And I just became $100 richer because of various bets about the Cubs winning the division this year 
Go Cubbies!
And the best thing about the season is the emegence of that increadible young pitching staff. Hope they have them all signed for a few years.
JimSox betting on the Cubs? Hmm.
I would not argue that the Cubs have the best one - two pitching starters. However, the Braves have the best offense they have ever had in their entire run of Division Championships. (Sheffield, Chipper, Andruw Jones and Javy Lopez)
Plus a very overlooked and underrated Ortiz. You also know Maddux will show up for the playoffs.
Bye the way yes Smoltz is back and he has looked fantastic. I saw him just last Tuesday in Atlanta strike out the side in the ninth with 13 pitches.
I hate to say it. . . but I don’t think the Cubbies will get past the Braves in the first round.
However, if they do (and in spite of the fact it will mean they will have beaten my beloved Bravos) I will root for them. No one should be that long suffering.
I think this first series could go either way. The Braves do have awesome offense, but we’ll see what they can do against this dominating Cubs pitching. The game three Prior-Maddux match-up at Wrigley is the game I’m most looking forward to.
And as for my name, it came out of a book I read as a kid, I’ve been watching the Cubs on WGN since I was three. I would never root for that sorry team on the south side. No matter what certain history teachers/mentors might say.
Can the Cubs beat the Braves? Hell yeah.
Can they beat the Giants? Maybe.
Can they beat the Yankees? Er…
Either way, I’m still beside myself with joy. AC05895!!! Now let’s make it AC000!!!
Eamus Catuli indeed. 
Can they beat them? Stranger things have happened.
Look at the Braves’ record in the postseason against the Cubs and Astros for the past decade, though. Look at the Braves’ record against the Cubs in recent years.
I don’t think there’s going to be a game 5. I’m good friends with a few Cubs faithful so I’m hoping it isn’t much of a blowout. If they win one game, I’ll be happy for 'em. But really, I don’t expect the Cubs to move on.
The Braves’ offense scored the most runs of any team in the NL by a 30-run margin. Three teams allowed fewer runs than the Cardinals, and the Braves allowed only 60 more than the Cubs while scoring 180 more.
Truthfully, whoever wins this series (and IMNSHO, it’s the Braves) will have their hands full either way. The Marlins are half-scrappy and half-power on offense, which is a potentially lethal combination. And as the Braves found out (to my consternation and more-than-mild annoyance), you can’t count the Giants out until the game is over.
Find: Cardinals.
Replace with: Cubs.
A couple of notes:
Maddux is 11-13 in postseason appearances, averaging about 6 innings per outing. While his ERA is a nice 3.23, that is about .4 runs higher than regular season. He has also been trending worse recently. As a couple of side bonuses, his short outings lead to more work for a shaky and injured bullpen which could help the Cubs out. Also, a maddux outing may leave Javy Lopez on the bench which would hamper the braves offense a bit.
As for Smoltz, did you see his game on Sep 27?
Anything but a Yankees/Braves series, and I’ll be a happy camper.
But as a Giants long-suffering fan for the past 3 decades, I’m hoping for a miracle. Hum-baby!
I’m sorry, Yankees?
I’m with White Lightning here. The real questions is whether the Cubs can beat the Twins.
Go Cubs!
God, you’d think the Cubs had already won the World Series by the way people are acting.
They haven’t faced the Giants yet, though. And they probably won’t. Stupid Atlanta will likely stomp all over the poor little Cubbies, allowing Chicagoans to go back to their normal depressed selves, just in time for the long dark Midwestern winter.
Go Giants!
Not to be too negative, but here are three teams with a better chance at winning the World Series someday than the Cubs:
- Washington Senators
- Saint Louis Browns
- Cleveland Spiders
Damn it Mully whose side are you on anyway?
The Braves announced last week that Lopez will catch every game in the post season including ones where Maddux starts.
I have decided that I will support the Twins to take it all. I like their manager, what class last year when we (The Angels, and yes I DO play for the team, I am a part of the 10th wo/man) whomped his boys. The Twins have momentum going into the post season and played fairly good ball in the second half. I dislike the Yankee fans, who go to the ballpark when their team is in town, enough to not be able to root for them. Oakland fans will be obsessing about their Raiders so much that the ballpark won’t be sold out for the 1st couple of rounds, so if they don’t care, why should I. Boston, see below Cubs thoughts.
As for who wins the NL title, I have to say it doesn’t matter to me. Atlanta’s fans are so blase’ about winning, they don’t support the team like they should (Atlanta needs to go thru some losing years so that the fans can get back to being excited about winning). Cubbies, I figure if they win it all, the rioting in Chicago will be fun to watch on the news. Giants means I have to listen to my office mate go on and on and on and I will have to pretend to listen. Florida is such a young team and there is still a bad taste in my mouth from the last time they won it all and the fire sale they held.
So let the games begin.
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
Why did you even move here. Go away, fruitcake.
How long has it been since the Cubs won a playoff game?