A BEAUTIFUL Day

Cubs 7 Cardinals 4

The Cubs did not win the division or make the playoffs...but they did BEAT THE CARDINALS. The Cubs finished their season series today with the Cardinals. The Cubs won 10 of 16 games this year and the Cubbies are the only team in the Central Division to have a winning record against the Cardinals. Hopefully next year they will figure out how to beat the Reds, Astros and Brewers. I cannot believe how good the team played today. I am still in shock.

When the pitching matchups were announced on Thursday, I figured the Sunday game would be the tough one. Chris Carpenter. The Cubs lit up Carpenter for 4 runs on 4 hits in 4 innings. The guy that should win the Cy Young this year looked like the 5th starter in the rotation. He and Dusty even exchanged words. These 2 teams do not like each other. And then there is Zambrano...

Carlos Zambrano pitched his 2nd complete game of the season and kept his head on straight. Zambrano did not have his best stuff today and still won the ballgame. Zambrano is now 8-1 since the All Star break and picked up his 14 win. Big Z also went 2 for 4 and his average is up to .303. UNBELIEVABLE!!

Patterson had a good day going 2 for 3 with a run scored and a RBI. Patterson has the ability to be an excellent major league ball player, it is a shame he has not realized it yet. DLee went 1 for 2 with 2 walks, LaRussa will not pitch to him. And Todd Walker had a homerun in the 7th to give the Cubs some insurance.

Matt Murton hit the go ahead home run in the bottom of the 5th, after the Cardinals had just tied the game. Murton is really making an arguement for the Cubs' brass for the starting left field spot next year. I will stay off of the soap box...

With today's win the Cubs are back to within 2 games of .500 and are now in 3rd place in the Central, 1/2 game in front of the Brewers and the Cardinals are ALL DONE!!

On a personal note, this was one of the best sports days in my life. Not only am I a life long Cubs fan, I am a diehard Tennessee Titans fan and season ticket holder. The Titans shocked the Ravens today 25-10 and it was AWESOME. Then the CUBS BEAT THE CARDINALS. Both of my teams beat their arch rival today and this is the 1st time the Cubs and Titans have won on the same day (that I can remember). Outside of a World Series or Super Bowl, to beat the Ravens and the Cardinals on the same day....MY SPORTS LIFE DOES NOT GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS.

Monday - A Day of Rest and off to Milwaukee

Tuesday - The Milwaukee Brewers

Jerome Williams(5-8/4.30) vs. Doug Davis(10-10/3.95)

The Cubs will battle for 3rd place this week with a 3 game series vs. The Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers have always given the Cubs more than they can handle and this week should not be any different. Jerome Williams is 1-1 in his last 3 games with a .084 ERA. Williams needs to stay hot against the Brewers offense. The Brewers have gotten better this year and will continue to do so over the next few years. The Nashville Sounds just won the PCL Championship and they are the Brewers' AAA affliate. The Cubs have a winning record(38-36) on the road this year and they need these 3 games. A sweep of the Brewers would put the Cubs a game above .500 and will go a long way towards a 3rd place finish. The Cubs will need to score early and often to keep the pressure on the young Brewers.

Be patient, no extra outs, smart base running, timely hitting...and beat the Brew-crew!!