8/26/08 @ Pittsburgh; W 14-9; (82-50)

Maybe we should title this post every101years! Chicago's ninth straight series win is an accomplishment not equalled since 1907! That was a World Series Championship year as well. The 32 games above .500 takes us back to late season 1984 to find a comparable record. This is some kind of team.

Watching the game on WGN, I hear Len Casper say in the seventh inning that he isn't worried. He mentions how good the team is playing and that in the time he has been the broadcast voice, he has never had this confidence. At the time, the Pirates lead 8-7 courtesy of two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Chicago had gotten an early lead again, courtesy of Geovonty Soto. His bases clearing double put them ahead in the fourth. His solo home run in the sixth broke a 6-6 tie. Carlos Zambrano just couldn't hold the lead tonight, and left before finishing the fifth inning. If there is any concern on this team, it would be Z's last few outings. They haven't been the most productive of his career to say the least.

Len Casper probably won't be compared to the great prophets of the bible, but last night he was right on. The Cubs scored as many runs in the eighth as they had all game to put this one out of reach.

Two runs were courtesy of bases loaded walks. Then Reed Johnson singled to put the Cubs up by two runs. That brought Geovony Soto to the plate. I neglected to mention earlier, his home run broke the tie he had with Randy Hundley for most home runs by a Cubs rookie catcher. His 20 on the season is the most for ANY rookie catcher since Mike Piazza did it in 1993.

Geo did it again. His second bases loaded double of the night gave him seven rbi and put the game out of reach. He scored on Mike Fontenot's double just for good measure.

Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect eighth. I just throw that in there because he is on my fantasy team. Kerry Wood struggled a little in the ninth allowing a run. He did end up striking out the side to finish off Pittsburgh.

Lost in this comeback win was Mark DeRosa. He had two hits on the night before being pulled for a double switch in the sixth. That extends his hitting streak to eight games. He's on my fantasy team too.

Life is good right now if you are a Chicago Cub fan. The only thing that would be better is if the Brewers could manage to lose a game here and there. They have matched the Cubs at 7-3 over the last ten games and just won't go away. I am actually rooting for the Cardinals (it hurts, it hurts) to win a couple while they are playing Milwaukee.