Flash Tizzle

After watching WCIU's instant replay of Aaron Rowands HR it amazes me how he derives power. His swing is remarkably quick and efficient. It's as if there's no wasted motion or backwards shift. 8-2 Sox entering the 9th inning.

First team this season a club has respected his power and intentionally walked Borchard to face another hitter. Maybe Tony Pena neglected to glanced over to the scoreboard to observe his bismal .170 average.

I feel their done, but this incident has a strange psuedo-similarity to last October. Not many thought Cubs would lose Game 6/7 with the aces pitching back-to-back, similar to this years late season deficit. Prior to Game 6 Jay Mariotti suggested "Anyone who is panicking with a 3-2 lead in the NLCS needs a shrink and a life." We all remember how that turned out. This mornings article he's declaring the Cubs elimination from the Wild Card is inevitable. :fthecubs

Threads such as these will become valuable in the upcoming winter months. If I'm ever in need of reliving a glorious Cub collapse, 'CUBS LOSE!!!' will remain atop my favorites. :fthecubs

God dammit this is pathetic. END THE f***ING GAME! Alou is extremely clutch and I doubt he's feeling much pressure in this situation.

Corey Patterson feLT the immense expectations of Cubdom on his shoulders and promptly struck out. 1 out. DP NOW!

VALENTIN PULLS THE REDS AHEAD!!!! Another brilliant Dusty Baker managerial move. Steve Stone/Chip Caray openly questioned this move proceeding the AB, and were vindicated once Farnsworth pitched to Valentin. The baseball gods have not forsaken us.

Macowiak and Kearns have earned my respect fans for their efforts in destroying the North Side juggernaut. BULLs***. Umpire doing his best to ensure the Cubs win. Terrible call. Bud Selig must have personally flew him in. BASEBALL NEEDS THE CUBS IN THE PLAYOFFS, remember?

Nice statistical analysis of the upcoming FA's. Perhaps the greatest indication of Perez's value to the White Sox is his Home/Away splits. Home: 3-3, 3.31 ERA, .238 BAA, 1.13 WHIP Away: 4-3, 3.21 ERA, .259 BAA, 1.15 WHIP Dodgers Stadium may have earned its distinction as a cavernous ballpark, but aside from a few discrepancies Perez has put together a formidable season on the road. Pitching several games at Petco/Pac Bell may have assisted, but I doubt it padded his stats to a Chan Ho Park level.

I admire you tremendous ability to decode my subliminal references to Moneyball. Where did I mention it again? I'm even more suprised you didn't find some way to plug your blog. Maybe you could provide a "hatcher job" of my original post? EDIT: Giants lose. RF Moore injurs stumbles attempting to positon himself for a throw to home plate. Cub fans are likely cheering his injury as we speak.

Your suggesting the Sox trade Rowand? No way in hell. You simply don't trade cheap, young talent unless the other team is willing to overpay. I'd rather sign Beltran and move Rowand to right. Even with an incentive laden contract Maggs will be commanding a higher salary than Aaron. Honestly, I've come to accept Magglios departure from this team. We simply can't risk paying him ANY amount.

No doubt Crede's late season surge is due to lack of pressure. Two seasons ago he put together a spectacular September which, coicidentally, was following Minnesotas clinch. Unfortunatley Crede will remain at 3B next season. A viable minor League replacement is nonexistent and there remains other positions to upgrade.

Update on the impending Cub choke: Giants/Padres tied 3-3 bottom of the 8th inning. Meanwhile in Oakland Seattle has grabbed a 4-2 lead in the 8th. Team Moneyball loses tonight and they'll fall 1 game behind Angels. I'm estatic to witness the gradual downfall of self proclaimed genius Billy Beane.

Fellow Sox fans, I suggest all of us bask in this GLORIOUS defeat and soak in the media fallout. ESPN 1000: Henry "Tiny Dong" is noticeably upset and is concerned the St. Louis Cardinals will mail in today's game. His quotes have enlightened my evening: "This is the first time all year I believe they may not make the playoffs," and "I can't believe this!" WGN 720: Broadcasters are calming the fears of Cub fans claiming hope is still alive. Tribune management has made sure nothing sort of unbridled enthusiasm is said on the airwaves. WSCR 670: Jay Hood is comforting Cub fans to whore his ratings. Too bad these Bandwagon fans who call in haven't followed the team until they've opened this morning newspapers. Regardless of their stupidity, my seal of approval for radio entertainment is given to this station. Enjoy.

I'll admit my stature as a "Cub Hater." Jay Hood may label us as "jealous, envious" but a late season collapse is fitting for their arrogant fanbase. Last several days, local media publications have printed an abundance of pieces anticipating a playoff birth. Tomorrow will be interesting to observe how Mike Kiley (a noted Cub propogandist) and others spins these events. :fthecubs

CUBS f***ING LOSE!!!!!! Now Houston and SF need to prevail in their games.

Why are the Cubs continuing to prolong this game? Great call by the ump for strike one. TREMENDOUS.

I may be delusional continuing this "baseball gods" angle, but how un-Cublike would it be to pull this game out. It doesn't make sense.

GOD DAMMIT!!!!! Valentine throws the ball into 2B and Corey moves into third. /still believe in Cincinatti victory.

No. The battery of Valentin/Valentine does not give good vibes, but this game was decided in the 9th inning. Cincinatti is destined to win people. Believe.

Kearns has effectively crushed the Chicago Cubs chances of retaining their position atop the Wild Card. While I didn't forecast a 12th inning 2 Run HR, immediately following Hawkins blown save I felt Cubs would lose. Its emotionally draining for a club (especially the Northsiders) to overcome such a devastating turn of events. This quote from Stone should sum it up relatively well, "This game was a must win for the Cubs. A loss is devastating for their playoffs hopes."

Onwards to the 12th inning. Dusty Baker is going to be ridiculed (and rightfully so) for PH Ben Grieve in a situation where a base hit could win the game.

Unbelievable. Three straight innings Cubs have had the leadoff man aboard. Reds pitching is doing everything within their power to lose this game.

It could happen, but it simply doesn't sound right. Winning today's vital game overshadows Hawkins blown save. I knew following Steve Bartmans interference in Game 6 Cubs would lose, and a similiar feeling is evident right here. This loss would be simply backbreaking for the Cubs as odds would dictate either Houston or SF wins later tonight.

Falling down in the count after missing two straight fastballs I thought a strikeout was imminent. What a sequence of events to score that run. Its almost as if the baseball gods are conspiring innovative, heartbreaking methods of torturing Cub fans. If we've taken notice of anything with this Cubs team, its how anything that can go wrong will. Reds should win today.