9/9/08 @ St. Louis; L 3-4; (86-58)

I wanted to start writing this entry in the first inning. Theriot singled, followed by consecutive doubles from Lee and Ramirez. The Cubs were up 2-0 after only four batters. I was encouraged.

I wanted to start writing this entry in the third inning. Theriot tripled to lead off. Aramis Ramirez singled with two outs to make it 3-0. Dempster still hadn't allowed a hit.

Needless to say, I didn't start writing it then. When Albert Pujols came to the plate in the sixth inning with two on and no out, I thought to myself walk him. Instead Dempster gave him a fastball on the outer half of the plate that Pujols promptly hit into the right field stands.

Just like that the optimism and the hope were gone. Not mine..well yes mine too...but the Cubs. In July and early August no lead was safe for the opponent. Chicago found a way to win. Now in back to back games, early leads have been erased. The team is playing like they are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Chicago didn't score again the rest of the game. It went to the bottom of the ninth. Whereas the Reds on Sunday needed three runs, St. Louis only needed one. And they got it. On a check swing grounder with a drawn in infield, St. Louis was able to squeak out a run and take this game away.

My only consolation this morning is that the Reds beat the Brewers again! If it wasn't for the Brewers matching us loss for loss over the last ten games, Cubs fan may have committed mass Harry Caray.

On the positive side, Harden and Zambrano are ready to go. Each threw a bullpen session with no issues. The top two pitchers have one start total in the month of September. It doesn't require a large hadron collider scientist to realize that may contribute to the recent slump.