I'd like to propose a toast, not to the Cubs, their management, or anyone else in the upper tier of influence.

This toast goes out to all of you. Although we all feel empty or even crushed right now, I know that in the time to come, all of us will carry away something worth remembering for all the time that's passed between this past spring and now: camaraderie.

In terms of baseball, it's something that I was raised without; at least outside of my own small family, as a Cubs fan growing up in St. Louis (during the 80's, of all times). It's something I was able to enjoy during a few years I spent in central Illinois, and which I now miss dearly as an east coast resident.

Thank goodness for this virtual place, and the way it has brought all of us together. The highs felt higher, and the lows were more bearable when there was someone who felt like you did; when there was a way to speak out and be heard, or even better just to listen to others who share the same passion that you do.

This toast is to all of you. I never said much here on my own, but I want all of you to know that it was always my pleasure to come by and see what was happening, to learn from the old timers, and to get caught up in the emotion of what we will remember as a very special time. I'm sure I'm not alone in any of these sentiments.

Thank you all... I look forward to what would otherwise be a cold winter that will instead be warmed by your company, and I can't wait until the spring... when our journey continues.

Jason

Awhile back DigitalBenjamin started a great fanshot series that called on folks to upload pictures wearing their BCB/Project 3000 T-shirts wherever they lived, but now it's buried in the sands of time (and other fanshots).

Can we get it moved up, or given "special" status, and get some more participation? It's a great idea, and is also for a great cause.

You can see the original fanshot series page right here.

I ran across the "Happy Days" reunion show. Pretty good stuff, and then they started talking about the Happy Days All-Star Softball team (on which apparently "The Fonz" was quite a good pitcher). Then, this morning I found these:

http://tinyurl.com/bjg8r (The Fonz!)
and
http://tinyurl.com/7a5ah
http://tinyurl.com/ao7fp
http://tinyurl.com/cywqa
http://tinyurl.com/atnxj

Holy cow! 50 cent programs... and Johnnie Kerr at 1st, Jack Brickhouse in the dugout, and Arne Harris behind the plate!

So... Al, where were you on August 17, 1979?

Jason

Al, you're right, the idea of the Cardinals celebrating winning the division at Wrigley has got to be the strongest motivation for winning that I can imagine. The very image is stupefying... or at least nauseating. If the Cardinals "back in" via Houston losses, they won't be whooping and hollering and tackling each other in the middle of the field.

It seems like the Cubs will know pretty soon how tough preventing this will be. At least with Prior going on Thursday they have a better chance to win than on average. It's almost enough to make me hope that the Cardinals win today with a Houston loss... not likely with Clemens pitching though.

I don't even want the possibility of a Wrigley celebration!

<shiver>

Well, maybe not a close one, but you can breathe easier now that Preston Wilson has signed with the Nats. No need to worry about the Cubbies taking a step backward by signing him (even just for a little while).

So... what is the latest on Dunn? Hollandsworth has been pretty awful of late and that includes today. His hit was a cheap blooper out into left that probably would have been caught if the LF was positioned a little better. Now that Hairston is cooking they could use some more OBP/SLG from the left field slot.

I'm going to be at the game tonight (and both of them this weekend)... if there's any interest I could post a summary. I'll keep an eye out for anything interesting in any case.

In the meantime, here's to hoping that Rusch gets at least 7 innings in! I'd be happy to see no more than 2 relievers tonight (at least from the Cubs' pen).

Jason