I think it was said last night by someone, but this will probably be known from here on out as the Derrek Lee Game. I had a feeling that Wrigley might be the cure for what was apparently ailing this team, but I did not anticipate this kind of breakout. The offense looks to be waking up from its road slumber, perhaps due in part to Milwaukee’s less than stellar pitching, but also because of contagious patience. Kind of like the Dome effect from last year.

Is Sam Fuld the spark this team needed? I hesitate to say it, but having that kind of a hitter in the leadoff spot is like a breath of fresh air. I have no problem with Soriano being a mere observer for this awakening, and I just hope against hope that Lou’s stubborn insistence on batting Sori first does not continue when he returns. There are not enough superlatives to describe this game. A joy to watch…Go Cubs!

I too have been against Milton being a Cub, However when he grounded out after Lee hit his second HR, I couldn’t get over how loud the booing was. I think that is counter productive. Cubs need to get on a roll, and that includes Milton. He is busting his tail, not like he is loafing after balls or not running out groundballs. I hope he finds it at the plate.
 Ride Fuld until he cools, he provides a little spark. He caught the flyball in the 8th I believe that Dome was playing on the warning track and if Soriano is in left doesn’t get to.
 Great game sounded like a good crowd, minus the booing. I like the pitching matchups rest of the series.
 Cubs need Guzman back. Everytime Heilmann enters you want to duck and hide.
 Lets get the second one today.

I agree 100% about Bradley. I’m not happy with him, but the booing is unnecessary (unless he throws live balls into the stands). However, I did laugh when my husband joked that Lee got almost as many RBI’s in this one game as Bradley had all year.

Great game by Lee, love seeing that. And Sam Fuld had an excellent game as well. 2-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Didn’t see any mention of him for some reason.

I’m not sure I’d call it a statement game. It’s only 1 game and they very nearly let the Brewers back in it in the 8th inning.

Why not let Marshall pitch to more than one batter? Heilman was one pitch away from bringing the tying run to the plate . . . he’s just awful right now.

Two of the next three would be a good weekend for the Cubs. Today is a good day to start.

Are the Cubs rushing Aram back? I like seeing Jake Fox at 3rd. His defense is holding up and his bat is pure power!

is 3 games separate the top 5 teams. Houston has joined the chase and could jump over us today…..but I don’t want to throw cold water on the game when it was fun being a cubsfan again. I hope this is a stepping stone for the month. With the Cards-Reds series going on this weekend there could be some real changes in the central standings. I was not hoping for a statement game, rather a statement series.

Fuld about has to be in the lineup and I would have a hard time not having him at leadoff. DLee’s RBI shots would not have been possible without the runners on ahead of him. Lou has some real thinking to do.

Not sure what to think about Z thisafternoon. I’ve quit predicting what will happen with him. He could throw it by them all afternoon or throw a fit. I hope he’s up for the challenge.

I said recently that Hendry was waiting to put Soriano on the DL until they could acquire another hitter. They just got Baker.

Now, decision day is Monday, with the three guys coming off the DL. Here’s the sequence: Sunday, it is announced that Soriano was not voted into the all-star game. Monday, the Cubs put him on the DL. He will not miss that many games because of the all-star break. In the meantime, Fox, Hoffpauir, and Fuld man left field.

The replay showed an old guy with a Cubs jersey reaching down a row or two to try to grab it, and I immediately thought it might be you. :)

We’ve definately got some BIG roster decisions to make. Hard to send Fuld back down when he’s been such a sparkplug the last couple of games, but I’m afraid we don’t have any other option. And Fox continues to impress. Should be interesting.

Yes, he’s had two very nice games. But, it’s two games. Bobby Scales had a nice little run, and now he’s back in AAA.

That said, I would like to see Fuld playing and leading off again today. Ideally with Soriano out again, but Lou has said previously that Sori would be in the lineup today.

Not quite, but he is really squaring the ball up and driving it. His swing is a thing of beauty.

No doubt 2005 would have been a better year if Lee had this supporting cast.

but am I alone in liking this version of the Cubs more than any other version we’ve seen this year, or even last year? My fiancee put it best when she said that this team needs Fuld, Fox, etc. on the everyday roster because they’re young, hungry, and don’t know anything about curses, expectations, etc. They’re there to play ball, they hustle, and they do a damn good job at it. Forget all the runs this team put up, and look at everything else this team has done since Fuld starting leading off. Aside from Fontenot not barehanding the ball, it all feels like, offensively and defensively, each player is saying, “I got this.” Fuld has been a spark plug in more ways than one, and this is coming from someone who thought he’d fall right on his face.

Dare I say it, a couple players not included, this iteration feels a lot like the 2004 Red Sox, or even that Red Birds team that won a WS. This team, they now don’t know any better. They’re out there to play some good baseball, and I’d rather see young, hungry players do that, than a bunch of overpriced ones. I have a hunch we’re all going to be pretty sad when we have all of our expensive players playing again.

I saw very few balls last night hit by the Cubs that were not solid strikes. Many balls that were outs were solidly struck.

I just checked on cubs.com, and was able to select two seats together for Saturday in the UD infield boxes. Too bad I can’t go!

There are apparently single seats in LOTS of sections available. Just FYI.

Fuld in CF today leading off, and Sori down in the order. You have to keep playing the kid until he gives you a reason not to.

enjoy it while you can. I have spent the last three years following Fuld VERY closely. I have been mocked A LOT
around here including as recently as last week for thinking Fuld should be on the team. I will wait for my " I told you so moment " because the odds of Fuld staying in the line up through the weekend are less than 50/50 and the odds of him staying on the team after Monday less than that. Assuming Rami & RJ are activated Monday it is very likekly Blanco & Fuld go down. There are not a lot of options other than sending down Fonty & Hoff. Sadly doing a really good job is not enough to keep you on the team when their are contracts and baseball “seniority”. Right now I would argue Fuld is much more valuable than Hoff and Blanco than Fontenot but defense is sadly underated to power. I hope someone considers the whole make up of the team rather than who can hit a ball farther.

Daily Recap: Carlos Lee belted two home runs to drive in a personal-high seven runs and power the Cubs to a 9-5 victory over the Brewers.

Proofreading is a lost art.

Seasons over so trade him while he is hot.

Would anyone object to Soriano moving back to 2B, with the way Fuld has been playing? Could he play any worse than Fontenot has? I also like the idea of moving Soriano lower in the lineup.

I was at that game!! He hit consecutive 3-run homeruns in the 3, 4, and 5 innings (or maybe inning 4-6), and then took himself out of the game, or probably would have had more. For those of you at the game yesterday, I’m still jealous – being a part of Lee’s carreer day would have been a great experience.