They're a handsome bunch too.

And gentlemen, all.

Good to know.

The ninth inning last night was a thing of beauty. They made Saito throw almost 40 pitches to 6 batters. That was a well-earned win. I see no reason why this team can't win 55 at home and 40 on the road. June and July are loaded with road games. We'll know more soon.

The ninth inning last night was a thing of beauty. They made Saito throw almost 40 pitches to 6 batters.

Can you ever remember an inning in which the Cubs repeatedly got ahead in the count without half of the pitches being a foot outside the strike zone? The patience this team shows is a stark contrast to so many other teams, and they're being rewarded for it with more runs.

I should also note that the Cubs are tied for the best record in baseball with......the Rays.

Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute must be loving this season.

June and July are loaded with road games, but as my Brewer fan friend The Chairman pointed out yesterday, the Cubs go on only one three city roadtrip in that span. They are on the road a lot, but there its nicely broken up with off days and short homestands.

By the way, has anyone noticed what a brutal month of September the Cubs have? 6 games with St. Louis. 6 with Milwaukee and 3 with the Mets. They close on the road with the Mets and Milwaukee, not to mention there isn't an off day from the 16th to the 28th.

The Cream Rises to the Top?

Then again, so does the hot air. Stay tuned to find out which it is.

This is also the Cubs' best start to the season since 2001, when they went 33-20 in their first 53 games. It's worth noting that that 53rd game was their last win a 12 game winning streak. They had a .600 record as late as July 7th that season.

What Charles S and DTM said about last night's 9th inning. And I'll add the almost playoff-like atmosphere (aided by the temperature being at October levels)--it all made for some serious fun.

They're a handsome bunch too.

What about TOFU?

And Jack, I'm not really seeing 6 with St. Louis, 6 with Milwaukee, and 3 with the Mets as brutal?

Actually, it's 4 with the Mets (2 at Wrigley, 4 at Shea--yet more scheduling brilliance from the people who brought you "THIS TIME IT COUNTS!!!"), but I agree that doesn't look all that daunting. I'm more concerned about the team getting more consistently good on the road in the hot months.

Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute must be loving this season.

Absolutely. The playoffs start this weekend, right?

What about TOFU?

Aren't the ground rules that no Cubs compliments can include TOFU?

I stand by my prediction that the Cub will be TOFU-free within the next week. Piniella's made pretty clear he doesn't have any use for him. He started Reed Johnson against Lowe last night. Edmonds, signed to "add a lefty bat," is behind Fontenot and Hoffpauir on the pinch hitting pecking order. He hasn't been used as a late-inning defensive replacement, even for a LF and CF who are, uh, challenged out there.

And, well, given what he brings to the table, not using him makes perfect sense. It's only a matter of when Hendry notices he's got a roster spot that's never getting used.

Maybe he'll get the hint if Lou uses Marquis or Zambrano to pinch hit ahead of Edmonds.

If that actually happens, it may be one of my favorite inconsequential baseball events ever.

Thankfully Edmond's isn't a middle infielder, so there's some chance the Cubs will get rid of him.

And yes, I misspelled his name. I don't care.

The Cubs seem to play St. Louis on the road well (haven't looked at the numbers).

If that actually happens, it may be one of my favorite inconsequential baseball events ever.

This would make my summer.

And Jack, I'm not really seeing 6 with St. Louis, 6 with Milwaukee, and 3 with the Mets as brutal?

We'll know a lot more by August. Stl might cool off, the Mets might start to look fearsome, and who knows what Milwaukee will do.

I refuse to allow a Cubs blog post turn into an NBA thread.

I need to take a couple of minutes and throw a post together about the Cubs home/road splits.

I agree about TOFU being gone, soon too.

I'm happy that I don't even know who TOFU is, though I can guess.

They really should have gotten rid of Wayne Messmer a long time ago.

What's wrong with Messmer? He seems inocuous enough.

I once played on a coed softball team sponsored by Wayne Messmer.

I once played on a coed softball team sponsored by Wayne Messmer.

is that even legal?

(hey, it's my first time I think)

Messmer's a good singer, but a terrible PA announcer. He constantly neglects to announce substitutions, which if you're trying to keep score is really annoying. Paul Friedman, who handles PA most night games, is much better.

Wow. Messmer hate? I'd never have guessed.

Classic Anthem, that guy. "BRAave!"

I've noticed Messmer's negligence in announcing substitutions. I can usually figure it out, but shouldn't have to. They suck at it in Milwaukee too. The Red Sox guy is awesome. You are fully informed there. He's on top of his ####.

I have to remind myself every couple of weeks that Messmer doesn't look like Howard Finkel.

[Reposted, due to brain fart]

That 1985 team was a definite heartbreaker-not the way that '84 was of course. Their Pyth was only 2 games behind their record (35-19). The pitching staff was lights out, but the offense kind of sucked, but they were hanging with both the Cards and the Mets.

Then of course came that awful 13 game losing streak. The offense was shut out FIVE times. It was after this season of course that I read in the next Abstract about the Devil's Theory of Park Effects, and it all made sense. They were playing guys with OPS+ below 100 at C, 3rd, SS, and CF, tho this was the year that Davey Lopes stole 44 bases at age 40. Then the injuries started hitting the pitching staff, hard, and all 4 guys whom they had signed after '84 finished the season on the DL (or spent a lot of time on it), and the ones who replaced them all had ERA+'es below 92 (including the uncle, distant cousin, or father's former roommate of current Cub Mike Fontenot?).

The Cubs' PA announcer is a recognizable figure? I had no idea. All I know is I could not understand a single thing he was saying at Monday's game. Nothing but inaudible blather, much quieter than the crowd and other background noise.

It would have helped too, since the game featured two pinch hitters who weren't even listed on the rosters in the scorecard. Terry Tiffee is on the Dodgers now?!? Who knew!