bad Samardzija got tagged for 4 unearned runs after a rare error at 2nd by DeRosa.
• Ramirez remains on fire going 2-4 with a 2B, 1 RBI and a BB(nice to see somebody besides Fielder in the zone).
  
• Edmonds continues to do well crushing an opposite field HR and an RBI single in the 9th with 2 outs (although it was odd seeing the veteran arguing balls and strikes in the 11th and getting ejected mid at bat. Kind of a rookie mistake if you ask me).
  
• And of course, Soto continuing his Rookie of the Year season with a CLUTCH, MONSTER smash with 2 outs in the 9th with the wind blowing in.
  
• The camera panned the park right before the rally in the 9th to show that easily half of the fans had already left. Fools....
  

So, get ready Cubs fans, it could happen as early as tomorrow night, giving new meaning to the phrase TGIF! If not, maybe Saturday and hopefully by Sunday. Always nice to celebrate at the friendly confines (oh yah, I'm also going to the game on Saturday). And then it's cruise control for the rest of the season.

Quick side note about the rest of the NL playoff race: I talked to my buddy Nelson who lives in Philly yesterday who is a Philly fan, when it occurred to me that the remaining Cubs schedule really screws the Phillies who are fighting for a playoff spot via either the NL East crown or the Wild Card Spot. The Cubs, who presumably will be on cruise control and resting many of their regulars with the best record in the NL virtually locked up (and home field through the NLCS as a result) still have to play the Brewers three times in Miller Park and the Mets four times in Shea...which happens to be the two teams the Phillies need to beat out for the playoffs. Too bad for the Phillies the Cubs won't be any help...which is fine by me, because of those three teams, the Phillies are the one I would least like to see in the playoffs.

4

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
FOUR

What happened to 5? Well, when you beat the closest contender (Brewers still, amazingly), you get -1 for your win and -1 for their loss!

Close game today and the Cubs spectacular pitching was a bit off (no no-no or 1 hitters), but they delivered CC his first loss as a Brewer! Houston lost with their ace at the mound, Oswalt, which means a sweep means a clinch @ Wrigley! If you're holding a Thursday ticket, I'm jealous. Hold on to it dearly. The Big Blue Train may make it's big celebration stop that day!

It appears that Milwaukee less Yost is still the chokers we've come to know and love in September.

---

Today is Young Cub Fans Day.

Here's Nikko and his blankey from LA. His dad, Ron, and mom were transplanted to LA, but they still see their Cubbies when they come to LA and San Diego. Oh, and Nikko was born on January 4th and brings Magic Number 4 good luck!

Justin from Nashville sends up Garrett in his Cubbie Blue! I think I see a dog behind him.


Representing the ladies tonight is two year old Addison who happens to be named after some street in Chicago that may border the Friendly Confines. Here she is at her first Cubs game, actually an Iowa Cubs game! She looks forward to going to Wrigley next year with daddy. Thanks 'Bleacher Creature' Rick for the photo!

Here's five month old Evan with his Cubbie Bear! Thanks Jean!

Grayson from Crosby, ND smiles to all the Cubs fans out there. Grandma Mary is proud to have raised her son as a Cubs fan and to see the legacy passed down.

Arthur from Burbank, CA "Lookin' Cubbie Cool" at 20 months! Thanks Daddy Armen.

Thanks for all that have submitted photos to 2008@cubsmagicnumber.com. Please keep sending your photos with a short story. We may use them later on, perhaps during the playoffs where we count down the wins to a World Championship!

6

Cubs win with another starting pitching gem by Lilly! 1H, 1BB, 9Ks in 7IP to go 15-9. Outstanding outing. He had a no-no through 6, so for a while it seemed as though the improbable might actually happen. But I'll take 15 innings in a row of no-hit ball any time. Lilly's curve ball was especially devastating today.

A few other things to note from today's game:

1. The Cubs have that look again in their eyes that says "we own this thing and destiny is in our hands." You don't see it very often (and certainly not on the Cubs), but when you do it's great to see.

2. Lee may finally be breaking out of his power slump with a HR today.

3. Jimmy Edmonds continues to amaze me and defy all St. Louis and San Diego fans. He hit a nice HR today and made a great diving catching in CF today to keep the no hitter alive in the 6th for Lilly.

4. Soto shows once again why he's going to be a lock for RoY. Another great game with a BOMB HR following him calling a no-hitter last night.

5. I wonder if Ramirez hadn't made that error to start the 7th if Lilly would have held the no-hit bid together. I know Lilly is a professional and would never blame such a thing on somebody else, but that HAD to break his concentration.

6. It was also nice to see Howry get a slop inning of work in without getting destroyed with his one good pitch. It would be nice to have him for the playoffs especially with Gaudin going down, possibly for the season for "falling into a dumpster". No, I'm not making that last part up...check out the details here.

Now, back to the real Wrigley tomorrow, not to be confused with Wrigley North where with Dempster, Marquis & Harden scheduled to start against Sabathia, Sheets & Parra, you would hope we can take 2 out of 3. If that were to happen, the magic # would then be 2 and then let the coasting begin....

Also of note, it's the last Cubs home stand of the year before October. So, if you don't have tickets, you may want to look into tracking some down as it may be your last chance to watch them in person (unless you're one of the lucky few to track down playoff tickets).

7

Quick update: Watch and listen to the bottom of the 9th here


What can you say about the game tonight? I will try to a few simple things:

1. It dawned on me as I watched with my wife that in ALL the baseball games I've watched or listened to in my life, in person or not, I have NEVER seen a no-no. It then dawned on me that it's because I'm a Cubs fan and the Cubs haven't tossed a no hitter since Milt Pappas threw one 36 years ago vs. SD. Of course, that was six years before I was born.

2. The age of modern communication enabled me to make sure that all my close Cubs-fan-friends (and a few non-Cubs-fans-friends, but true baseball fans that would always appreciate a no-no) knew what was going on via text messages from my cell by the 8th inning. Of course, I still had to actually call my Dad because he doesn't have a cell. (He also doesn't have cable, but thankfully tonight's game was on WGN so he could still watch it). What did people do before cell phones to alert others to put a potential no-no on TV? I can only wonder...

3. If your friend tells you the night before that you should both go to the hastily scheduled Cubs game in Milwaukee the following night....you should listen and go! So to Mister Pickles: I apologize now and forever, in writing, on YOUR blog, for not heeding your call last night and driving up to Milwaukee tonight. What a score card that would have been to have....

4. A rookie catcher called a no-hitter. I haven't done any research on this, but I'm going to say it hasn't happened very often. I will go out on a limb and say that a catcher should get about 33% of the credit for a no-hitter (and for any pitcher's performance, good or bad). So, mad props to Geo.

5. This will make for an interesting trivia question in years to come: On September 14, 2008 Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs no hit the Astros. Where was the game played?

Now as for the actual game, I knew it was going to be a good night when Milwaukee had already dropped their 1st game in a DH vs. Philly and Soriano led of the game with a BOMB HR. (Did you see that Cub fan drop the ball off the upper deck and then jump up and down?? Yes, random Cub fan who had the perfect play on the ball with no one around, you should have caught that!)

Then there was Z hitting 98-99mph on the radar gun. Rumor has it that the radar gun was malfunctioning, but who cares. Z believed it (he mentioned it in his post game interview) and it gave him enough confidence to let loose on the mound. Plus Z only had 1 BB and 1HBP to go along with 10ks. Not only was he dominant, but he made hitters look silly. If you didn't watch the whole game, I hope you saw the montage of 3rd strike calls after the game and saw how filthy he was. It was like watching Marmol when he's locked in, except it was over 9 innings.

Finally, the ultimate icing on the cake...ESPN cut away from the White Sox - Tigers game at US Crappier Field to show the bottom of the 9th in Milwaukee. I'm sure there were more than a few Sox fans out there outraged to have their coverage taken away...and for a Cubs game! Any outraged Sox fans in my book = a good night.

The magic # is 7 and the Cubs have a 7.5 game lead over the faltering Brewers with only 15 games left. So again, per my earlier post, the Cubs WILL make the playoffs. And they will do so with already having had their losing streak and bad play out of the way, and hopefully while being able to coast the last week of the season (presuming they can still count on best record in the NL to ensure home field through the NLCs. According to the standings looks good).

Enjoy this September Cubs fans, because the real season starts in October. This no hitter is just some real nice icing on the cake that I'm elated to have. I hope you are as well.

7

ZAMBRANO!

NO HITTER!

Oh yeah? Sleep on the way home? Doubtful! CUBS CUBS CUBS

8

BREWERS LOSE! NUMBER DROPS!

EIGHT

Phillies sweep the Brewers in a 4 game series. Now, that may be helping the Cubs move their clinch date sooner for the NL Central, but that means the Cubs may be seeing the Phillies in the NLDS. I would rather have the Brewers in and a colder team in the DS...

Not much to write on this. I'm watching the Cubs in Milwaukee beating up on the Astros. (weird)
---

Mark, the editor of http://www.thetailgater.com/, at a Cubs game @ Shae Stadium with his son.

He wrote, "This is a magical season, but they are scaring the daylights out of me with this last slide".

Well, Mark, the slide is over. Time to march into the post season!

Thanks for the email to 2008@cubsmagicnumber.com, Mark! Too bad we can't tailgate before Cubs games.

GO CUBS!

9

BREWERS DROP EARLY GAME IN DOUBLE HEADER!

The magic number is now in SINGLE DIGITS!
NINE

Randy Hundley

Two more drops possible today as the Cubs resume play and the Phillies get another shot at the Brewers and the Wild Card.

Zambrano is on the mound tonight after missing just one start. Let's see how much this tendinitis has affected him. I hope he mans up and brings the win up in Milwaukee. All those that are going to the game tonight, have fun! I'm jealous.

---
It's Tattoo weekend. From some random dude:

"This is my tattoo I got this year. Obviously Eamus Catuli-Go Cubs

It has a hidden meaning also-

The A is blue (hard to see in the picture but it really is) and the C is red, Anno Catuli-Year of the Cub"

Cubs tattoos are awesome!

Send your Cubs photos to 2008@cubsmagicnumber.com. We may post it in a future number drop.

10

update!

Cubs @ Astros Sunday in Miller Park (Millwaukee) 7:05pm
Cubs @ Astros Monday in Miller Park (Millwaukee) 1:05pm
Final game of series only played if necessary for playoff implications.

Official MLB Press Release

BREWERS LOSE!

Status of the Cubs vs Astros series is up in the air, still. MLB is not making a decision. We know for sure, Cubs @ home on Tuesday. Before that, who knows...
---


Two-year-old Tyler from Santa Cruz, CA is sporting his Cubs colors. He's hoping for a magical October



This photo was sent to 2008@cubsmagicnumber.com. Send us yours and we may post it.

11

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!!!

Marmol had a fantastic hold in the 8th.  Skerry Wood almost blew the 9th.   And the Brewers lost earlier in the day.  2 of 3 over the Cardinals on the road, we will take that any time.  

Well, Cubs have a hurricane break at least until Sunday.  Hopefully the rest will do them good, but I have a feeling you'll be able to see a bunch of Cubbies at Gibson's tomorrow night.  

I'm actually upset that alternative locations for the games weren't found.  I heard that the Cubs had suggested this, but for Houston, they need the ticket revenues and the home field advantage for their crap shoot wild card run.  Perhaps a double header will help us on the smoking red hot 'stros.  We'll see...

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Mark from Lindenhurst recently got an Ivy tatoo. He hopes to top it off this year with a "2008 World Champions" banner. We hope so too, Mark! Go Cubs!  Oh, and the numbers are not the distance but significant numbers for Mark.  He knows there's no 530 mark...

Mark submitted this photo to 2008@cubsmagicnumber.com. Drop us your Cubs photo with a story and it may end up here.

12

Brewers Lose!!  Brewers Lose!!

Thank you Philly...gotta get back to watching the game.  We need to get those 2 runs back before the 9th inning.  I don't think my heart can take another crazy 9th inning.

13

Cubs Win!!!  Cubs Win!!!  Cubs Win!!!  FINALY!!!!!!!

I think we can all breathe a short sigh of relief.  I hope that this means that the Cubs have shrugged off their losing ways and can now look forward to winning this series with the Cards.  I am not excited about the Cubs bullpen making these games way too close for comfort, but as long as we win, then I guess I can take the mild chest pains.

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Melissa from Charlotte, NC asks the ultimate question that everyone's dying to have answered while at a Braves/Cubs game in Atlanta

Melissa sent this photo to 2008@cubsmagicnumber.com. Send your Cubbie photo and we may post it.

14

Well, if you can't beat them, join them.

I would like to thank the Reds for helping us out with their extra inning win over the Brewers.  I do hope that the Cubs find their winning ways again.  I hope we see the Cubs bats come to life tomorrow.  

15

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, I go to sleep early on an idle night for the Cubs, thinking that the Brewers were up on the Reds and therefore going to win.  I love waking up and finding out that the Brewers lost.  It's like Christmas in September.  Enough with this sappy junk and on to business.

The Cubs are now at 15.  This is incredible.  We play the Cardinals in St. Louis tonight, so stay tuned for more news.  Hopefully we can shrug off the recent losses with some strong wins against the Cards.

16

Well then. I was ready to post the Cubs win, but nope. KW didn't finish and Cedeno should be demoted.

At least the Brewers are still on their slide too. The Magic Number drops. Thank you San Diego.

What a beautiful day in Chicagoland. I'm enjoying a pint outside at Tommy Nevins Pub in Evanston. Hope you're getting out too on a perfect late summer afternoon.

Go Cubs! We'll win again soon...

17

Praise be to the baseball gods!!!  The Cubs have won, and have ended that horrible 6-game losing streak.

Now, I'm not tooting my own horn here, but I didn't post for a while because my family was on vacation and because our friend, 89 Cubs, and my husband, Mister Pickles, both posted.  On the night I decide to post, the Cubs finally get that elusive win.  Maybe I'm that lucky.  Ha!!!  Or maybe we should let the boys of summer take control of their own destiny.  Soriano sure helped out with his 3 home runs, and Derosa came up strong with his 3-run home run.  Also, Happy Birthday, D-Lee.  It was nice to see his bat come to life, as well.

We here at Cubs Magic Number would like to thank all the Cub fans for the great responses to some of our posts.  This great game would be nothing without the fans.  For all of you who have sent pictures, be prepared to see them in the next few posts.  We are putting them online with our magic number countdown.  Let's Go Cubs!!!  Let's close out this series with a win tomorrow.

Oh, and if anyone knows where the power and accuracy from some of the Cubs pitchers have gone, please contact the pitching staff right away.  I don't think there is a reward, but it would be nice to get that back before the playoffs.

18

MAGIC NUMBER DOWN AGAIN!

BREWERS LOSE AGAIN!

Well. The best thing that can happen during a Cubs slump is a slump by the Brewers just as big. Let's hope that the slump for the Cubbies ends tomorrow and we can roll into the playoffs strong.

19

MAGIC NUMBER DROPS TO THE TEENS

Another drop due to the Brewers dropping to the Mets. It's coming at a good time due to our sudden slump. Hopefully tonight, the Cubs will salvage one game in the series to avoid the sweep...

And let's hope that Big Z is OK.

Brewers host the Padres for a 4 game set beginning tomorrow.

20

Number drops today! Number drops today!

Mets pull it off in 10 against the Brewers.

Cubs are still tied up as of this post in what at times has been extremely unpleasant and extremely exciting. We stand at the edge of the teens. So, stay tuned... Or not... We wait another day.

21

Brew Crew drops one to the Mets. Finally, they're playing a decent foe. Great post below.
Cubs still playing as of this post. Go Cubs!

22

Nice game by the Cubbies yesterday which I was fortunate enough to be in attendance for. It was one of those perfect summer days in Wrigleyville that makes you happy you live in the city and reminds you why you put up with Chicago winters.

I'll get to the game in a minute, but yesterday was the first game all year at Wrigley were I really noticed a different feeling in the air outside of Wrigley. I was waiting on Addison about 30 minutes before first pitch for my wife and I was just mostly people watching and taking in the circus that is Wrigleyville on game day. In addition to the usual suspects: clueless tourists; visiting fans...of which there were a surprising many for the Phillies; drunken 20-somethings still pretending they're in college (I'm 30 now, so I can say that); endless snarled traffic; Cubs security guards making their rounds; even the Hi Guy; there was a surprising number of engaged "serious" Cubs fans. You could spot them in the crowd by that no-nonsense walk and look on their faces while walking up to gate. The walk says, "out of my way, I've been to Wrigley at least 100 times in my life, I just want to get to my seat". The look says, "Oh My God the Cubs are 34 games over .500! I am going to enjoy this with tepid excitement as it's still only August and I've been burned before, but this may actually be the year." It was best described as nervous excitement amongst some of the masses....and it was exciting to see. I haven't seen it since the '03 NLCS and it was kind of like being reacquainted with a long-lost friend.

On to the actual game. Another case of everybody chipping in and sharing the hero responsibilities: Marmol pitching a brilliant 1 2/3 to earn the save and bailing Samardzija out of a jam in the 8th (why was Samardzija pitching more than one inning anyways?) with 0Hs, 3ks and 0BBs; Soriano blasting a monster solo HR to give the Cubs their first and final lead of the game in the 7th....it was only "measured" at 385 ft, but the wind was howling straight in, so for anybody to hit a HR out was amazing; 4 Cubs being patient and drawing walks from two different Philly pitchers in the 6th to tie up the score (thanks Eyre for walking in the tying run for the Cubs, ironically doing the Cubs the biggest service this year as a Philly. Somehow he then thought hanging out in the Cubs club house and players parking lot after the game was a good idea. I wonder what Charlie Manuel thinks about that?).

It was a game where Harden clearly didn't have his best stuff and I think, had his worst outing as Cub, but still kept them in the game giving up only 2 runs (only 1 earned) in 5 innings. Also, Fukudome made a rare error in RF with a bad throw to the cut off man that ended up costing the Cubs a run. I know he's made other errors this year, but this is the first one I've actually seen. The Cubs did get even by getting a gift run back from the Phillies in the bottom half of the 5th when the Phillies failed to convert a routine DP that would have ended the inning (Isn't that the worst scoring rule in baseball? You can't "assume" a double play, so you can't award an error on an attempted DP where at least one out is made? Really? I can't assume professional ball players will take a routine grounder to the second baseman, flip it to the shortstop covering 2nd and then throw to 1st before Blanco can get there?) But the Cubs kept it all together and still managed to find a way to fly the W flag on top of the scoreboard at the end. You knew it was going to be another low scoring affair with the wind blowing in, and except for Soriano's bomb, it was.

So all in all, a great day.

A few quick side notes about what I saw at the game. I set a personal record for seeing the most number of fake breasts at a Cubs game in my life (and I've been to about 1,000 Cubs games, so that's saying something). And I wasn't even in the bleachers! It was so ridiculous that my wife was even pointing them out to me as we both laughed and all the men around me in section 240 cheered them on. So, to the two women with the implants in the very appropriate Hooters outfits, the men in section 240 would like to say thank you.

I also saw a lady in my isle wearing a Prior jersey. Really? Isn't it time to retire that into your closet or give it to the Salvation Army? Not only was the guy a bust in every sense for the Cubs, but he also screwed the Cubs over by signing for the Padres last winter for less money even after the Cubs showed him nothing but loyalty over the year through all his injuries. I know, it's hard to admit you made a mistake by spending $150 on an authentic jersey with Prior's name on it....I even did it myself as evidenced by my Prior jersey hanging in the back of my closet never to be worn again. (I have since instituted a strict rule: no purchasing of any Cubs gear more than $20 with any active player's name on it. I either go no name at all, or with a classic Cub that has stood the test of time: Santo, Sandberg, etc.) Wearing a Prior jersey to a Cubs game in 2008 basically says, "Hello everybody, I either live in a far away suburb or I am from out of state. I say I'm a Cubs fan, but I couldn't name more than three players on this year's team and I don't know which team is in 2nd place behind the Cubs. But I sure do like to drink Old Style at Wrigley!"

After the game, walking down Sheffield I saw a rather large and muscular, belligerently drunk Cubs fan in a Santo jersey, berating any Phillies fan he saw to the point where if anybody dared to actually reply they might have actually been attacked. For a split second, I thought I was on the South Side outside of "The Cell", or whatever they're calling it these days.

I also saw a super-white-trash, drunk Phillies fan talking smack to Cubs fans waiting outside the players lot for autographs after the game. So many questions ran through my mind as he mentioned repeatedly the past 99 years in Cubs history. 1. Don't the Phillies have more losses than any other professional sports franchise in the world with more than 10,000? 2. You're heckling parents with their kids trying to meet their heroes and get an autograph? What's next, calling kids pussies as they are wheeled out of Children's Memorial Hospital? 3. You live in Philadelphia and you're talking trash to Chicagoans? 4. Haven't the Phillies only won 1 World Series Championship in their 125 year existence which is 1 less than the Cubs have won? 5. You're drunk and not that big, eventually if you keep berating people, somebody is going to kick your ass. (The last one was not a question, but my final conclusion on that guy).

Finally, a correction from my previous post 24. I mentioned that Kevin Mitchell made his famous bare handed catch vs. the Cubs in the 89 NLCS. I was wrong (shows you how the memory shapes things to what you want to remember after a few years). He made that catch in a regular season game in 89 vs. the Cardinals off of Ozzie Smith. Thanks to several readers for keeping my facts straight.

22

Cubs Win!!!

Another great game by the Cubs, and another poor showing from the Phillies bullpen. That huge homerun by Soriano in the 7th inning was just perfect.

Okay, Chicago Cubs fans, it's time to sing...

23

ARAMIS! ARAMIS! ARAMIS!

A preview of the national league playoffs? Well, then we saw how it went down. I'm reposting post 24's text. Good read from 89Cubs.

READ BELOW FOR THAT POST. GREAT STUFF! GO CUBS!

24

At this point it has become obvious that the Cubs WILL make the playoffs. I can say that now because it's a statistical certainty, not a prediction. Just check out this: ESPN MLB Standings the last column says the Cubs are a 99.4% certainty to make the playoffs (Division winner or Wild Card).

So armed with that knowledge, what is a loyal, experienced Cubs fan to do?

First off, what do I mean by experienced? Well, I'm old enough to remember the '84 Cubs (I wasn't yet born for the '69 Cubs) and still remember their infield and pitchers. However, I was only 6 yrs old so the ramifications of what happened that post season didn't really mean anything to me. The only way I knew something was seriously wrong was that my Dad was depressed for 2 weeks after the Cubs were eliminated by the Padres.

Fast forward to the '89 Cubs. Now there is the team from my childhood. My three favorite Cubs of all time: Grace, Sandberg & Dawson; were on that team and I was old enough now to appreciate it. The playoffs vs. San Fransisco were a debacle, not in that the Cubs choked or blew it, but that they got thoroughly spanked by a superior team. I think Will Clark had an OPS that series of about 7.000 that series and Kevin Mitchell made a bare handed catch in LF that still replays in mind with awe & amazement. It was disappointing, but not gut wrenching....and besides, there was always next year, right?

Moving on to '98. That was the first Cubs team to take advantage of the Wild Card and they needed 163 games to do that despite Brant Brown's best effort to keep the Cubs out of the playoffs that year. You knew those Cubs weren't going to do anything in the playoffs despite Harry Caray trying his best from up above to push them along.

Finally, we come to the 2003 Cubs. Yes they played in a weak division that year and yes they didn't clinch it until the last series of the year, BUT do you remember how dominant Wood & Prior were that year? Do you remember that feeling of invincibility going into game 6 in the NLCS vs. the Marlins (really, the Marlins have now won 2 World Series already? how can the baseball Gods justify that?) when the Cubs were up 3-2 with the final 2 games at Wrigley with Prior & Wood scheduled to go? I learned a long time ago not to gamble on sports teams you're emotionally involved with, but before that game 6 if I was in Vegas I would have bet $10k on the Cubs winning the series even with a 1-10 payback.

Unfortunately for me, I was in Chicago, and at that game. I won't rehash what happened, because we all know what transpired (although for the record Alex Gonzalez owes Bartman dinner for life for letting him off the hook because it was Alex's fault we lost game 6), but that game/series is when I was officially indoctrinated into what it truly means to be a Cubs fan. Apparently the only membership requirement to get into this club is that you have to get your hear ripped out and stomped on. The last positive thought I remember having in the stands that night was "oh my God! only 5 more outs!"

I also remember fooling myself as I went into Wrigley for Game 7 thinking that "everything will be fine, Woody is pitching tonight and we still have home field advantage for this game." Deep down I knew the truth even as I watched from the bleachers as Woody hit a home run into LF and beer fell from the sky like rain and I didn't care because we had the lead! It didn't take long before the Marlins were celebrating on the infield at Wrigley.

Now, THAT is what I mean by being an experienced Cubs fan. I brought that experience into last year's playoffs so I wasn't completely crushed again. I was hoping for the best last year knowing that we had a good team, but I also knew we didn't have the best team and that going deep into the playoffs would be gravy on a good season.

This year, however, I believe the Cubs are the best team in baseball and have all the tools for a deep October run. However, that is NOT prediction. I repeat, that is NOT A PREDICTION.

But back to my original question: What is a loyal, experienced Cubs fan to do armed with the knowledge that the Cubs will make the postseason this year? The answer: don't make any predictions to anybody and just sit back and enjoy the ride. My standard answer when inevitably a "fan" asks me: "Do you think they're going to do it this year?" is "I don't make those types of predictions. That's like predicting your own death." That usually draws a laugh and no follow up questions, which is ideal.

And what do I mean by enjoy the ride? Enjoy the fact that we're 33 games over 500 in August....I repeat 33 games! Enjoy that we are not dependent on a small group of players, rather it seams as though every day that a new player steps up and has a big game. Case in point, last night, Cedeno grounding out in the 7th in a 0-0 game and not only Reed Johnson alertly scoring on the play, but DeRosa alertly advancing to 3rd which then enabled Blanco to lay down a suicide squeeze bunt to perfection that allowed DeRosa to score to make it 2-0 which was the final score. So, the Cubs score 14 runs in an ugly win on Tuesday night in a slug fest, but then, backed by two good starting pitching efforts still get the job done with small ball with their first suicide squeeze attempt since '07 vs. the White Sox? Now THAT is a fun team to watch.

So, enjoy the ride. Enjoy Santo on every radio broadcast practically oozing with joy over the air; enjoy grumpy grandpa Lou mumbling with a beer in his hand at every post game press conference about the Cubs getting it done; enjoy the mid-season acquisition of Harden and Gaudin that has worked out better than anybody anticipated (did you hear that Sean Gallagher who was part of that trade to Oakland is on the DL? How's that for irony?); enjoy Edmonds being re-born with his new team and sticking it to the Cardinals on a daily basis; enjoy Dempster's unexpected dominance as a starter and his good sense of humor (did you see him in his bowling outfit and Kerry Wood's charity event a few weeks back? if not, check it out here: Dempster bowling); enjoy DeRosa's ability to play any position and being the glue of the team; enjoy Theriot leading the team in BA; enjoy the most lethal 1-2-3 bullpen combo in all of baseball with Jeff Samardzija, Carolo Marmol and Kerry Wood; enjoy Soto being the rookie of the year and calling a game like a vet; enjoy Lee quietly having another great year; enjoy the Cubs making the playoffs.

But don't you dare make any predictions. That's a zero sum game that you'll lose.

24

Number drops by 2 today! YEE HAW!
Why would I care other than be upset when the Cardinals win? Well, it's this year, when the Cards are slipping to mathematical probablility of making the playoffs and we have they beat the Brewers that the Cubs are leading.

So, yes! Cardinals win one (and hopefully not many more) and help the Cubs chances.

Cubs are on pace of reaching about 100 won games. Unbelievable.

25

The Big Blue Train is approaching full speed down the stretch. If the Cubs keep winning, it's in the bag!!!

Another Pirates sweep. That's the way to do it. The Cubs are over .500 on the road now.

Back to Wrigley for a 4 game set against the Philly's.

26

26 BABY!!!

Can you feel the excitement building in Cub nation? This game was a little crazy with all the runs being scored by both the Pirates and the Cubs, but in the end (or should we say in the 8th inning) the Cubs brought home their players. Oh, and those 2 walks in a row where very nice.

Looks like the Brew Crew is going to win, so we can hope that the Cards lick their wounds and rebound for tomorrow's game. Go Cubs, let's sweep the pirates.

27

Well, as of right now, the Cubs are 5 full games ahead of the Brewers. Of course, the Brew Crew did not play tonight, but they are playing the Cardinals this week, so there is a chance to see the magic number go down and the gap get bigger.

GO CUBS!!! Let's see some magic happen.

28

Great win today for the Cubs. Does this mean this is the 8th consecutive series win? The Brew Crew has taken the lead in the 8th. Let's hope the Pirates can come back in the 9th inning. Let's Go Cubs!!!

29

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!! The Cubs are now in the 20's for the magic number. It sucked that we lost to the Nationals yesterday, but we came back with a beating of our own today.



The Brew Crew plays tonight. Stay tuned to see if the number goes down again today.

30

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!

Interesting stat from Len and Bob: the Cubs have won 7 series in a row. Big Z got me a little nervous earlier with some of his walks, but his home run was the frosting on the cake.

No Milwaukee game today. We are about to enter the 20's for the magic number. Get ready to go crazy.

31

It's always great to see the magic number updated twice in a day. The Brew Crew fell to the Astros.

Let's Go Cubs!!! By the way, the Cubs are 29 games over 500. Just wanted to share that.

32

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!

Another great performance by Rich Harden kept the Cubs and Reds battling for any run they could get. Thank god we saw some great base running in the 5th inning by Geovany Soto to get the Cubs their first run. The bats and legs of the Cubs finally came to life in the 8th, with the help of the Reds pitchers, and Kerry Wood was on fire.

Up north, Houston was leading the Brew Crew, so go Astros. Their game is almost done, so we will alert all you Cubs fans out there when their game ends.

33

Not only did the Cubs win today, but the Brewers lost to the Dodgers, again. This is great news.
Once again, the magic number goes down twice in a day. This is getting exciting, folks. We could see this number drop into the 20's this week. Stay tuned.

34

Cubs Win!!! Great road trip. Back in Chicago this week.

It was great. I went to the pool with the Cubs down 2-0 and came home to 9-2. Ahhhh. What a refreshing afternoon.

35

Brewers lose to the Dodgers. Cubs win thanks to Ward's 3 run homerun. Friday was a good day.

35 is the number now.

36

I normally don't like baseball being played in football stadiums, but with Daryle Ward's 3-run home run in the top of the 9th inning, well, let's just say that I'm ok with the cubs playing in the Dolphins stadium, just as long as we beat the Marlins.

I am a little nervous that Big Z had another bad start, but at least the Cubs kept the game close with some clutch hitting. Another quality save for Kerry Wood also made this game close and exciting, but in the end we see another Cub's win.

Go Cubs Go!! Let's get another win tomorrow. Brewers are in LA, so go Dodgers!!!

37

Cubs win! To Florida. Brewcrew will be in LA. Go Dodgers!

38

Brew crew finally dop one. Cubs on soon.

39

Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks was so right. Playing two games (and winning them both) is so much better than playing one. It was great to see the Cubs bats come to life, especially since road games have been such a roller coaster ride for fans and Cubs alike.

Since there is so much to talk about, I will try to make each item brief.

First, I want to take the moment to talk about the wonderful memorial the Braves gave to honor Skip Caray. The Caray family has meant so much to baseball, and the tribute was very touching. Our thoughts go out to the Caray family.

Second, the Cubs face the Marlins after tomorrow's game. Is this a do or die series for the Cubs?

Third, the Brewers play tonight. Will they keep winning? Stay tuned.

40

Woohoo! One more Cubs game today.

41

Well, the Brewers didn't lose all weekend. But the Cubs do take 2 out of 3 from the Cardinals. Cubs off tomorrow, brewcrew have one more with the Nats.

Anyways, back to female synchronized springboard diving. USA! USA! USA!

42

Holy Cow, Cubs Win!!

You know this is going to be a good series when the first game goes into extra innings but, ends with a Cubs win.

What a great day for Jimmy Edmonds. He scored 2 homeruns off his old team. Jimmy looks much better in blue. Samardzija, Samardzija, Samardzija. Maybe Jeff can make the Cardinals lose by having them say his name alot. Thankfully, his arm tired them out instead.

With Soto out, Blanco came through in the end to win. Go Cubs! Brewers play tonight, stay tuned for more information.

43

Cubs Win!! Cubs Win!!

Marquis had some tough moments, but was able to keep the Astros down. Of course, it also helped that the Astros pitcher just wanted to help out the Cubs on the road to the playoffs. It is hard to believe that we are actually talking about playoffs so early in the season. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Off day tomorrow, then the Cardinals are in town. Time to take care of those pesky red birds.

44

Cubs Win!!

It was great to see the Cubs battle back for this win, especially after they lost the lead. A 3-run home run by Soriano in the bottom of the 7th put the Cubs back on top, and Wood and Marmol smothered the Astros. It's great to see Woody back. One sad note to report, Scott Eyre was designated for assignment today. I liked Eyre, I just wish he had been healthier. Good luck Scott Eyre.

What a crazy and scary night we had. Lots of rain and lightning, and the tornado sirens got a great workout. Thankfully everyone took cover, or ran for cover like Lance Berkman.

It's a night game for the Brewers, and maybe we will see more shenanigans.

45

UPDATE ** Cubs game was called in the 8th. So, Cubs lost 2-0 **

Cubs Rain Delay! (post during the storm)

I am sure you are all aware of the severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. To all of our fans in harms way right now, please be safe and take cover. The worst of the storm has moved away from Wrigley and hopefully they will resume the game soon.

But...

There is good news from Cincinnati. The Reds have beaten the Brewers. If the Cubs start to play again, and comeback from the 2-run deficit, we will see another decrease. Go Cubs!

46

Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

One week ago, the Cubs were tied with the Brewers for 1st in the central. Today, the Brewers lost and the Cubs won, which puts the Cubs back at 5 games up in the NL Central!

It's August, time for the bats to rule. Let's enjoy the march to 0!

47

The Brewers lose the final game against Atlanta. Cubs are still looking good at 5-2 over the Pirates. We could see the number down again today.

48

What a beautiful day in the city of Chicago. Not only was there a great game going on in Wrigley, but some fans also got free sharpie pens. I always miss the good giveaways.

That was a great game, especially after yesterday's shut-out loss. Lilly had some tough moments, but kept himself together to get the win. Marmol looked like his old self. With the exception of the walk, he was on fire. I would like to see Wood back and healthy, but as long as Marmol stays on track we should be fine.

Nice, time for the "Big Blue Train" on comcast.

49

Someone pinch me! Can this actually be happening? The Cubs have swept the Brewers, and at Miller Field. It got a little scary in the 9th, but the Cubs came through in the end. The magic number keeps going down, and is now below 50. Incredible! It was also nice to see our new starter, Rich Harden finally get his first win in a Cubs uniform. GO CUBS!!!

This was a great series, even with all the drama in the last inning today. That tantrum by Prince Fielder was a little sad though. It was such a waste of time. I'm sure his words for the umpire weren't G-rated. Cardinals play tonight in Atlanta. It would be nice to see Atlanta win.

51

Do you remember when you were a kid and you would go down the stairs 2 steps at a time so that you would get to the bottom faster than the the other kid? Now just imagine that kid is wearing a Brewers outfit, and your in a Cubs jersey...

Basically, you would have the NL central race that the Cubs are currently involved in. Yes Cubs fans, the Cubs have pulled out another game in enemy territory, and what a great game. I was glad to see Ryan Dempster get the win, especially since he hasn't been that hot on the road.

One more game to go, and tomorrow is an afternoon game with Rich Harden starting. Let's Go Cubs!!! For any fans who went to Miller Field this week, send us some pictures of all the fun and excitement.

53

Another big road win for the Cubs! I would love to be in Miller Park and hear all the Cubs fans singing at the end of the game. That 6th inning was incredible. So, now it is 3 games up on the Brewers. It would be nice to see that lead increase. However, the Cardinals have won, boo.

Dempster is up for the Cubs tomorrow. The game is once again at night. My magnet calender says it is supposed to be carried by comcast, but ESPN has been advertising it as their Wednesday night game, so check your local listings.

And to all of you lucky Cubs fans who have made the trip into Wisconsin, we would love to hear from you or even see some pictures.

55

WOW!!! What a game. I don't think I was breathing for the last two innings, and they were long innings. Great game for the Cubs. I was glad to see us take it to CC Sabathia. It's great to be back updating all of you loyal Cub fans with good news.

Alright, tomorrow is another night game and Big Z is starting for us. Let's hope he brings the heat and puts the Brewers further back. Let's Go Cubs!!!

57

Great game yesterday. I wish I were at Wrigley.

Time for the series against the Brewcrew. Lilly vs CC, 7:05pm.

59

NO! THE BREWERS HAVE NOT TIED! They lost. and Bret Favre, he's not a Bear. So mixed bag.

Anyways, Cubs lost to the Marlins today. They continue to rock our team over the last several years. Anyways, noonish game tomorrow. Let's see it happen.

Bret Favre..... Bret Favre... Just happens to be on sportscenter just now. I love the drama....

60

Do it for Big Z. Zambrano was real good but not the rest (marmol making it very interesting...), but run support was good again. That's two days in a row for hotter bats. That's what we need.

Wood is on the disabled list for the blister that has already sidelined him. We hope at the end of his 15 days (which is really 5 games forward because it's retro 10 games) means he's go for the stretch. It's time to win over .500, which we haven't been doing for 2 weeks.

61

REED JOHNSON GRAND SLAM! The Cubs salvaged a single game on their visit to the desert. Cubs are back at Wrigley for the weekend. Hopefully we can continue with huge bats like last night.

Those Brewers are on fire, winning all games since the break. They're on the verge of sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis. Hopefully they'll remeber how to lose again real soon. Otherwise we may be looking at a real battle early next week when the Cubs visit Wrigley Field North.

62

It's been a week since we last updated the number. Darn Allstar break, a losing streak by the Cubs and the cards and brewers didn't lose. All should start changing now.

Cubs pull out a great game today. 9-0 to avoid the sweep in Houston. Dempster and Marmol were back to great form and the offense woke up finally. Let's get the winning streak going. Now off to Arizona

63

So...apparently there was another walk-off home run in another important game. The Pirates came back to tie the Cards and win it in extra innings. Well, since I'm a mom and since it was a boring Saturday night (at one point I turned the TV on to the design network, ugh), I decided to play a video game and then fell asleep. Ah, what a life.

Well, to make a long and actually happy story short, our number goes down once more. That makes it twice in two days that we have seen it go down 2 times in the day because the Cubs have won and the Cards and Brewers have both lost. I like winning streaks. Go Cubs!!!
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Looks like the poll results on cubsmagicnumber.com were right on. We wanted a starting pitcher and that's what we got! Harden may have his best days ahead. Let's hope that's the case!

64

What a game... Rich Harden looked incredible today. This trade is looking good thus far for the Cubs. However, I feel that Jim Hendry's job isn't done yet, as it would be beneficial for the Cubs to get another bullpen pitcher.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Carlos Marmol. When he is on, he is lights out, but it wasn't that kind of day today. Maybe some rest will do him good. That error by Ryan Theriot didn't help either. Honestly, no one should ever throw from their back. Still, it was a win, and we will take it. The Brewers and Cards play tonight, so stay tuned. Maybe the number will drop again before the night is over.

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Looks like the poll results on cubsmagicnumber.com were right on. We wanted a starting pitcher and that's what we got! Harden may have his best days ahead. Let's hope that's the case!

65

And another one gone, and another one gone...

That's right, the boys in blue are down to a new number. The Reds took down the Brewers, and that beautiful number 0 is coming closer and closer. Let's Go Cubs!! Rich Harden starts tomorrow, so good luck Rich.

66

What a great day for baseball. Once again, Aramis Ramirez comes through. For those of you who didn't hear or see the game, it was a great 3-run homerun in the 8th. I was hoping it wasn't going to be foul (actually, you could call it praying).

Go Cubs!!! I want to see Rich Harden get his first win in a Cubs uniform tomorrow.

67

That was quick. Thank you Colorado and Philly for giving us a helping hand in this tight race.
That's right folks, both the Brewers and Cards lost tonight. Our lead is getting bigger and the break is right around the corner...Go Cubs Go!!!

68

Big Z is back...and looking good with 10 wins to his name before the All-Star break. The game got a little scary in the ninth, but we walked away with a win. Let's Go Cubs!!!

69

Nice... the Cubs did just what I thought they would, they countered the Brewers with a fabulous trade of our own. Let us all welcome Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin. Let's hope they bring some wins with them. Great win tonight, let's keep it up. Go Cubs Go!!!

And for all of you thinking there would be some reference to the number and, well something else, I would just like to remind you to get your mind out of the gutter...

70

We are now at the number 70, and this time it is correct. The Rockies have taken care of the Brewers tonight, and let's hope they can make CC Sabathia sweat like crazy tomorrow. I would not be honest if I said that I wasn't worried about the big trade, but I have trust in our Cubbies.

Afterall, they are home for the next two series, and then we have the All-Star break where we will be well represented. Also, Jim Hendry always makes some great deals for us so I am not worried. Let's Go Cubs!!!

71

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!! Those Cubs sure know how to make the Fourth of July weekend exciting. We fans will take a series win against the Cards.

Today's win only makes this holiday that much more memorable. Let's see, fireworks, Cubs taking the series, oh and in case you didn't hear... THE CUBS ARE SENDING 7 PLAYERS TO THE ALL-STAR GAME. That includes first-time rookie Geovany Soto. Maybe we can help the NL win the game this year. Go Cubs!!!

Let's find this guy... We updated the number twice to drop the number by 4 3 since Friday evening!

*** UPDATED*** Apparently, we were too excited by the win to notice that the Brewers have pulled into second. So the number is 71, not 70. Now let's hope the Brewers collapse.

72

Go Cubs! Welcome back Z!!!

74

Well, the pre-4th of July festivities in San Francisco are not as great as I thought they would be. No big fireworks show for the Cubs, but they get to come closer to home for the real shows.

Speaking of shows, time to watch the big games between the Cubs and Cardinals this weekend. I am glad to see the Mets come to life tonight and help us in our fight. Go Cubs!!! Time to bring our bats to life.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July, Cubs fans. Please be safe and responsible as you celebrate our nation's birthday.

75

Another close one in the beautiful City by the Bay, but the Cubs just won't quit. Let's keep this new road winning streak going, especially since they will be going into St. Louis this weekend. If any Cubs fans are going to the games this weekend, take lots of pictures and send them to us. We would love to post them and highlight one of the greatest rivalries in any sport.

76

Well, I think I'm having one of Lou's "senior moments" because that sure looks like Jim Thome to me, and not Kosuke. Ha ha, silly WGN. We shall put that on the funny moments boaaaarrrrdddd, yes.

Our game is still going, but the Cards have lost in NY so all is going well. REMEMBER: there is still some time to vote for our Cubs to dominate the NL All-Star team. Vote early and often Cubby fans.