We've seen this before...

Well what's new.  Best record in the National League.  Home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.  Solid pitching.  Solid hitting.  Solid D.  Solid coaching.  So why wouldn't you go out and lose game one to the LA Dodgers 7-2 and look pathetic while doing so.  It's just something Cubs' fans have come to expect.  It's hopeless optimism followed close behind by realistic pessimism.  Wrigley was as quiet as ever on Wednesday night.  Cubs fans knew what was happening.  Ryan Dempster hadn't walked more than 3 batters in a game all year.  He went 14-3 at Wrigley.  So nobody was surprised when he lasted only 4 1/3 and walked 7!  Yes 7 batters.  The Dodgers, who couldn't score runs all year long even with Manny, were having their way with Dempster and the Cubs.  Losing game one is devastating for the home team.  I almost think it's better to start on the road, especially for the Cubs.  If you start on the road you don't have all the pressure of everyone thinking that you must win and have to win.  Also, if you happen to "steal" one on the road then you get to come home with a chance to close out the series.  We'll see what happens but it doesn't look good for the Cubs.  Zambrano on the mound tonight and I'm afraid we're going to see the bad Z.  He's gonna go out and try to do too much and get emotional.  The Cubs hitters are gonna be pressing also, and that leads to swinging and missing more times than not.  The only hope is that the Dodgers counter with Chad Billingsley who hasn't been very good the last few starts of the year giving up a lot of runs.  If the Cubs lose tonight they'll get swept in the 1st round for the 2nd season in a row by an NL West team.  If they win then we should have an exciting series the rest of the way, probably going all 5 games.  I'm not entirely optimistic about tonight's game, but I'm hoping for the best....

BYE!!!