Cubs win! Cubs Win!

Man, how rare has that saying been the last couple of weeks?

CC won't face Philly. That is a pretty good break.

And the Cubs won't face Oswalt or Moehler this weekend, which might be even better breaks. Oswalt's been on fire, and he dominated the Cubs on labor day. Moehler's allowed them 1 run in 2 starts.

CC will start the first game of the Cubs series instead, on five days rest. For all the talk about how much he's pitched, he's had extra rest for about half of his Brewer starts, I believe.

Looks like Lilly and Harden the first two games of the Brewers series next week. Marquis would be next in line, but with Monday's off day, Zambrano would be on normal rest if he went Thursday. Not sure if that's what's planned, though. I'm assuming the front three will go for the Brewers.

It's still unknown where that Houston series is gonna be. Sounds like STL or KC. Wish I didn't have plans this weekend, it'd be nice to drive out to KC for a Cubs game.

It's still unknown where that Houston series is gonna be. Sounds like STL or KC. Wish I didn't have plans this weekend, it'd be nice to drive out to KC for a Cubs game.

???

The weather this weekend in Houston for the Cubs/Astros series is likely to be rather disagreeable.

The hurricane is terrible, and I hope it doesn't end up hitting Texas hard. But thank God we don't have to go play this series in the ####### Little League freakshow excuse for a ballpark in Houston. Although, the way the Astros are playing right now they'd probably be happy playing in someone's basement right now.

Man, what a shitty game.

Glaus can't make the start because of a muscle strain so Felipe Lopez starts at 3rd and makes two errors, both on bang-bang plays in which an out could (should) have been recorded, and the Cubs go on to score three unearned runs in their only scoring inning of the game. When the opposition puts that many balls in play in the infield they shouldn't have a four-run inning.

Then Soriano makes just a beautiful, perfect one-hop throw to nail, who was it, Izturis?, at home on an extremely close play (his hand appeared to get in just before the tag but that's a play in which, with that throw, the guy is called out 99% of the time)---if he's safe that's another run on the board and you've got two in scoring position for Ryan Ludwick. Instead it's three outs and no runs scored.

But you know, there's a reason the Cubs are in 1st and the Cardinals are (now) in 4th: the Cubs make plays like Soriano's, and Cardinals make plays like Lopez's. The difference between a win here and a loss there, between 30 over .500 and 10 over....

I hadn't heard about the Astros series moving to Missouri; I saw they might move the Friday game to the afternoon in anticipation of Ike hitting land Friday evening/early Saturday, with the location/time of Saturday's game TBD. Hope it isn't too severe, whatever happens. I'll second BullJes, though--I friggin' hate that mini-golf course of a ballpark in Houston, so I wouldn't object to the series being played elsewhere.

But you know, there's a reason the Cubs are in 1st and the Cardinals are (now) in 4th: the Cubs make plays like Soriano's, and Cardinals make plays like Lopez's.

After seeing the Mississippi Braves, a team with only a couple of prospects, make it to the postseason mostly by playing solid fundamental baseball, I can appreciate this perspective. Matt Raleigh made this comment after the Mudcats lost Game 1 of the Southern League Championship Series to the Braves 5-4 in 10 innings: "They threw a runner out at the plate and we didn't".

-- MWE

the way the Astros are playing right now they'd probably be happy playing in someone's basement right now.

It helps when you're playing a team that has packed it in for the year.

The flip side of playing solid fundamental baseball is what the Pirates are doing right now.

-- MWE

From the game story:

"First of all, I hope he's not hurt," Lilly said. "It's not something I was trying to do. It's almost more dangerous if I slide, and my only other option was to stand there and let him tag me. At that point in the game, if we can get another run, it's useful. I don't know if I'm going to go eight innings and not give up another run. I feel like we have to do whatever we can to score more runs."

That was ridiculous. I can't believe he lowered his shoulder like that. Great play by Molina holding onto the ball, he had to be surprised. Good thing Lilly wasn't hurt and was able to stay in the game. Molina, obviously, wasn't as lucky.

The Cardinals may have sent a message during Lilly's at-bat in the third when starter Braden Looper's first pitch to the lefty was high and inside.

Gee, ya think??? TLR is a punk. A winning punk, but a punk nonetheless.

---

But you know, there's a reason the Cubs are in 1st and the Cardinals are (now) in 4th: the Cubs make plays like Soriano's, and Cardinals make plays like Lopez's. The difference between a win here and a loss there, between 30 over .500 and 10 over....

That's true, but it's funny to hear that after the last week+ the Cubs have had. They could have gotten a lot more runs last night, and not doing the fundamentals right cost them several games during their losing streak.

Ike has the potential to be really bad.

I've been keeping up to speed via Jeff Masters: http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

and Brendan Loy
http://pajamasmedia.com/weathernerd/

It helps when you're playing a team that has packed it in for the year.

Well, yeah, but they've been playing well against everyone. They're the only team to sweep the Cubs in Wrigley this year.