Standing on the shoulders of Giants

Friday, October 1

Cubs Fall By the Wayside



Absolutely no one saw this coming. Last Thursday, the Chicago Cubs were game ahead in the NL Wild-card with eight to play. None of those contests would be against teams in a pennant race. Today, they lost 5-4 to Atlanta. In doing so, they dropped their fourth in a row. Now, only mathematics stands between them and elimination.

Despite possessing a lauded rotation -- featuring five legimate front-line starters -- a lineup boasting the most home runs in the league, and Nomar Garciappara, the Cubs have been unable win enough close ballgames. That might, of course, have something to do with the fact that their most frequent opponents this season include St. Louis and Houston -- as opposed to Colorado and Arizona. Yet Chicago's demise is ultimately their own doing, and a timely reminder of the vibrant unpredictability of this game. The Astros meanwhile, due in no small part to their 15 consectutive home wins, find themselves on the brink of the Octoberfest. Today, they host the Rockies, whose incompetence in turn recently gifted the Dodgers two wins -- and a carefree final weekend, versus San Francisco.

Tuesday, September 28

To The Wire

vs.

The Giants rode a strong outing by Jason Schmidt to oust the Padres -- and their post-season aspirations 7-5 -- at Petco last night. They even leant the National League's best starter a little run support, sending nine men to the plate in the fifth inning.

It was a solid display by the Giants, who yet surely look set to finish with the wooden spoon this year -- that is, the team with the best record that didn't make it into the last eight. Indeed, after the Rockies built a 4-0 lead in the top of ninth, San Francisco was poised to move just two games behind Los Angeles, with five to play. Shawn Chacon -- a Rockies pitcher through and through -- struck out Almedo Saenz to open the bottom of the ninth. He then walked four Dodgers in succession before Tim Harikala allowed runs 3,4 and 5 to cross the plate. After Milton Bradley's game-ending single on Monday, the Dodgers have proved quite the escape artists. The Rockies, on the other, have proved not very much at all -- other than converting a starter to a closer should be the exception, rather than the rule.

Yet for every cloud there is a Cub's fan. Greg Maddux picked an awfully innopportune moment to allow his first 3 home run game, as Chicago were bested by Cincinnati, 8-5. They are tied with San Francisco for a share of the Wild-Card lead. Houston is waiting in the wings, just a single game back.

Monday, September 27

Giants Turn to Schmidt, Destiny



Everything is in place for the Cubs to win the wild card. Their lead over San Francisco is a full game, after Chicago's 12-5 blowout of the Reds on Monday night. Their final six games are at home against Cincinnati and Atlanta, the latter who will be more concerned with preparing for the playoffs.

Yet the Cubs dropped two games to the Walking Dead of Shea Stadium over the weekend. Inexcusable at this stage of the season. On Tuesday, Greg Maddux faces Josh Hancock. Maddux has the edge in career victories, 304 to 004.

Jason Schmidt will go for San Francisco, trying to break the curse that the Padres have held over him in 2004. Against San Diego he is 1-3 with a 7.86 ERA.

Sunday, September 26

The Shape of Things To Come

Pedro Feliz delivered a game-winning grand slam on Saturday vs. LA. The Giants, however, dropped the series and are three games back with seven to play.

At this point, San Francisco looks all but certain to play St. Louis should they qaulify for the post-season. Kirk Reuter is 13-5 lifetime against the Cardinals, and the Giants have won the last four series between them, dating back to the 2002 NLDS. Something to hope for.