No offence aarbear, but you are a text book fair weather fan. Dave and Joe hit the nail on the head. Over, and over, and over. I think you’ll find the same readout out at pretty much every Cubs blog out there. At least the ones that know what they’re talking about.

Matt “I’m looking at the ledge, but not about to take the jump” Jacobs

And Joe, I too feel like you DID NOT break the ten commandments. There was no personal attack! What is comes down to is when someone posts something based on “feelings” and not “facts”, then they should be ready for that post to get critiqued.

BTW, being from Ohio, I go see the Cubs play every year in Cincy. I have never been to Wrigley, but I have tickets for me, my wife, and 4 kids for Sept. 18 @ Wrigley vs. the Brewers. Since many of you are from Chicago and/or very familiar with Wrigley, any suggestions for places that are a must see in or around Wrigley for after the game (the game is a 1:20 start).

Hahahaha, for once, Dave is awesome!!!

For once? Ouch…

I know it might seem really negative, but we have NO chance, as of tonight, of winning the division.

Huh? You start off with an emotional and illogical statement, and you think it is thoughtful? Lets move on. And by the way, who is “we?” Are you on the Cubs? If so, I hope the rest of your teammates do not feel the same way.

We have an outside……very outside chance of winning the Wild Card, provided the Astros lose some, and the Mets and Phillies keep going back and forth on each other….and, provided the Dodgers and D’Backs beat up on each other much the same.

Outside chance, eh? As Joe pointed out in the thread, the Cubs actually have better than a 99% chance of winning the Wild Card.

As of now, we are technically 10 games up on the Wild Card. With giving up 9 runs already tonight,

What does giving up nine runs in one game have to do with anything?

an offense that has all decided to sleep at the same time,

They are sleeping? Then all we need to do is wake them? Maybe they forgot to set their alarm clock.

injuries to our two biggest pitchers—Harden and Z….

Being that Dempster has been the Cubs’ best pitcher all year, I am confused about how Harden and Z are the two most important pitchers. Oh wait… you said “biggest?” Well, Z is pretty big, but Harden is not. He is actually kinda’ small.

We are absolutely screwed, and I actually cancelled my trip to Chicago for the playoffs. I don’t even believe that’s within reach.

Absolutely screwed? Not “within reach?” But above you did say that the Cubs had a “very outside chance.” Which one is it? Absolutely screwed? or “very outside chance?”

I am actually starting to believe [sic] curses.

Thoughtful, eh?

Who could’ve seen this? I mean, our absolute longest losing streak was like 3 at one point, wasn’t it? Now, at five, and no end in site, I think it’s safe to say we’re done.

First of all, you do realize that the very fact that Cubs have not had a losing streak like this makes them a really good team, right? Second, it is impossible for the Cubs to be “done.” They still have 20 games left. And are still 4 games up on Milwaukee and 8.5 games up on Philly for the Wild Card.

The Brewers are winning their game, and have way better young talent than we have….

And the Cubs have “way better” overall talent than the Brewers have. I am not sure about you, but I would prefer better overall talent than better young talent.

In case you haven’t noticed, in the post-greenie era, veterans have largely struggled later on, just as we are.

Huh? Says who? Do you have any support for this?

We have a fairly old team with Lee, DeRosa, ARAM, Soriano, Edmonds, Fukudome, Lilly, Dempster, Howry, etc. all in their thirties.

This may be the first accurate (thoughtful?) thing you have written in this comment.

The Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Brewers, Phillies, all have young talent. We have Soto and Theriot in our everyday lineup. The ONLY regular starter under 30. hmmmmmmmmm

Sure… and your point? I don’t want a young team. I want a good team. And, of course, you chose to forget Harden, Marmol, Samardzija, and others who play significant roles. And FWIW, Boston and Philadelphia only have 3 starters under 30. But regardless, I do not get your point. Good players are good players, regardless of their age.

is it so ridiculous? I could say you’re ridiculous.

Wow… that was thoughtful. And that was actually a personal attack, rather than the first “ridiculous” that talked about your comment rather than your person-hood. Heh. I just used the term “presented” on a baseball blog.

The excuse, “it’s only one game”, “a lot more games to play”, etc., aren’t going to fly anymore.

Well, how long are they allowed to fly? Can you clarify that for us?

This team seems old, and is playing like it, and they flat out SUCK.

Let me repeat some things for you that we have already talked about. Best offense in the NL. Best pitching in the NL. One of the better bullpens. One of the better defenses. Best record in the NL. Best run differential in the NL. Yea, I am pretty sure that saying that “they flat out SUCK” is flat out wrong.

This is crunch time. Here’s two facts:
1) It’s either feast or famine with this team on offense
2) If they have injuries, or tough times, they all crawl in a hole

Feast or famine, eh? That would mean that the offense would have a lot of high scoring games, and a lot of low scoring games. Is this true? You should look it up. Because you will find out that you are wrong.

I really do not think this team has a single vocal leader at all. I think Wood is leader of the pitchers, and Z is fairly vocal, but in a self-motivating way.

Seriously? You are completely resorting to something that you know nothing about. Many people have talked about Soto being a leader. Same with DeRosa. And Dempster. And Z. And Wood.

If any of you have ever played ball, it doesn’t matter how vocal pitchers are—the everyday players keep apart from them most of the time anyway.

Huh? Have you ever watched a Cubs game? The entire team interacts with each other in the dugout, regardless of whether or not they are hitters or pitchers.

If you have a clubhouse leader, he says, “get your head out of your asses, and start playing like we’re the best”

Yea, you are right. The Cubs need a motivational speaker. Too bad Chris Farley died. They could have just headed down to the van, down by the river.

Other teams are rising to the occasion at the right time. The Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, and Astros are all playing like they have everything to gain and nothing to lose, while we are just flat out losers.

Last 30 days:
Dodgers: 16-13
Mets: 19-8
Phillis: 15-13
Astros: 21-8
Cubs: 17-10

Astros have been better. Mets have been slightly better. Dodgers and Phillis have been worse.

We are just lucky as hell that the Brewers aren’t pulling away with this right now.

Are we “lucky as hell?” Or do the Brewers suck too?

SIX gentleman!!!!!!! SIX!!!!!!!!!!! This is September, NOT May.

Hmm… that sucks. I wish it was still May. That would mean we still have the summer to look forward to. And six what? Six gentleman? Who are the six?

When you lose this many in a row when it truly matters, you don’t even deserve to make the playoffs. What that tells you is you don’t even belong there in the first place.

Joe already pointed this out, but Tampa Bay and Milwaukee have losing streaks just as long, or longer. Boston has 2 five game losing streaks. Does Boston still deserve to make the playoffs because they didn’t hit the magic number of six?

Now, I’m not saying I don’t want them there, but I believe that anything less than a World Series championship this year is an utter FAILURE.

Finally!!! Something I agree with you on.

The Cubs limped into the playoffs last year.

Umm… the Cubs finished the season 14-11 in their last 25 games (from 9/6/07 to the end of the season). That is a .560 winning %, compared to the .511 winning % they had on 9/6/07. In other words, I have no idea how a team can “limp” into the playoffs when they the play better over the last month than they did over the rest of the season.

They got swept in Florida, then won the next two in Cincy, then got blown out in the last game. We sat back and watched a team with little plate discipline get swept by the D’Backs.

What does that have to do with this year?? This team has a TON of plate discipline, yet somehow you want to compare it to last year?

On any other team, you see 2-3 runs put on the board by the other team, and you feel you have a chance. But not with that team,

Again… what does last year have to do with anything? And I know no person who felt that the Cubs had no chance anytime 2-3 runs got put on the board by the other team.

and now, unfortunately, the same broken record is playing at the end of this year.

Actually, no, last year and this year are nothing alike. At all.

It’s pathetic when the only team we can really seem to handle this year is the Pirates

Huh? We have already covered this more than once. The Cubs have winning records against all but three teams in the NL. The three teams are the Phillies, the Astros, and the Nationals. And they have a .500 record against the Nationals. That would mean that they can “handle” 13 of the teams really really well.

I hope this clarifies things a bit for you!

I come up with a well-thought out comment, and get slammed.

Where was that? I must have missed it.

And as I mentioned in the previous thread, put your money where your mouth is.

You say that that there is a “very outside chance” of the Cubs making the playoffs. I will bet you money that the Cubs make the playoffs.

Name the amount.

II. Thou Shall Not personally attack other commenters ****probably should remember that one Joe

Huh? Where you you personally attacked? He replied to your comment with facts, and never personally attacked you. He singled you out, but he didn’t attack you personally. He attacked your comment.