The Cubs have played 273 games (and gone 120-153) since the last time the Rockies played in Wrigley Field, on May 29, 2005. Remember that series? When Mark Prior was hit on the elbow by a Brad Hawpe line drive? Remember Mark Prior?
There were a couple of ridiculous articles in today's Sun-Times, speculating about who might be named the next Cubs manager.
Both are filled with guessswork, the same sort of thing we do here. Example: Chris DeLuca claims that Terry Francona and Theo Epstein might have an "offseason showdown". Based on what? The Red Sox' season wasn't Francona's fault; they collapsed when they lost Jason Varitek.
Toni Ginnetti mentions Lloyd McClendon. Why? Because like Joe Girardi, he used to play for the Cubs and "badly wants to return to managing".
You'd think you'd get better from the MSM, but that isn't always the case.
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As for Z, if he wins today (he'd be the only NL pitcher with 17 wins) and can drop his ERA, say, to about 3.30 (that would require 8 shutout innings), and take over the league lead in strikeouts, that might just get him the Cy Young Award. I'm not saying he would deserve it, only that the voters tend to look at wins and strikeouts above other categories.
Record watch: Juan Pierre needs one more hit for 200; if Z hits a HR today, he will break the franchise record for HR by a pitcher, and also tie the National League record, currently held by Don Drysdale (1965) and Mike Hampton (2001); if Bob Howry appears in two of the three remaining games, he will tie the club record for appearances (84; Ted Abernathy in 1965 and Dick Tidrow in 1980).
Discuss amongst yourselves.