Well Cubs Nation it had to happen sooner or later.  The Chicago Cubs loose tonight from a single shot homer in the 8th inning.  Carlos Zambrano pitched a great 6 innings keeping the National League West’s best team at bay.  Hey, if the Cubs have to loose to someone at least we lost to a division no matter how angry it makes me >:( I hope that despite the Cubs loosing the first game of the last home stand for the season that our Cubs can pull off some more wins at Wrigley Field.  Want to point out some fantastic plays by Starlin Castro keeping the Cubs super strong tonight.  Can anyone tell me why Cubs interim manager Mike Quade always look angry???  Overall the Cubs played a good game it came down to the team that needed the big run first would win it.  Unfortunately for the Cubs it wasn’t us.  Until next time Cubs Nation

So I’m all excited to see the Cubs start their final home stand of the season at Wrigley Field and what happens…RAIN DELAY !!! Look Mother Nature, I’ve been patient with you this year.  I endured a cold Spring and super humid Summer and in the last couple months a ton of rain but I tell you what.  YOU SUCK!  Don’t get in the way of the Chicago Cubs playing at Wrigley Field!!!  Go Cubs Go!!!

Wooooowwwwwwww!!!!!  Can you say sweep Cubs fans????  I can!  SWEEP!  I love saying it.  Gonna say one more time for all of you, Chicago Cubs SWEEP Florida Marlins !  It’s not just a sweep but how about that ultimate butt whoppin we gave them?  I think that the Marlins fans were so upset about not just loosing but being embarrassed by the Cubs that one of those voodoo people put a curse or something on Cub rookie Colvin.  I am not an old guy but I’ve been watching baseball games for like 30 years now and I have never seen someone get impaled by a broken bat.  What kind of stuff is that?  Dear Tyler Covlin, the entire Chicago Cubs nation send out much love to you kiddo.  You play with heart and that’s why we love you man!!! Get well soon.  Colvin being out for the balance of the season is going to miss the final home stand for the Cubs this year.  I hope he has a speedy recovery in the off season so he can be ready to play next season’s opener.  Cubs fans there are way too many things to write about our beloved Cubs and their performance in the 3 games series against the Marlins.  I would like to say it’s nice watching the boys play like a team and win like a team.  That’s all for now Cubs fans.  Check back to see how I break down the 3 game series against the Giants right here in Chicago.  Only a few games left at Wrigley Field guys.  Go support the Cubs at home and keep the winning streak alive!!!!!!!

Ryan Dempster pitched a total of 123 pitches in last nights game against the Marlins.  This is the second time in just as many starts that he was able to keep the opposing team absolutely scoreless in 7 innings.  I would not qualify his performance as his best.  He created several messes for himself during the game but each time he was able to regain his focus and clean it all up.  The Cubs have been performing well under temp Manager Quade my brother and I wonder if it’s because they are out of any chance of a post season.  Do the Chicago Cubs just play horribly when it matters?  Is it a psychological thing that the team shudders when it’s important?  I have to point out that awesome catch by Castro.  I’m dubbing that one the Cubs Defensive Play of the game.  The Cubs could have potentially lost that game if that ball got past Castro and I’ve seen BLOWN games too many times already this season.  I have been enjoying watching Nady play recently and his single in the 6th inning was important to give some kind of cushion lead and the hope that the Cubs defense could keep the lead to close for a win.  Cubs finish 2-0 over the Marlins.  They could’ve played a bit better but a win is a win.  Dempster did an awesome job cleaning up his mess.

With July’s induction of former Cubs great, Andre Dawson, I am wondering why the organization didn’t retire his number. It would have been another honor of one of the greatest players to wear with the Cubs uniform. Not only him, but there are other greats who wore Cubbie blue and haven’t had their numbers retired. Some of my choices would be the numbers worn by Phil Cavaretta, Stan Hack, Billy Herman, Gabby Hartnett and Mark Grace. Just to name a few. With the Cubs long illustrious history, one would think there would be more retired numbers.

As the end of the season approaches, I think about how many games the bullpen cost the Cubs 15-20 wins. The price of inexperience this season cost the Cubs dearly. However it doesn’t mean they are the only reason for the teams failures this year. A slow start by many key players didn’t help much. The lack of timely hitting wasted so many excellent pitching performances by the starters.

Ok so my girlfriend calls me and wants to have a conversation about a pair of jeans while I’m watching the Cubs game.  I figure I can just mute the TV while she pretty much has the conversation all on her own.  After a while she asks me what am I doing.  Mind you it’s the 6th inning and the Cubs are tied with the Cardinals 1 to 1.  She sees that I’m quiet then makes the mistake of asking me “Are the Cubs winning?” I kid you not my friends, at that very second the Cards get a hit with a man on base that comes in to score.  In my fury I made it clear to my girl that there is a new house rule:  NO CALLS WHILE THE GAME IS ON UNLESS 1.  ITS A TOTAL EMERGENCY LIKE SOMEONE IS DEAD OR DYING; 2. SHE KNOWS FOR SURE WITHOUT A DOUBT THERE IS A COMMERCIAL ON!!!  With that being said I think it’s safe to assume she wasn’t happy about it.   As I sat in my angry place (which I often do while watching Cubs games) Ramirez hits a lead off double to get the 7th inning going then Nady hits a single advancing Rami to 3rd then Soriano shows up only to go out swinging: side not– SORIANO STOP PULLING THE BAT !!!! Then my favorite Chicago Cub for the night Colvin shows up and rips a 3 run homer!  After that Hill gets a double then Hoffpauir gets another double driving Hill to home plate and during that play Chris Carpenter of the Cards twists his ankle or something pretty much putting him out of the game.  The rest of the inning saw the Chicago Cubs getting 2 more outs leaving Hoffpauir on base.  What an inning.  Whew!!!  The bottom of the 8th let the Cards score one more run.  The top of the eight was led off by Byrd getting his 37th double of the season only to be brought home by Ramirez by a 2 run homer!  The 9th inning was a suspenseful one.  Marmol was able to close the game with 3 men on with 2 consecutive strikeouts.  I was getting bad flashbacks of big leads being blown to bits but I gotta tell you guys, I’m loving the spanking the Cubs have given the Cards this series   CHICAGO CUBS WIN !!!!

The Cubs seem to being playing well under the interim manager, but teams after being eliminated from post season play seem to play better once the pressure is gone. So it is hard to tell how well he would manage the team had the team stayed in contention. Food for thought.