And I say to you today...There's hope.

I am not merely giddy after NJIT ended a 51-game losing streak. I am not merely giddy after yesterday's melancholy. I can see a developing scenario where 85 wins can take down the NL Central again. Is this merely something that I am trying to propagandize a chance for the Brewers to win post CC? No.

But let's tell it like this. It probably will not take a Mister Smarty Mans to say that Ryan Dempster is not going to have another year like last year. Through his history, he was a pitcher whose command made certain that his numbers never matched his potential game.

Yet, why is he a reason for hope within the NL Central? Simple. Tim Dierkes listed every starter who had thrown more than 3400 pitches last year. Only one was a closer to starter as a transition. This does not bode well for the Cubbies.

Their top three are Carlos Zambrano (who's averaged 3400 pitches for the last 4 years), Dempster (obvious reasons above), Rich Harden (pitched 148 IP last year, a high since 2004, may already have a tear in his rotator cuff). So you know what that means?

1. There is a very strong chance that Ted Lilly may be your ace.
-And that means you have Ted Lilly as your ace.

2. Garrett Olson is an important starter.
-And he is merely an Ed Yarnall simalcrum. 6.65 ERA last season, and that's in 26 starts.

3. Your fifth starter in the rotation may not exist.
-Mitch Atkins? That seems like a guy that MLB 09 inventented to fill out the Iowa roster.

I still do not say that this is a clinched win for the Brewers, the Cardinals get everything from their talent. And hell, the Cubs may have gone crazy with the attributes for their create-a-pitcher. It is what it is.

It is just that there is no guarantees in this world.

For an ill-considered novelty t-shirt, the Cubs sign an unpredictable element.

I'm of two minds on Milton Bradley. If healthy? The Cubs have themselves a guy who could go .315/.395/.560. He is going to be a real force for evil.

(What?)

But here's where this so-called wicket gets sticky. Sure, he's slotted in right field. And that's cool, Fukudome was kind of a lot of drag on the team. But then there's that whole injury prone thing. And this isn't a brief run either. How about a quick game of one of these things is not like the other. Last season, Milton Bradley played 126 games as mainly a designated hitter.

Before that?
2002: 98
2003: 101
2004: 141
2005: 75
2006: 96
2007: 61

See a developing trend here kids?

And of course, any Milton Bradley discussion does have to touch on his temper. It is what it is, and while he has mellowed some has he has fallen over the age of 30. However, Lou Pinella has a strong personality, and I kind of want to punch him. And I am a mellow leader of the future.

So what does it all mean. He is a when healthy guy. When healthy, he could roll out a line of .950 OPSery. But every game over game 100?

It's gravy.

Listen...here's the thing.

I'm a simple kind of sports fan. I do not expect much. I want my teams to beat the teams they're supposed to and steal a few versus the teams that have better talent. And I can handle years of being above average. But you know what?

There comes a time when you want a shot at the brass ring. Sure, the Brewers are driving down the road as if they're on three tires with a four star wanted level. But the fact is, the Brewers have just a touch more talent than the Mets.

Am I being hypocritical? No. See, when a good run starts? You want to see how far they can go. And yet, I am zen about the fact that simple logic dictates that the Cubs would clinch by the time the season ends. Because for the longest time, I was honest about the fact that the Cubs had more skill.

I hated the Cubs for their ridiculous announcing, their annoying theme song, and their fans general degeneracy into becoming nothing more than a Midwestern Red Sox fan. But I was man enough to admit their on-field talent level was higher. That being said? If the Brewers lose the Wild Card?

I won't be happy.

That also being said? I'm getting sick of the Badgers being the Clemson of the north. Always finishing with 8 or 9 wins, always losing to a lesser team or two. Question? Can this year be any different. Answer? Yes.

Will it? No.

Why? Because the Badgers have three definable trap games. All on the road. And I can guarandamntee they'll lose two of them.

September 27th @ Michigan

Why? Because Michigan sucks now and they have a date with Ohio State, who should have their shit together by October.

October 18th @ Iowa

Why? Iowa still has a tough defense, Wisconsin is a natural rival, and a game versus Penn State the next week? This is where they will fall.

November 1st @ Michigan State

Why? Because even if Michigan State is in the middle of a slow start, their talent level is similar to the Badgers. And if by a hook and crook they're unbeaten at this point? They will lose here.

Three trap games. Two losses. I eagerly await which above average SEC team we will face in a bowl game.

Olivia Munn is embodying my mood...

Fucking Brewers...making me sad.

Need to smile. Need to smile.

The Mavericks re-signed Devean George?

Really? The man best known for being the only Division III 1st Round draft choice in forever and then doing nothing until blocking Mark Cuban's dreams of destroying his team by trading for Jason Kidd? And now he's back?

Cubes, aren't you too rich for this shit? You need a tiny man from Augsburg ruining your day? You're trying to destroy the rivalry between the Cubs and Brewers. Or Cardinals. The vicisitudes of a back-up wing forward should not cross your shit up.

But you want the familiar? Okay. Fine.

It's still a dumbass move.

I strongly dislike Cubs fans...

They are just as obnoxious as sports fans in the tri-state area northeastward. Seriously, those kids in Onoro get violent. Anyway, you've heard the stories of the Cubs fans beating the crap out of a dude who threw a red bull at their tour bus. You've heard stories of the Cub fans who cost a Sox fan an eye, at a birthday party for a two year old. And yes, at this point, you've probably heard the story I'm telling you.

But Elvi's a Cub fan. And he is guilty by association. These kids are classy.

Home Run Derby has the full story, but you know what?

The video of these class acts is here.



Yeah. Cubs fans are freaking awesome.

Fuck a duck that series sucked.

While I've hated the average Cub fan for the past few years, I'm man enough to know when a talented team is rolling. And the Cubbies deserved to get the sweep. Ted Lilly outpitched Sabathia for fucks sake.

But the fucking Cardinals are back in the Wild Card lead. Really. The Cubs kicked so much ass that the Tony LaRussa led batch of scrubs and assholes are back in the playoff lead. I know, right?

But yeah, suicidal tendencies in a blogger are unbecoming. I get it. The Cubs are good, and the Brewers played like shit this time around. but you know what? The Brewers have 27 games in August. 22 are against teams under .500. This series was a bust and Brewers fan is going to have to eat crow.

But the Brewers are far from dead. Sabathia and Sheets go again this weekend. Redemption is only three games away.

The Crew shall return. This has been a crazy race, and we'll be in it to the end.

By all logic, it's on in the NL Central.

If you get served, and then you serve them back? It's on.



And I couldn't be happier. My baseball team got C.C. Sabathia. He was solid tonight. I was expecting a perfect game, but a quality start is cool.

But you know what the Cubs did? They served the Brewers back.


Don't Break My Heart...

The Cubs got themselves a solid answer. Rich Harden, who in terms of baseball superherodom rates somewhere along the lines of Ben Sheets Bizarro Half-Brother, (Better stuff and more ability, but he may not get to 20 starts, ever.) And they didn't have to pay nearly the same price as the Brewers.

Now, sure, Matt Murton never got a fair shot with the Cubs and could Jack Cust some shit. Baseball America comes out and calls Sean Gallagher a Jon Lieber type (in a pitching park? That's solid). Eric Patterson could turn out to be a better version of his brother. And Josh Donaldson is an A-Ball Catcher. Ask Ben Petrick or J.D. Closser what can happen.

Granted, the Cubs only real big guns have made the bigs or are in Low-A, but still there was no Tyler Vitters or Jeff Sazmardja. And did I mention that Chad Gaudin deserves more mention than what I gave him? He's a Caludio Vargas type. Those have value.

So now the Cubs have solidifed their rotation. The Brewers have star power. If the Cardinals do anything? These last 70 games will be very intriguing.

God love it.