9/25/08 @ New York; L 6-7; (96-62)

Chicago got out to an early lead, lost it, got it back, and lost it again. Carlos Beltran ended the game with an rbi single with two outs in the ninth.

Rich Harden pitched six innings in his playoff tuneup.

Micah Hoffpauir was the star on a night when only a couple normal starters played. He went five for five with five rbi. His first two major league home runs came last night as well.

Mike Fontenont had three hits as well raising his average to .295.

Now it is on to Milwaukee for the final series of the season. Houston is a game away from being eliminated, so that missed game will most likely not be made up.

5/29/08 vs Rockies; W 8-4; (33-21)

The Chicago Cubs are officially one third of the way through the 2008 season. They own the best record in all of the major leagues. I hate to say this, but thank you White Sox for beating the Devil Rays today. They are also twelve games above .500 for the first time this year, thanks to thier 8-4 win over the Rockies. In 1908, they were 32-19-1 after the first third of the season. The 1945 team wasn't that far ahead and neither was the 2003 team.

The Cubs have become a team that can win late. This game marks the fourth game in a row they have scored after the seventh. Three of those brought them wins, the fourth was just an insurance run. The great thing about this team is the stoppers once we get the lead. The bullpen was dominant tonight, with Marmol and Wood striking out five of six batters faced.

The offense broke out and scored as many runs tonight as it had the entire seriers against the Dodgers. Everyone in the starting lineup recorded a hit, except Geovany Soto, who hit a sac fly for the GWRBI, one night after the sac fly to send it to extra innings. Maybe it is right time, right place. Maybe it is clutch hitting.

Micah Hoffpauir had a late pinch hit at bat and picked up his first major league RBI. Derek Lee hit his 13th home run tonight. Ramirez, Fukudome and DeRosa all doubled. Thank heaven DeRosa did. I picked him up in my fantasy league this week and he was hitless until that double. As a good Cub fan, I was considering dropping him so he could go back on a hot streak.

5/21/08 @ Astros; L 3-5; (28-19)

The Cubs fell to the Astros for the second day in a row, losing the series in the process. This is the seventh time this season the Cubs have lost back to back games. It hadn’t happened in over two weeks, as the Cubs had won series with the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Pirates. With the Red Sox winning six straight, the Cubs now hold the third best winning percentage in baseball.

Recently promoted Micah Hoffpauir was the offensive highlight for the team. In his first major league start, he doubled in the first inning for his first major league hit. His second came in the seventh inning, another double. His two hits lead the Cubs, who managed only five hits on the night.

Mark DeRosa didn’t get one of those five hits, ending his streak at eleven games. Derek Lee did have a home run for the Cubs, moving him to eleven on the season. That puts him ahead of Soriano for the team lead. His two base hits last night recaptured the team lead for hits from Theriot who has gone cold. (Note to self, treat Theriot’s hot streaks like a pitcher during a no hitter….don’t talk about it) Lee also leads the team in runs scored.

Most of the damage from the Astros came on a three run shot by Carlos Lee. That was part of a four run third inning that put the Astros ahead to stay. Gallagher just wasn’t good tonight, but the Astros didn’t run away and hide. The Cubs had chances and lost by only two.

Today is a travel day. The team will regroup before starting a three game set with the Pirates tomorrow. Zambrano will be on the hill looking to help the Cubs avoid their first three game skid of the year.