The Chicago Cubs—Your 2008 NL Central Executioners

Out of the corner of my eye last night, the one corner that wasn't marveling at how grotesquely obese Prince Fielder has become, I noticed what was happening to a couple of our National League Central friends:

The Cardinals, who were officially eliminated from the division race last night, were continuing to get their brains beaten in (six straight losses, five straight road losses, and 10 road losses in their last 11 tries), and the Astros were continuing to not hit (a 5-1 loss at Florida, which means Houston has scored two runs in three games).

Most everyone agrees that the Cards overachieved all season long and that they haven't been viable contenders for quite a while. However, if LaRussa & Co. had any flickering hopes, the Cubs went a very long way toward snuffing them out with their series win in St. Louis last week.

As for the Astros...

well, we all know about the Astros. They were baseball's hottest team, a fairy tale in the making, until Hurricane Ike, No-Hit Carlos, and One-Hit Ted got hold of them. Now they've lost three in a row for the first time in 56 days, and they find themselves three games behind the Wild Card-leading Mets. Suddenly their season is a lot less sunny.

All of that is to say nothing of how the Cubs have contributed to the Brewers' misery. While Milwaukee's September tailspin had nothing to do directly with the Cubs, their spirits couldn't have been lifted by watching the events taking place on their own home field Sunday night and Monday afternoon. Then, when they do go face-to-face with the Cubs, their previously untouchable pitching ace gets beaten, and now they get to read about how much the Cubs enjoyed using their lockerroom and even THEIR WHIRLPOOL TUB!

Yes, life in the NL Central is beautiful.

Just beautiful.

Tags: 
NL Central
Submitted by Cubnut on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 12:30pm
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Comments

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:03pm

Actually I guess the Brewers' spirits were lifted a bit by watching the Cubs beat the Astros Monday, they certainly weren't saddened by it.

Submitted by Cubnut
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:09pm

Practically speaking, you're right. I was referring more to the indiginity I imagine they felt seeing the Cubs celebrating on their field.

Submitted by Chad
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:07pm

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the Cubs magic number to clinch home field advantage is 5.

Right?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:09pm

for once, you are correct about something.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:44pm

zing

Submitted by Bleeding Blue
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:49pm

I hadn't noticed this posted elsewhere, but Cubs 2009 Schedule is out.

They open the Season at Houston and at Milwaukee. The home opener is against the Rockies.

They play Milwaukee 7 times and St. Louis 3 times in September. The regular season ends with a 6 game homestand vs. the Pirates and DBacks.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_i...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:58pm

AL Central next year..

ROAD TRIP...to Detroit. Wait, maybe I'll skip that one.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:14pm

That would be great. Sure, Detroit is s***, but Comerica is the balls.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:20pm

They go to SD twice unless its a misprint for one to be SF.

And weekday series against Sox at Wrigley

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:29pm

shows a 4-game set @ SF in Sept, strange to have 2 road series vs Padres, but Padres schedule shows the same thing.

Submitted by MikeC
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:23pm

You know I have never been too keen on the idea of the Cubs building a new ball park but i think that article about how the Cubs really like Miller park probably changed that.

Who knows if having a bigger clubhouse, with more space for weights and spa's is more beneficial to a team? I think it could very well help with strength and conditioning and keeping players on the field. Just an opinion though.

I really like the idea's of tearing down Wrigley and building a replica in the same spot only with all the bells and whistles. The only other thought would be where do the Cubs play for the next 3-4 years when it is being built? Because I don't think they can do it over the Winter, lol. And i think with a newer park the rooftop people would be out of business.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:26pm

probably work out something where they share Comiskey and Miller Park. It would probably cost them 2 seasons, possibly just one.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:31pm

Relaxed players probably are better players.

I would imagine they could gut Wrigley and play a year at Comiskey.

Especially if Cuban is the owner.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:32pm

im one of those people that could care less about wrigley.

it's pretty to look at and that's about it for me.

as long as they keep the organ and/or don't start having "intro/batting" music or blasting rap and 80s rock between innings i'm happy wherever they're playing.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:36pm

Me too.

But I think to be profitable they need atleast two more rows of skyboxes from pole to pole (on roof and below) to make the money they will need.

Also I would want a replay score board on each side of the roof by the poles encles the stadium around the poles.

Just ask me I have the drawings on a cocktail napkin.

I like poles.

But not Dick Pole.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:00pm

yeah...to be fair i really enjoy the OF view...the scoreboard, the ivy, the bleachers (very classy/transparent impact upgrade), and the backdrop of the buildings behind it.

ultimately, i could care less if they stay or go, but i guess i should stick with what i know to be good if i truly don't care. i'll ponder that one some other year.

i could talk about the impact of not getting players based on the cruddy clubhouse, bullpen waiting/warming area, training facilities...but really, things like all the day games have more proven impact on that it seems.

Submitted by The Joe
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:29pm

Wait, you could care less...so you DO care? That's not what go onto talk about, though. I'm so confused.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:56pm

i do have the emotional capacity to care less if so desired.

also,

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hehe...

Submitted by The Joe
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:59pm

I was harboring a secret expectation (desire?) for that response! I'm p'sychic.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 7:10pm

And this is why we love you.

I think he should be the mascot for the 2008 World Champion Cubs. That's right, I said it.

Submitted by Bleeding Blue
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:31pm

Whatever happened to the plan to build a new building between the current park and Clark - where the players currently park? I thought a couple of years ago they were talking about building something there that would have given some extra clubhouse space and other facilities for the team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:47pm

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ballpark/expansion...

I remember Kenney saying they would hold off until they could get more funds and probably until the sale was done. I also thought it was just retail space and more corporate office stuff rather than anything for the players.

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 10:52pm

They could always play a season at the University of Illinois... oh wait -- that's been done...

Submitted by rokfish
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 6:02pm

so when the cubs make the world series in 2009
and some team takes us to game 7 according
to espn that game is played on november 5th
brrrrrrrrr

Submitted by Chad
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 6:44pm

Don't worry. Games 6 and 7 will be in sunny Anaheim, CA!

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Wed, 09/17/2008 - 8:29pm

I don't know much about the inside of Wrigley, but isn't there a cheap way to build an awesome state-of-the art clubhouse for the players without tearing the whole thing down?

I realize it's old and there is not a lot of space inside, but you'd think you could knock down some walls inside and expand the clubhouse at the expense of other places, or build some sort of extension on one of the sides or something. I don't know.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 12:19am

Surely they could just put some of those troughs in the clubhouse and fill them with hot water for a jacuzzi when they're not being used for their main purpose.

Submitted by Tito
on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 9:03am

They've pretty much maxed out the space in Wrigley.

Take the media interview room, for example. On TV, it looks like it might be your standard, maybe even nice, room. It's a dungeon. It's in this little crevice off the walkway to the field/clubhouse where they keep excess grounds crew crap. And the room itself is about the size of a condo's master bedroom.

Submitted by 10man
on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:05am

Actually on TV it still looks like a dungeon. a really nice dungeon.

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