Sunday, September 30, 2007

NLDS Preview: Cubs vs. D-Backs














Finally, the Cubs playoff opponent is set. The Cubs will open their quest to win their first World Series since 1908 at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks own the regular season series against the Cubs 4-2, even though the Cubs scored more runs and had a lower ERA during those six contests.

The DBacks have the best record in the National League, but I think are the ideal first round opponent. The Rockies and the Phillies are playing with so much confidence right now, I'm afraid they might be unstoppable. Thankfully, either the Rockies or Padres will have to play the red-hot Phillies and eliminate one another.

Fonzie hit very well in the World Series against the DBacks in 2003. The Cubs hitting is getting hot. The key will be Big Z. The last time the Cubs were in the playoffs he was a kid. Now, with Prior gone and Woody in the bullpen, Big Z is the man. If he can beat Brandon Webb and the Cubs steal the home field in the first game; I'm not worried about Lilly getting it done. Then its two chances to win one game at an electric Wrigley over the weekend. It is going to be bedlam on Clark and Addison next weekend. Let's hope it's to move on to the NLCS and erase the last 99 years of futility.

Bonnix Prediction: Cubs in 4.

Friday, September 28, 2007

GO CUBS GO!


Go Cubs go

go cubs go

hey chicago whadya say

the cubs are gonna win today!

Go cubs go!

GO CUBS GO!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Three's Company


















I was afraid the Cubs would be lifeless in Miami. Two losses to the bottom feeding Marlins. The only solace is that LaRussa's team actually didn't roll over to the Brewers for a change. I want to believe that this is a done deal; with the Brewers having to play a Padre's team that is playing for their playoff life. Let's hope so. The difference between getting in the dance and getting left out is the difference between Lou being heralded as the Saviour or Lou being compared to Dusty in 2004.

I'm still counting on the Saviour to come through. The magic number is three. If the Cubs go .500 over the next four all Milwaukee has to do is lose one game to the Padre's. Sounds pretty easy, right?


You aren't worried, are you?

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

ARRRRRGH !!!

Well, they didn't look so bad that first half, did they?

What worries me most is the beating up of the defense in the second half. I'm used to Rex being, well, Rex: but even though the Bears struggles the first two games, the D held up.

But, and I hate to say it: they looked like a beaten team that was deserving of the 3TD + beatdown. W/ 10m left, they looked like they wanted to quit. The last ten minutes were all quit.

And the injuries. The entire 53 man roster will be out in 3.4 weeks, @ the present rate. Nitemare!! Key players lefat and center and rite, all shipped off to the hospital. And I haven't really even brought up Rex.

REX!! Fuck, I have no clue. I'm always a "Let'm try, he'll work it out!" If I had my tepid way, Bobby Douglas would still be the Bears starter. However, I'm not sure greasycat is the answer anymore than Rex.

we'll see next week, now not expecting the Bears to win but hoping some miricles come our way.

Yeesh!!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Bears Wrap- Greise is the Word


The best thing the Bears have going for them is the Cubs success that takes attention away from the high-priced ineptitude. Same old story- small hands Rex throws ints and Benson keeps getting too high and fumbling.

What's a Lovie to do? Has the worm finally turned? Sunday night Rex was still his guy. But as of Monday morn, "every starting position will be evaluated". We'll see what Wed practice brings as far as who gets reps.

The defense was great, but now is becoming decimated by an offense that constantly leave's them out on the field. If Harris and or Briggs are out, then they can be beaten by anyone.

The truth of the matter is that they overachieved last and year and had a very, very weak division. This year finds the division much tougher and the Bears playing up to their mediocre talent.

In an interesting sidebar against the Liedowns this Sunday is the Martz factor. This could well be seen as a head coaching audition for the once genius Mike Martz. If his sorry offense can beat the vaunted Bears defense, he may well be on his way to another head coaching job.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

The Number 4


















4 is a Square Number(2x2).
4 is a Centered Triangular Number.4 is a Tetrahedral Number.
4 is a Lucas Number.
4 is a Motzkin Number.
4 can be Partitioned in 5 ways.
4 is the smallest number of colors sufficient to color all planar maps.
4 is the maximal number of regions into which space can be divided by 2 Spheres.
The Tetrahedron is a Platonic Solid with 4 Vertices and 4 Faces.
The Chemical Element Beryllium has an atomic number of 4.
The 4 Elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth.
In Humans: the four petals of the Base Chakra.

And most importantly, the Cubs Magic number is 4.
The Cubs need only win the next two series and they are in. Furthermore, if the Brewers lose any games, obviously the they need even less. I've been cautiioulsy skeptical about the Cubs making the offseason this year while other members of the DCS staff have been more confident. Well, it's safe to say the Cubs are in.

No one in the National League scares me except maybe the Mets. For the Cubs to make the World Series they will have to win every series being the underdog and not having home field advantage. That's ok with me, the Cubs have been a good road team.

It's time to get excited Cubs fans, we are in! No do you know anyone who has tickets?

Frankie Vegas' Picks Week 3

Well I must have taken a week off so I'll have to break out the extra special crystal ball. Admittedly it was an upset week in Week 2. Who could've seen Cleveland scoring 51 or known that Seatlle would look like octagenarians on offense.

Record
Week 1
Teams: 10-4-2 (.710)
O/U: 8-8-0 (.500)
Locks: 2-0-0 (1.000)

Week 2 Teams: 6-10-0
O/U: 5-9-1
Locks: 0-2-0

MY REDEMPTION WEEK !!!!









Picks appear in blue.


NFL Sunday, Sep 23

Baltimore -7.5 Arizona
35.5 over

Carolina -3.5 Atlanta
37.5 under

Chicago -3 Dallas LOCK!
41 under

Denver -3.5 Jacksonville
35.5 under

Indianapolis -6 Houston LOCK!
47 over

Kansas City- 10 Minnesota
33.5 over

New England -16.5 Buffalo
41 over

NY Jets -3 Miami
35.5 over

Oakland -3
Cleveland
40.5 over

Philadelphia -5.5 Detroit
44 over

Pittsburgh -9.5 San Francisco
37.5 under

San Diego -5 Green Bay
43 over

Seattle -3.5 Cincinnati LOCK!
49.5 over

Tampa Bay -3.5 St Louis
38.5 over

Washington -3.5 NY Giants
41 over

Monday, Sep 24

New Orleans -4 Tennessee
45.5 over

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Frankie Vegas' Picks Week 2


Well it was a mixed bag to start, although not as bad as an anonymous reader commented.

Record
Teams: 10-4-2 (.710)
O/U: 8-8-0 (.500)
Locks: 2-0-0 (1.000)

This week look for more offense with a few exceptions.









Picks appear in blue.


NFL Sunday, Sep 16

Baltimore -10 NY Jets
33 over

Carolina -6.5 Houston
34.5 under

Chicago -12 Kansas City
34.5 over

Cincinnati -7 Cleveland
41.5 under

Dallas -3.5 Miami
40.5 over

Denver - 10 Oakland
42.5 over

Detroit -3 Minnesota LOCK!
42.5 under

Indianapolis -7 Tennessee
45.5 over

Jacksonville -10 Atlanta
34.5 over

New England -3.5 San Diego
46.5 under

New Orleans -3.5 Tampa Bay
41.5 under

NY Giants -2.5 Green Bay
38.5 over

Pittsburgh -10 Buffalo
37.5 over

Seattle -3 Arizona LOCK!
42.5 over

St Louis -3 San Francisco
44 over

Monday, Sep 17

Philadelphia -6.5 Washington
38.5 over

Monday, September 10, 2007

Bears Wrap: Bravado Gone!


Bottom line was that the Bears lost to a very good team. The defense was very solid and now we realize how much we missed Mike Brown and Tommie Harris. Both of these guys are big time playmakers and have the killer instinct. They held L.T. most of the game and provided a few turnovers that the Bears offense should have converted.

The offense was especially useless against an overrated Chargers D. Same old mistakes for Small Hands. Fumbling and luckily having his guy fall on it. Equal uselessness in Benson-look for him to bitch this week about limited playing time. Just when we thought Peterson was the answer, he provided a clue as to why he is backup with his own fumble.

But this is what we should expect from the Bears-they will beat the easy teams and struggle against real competition.

The biggest change is the once patsy division is suddenly greatly improved and the Bears are at the bottom of it!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Frankie Vegas' Picks Week 1



















Okay here goes winners:
Already picked Indy -6 and the under (53) agaist New Orleans...so batting 1000 to start. Here is this weeks action:

Picks appear in blue.

NFL Sunday, Sep 9


Dallas -6 NY Giants
44 under

Denver -3 Buffalo
37 under

Houston -3 Kansas City
37 1/2 over

Jacksonville - 6 Tennessee
38 under

Minnesota -3 Atlanta
35 1/2 over

New England -6 NY Jets LOCK!
41 over

Oakland -2.5 Detroit
39 1/2 over

Philadelphia -3 Green Bay
42 1/2 under

Pittsburgh -41/2 Cleveland
36 1/2 under

San Diego -6 Chicago CLOSE CALL!
42 1/2 over

Seattle -6 Tampa Bay
41 over

St Louis -1 Carolina
43 under

Washington -3 Miami
34 1/2 over

Monday, Sep 10

Cincinnati -2 1/2 Baltimore LOCK!
40 over

San Francisco -3 Arizona FUN FAV
45 over

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Leave Big Z alone

Cub fans are booing their players again. Jaques Jones has been a target since last year, Sammy Sosa before him but the latest mark is stud pitcher/batter Carlos Zambrono. What a bizzare year he has had- from allowing White Sox to actually beat him and other losses the first 1/3 of the season, back to his usual dominating self for the next third, and now terrible again.

I wouldn't boo. No matter how bad he's doing rite now, he's still the teams dominant ace when he's on. He's way too important for the staff to go into too long a funk. The incident in his latest start shouldn't be too overblown-a bad game, yes, in the midst of a bunch of bad games- but he remains the best pitcher on a pretty good staff.


H has had this type of blow up before. From what I've noticed, he usually gets over his pout and performs well. My guess is that his next start will be a return to form. Cheer him, he probably's deserves it.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Big Z's Problem


Another horrid performance for Zambrano against the Dodgers today. A poor August full of excuses followed by a massive contract and an equally piss poor start to September. So what is the problem with Big Z?

Many theories abound, most circleing around the drop in Zambrano's arm during later innings. My opinion is that aside from his not listening to coaching staff, is that he is in very poor shape. He is now approaching 26 and is fat as hell! He blew off a signal to stop at 3rd today and was easily thrown out at home as he lumbered around the bases.

He starts out well but then gets into trouble from the third inning onward. From his "I don't drink water" to obvious fatigue in later innings, he gets pounded. He could stand to lose 20-25 lbs which would greatly improve his stamina. Why this subject isn't even probed is beyonod me.

With Marshall out, Zambrano is now amazingly the weakest pitcher on the staff. His confidence is clearly shot and so may be his chance to get another win this season.