WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE! The saying "maybe next year" is going to change to "This is it!"

It's been 100 years since our last world series. THE TIME IS NOW!!!!!

Well, they currently have first in the Central, but I don't know that they have a solid hold on it yet. It's not helping that Zambrano is currently in a slump as far as wins are going. Too bad his best start recently was rained out. The Cubs definitely need him to find his groove again.
Monroe might be a sleeper pick up for them, though. Granted, he's had a tough time of it this year with Detroit, but he could be one of those guys who is energized by the change of scenery. If so, and he can find his power stroke again, the Cubs could be well-positioned to put some room between them and the Brewers and Cards.
All that being said, I still think this is going to be a three-team race right down to the wire.

The Redbirds will win the Central, just you watch!!!

Do you know why the Cardinals will win. Because the Cubbies are cursed.

Well, if the Red Sox can beat their curse, then I'm sure the Cubs will eventually beat their own.

The closest they've gotten in my lifetime was ruined by a guy in a hoodie with a headset radio. They've tried to undo the curse, it hasn't worked so far. And this Cubs team, in my opinion, is close but not quite ready to win it all. (Good God, if they stay on track though, they'll win it all next season with a few improvements.)

Granted, it wasn't a lack of professionalism by their team after that moment. Oh no. Blame the guy who did like all fans do, and reach for a foul ball. Not the fact that Mark Prior then lost control of that game, and Kerry Wood lost control the following night. Nope, blame the guy in the hoodie.

Funny but true story about that night.

As you all know, I'm a die-hard Southside boy. I live and die with my White Sox. Well, in 2003 when the Cubs made the playoffs, I was excited for the city, but disappointed that the Cubs got into the playoffs and not the Sox.

I told my friends, "I'll start wearing a Cubs hat if they win their first round." Then they go and get into the first round. I went and bought a Cubs hat. I was wearing it, cursing to my wife as the 8th inning started of that fateful game, "Dammit, they're going to go to the Series before the Sox do in my lifetime. This town will be Cubbie flamin' obessed!"

Then Steve Bartman, almost in hearing my curse, reaches out and takes that ball away from Moises Alou.

I smiled at my wife and said, "Nope, we're back on even turf."

She said, "They can still win tomorrow's game."

I said, "Nope, the curse of the Goat just struck, it will be 'wait until next year,' and who knows what the Sox will do to recover from this season."

The Sox then went out and got Ozzie Guillen to manage, he leads the team to the 2005 World Series, and all is just in the world.

Yeah, it was unfortunate for a fan to do it in their own park (something that always bugs me to no end whenever I see it), but it's not like he was the only fan reaching for the ball, he was just the one who happened to catch it.
Plus, I'm convinced it wouldn't have been near as bad if Alou didn't completely lose it afterward.
And as you said, the Cubs mentally went in the tank after that happened. It took a number of other things for them to lose the game that night, not just the fan grabbing the ball.

And believe me, Cubs fans, I can relate. This is coming from someone raised in the middle of Red Sox Nation who was convinced he'd never see his team take the title in his lifetime.

Well, let me be the first Sox fan who's a moderator to say,

Good Job Cubs.

Now go win something, will you? For Pete's sake, I've been pulling Cubs fans off the ledge for two flamin' weeks straight!

Playoffs start tonight, BABY!!!

Kill those snakes!

Yeah except Ozzie Guillen also lead the Sox right into the dumpster this year. Someone needs to explain to me how he got rehired, there is NO WAY the Sox should have done as badly as they have this year.

But I digress. I'm a Cubs fan first and foremost and I really hope these guys can pull it off this year, but with Zambrano being the complete waste of money that he is I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, it was Ozzie's fault.

He was the one who gave Joe Crede a bad back. Or hit Jim Thome across the ribs and tore muscle tissue. He was the one who put that un-even patch of dirt between first and second that tore out Pablo Ozuna's ankle/knee.

Oh wait, that would be strength and conditioning as well as previous injuries. Also bad luck. Its hard to get on the manager when 15 of your 25 players go on the DL over the course of the season, some of them with season ending injuries.

He was the one who went out and signed Darrin Erstad, re-signed Scott Podsednik, and traded Chris Young for pitching.

Oh wait, that was Kenny Williams.

Ozzie got rehired because the team didn't quit on him during a rough season. He also brought the first championship to Chicago in 88 years. I can handle Ozzie being Ozzie. What I can't handle is the moves Kenny made this year. But, he was the one who put together the first team to bring home a title to Chicago in 88 years. I give him one mulligan for this season, and let's see how next season comes about.

And as I type this, the Cubs are wasting a golden opportunity with Zambrano giving up 3 hits and 1 run to win the first of the 11 games they need to win the World Series. Zambrano is the best the Cubs have, he's doing as good as he can, and yet, how's it going for them?

In a short series, don't give your opponent even one game.

Someone in that lineup better start hitting, and soon.

No Zambrano SHOULD be the best they have, but hes done little more than underperform and be a general waste of space since he was resigned. To be fair, I've never liked him. I think hes overrated and has a bad attitude.

And to be fair, knowing Zambrano this season, he'd fall apart, give up three more runs and they'd be in the same hole. Zambrano is not dependable and Lou knows it. Its game one. We lost. Boohoo. We made the playoffs, I'm happy.

Sorry, man, but it's certainly not looking good now. There's always a chance, but the Cubs look beat now and seem to be playing that way as well. Meanwhile, Arizona has all the confidence in the world at this point.

Well, there's always next year, SLVRSR4...

I've already said it....

Multiple times