Lou's consolation prize: Manager of the Year

Charlie Manuel got a World Series ring, and all Lou got was the this lousy NL Manager of the Year Award. This means nothing to me, you can take this award and shove it up Lou's ass for all I care. I want a ring.

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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?

Cubs Notebook

It was a great day at Wrigley Field yesterday. I attended with two other members of the DCS writing staff and we were all anticipating Barry Lamar Bonds to play left field. Unfortunately , Barry decided to sit this one out. No matter, the game was great. Lou Piniella almost single handedly won the game for the Cubs. He called a pitchout in the 8th inning to gun down a suicide squeeze that would have led to a two run lead. He called a hit and run with Theriot on first with Derrick Lee at the plate. This all happened with two out and left the door wide open for Aramis Ramirez to hit the game winning two-run double.

Other Notes:

Soriano is extremely fan friendly. He plays to the crowd in left field bleachers constantly. If he wasn't playing so well, I might say he needs to pay more attention to the game. He did make two great catches in left field.

Ramirez is Mr. Clutch. He was clutch in 2003, clutch in 2004 when Derrick Lee was fading. Who cares that he didn't hustle last year when the Cubs were only winning 66 games.

The drunks in the bleachers make all Cubs fan look stupid. After Ramirez hit the eventual game winning two run double, the fools started throwing cups onto the field. First of all, garbage littering the field only makes sense when there is garbage being played on the field, not when the team in on the best 20 game run since 2001. What kind of behaviour is this? Stupid behaviour that's what it is. There were several knowledgeable Cubs fan around us that were as dumbfounded as we were.

This has the potential to be one of the more memorable summers ever on the North Side. Let's hopes the Cubs can keep it up.

Hendry's Moves looking Good!

With Big Z back to form today, the 2007 Cubs have now had four quality starts out of their revamped pitching staff. They also have a winning record for the first time since the first week of 2006.

While we haven't seen Wade Miller yet, early reports are looking good. Furthermore, this has all happened without any contribution from Prior or Wood. After the past three years of heartache and painful waiting for the health of Dusty's horses, Sweet Lou has determined that the past is not going to haunt the future. As a die hard Cubs fan, this is the sweetest music I've heard since 2003.

Off season pickups Mark DeRosa and Cliff Floyd are already paying dividends. Ceasar Izturis, whom we really didn't see last year because of injury is playing lights out.

Add to this the hiring of Lou Piniella, and Jim Hendry is looking like one of the best GMs this year.

I know it's early, but there definitely is a renewed sense of optimism and hope on the North Side this year. Let's hope it keeps up into October.

Give Em A Dose Lou Part Deux!

After today's thrashing by the White Sox, Sweet Lou let loose the following comment.

"I'm glad it was only Spring Training," Piniella said after his first Cubs-White Sox game Sunday, in which the Sox romped, 13-2, at HoHoKam Park. "That's the only good, saving grace out of this thing. Our pitchers aren't pitching well, and our hitters aren't hitting very well. Outside of that, we're OK."

Our pitchers aren't pitching well, our hitters aren't hitting well. Outside of that we're ok. That's priceless. I have to say, I was one of the last Dusty supporters, long after other members of the DCS staff had lampooned him as a no good nice guy. I had known Dusty in San Francisco as well, so I guess I was used to him. But he sucked! Lou is definitely a breath of fresh air.

Things weren't all bad for the Cubbies, $136 Million Dollar Man Soriano did go 3-for-3 and Derrick Lee did hit a home run. Tomorrow will be important as both Prior and Woody will take the mound. Let's hope for some better play tomorrow, or our new manager will definitely let them know it.