GOD SMILES ON WRIGLEY FIELD. Cubs Win NL Central Division!

[Davea]

GO CUBS!!!!!!

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=230927316

[dglang]

the NL central is not necessarily the weakest, but they may be the most evenly balanced and competitive among the top 3 teams in that division. I am also a life long Cubs fan, I was born in 1945, the last year they were in the series.

I am very interested in seeing the Cubs win/loss record for the second half compared to the first half. They had a slow start with a lot of injuries in the first half, losing their fine future superstar center fielder Corey Patterson for the season with a severe injury. They also had Sosa out for a long time early in the season. Early in the year, they also lost Hee Seop Choi, their starting first baseman who also has a very bright future. They released Mark Grace, who has a .317 lifetime batting average a couple of years ago to make room for Choi.

Their pitching staff has set Major league records for strikeouts, registering over 1300 strikeouts three years in a row to hold the top three all time places. They were even without Mark Prior for a few weeks earlier in the year. He is 10 and 1 or 11 and 1 for the month of September. Their hardest throwing pitcher, Kyle Farnsworth who consistantly throws in the mid to upper 90's frequently hitting 100 mph and above, couldn't break into their starting pitching lineup.

During July they were 21W & 14L for an .461 W/L avg.
For August they were 15W & 13L for a .535 W/L avg.
In September they were 19W & 7L for a .730 W/L avg.

The bottom line is that they are really hot and peaking right now with several strong and experienced replacement players arriving during the final third of the year. They are still a very young team in so far as pitching and a couple of their stars are concerned.

[JustPiper]

What a great team w ehave hey Chief? Wonder what the southside is doing -snickers-...btw see my after action report from the Fed Plaza today:

Counter? Protest?

[Charles Henrickson]

[dglang]

Same here, they had the entire starting infield, Santo, Kessinger, Beckert, and Banks third to first for the all star game as well as Billy Williams in left field.

[Lady In Blue]

Good for them! I used to LOVE the Cubs when I was a young girl living on the South Side of Chicagomany years ago! As you can image, I took a little good natured heat for doing that. I later changed my ways by becoming a White Sox fan, thanks to my mom and the great and exciting team the White Sox were back then.Anyway, I'm very happy for the Cubs.

[Charles Henrickson]

Is the curse of the Billy Goat lifted?

[hoosiermama]

GO CUBS!

[lizma]

Hey, hey, holy mackerel,
no doubt about it,
the Cubs are on their way!

The Cubs are gonna hit today
they're gonna pitch today
they're gonna field today
come what may,
the Cubs are gonna win today!

Hey, hey holy mackerel
no doubt about it
The Cubs are on their way

They've got the hustle
they've got the muscle
the Chicago Cubs are on their way!!!

I've been a cub fan since Ernie Banks, Ron Santos, and Paul Popovich. This is FUN and I have been way too patient.

GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charles Henrickson]

I have followed the Cubs for over forty years.

Same here. I grew up on the north side of the city (near Devon and Western) and went to hundreds and hundreds of games at Wrigley Field in the '60s and early '70s.

I will believe it when I see it. Remember 84? 69?

Oh, yes. Painfully so. Especially 1969, the year of the highest highs and the lowest lows for Cubs fans.

All this means is that now the Cubs are one of four teams in the pennant race. They really haven't won anything yet. Keep in mind, in 1969 the Cubs were also probably one of the top four teams in the league. It doesn't mean anything unless you go to the World Series.

[dglang]

Upon further review, the Cubs W/L avg for August and September is 34W & 20L for a .629 avg.

The season long W/L avg for all playoff contenders is as follows:

Yanks .625
Twins .563
Athletics .600
Red Sox .590

Braves .621
Cubs .547
Giants .621
Marlins .590

The Cubs record for the last two months is better than any of the eight playoff teams season averages. It sure doesn't look bad for them at this time, especially since starting pitching is so important for the playoffs.

[Charles Henrickson]

Always thought Ernie Banks was total class...

[TheExploited]

Choi came back and could not hit the bender. He deserved to go back to Iowa. This was a big disappointment as he was supposed to be a decent hitter. The Cubs got very lucky with Karros and Grudzielanek. I thought they were both finished. The Cubs have had their best management in years with Dusty and the GM Hendry. It will be interesting where they go from here. I think they have really build their pitching up in the farm system. This will be the core of their team for the next few years. It will be a big shock when they dump Sammy, but Prior is now the star.

[eddie willers]

2015

[nicksaunt]

Congratulations to all Cubbie fans.

Seeing that line up made me feel old, the 1969 Cubs were a great team. Billy Williams had to be one of the most underrated players in baseball. I was so happy to see him get into the Hall of Fame.

I could understand why they broke your heart, that 1969 team melted down like the Wicked Witch of the West.

[Davea]

"especially since starting pitching is so important for the playoffs."

With the Cubs finishing it up today Woods gets some rest before the March on Atlanta. Good news. Zamrano is struggling though. Bad back. Will Estes become reborn??? He pitched a great critical game against Cincy. We'll soon see.

[Davea]

oops "Zambrano"

[Charles Henrickson]

Yes, let us pray, Harry is looking down on us with favour.

As well as THE Cubs broadcaster . . .

. . . . Jack Brickhouse

[lizma]

The first time I saw Ernie was playing a basketball game with the Globe Trotters at Hammond High. #14 was the greatest!

[Pharmboy]

[Charles Henrickson]

Gimme Twins-Cubs!

I'd love to see it too, having grown up in Chicago and then spending a couple years in the Twin Cities in the mid-'80s. (Also, Chicago and Minneapolis are the two American cities with the most Swedes!)

But since pitching usually rules, I don't give the Twins much chance. Based on pitching, I would guess either the Yankees or the Athletics in the AL and the Cubs or the Giants in the NL.

I honestly think the Cubs have a very good chance to make it to--and even win--the World Series, because of the outstanding pitching staff. Reminds me of the emerging Braves' staff of the early '90s.