The Star of October Is...

(Photo courtesy of www.cubbienation.com)

For the Cubs this postseason, I think that the man who will become a star is Ryan Dempster.

Let me explain myself.

Why not Z?

Zambrano is a horse, no doubt about that there. Without him on the Cubs, there would be no way we would be in the position we are in. However, I feel he is more like what Curt Schilling was for Boston back in 2004.

Now he won’t have a bloody sock or anything but Big Z is the backbone of the Cubs rotation. I just see him doing what he does best though during the playoffs.

His recent struggles have me worried to call him the star for the Cubs right now.

Rich Harden made me think a little on this one.

Granted he hasn’t had the deepest of outings since joining the Cubs, but in the postseason pitch counts don’t matter only winning does. Harden is 5-1 with the Cubs this season and carries a dominant 1.77 ERA.

Only problem with calling Harden the star is that his dominance has only lasted an average of just under 6 innings a start. So many of his games are left up to the bullpen to decide and that is why Harden has ended up with 6 no decisions as well with the Cubs.

Harden’s stuff is filthy and he has shown his dominance to the National League since joining the Cubs but he comes in a close second to the star in waiting…Dempster.

When I first thought about my response to this question, Ryan Dempster was the first name to come to mind. His move from closer to starter might have been one of the best off-season moves made for the Cubs. His spot in the rotation has been incredibility important in the success of the Cubs.

He has compiled a 17-6 record in his first year back from the bullpen. His previous best was 15 wins in 2001.

Some people may be worried about his endurance to continue pitching so well in his first season starting again, but I think people underestimate Dempster’s conditioning. He worked extremely hard in the off-season to prepare himself for this season and that work has obviously paid off.

Against the 4 other teams in the playoff picture right now Dempster is 5-0 in 7 starts. That stat alone is very promising. Z is 2-2 in 8 starts and Harden is 2-0 in 5 starts.

To me Dempster has been the steady hand all year long for the Cubs. If Lou didn’t feel the same way there is no way he would be starting Game 1 of the NLDS.

He doesn’t have to do anything special, just keep doing what he has done all year. He consistently keeps the Cubs in ballgames and I think it will all pay off come the postseason.

A Little Rant

All of this talk about the Cubs resting some of their regulars as the playoffs draw near is starting to bother me.

Watching the Cubs/Brewers game today on Fox, Sweet Lou was asked about resting his team and it seemed that he was getting rather tired of talking about it as well.

I am tired of hearing that just because we play some of our reserves we aren't trying to compete. I think the Brew Crew and Ben Sheets found out today that even our reserves compete too.

No matter who Lou puts out on to the field those nine guys are going to compete. They are not just going to roll over and give up! A number of them are still fighting for a roster spot in the playoffs!

Yes, the Cubs have been able to rest some of their regulars, but they have put a team out there that has stood toe to toe against the two teams left trying to win the Wild Card.

I don't know how the rest of you feel but I don't think the Cubs are trying to screw over the Brewers or the Mets and are playing these games fairly. Lou has done the same thing against the Brewers that he did with the series in New York.

Honestly, I have a feeling that the Brewers and Mets will end up playing a playoff on Monday to decide the Wild Card...which is the way I feel it should be anyways!

Feel free to let me know how you feel though!

The Peerless Leader

Frank Chance got his nickname "The Peerless Leader" after he led the Chicago Cubs to four pennants in five years (1906-1910).

He may be best known as the first baseman in the Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double play combination.

Chance was a skillful fielder and hitter; but earns special recognition as the Chicago Cubs' inspirational player-manager.

The club's 116 victories in 1906 remain unbeaten in major league history.

(Photo courtesy of www.baseballlibrary.com)

100 Years of Memorable Players

So everyone knows that the Cubs have faced 100 years of heartbreak and losing seasons since their last World Series, but some great players have come through Chicago during that time as well.

A new feature on this blog will include a feature honoring the great Cubs of the past with a weekly profile of the player.

Look for the first great Cub profile to be posted soon!

Figuring out the Bullpen for the Playoffs

Everybody knew that yesterday's game against the Cardinals was going to include a lot of bench players and September call-ups since the Cubs had clinched the Central on Saturday. It was interesting listening to Len and Bob call the game on t.v. because it seemed they had to let the audience know who some of these guys were, almost like a spring training game all over again.

However, don't think for a second that this was just a throw away game for the Cubs. The players who took the field may not be fighting for a starting role, but they are fighting for consideration within the Cubs organization.

For the pitchers in the bullpen...this last week is an audition for a spot in the playoffs.

Chad Gaudin made his come back from back problems.

Jeff Samardzija is trying to solidify his role in the middle innings.

Bob Howry is trying to right his arm and get it ready for the playoffs.

Even little known Randy Wells is making an impression on management.

I feel that the Cubs bullpen will be an important part of the Cubs having a successful postseason and at least 2 if not 3 of the names mentioned above will figure into that scenario.

It's Down to 2

Yesterday's game I feel is a perfect example of the Cubs team this year. No matter what inning it is, the Cubs are not out of it. The Cubs have proved time and time again that you can never count them out.

Examples of the never say die Cubs:

April 23 - Ryan Theriot's two-out, RBI single in the 10th inning.

May 28 - Soto ties it in the 9th, Soriano wins it in the 10th.

May 30 - DeRosa caps improbable 8 run comeback against Rockies.

August 8 - Blanco comes through in the 11th.

August 15 - Ward's pitch-hit blast wins it for the Cubs.

September 18 - Soto's 3-run 9th inning blast sends game into extras, Lee ends it in the 12th.

When the pitching isn't perfect and there is a minor let down by the bullpen the Cubs offense seems to find a way to keep the Cubs in most ballgames.

Cubs Look Ready to Take the NL Central Crown

The Cubs/Astros series showed me a lot as to what type of a team the 2008 Chicago Cubs are.

The pitching performances by Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly were simply amazing.

I found myself in awe at what Lilly was able to do not even 24 hours after Zambrano's dominant performance. Zambrano had an overpowering arm on Sunday night, but Lilly did it differently. Lilly used all of his pitches to fool hitters and keep them off balance.

I personally felt that Lilly's performance was even more dominant then Zambrano's because he doesn't have the overpowering fastball that Big Z does. Lilly's ability to throw his curveball for a strike and place his fastball on both sides of the plate was truly a work of art.

The dominance of Z and Lilly though wasn't left alone. The bats also came alive against the Astros.

Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Edmonds and Soto all had a big series and have helped the Cubs trim that all important magic number down to 6.

The next three days could close out the division for the Cubs.

Here is a look at the Cubs/Brewers Series.

A Rejuvenated Pitching Staff

After worries in recent weeks about the health of the Cubs pitching staff, Harden and Zambrano put all those worries to rest.

Harden used his extra rest the Cubs gave him to pitch 6 strong innings against the Cardinals to earn his 5th "W" for the Cubs, a much needed one at that.

However, the big story comes from Big Z. Coming off of shoulder tendinitis and stating that his arm was tired, he pitches a no-hitter against the Astros in his first start back.

Some may question Lou Piniella's decision to let Big Z throw over 100 pitches considering his arm issues, but I think it was the right decision. It was exactly what the Cubs needed as they head into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Without Harden and Zambrano, the Cubs looked vulnerable the past couple of weeks, but now with a strong Harden and Zambrano the Cubs have that swagger back that Lou Piniella knew they had in them.

If these two can stay healthy, the 1-2-3 punch in the post season of Z, Harden, and Dempster is one I feel will be hard to beat.

Side note: With the Cubs victory and two losses on Sunday by the Brew Crew the Cubs now have a magic number of 7.

Tonight's Top Ten

Here is my top ten list. Feel free to agree or disagree.

10) 2006 Rose Bowl - Vince Young leads Texas past the heavily favored USC Trojans in epic fashion to win the National Championship.

9) Lance Armstrong - He won 7 consecutive Tour de France titles after defeating cancer.

8) Michael Jordan wins 6th NBA Championship - Arguably the best player to ever play the game, Michael Jordan, hit one of the most memorable shots in the closing seconds to defeat the Utah Jazz and win his 6th NBA Championship with the Bulls.

7) Boston Winning the 2004 World Series - Overcoming being down 3 games in the ALCS against the Yankees and then going on to win the World Series, ending an 86-year drought.

6) McGwire/Sosa Home Run Race - The race to break the home run record captivated fans for an entire summer and saved the game. It brought back fans to the game after the strike had lost so many fans.

5) Boise St. wins 2007 Fiesta Bowl - After losing an 18 point lead in the 2nd half and falling behind by a touchdown with only a minute left in regulation, a series of trick plays helps Boise St. send the game into overtime and eventually defeat Oklahoma to win the Fiesta Bowl.

4) Bartman. I think that one name is too well known among Cubs fans as it is a moment that will forever live in the hearts of the Cubs' faithful.

3) Tiger Woods wins the 2008 US Open - Playing on only one good leg, Tiger played four rounds of gutsy, agonizing golf to force an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate. Walking with a noticeable limp, Tiger won the championship on the first hole of sudden death.

2) Giants Super Bowl Win - Eli Manning led the Giants to the Super Bowl victory over the Patriots to deny them of their perfect season.

1) 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics - The first Olympic Games held in China that included so many story lines and memorable moments like Phelps record winning gold medal count and Usain Bolt's domination in the 100m and 200m will forever be a memorable Olympics for many reasons.

A Great Start, But Just Couldn't Finish

The Cubs looked to be breaking out of their slump in the early innings on Tuesday night against Kyle Lohse and the Cardinals, but fell in the ninth.

I saw everything I thought I would see in this game. I saw the Cubs coming out and being aggressive at the plate which allowed them to build an early 3-0 lead. I saw another good outing by Ryan Dempster who was able to give the Cubs 7 strong innings. If it were not for one mistake pitch to Pujols maybe Cubs fans might be feeling differently today.

However, after that game one man did let everyone know how he felt. Lou Pinella appeared to have had enough with the way his team was playing baseball currently. He sounded off to reporters stating that he didn't think his players were playing to win, but instead waiting to get beat. I took his post game comments as Lou laying down a challenge to his players to get that swagger back that he knows they have in them.

Will it come out tonight? Hopefully it does because the Cubs can rely on the Brewers slumping along with the Cubs much longer.

A Look Ahead to St. Louis

The past week hasn't been the best week if you have been a Cubs fan, but the only upside is that it wasn't much better for Brewers fans. Although the Cubs have struggled against the likes of the Astros and Reds I look for them to rebound this week. An off day today along with a three game set against your biggest rival is a nice way to refocus a team.

Tuesday - Dempster v. Lohse

Dempster has come up big for the Cubs time and time again this year since moving into the starting rotation from the closer role. Dempster has gone 5-2 since the All-Star break and is coming off of a quality start his last outing against the Astros. He will by vying for his 16th win of the season against Kyle Lohse. He has been a workhorse for the Cubs, one that they have relied on a lot. I look for him to not disappoint and to have another quality start.

Wednesday - Lilly v. Looper

Lilly will head into Wednesday's game coming off of his shortest outing on the season, two innings where he gave up five runs on four hits and three walks. Facing the Cardinals for the fourth time this year, he already has one win against the Redbirds and I look for him to bounce back well after his poor showing against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Thursday - Harden v Wellemeyer

I'm not sure what to expect out of Harden as he makes his first start since Aug. 29th. There have been concerns that he may be experiencing some discomfort lately, but the Cubs have said they just wanted to give him some extra rest. Harden went 3-0 in August with a 1.82 ERA. He has looked dominant in his outings thus far in the National League, but has been hampered by not being able to go very deep in games, putting the game in the hands of the bullpen. Hopefully the extra rest will benefit him and he will continue to overpower the NL. I look for another strong start from a very fresh Harden who I bet is eager to take the mound and turn things around for the Cubs.

Side Note: I am not one to worry much about "magic numbers" until they get to around five games, but for Cubs fans who want to know where we are at, they can visit this site that keeps track of the current "magic number" for the Cubs.

Cubs Magic Number

Looking Ahead to the Playoffs

First I have to knock on wood before I begin this post in hopes that I am not putting a jinx on my dear Cubs by looking ahead to the playoffs already!

The question of who I would most like to see the Cubs face in the Divisional Series is an intriguing one with the latest struggles of the Cubs this past week. But I think the Cubs are going to turn this thing back around and head into the playoffs strong.

Worst Possible Opponent: Arizona Diamondbacks

Facing Webb/Haren/Johnson in a five game series would be extremely tough. Webb is one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors and has amazing stuff that can shut down an entire lineup 1-9. Randy Johnson pretty much owns the Cubs going 13-0 in 14 starts against the Cubs.

Difficult Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets

-Dodgers-

Both teams feature a lot of power in their lineups and it may come down to which lineup shows up healthy. The Dodgers are currently without veterans Furcal and Kent which hurt the lineup overall and I personally don't think you can count on the youth of Kemp, Either, DeWitt and Loney when they are all in the lineup together.

Plus a bullpen that has been shaky at best throughout the season with a current bullpen ERA of over 4.0. However, with Lowe, Billingsley and Kuroda in a best of five game series alongside the potential offense the Dodgers could produce is a scary idea.

-Mets-

One name...Carlos Delgado. He has been unstoppable for the Mets as of late and having him surrounded by hitters like Wright, Beltran and Reyes may prove to be a tough task. Losing Wagner as their closer may end up creating some holes in their bullpen. I'm also not sold on their starting rotation past Santana. The power they can produce, much like the Dodgers, has me worried here as well.

The Winner Is...: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies lineup worries me, but not nearly as much as the other three. One thing I have come to realize about the playoffs is that not always the best team wins, but the team that is hot at that given time. A lineup featuring Rollins, Utley, Howard, Victorino and Werth is one that could be hard to overcome if the Cubs' bats were to go silent during the series. However, I think top to bottom the Cubs feature a more powerful lineup with Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, DeRosa and Soto. The Phillies just don't have the same threat offensively, batter after batter that the Mets and Dodgers seem to have.

I think the Cubs have a true edge against the Phillies' pitching staff. The Phillies staff doesn't have an overpowering arm that stands out to be like there is for the D-Backs and Mets and in a five game set Hammels/Blanton/Moyer are all very hittable pitchers. Also, besides Lidge, who has been a very dominant closer this year, I don't see a bullpen that can shut down an opposing team on any given night.

Both lineups feature talented hitters, but the Cubs seem to have a more balanced lineup and a pitching staff that is much better then the Phillies. In the post-season you can't put a price on pitching and I think the Cubs have a clear edge here both in the rotation and in the bullpen.

Can't Afford a Let Down Now

For many Cubs fans the previous five games have not gone as planned. The timely hitting that Cubs fans had become accustomed to a few weeks back is now lost somewhere in the ivy covered walls of Wrigley Field.

At a time when the bats disappear, a ball club needs their pitching staff to pick them up and carry them. However, recently a few Chicago Cubs pitchers have been as clutch as they have needed to be.

Carlos Zambrano

Zambrano left Tuesday night's game against the Astros early, stating that he wasn't feeling good. This coming after his scheduled start on Sunday was pushed back to give him a few more days to rest. In his last five starts, Zambrano has a 1-1 record and 7.43 ERA. The remainder of the season for Zambrano is now one huge question mark and is one of concern for Cubs fans.

Rich Harden

Also on Tuesday the Cubs announced that they would skip Harden's next turn in the rotation to give him extra rest. He is now scheduled to start during next week's series in St. Louis. There is nothing said to be wrong with Harden. The Cubs' management had determined already to give him extra rest when they acquired him from Oakland.

What Happens Now

As a result of what has happened with Zambrano and Harden the Cubs are now relying on the back end of their rotation to carry them through the last month of the regular season. A rotation that seemed overpowering a few short weeks ago that featured Big Z - Dempster - Harden - Lilly - Marquis now seems to have a few cracks in it with question marks surrounding #1 and #3.

With 16 of the Cubs' final 22 games being on the road now is not the time to rest and jog home. The Cubs have six games remaining with both the Cardinals and the Brewers. A let down now could mean for a long September.

However, for the Cubs, Thursday's off day could not have come at a better time. The day off will allow the Cubs to head into their weekend series in Cincinnati against the depleted Reds with much needed rest as they begin the final push to October.

What will happen with Zambrano? Is Harden injured and we don't know? Both are good questions, but the Cubs have shown time and time again that they can come back from any deficit so I won't be one to count them out!

September call ups came at the right time for the Cubs, but they must remember with the Brew Crew lurking on the Cubs' heels, now is not the time for a letdown

Breaking the Ice

My name is David McNace. I am a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Health and Sports Studies. I have grown up a die-hard Cubs fan and have lived through many historic ups and downs that have followed the Cubs. I have been out of the 'sports loop' the past couples of months having been in Beijing covering the Olympics, but am looking forward to getting to watch Chicago Cubs baseball on a daily basis again.

Multiple times throughout the week I will be blogging about my analysis of each game the Cubs play while also looking ahead to future series. Once the season concludes I will start to discuss the off-season moves that I think the Cubs should make and the ones that they do make as the head into the Winter Meetings.