9/20/08 vs. Cardinals; W 5-4; (93-60)

Ted Lilly is the most appropriate pitcher to win the NL Central clinching game. His recent success and win at all cost attitude has been vital. Not bad for the #4 guy in the rotation.


The St. Louis Cardinals are the most appropriate opponent. These guys have been our rival for as long as anyone can remember.

Kerry Wood is the most appropriate closer. Think back to 2003, when he was a starter. One of only three rostered players who was on the 2003 team.

Jim Edmonds is the most appropriate person to record the final out of the clinching game. At the beginning of the year we didn't know about center field. Edmonds was just the former Cardinal we all hated. Nice for him to be the guy who does it against the Cardinals.


Chicago...for the second time in 100 years...we have repeated.


In a game that started out all Chicago...and became a toss up...the Cubs prevailed. A 5-0 lead evaporated as St. Louis pulled within one. Troy Glaus only has four hits against Chicago this year, but they are all big ones. His three run homer today gave St. Louis hope.


Hope is all they had. Ted Lilly was terrific through seven innings. Yes he gave up the three run bomb, but he does that. The rest was great. Then we had Marmol and Woody for an inning each. Just the way it is supposed to work. Seven strong from your starter, and one excellent inning each from the bullpen studs.

Offensively, Chicago made it easy on Lilly. Actually, the Cardinals defense made it easy. In the bottom of the second, after a leadoff double by Edmonds and a walk to Soto, DeRosa hit a double play ball. It was fielded well, but indecision allowed DeRosa to beat the relay. After a walk to Kosuke and a strikeout for Lilly, Soriano singled to left. Brian Barton misplayed it and three runs scored as the ball rolled to the wall.

In the fourth, Soto reached on an error and then scored on DeRosa's double. DeRosa then came around to score on a squeeze bunt by Lilly.

When Edmonds squeezed the fly ball for the final out, the Cubs celebrated on the mound. They celebrated not with a dog pile, but just as if they had won one more game. That tells me they think there is more work to do.

This win, this division title, is just a step along the way. The whole team knows that. The goal is the first World Series title. It is nice to know the whole team is prepared for that.