Whoa. Is that lack of faith I hear, Grasshopper?
The faith a Cubs fan has is strong. Unyielding and unwavering. The unmovable object to unkind reality’s irresistable force.
Feel like another friendly wager, Frog? I’m feeling lucky…
Masochism does not equal strength. 
I, on the other hand, am just being realistic.
And sure, I’ll put another wager down that the Cards finish higher than theCubs in the standings.
Check your email 
After that SWEET win against Satan, I am feeling very lucky…
JC, you’re hilarious. What’d I do now?
rmbnxs, you’re my new favorite poster. Where’d you get those divisional records from? Awesome.
neurotik, no fear, I was laughing from the first line. But I probably am a little more familiar with your style than JC is.
Personally I think the Braves are going to be tough to beat in the postseason. I see it coming down to them and SF in the NLCS. Sad because I always get excited at the prospect of a Chicago/Boston World Series.
wait a minute…what about the spunky waitress???
Well, I’m glad someone caught my sarcasm, White Lightning.
Anyway, even though it wasn’t directed at me, you can get those divisional splits at ESPN.com in the standings section.
Spunky waitress, checking in. It literally broke my heart yesterday to see the stats flash up on Chicago Starting Pitching and finding that Kerry Wood, KID K, PHENOM, 20 STRIKEOUTS ROOKIE YEAR, Quickest to 1000 strikeouts, sexy man…
has the highest ERA of all the starters, and that includes Shawn Estes.
If that’s not an indication that something is wrong I don’t know what the hell is. He OBVIOUSLY has a physical or mental block that needs to be dealt with. You can’t go from Sixty to Suck in five seconds.
Hmmmmm…I dunno…given the right spunky waitress. Always the change of further injury though.
Uh, no, he’s not even CLOSE to Estes. He’s not even second highest:
Mark Prior 2.54
Carlos Zambrano 2.94
Kerry Wood 3.80
Matt Clement 4.22
Shawn Estes 5.71
3.80 isn’t bad. It’s good.
Last night they showed a stat of ERA since the All Star break and Kerry SINCE THE BREAK is 5.89. Estes maintains his 5.71
Ah, see, you didn’t mention the “since the All Star break” part. That may be true, but I start counting in April. Estes (5.66 since the break, actually) has been consistently horrible all year. He hasn’t really had a good month yet.
Estes, you have to give credit to; how many pitchers have had careers this long pitching that badly based on one good season? He had a great year in 1997 and he’s been coasting on the promise of that year ever since.
Because he’s lights-out every 4th start. Believe me, I’m from the SF Bay Area, and there’s a whole mythology built up around here about Evil Shawn and Good Shawn. I’m still convinced that he has the talent to be a great starting pitcher, he just happens to also be a head case. I think Dusty still thought he could straighten him out… just hasn’t happened yet, if it ever will.
I’m sorry for not clarifying Rick Jay, that’s my fault. My illustration was Kerry Wood going from Sixty to Suck in a short time.
Didn’t he have a couple double digit strike out games before the break?
I think he had six or seven double digit strikeout games before the break. He’s only had one or two since. I believe he tore San Diego up earlier in August.
I agree with White Lightning about Estes. It’s crazy. In his first start of the season, Cinci tore him up for 4 ER in 4 IP. Then he posted a respectable 2 ER in 6 IP in his next start against Montreal. Then exacted revenge on Cinci with a 1 ER in 8 IP. Then got rocked by Pittsburgh with 5 ER in 3 IP. Then Colorado managed 7 ER in 2 IP. So now you’re thinking of benching him.
Well, he comes out in his next start against Colorado and pulls a 3 ER in 7 IP. Not bad. Then he shuts down Milwaukee with 1 ER in 7 IP. And keeps rolling against Milwaukee in his next two starts pitching 7 innings in each one and giving up 1 ER in the first start and 2 ER in the next. OK, Estes is back and earning his keep?
Not so fast. St. Louis tags him for 3 ER in 5 IP in his next start. A little bit worrying so he then goes in and reassures you with a 2 ER in 6 IP against Houston. Just when you think you’re safe - BLAMMO! 8 ER in 4 IP against Houston.
The whole season is like this. It’s like he schizophrenic. Definitely a case of evil Shawn and good Shawn trading starts.