Due to a series of unforeseeable circumstances, we are going to break from our Two on Two format and simply go around the room with three of us. Al from Bleed Cubbie Blue has joined Marc Hulet and me. You can find the previous Two on Two's below: AL Central AL West NL West Sully: Well guys, what do we think about the NL Central in 2008. Just like the American League Central, which pits Cleveland and Detroit as the only two teams one can really see winning it, in the NL Central we have Chicago and Milwaukee. I don't see Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Houston or even the consistently competitive St. Louis Cardinals mustering much of a threat to the Cubbies or the Brew Crew. Al: This is the first time in a while that the Cubs go into the season as, legitimately, the favorite to win their division.  read more »

Game One Hundred Six - Cubs 6 Brewers 4
WP - Chad Gaudin (7-4, 2-1) LP - Salomon Torres (5-3) Save - Carlos Marmol (5)

The Chicago Cubs waited 106 games to put together their best performance on the road this season. Many did not give Lou Piniella's crew much of a chance on Monday night against CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers....but that is why they play the game.  read more »

I think those were the three biggest factors in Roy Oswalt's mastery of the Cubs on Labor Day. Piniella mentioned the shadows as a problem, due to the late Summer 3:05 start. Thing is, the Astros didn't play at noon.

"The shadows go for both teams," [Jason] Marquis said. "It's not like they disappear when they hit or appear when we hit. You have to play the field as it is, and it's equal opportunity for both teams."

Thank you. Sometimes it takes a New Yorker to set things straight.

So, that eliminates Shadows as a factor. Cross Chickens off the list, it was just a freak triple by Miquel Tejada.

Tejada tripled to lead off the Houston fourth, lining the ball off the left-field wall. The ball then caromed into foul territory, and because it hit the dirt and not the grass, it rolled all the way to the Cubs' bullpen mound with Alfonso Soriano in pursuit.  read more »

BY ADAM RONIS There Cardinals are employing a closer-by-committee, a popular trend these days, and after Ryan Franklin's performance today against the Cubs, bump him towards the back of the line. He pitched a scoreless 10th innings, but couldn't get an out in the 11th inning to take the loss. He walked Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez singled, Fukudome was intentionally walked and Henry Blanco singled to win it. Chris Perez pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and recording a strikeout. He's still a good bet for some saves until Adam Wainwright returns. Jason Isringhausen pitched two scoreless innings Thursday, so one of those two should get the next save opportunity.  read more »

Aramis Ramirez broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the eighth to send the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday. After getting shut down by Giants starter Matt Cain, the Cubs struck quickly against his replacement and held off a ninth-inning rally to send the Giants [...]

The weather at Wrigley Field may change in an instant, but Aramis Ramirez is always steady in the clutch. Ramirez broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the eighth to send the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday. After getting shut down by Giants starter Matt Cain for seven innings as the wind whipped in from Lake Michigan, the Cubs struck quickly against his...  read more »

BY ADAM RONIS Manny Corpas blew his fourth save of the season by allowing a two-run homer to Aramis Ramirez last night. Clint Hurdle hasn't pulled Corpas from the closer role yet, but did say he will reevaluate the situation. That's not an endearing statement for Corpas and remember, Hurdle pulled Fuentes from closing last season after one bad week. It certainly seems like Hurdle will make the switch. If he wasn't seriously contemplating a change, then why not give the usual vote of confidence managers' give in these type of situations?  read more »

Talk about role reversals. Converted closer Ryan Dempster was solid as a starter and got the win. One-time ace Kerry Wood, now called on to finish games, earned his first career save. Chicago’s offense, meanwhile, thawed out. Aramis Ramirez homered, Alfonso Soriano had two RBIs and the Chicago Cubs got their first win, 6-3 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.  read more »

Talk about role reversals. Converted closer Ryan Dempster was solid as a starter and got the win. One-time ace Kerry Wood, now called on to finish games, earned his first career save. Chicago’s offense, meanwhile, thawed out. Aramis Ramirez homered, Alfonso Soriano had two RBIs and the Chicago Cubs got their first win, 6-3 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.  read more »

Talk about role reversals. Converted closer Ryan Dempster was solid as a starter and got the win. One-time ace Kerry Wood, now called on to finish games, earned his first career save. Chicago’s offense, meanwhile, thawed out. Aramis Ramirez homered, Alfonso Soriano had two RBIs and the Chicago Cubs got their first win, 6-3 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.  read more »