Leo Hildebrand, 104, throws the ceremonial first pitch
before Saturday's game at Wrigley Field.
Posted on 09/20/2008 4:19:34 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
CHICAGO -- The Cubs are back-to-back division champions for the first time in 100 years.
Chicago clinched the National League Central by beating St. Louis, 5-4. The club has consecutive division titles for the first time since 1907-08, when the Cubs last won the World Series with one division per league. They're the first NL club to secure a playoff spot.
"Just finishing is the most important thing," center fielder Jim Edmonds said. "You never know what can happen in the last week of the season, and you don't want to be anywhere near the pennant race, because it could be pretty crazy."
If the standings hold, they will host the Wild Card-leading Philadelphia Phillies on Oct. 1-2 in the first two games of a best-of-five National League Division Series. Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) would be in Philadelphia on Oct. 4-5. If the series goes to a decisive fifth game, it would be Oct. 7 at Wrigley Field. Philadelphia is only a half-game behind the Mets in the East, so the first-round opponent could easily change.
Teams from the same division cannot face each other in the Division Series. If Milwaukee, Houston or St. Louis wins the Wild Card, the Cubs, if they don't blow their seven-game lead atop the NL standings, will play the NL division champion with the worst record. The West-leading Dodgers are Chicago's likely opponent in that scenario, since they are 6 1/2 games behind the East-leading Mets.
The Cubs could help determine their first-round opponent since they play series at contenders New York and Milwaukee next week, plus an "if necessary" game at Houston on Sept. 29. That game, rescheduled because of Hurricane Ike, will only be played if it could affect the Astros' Wild Card chances.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Cubs had five possible first-round opponents: Philadelphia, New York, Florida, Los Angeles and Arizona. The Cubs own a combined 18-11 record versus those teams this year. They're 5-2 against Los Angeles, 4-2 against Arizona, 4-3 against Florida and 3-4 against Philadelphia. They're 2-0 versus New York going into next week's series at Shea Stadium.
Manager Lou Piniella hasn't set his playoff pitching rotation yet, but his top four starters this season have clearly been Carlos Zambrano (14-6), Ryan Dempster (16-6), Rich Harden (5-1 since being traded from Oakland) and Ted Lilly (15-9). The current rotation setup has Zambrano, Lilly and Dempster due up for the first three playoff games, but that could change.
A quandary for any team that clinches early is whether to rest everyday players to get them re-energized for the playoffs or to avoid rust and keep everything as is. It's a debate that the Cubs must deal with over the final week.
"It really just depends if you're hot or cold," Edmonds said. "Every team that's hot wants to keep playing, and every team that's cold wants to rest."
Leo Hildebrand, 104, throws the ceremonial first pitch
before Saturday's game at Wrigley Field.
Loooooooooooooooooooooooooou!!!
Kool! I’ll bet Leo Hildebrand did a better job than John Kerry.
I’d love to see the Cubs in the series.
My second favorite team.....
now let’s win the whole thing!!!!
Piniella is also the reason why the Rays are going to make the playoffs for the first time ever, he got them in position.
And TB Rays just clinched - beating my Twins.
Make sure to keep Steve Bartman from getting anywhere close to Wrigley Field.
But does anyone in Tampa care? Their home attendance is atrocious for a team making the playoffs.
If he comes near Wrigley he’ll get the “billygoat” treatment....
The highlight of my season was the bench clearing brawl between the Tigers and Indians last night.
Leo was awesome!
Maybe he’s the antidote.
There is no one in the world hoping that the Cubs win the World Series this then Steve Bartman....
I’d be happy to see the Cubbies win the Series, and Obama lose the election, that way Chicago is not shut out of winning something this fall...
LOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL, poor Steve Bartman.
I’d love to see the Cubs play—and beat—the Sox in the World Series this year! It would be the biggest thing in the history of Chicago!
It could be the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in this years WS.
Thanks for the PING... My “W” Flag is flying from my back deck... What a great season for the Cubbies SO FAR! Now let’s win home field advantage for the playoffs and get ready for baseball at Wrigley in October! Man, this is going to be fun!
Sweet Lou! He really is one of the great managers... I don’t think he could have done a single thing better this season. It seemed like magic at times.
Chokers
Just got home from the game. I’m hoarse and covered in champagne courtesy of my man Kerry Wood.
This is just the first step.
Best site of the night was a nice loud roar when Jim Hendry came out of the dugout.
Congratulations from a Cardinals fan!
If my Cards can’t win, I want my Division to win.
If my Division can’t win, I want the National League to win.
Go Cubs!
Oh, do they still play the blues in Seattle
When the baseball season comes 'round?
When the snow goes away
Do the Mariners still play
In their steel-covered burial ground?
Oh, when I was a boy
The M's were my joy
But now they only bring fatigue
In the land of the free
The home of the brave
And the doormat of the American League!
Let’s start a pool on what method the Cubs will use to blow it this year.
You mean the guy who Cub fans never talk about but trolling Cards and Sox fans keep bringing up?
I actually know the guy. He’s been to Wrigley several times and only idiot fans of other teams ever bother him.
And his rear bumper has a rare site in Chicago a McCain/Palin sticker.
While I’m not a violent person I’d like to see some Cubs take their bats to some people.
Especially those that keep bringing up the 100 year thing Steve Bartman and the idiot goat.
I think someone should shoot the producer of Fox for every single goat thing they do in the postseason.
I know the one guy is Dempster is the other Lilly?
I hafta blink my eyes, pinch myself and stuff.
:-)
Dempster and Kosuke.
Please add me to the Cubbies ping list!
Go Cubs Go!
Hiya Radix!
Go Cubs Go! :))
Go Cubs!
Only I know how they actually got the name “Cubs.” And, no, you’re wrong!
There, fixed it.
http://www.baseball-fever.com/archive/index.php/t-43780.html
Name of Cubs used first 3/27/02 by Chicago sportswriters George Rice and Fred Hayner in Chicago Daily News. . . . In 1902, noting the youth movement lead by new manager Frank Selee, a local newspaper penned the nickname Cubs for the first time. The moniker prevailed over time and was officially adopted by the club in 1907.
Good luck, Cubs. Up to a point. ;)
What’s a ‘Cub’?
What’s ‘NL’ and does it have any bearing on the world around us?
Yes, without the Cubs and the Tooth Fairy, the raison d’ etre would still be plums.
Are you really that interested in seeing End Times Prophecy fulfilled?
≤}B^)
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