i felt like benny hill music should have been playing while the groundscrew ran around.

I felt the momentum shift on the Soriano error and was worried that the bubble might burst. But then the pitch-out swung things right back in our favor. Luckily Theriot, Lee, and Ramirez were able to cash in.

Did anyone think that Ramirez WOULDN'T get two runs in? I was pretty positive he would.

Oh, and essentially turning Barrett and a couple minor leaguers into Jason Kendall sounds pretty good to me.

Discuss.

Man is this fun or what!!

Anywho, I'll be down the third base line in the poor boy's region.

Thumps up to Bob Howry tonight.
Great game.

Oddly enough, I didn't think about the game until late. That's probably good. I need to spend time with my wife doing things, even if it is just watching TV.

You know, it's weird. I've been getting a lot of people complimenting me on my Cubs cap when I'm out and about. This was not happening in the spring.

phat

phat

It has taken until very recently for this transformation to start to evolve.

It is SO MUCH FUN to watch winniing baseball again!

And LOU is the best thing to happen to this team since Dallas Green, imo.

YO! AL!  What's up with the Left Field Bleachers, Man??

It is hilarious

I'm on the Girardi bandwagon now.

Besides, if our catchers have problems, perhaps he could be available.

between that cardinals series i saw fifteen years ago i had seen the cubs in seattle (2002?) and in san francisco (i used to live in portland oregon and those were my only options) during the sosa-mcgwire chase and both of those series' were a lot of fun, but nothing like tonight.

you're right al, ramirez's defense has been amazing as of late and that theriot play at short was absolutely beautiful, especially from my point of view. as my dad would have said, 'that's something you only see at a major league game.'

i've been following every game this year from texas on mlb.com and after the last few weeks, even after they were down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th, i just had this feeling that i'd get to hear 'go cubs go' in person, and as a lifetime cubs fan you know how weird that is to say. but there is just something about the way the team has been playing of late that has me in super eternal-optimist mode.

and after the 8th inning ramirez double that sent my section into high-five bliss (both of pinella's hit and runs worked to absolute perfection that inning), i instantly looked into the left field bullpen and saw only howry throwing. my first instinct was, no! where's marmol? or why isn't dempster back yet? or even why haven't we traded for gagne yet?, but the eternal-optimist returned and i knew it didn't matter who threw in the 9th, the cubs had this game. they weren't going to let me go back to austin unhappy.

i know i'm writing a ton and going a little overboard, but for someone who hasn't seen a game at wrigley in 15 years, you have to appreciate how special it was to be there for this game. i feel like i should be knocking on wood with every sentence, but i really feel good about the direction things are heading right now.

i fly back back to austin tomorrow and i'll be back to mlb.com for the rest of the year, but part of tonight is gonna be with me for the rest of the year. let's hope part of tonight stays with the cubs for the rest of the year too.

'hey chicago, what do you say, the cubs are gonna win today.'

that was special. thank you chicago.

I think Hendry has been a big fan of Kendall since his days in Pittsburgh.

Overall, I like the move.
Replacing Barrett with Kendall will give some more clubhouse leadership and less bonehead plays.

You have to love Kendall's grittyness(sp?), even if he is having a down year.

Going forward I wouldn't mind seeing Kendall in the 2 spot in the lineup once he heats up a little. Historically he is a good OBP guy.

If it works out and he's a great addition to this team, great, and it will be a good deal.  If it doesn't, then well, it doesn't really matter because he really can't be worse than Bowen and he's not really cost them any money so they could just cut him and go back with Hill and Soto anyways.  

Sounds like a no-lose situation, and I like the effort by Hendry to make an early move.

After the way the Cubs started out this year, I never thought I'd be writing a message like this. I sure will be eating crow if they make the post-season considering some of the comments I made here in May.

There is one ACE -

Two young lefties who are pretty good, another one who is solid, and a 4th starter (Marquis) who pitches one game well, then three or four bad ones.

No one is hitting for power really.

Ain't no "lights out" closer (although Marmol is on the edge).

Base stealing whiz - well, we have some speed, but no one has emerged as Bobby Dernier or Eric Young yet.

Catching corps? C'mon...

Only one Ryno. Period.

I could go on and on, but I won't.

Suffice to say, its an exciting team to watch now and let's hope it does not revert to it's evil self again this year!