Again, the Cubs get a break in a series, as Chipper Jones who leads all batters in baseball (with enough at bats to qualify) in batting average, will not play in the first couple games of this series and may even miss the entire series, dur to a quadriceps tear. Atlanta has been outstanding at home, but poor on the road, so far this year. Hopefully, that trend continues, for this series at Wrigley field.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Gotta love getting them without Chipper the way he's been hitting this year. Also one of the teams in MLB you definitely want to play at home. Pitching matchups seem about even, but the Cubs should take 2 of 3 from them.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

No Larry Jones?! Tainted!!! Put an '*' next to any Cub W in this series!!!!1

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

It's no source of shame to admit when your team gets a break. It's the regular season anyway, where teams may get breaks like missing the other teams top pitcher in a series. But if the Cubs played the Braves in the playoffs and Smoltz was gone-as he is for this series, as he is out for the rest of the season (making the Braves chances of another playoff appearance less likely) and Chipper was out as well, certainly winning that series would be tainted. But it's still better to win even if the wins are tainted than to lose and I'll be happy if they take 2 or all 3 in this series, tainted or not. I'm not afraid to point out when the Cubs get a break, it's called objectivity.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Yeah. But what if they make the playoffs by one game? They sweep the Braves without Jones. Wouldn't a World Series run be tainted cuz if Jones were playing they might not have made the playoffs?

You play the teams when the schedule says, they cannot change the fact that teams are missing good players.

Those types of excuses are so lame.

I would virtually guarantee that the 05 White Sox (and every other WS champion) can look back on their season and find a few series when another team was not at full strength. It happens and is all part of the game.

You suit em up and play when the schedule says.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Tainted. 2008*****

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I know. Of course. I was just mocking Steve.

Glavin vs Lilly tonight, in a battle of southpaws that have been less than outstanding this season. Both have very similar numbers over their last 3 starts, with 0-1 records and ERA's in the mid 5's. But the Cubs have been very good at home, while Atlanta has struggled on the road and is without Chipper. It's an advantage that the Cubs had the day off yesterday, so that Wood and Marmol are ready to go. Howry didn't pitch on Sunday either, so he's well rested. Since the bullpen is likely to be employed tonight for both teams, that would seem to all be positives.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Fucking Soriano gets picked off in the 1st. Cubs have fought back to take the lead at 4-3.

at 5-3 the cubs better win this game...hope atlanta's bullpen sucks, i really don't know.

Yeah, so what exactly are the MLB rules for when you can use a name other than your given name?

Could someone go as "He Hate Me" Jones?

ask CoCo Crisp.

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someone needs to name themself after the great bar game "Hoop" Jones. dennis rodman looking mfer shootin hoops...what a great game that was.

Nice 3-Run shot there by Soto. Man thats gotta feel great after watching the opposing team intentionally walk the guy in front of you and then be able to make em pay.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Another home win.

RFDC- Yeah, it was real nice for Soto to get a big hit tonight. He had been struggling of late, with a sore left wrist that has probably contributed to that. Having a day off to rest it yesterday, may have helped.

Tomorrow, its Dempster against Jair Jurriens, a 22 year old right hander. Jurriens started the season pretty strong, but his last 3 outing have not been great. Last time out, he went 6 innings against the Florida Marlins and gave up 5 runs. The time before that he only got through 4.1/3 against the Reds, and surrendered 6 earned. The game before that was another short day, going 4 2/3 against Arizona and giving up 3. His overall record is 6-3 with a 3.77 ERA. But that ERA was around 2.8, before the last 5 starts. Hopefully his struggles continue, and Dempster can run his record to 8-2, while the Cubs attempt to run the home win streak to 10 in a row.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I've been thinking Geo was hurt. Losing his left grip and warning track power lately. It's good to see him bust out of this lil slump. I wonder if he tagged a fat chick.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Jurrjens is injured. We get a spot starter named Jeff Bennett tonight! Wasn't that a character on Taxi?

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So the Braves have Jurriens, Glavin and Smoltz, all out right now? Man thats a tough deal for them. Bennett has not gone more than 3 innings in his last 10 outings. He only has 3 starts this season, but has a decent ERA in the mid 3's. I'm guessing he may not go real deep into the game, which may help tire out their bullpen, making it less effective if they have to turn around and pitch again in tomorrows game.

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Go Cubs!!!!

i rarely have sympathy for the braves.

Why was Soriano replaced?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Took a pitch in the left hand and had to leave. Sounded like a nasty hit.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Ouch, thanks.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I have criticized Soriano a fair number of times, both on the air and on this message board. But lately, he has been playing noticeably better on defense and has started running again, leaving little to dislike about his game. But hopefully, its just a bruised hand. If they have to have one of the main guys go down, its easier to replace Soriano, than Lee or Ramirez. Hoffpauir was already going to be recalled on Friday. they can play him out there, or put Hoffpauir at DH for the Toronto/Tampa Bay series' and play Edmonds and Johnson in the outfield with Fukadome. But again, hopefully its just a bruised hand.

In any case, the game is going real well, with the Cubs leading 7-0 in the top of the 5th. Great start with Fukadome hitting a big 3 run homer. Looks like the Cubs win win their third straight and 10th in a row at home!

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Go Cubs!!!!

It's nice to see Dempster going deep and not allowing any ER. With the day off Monday and a nice deep game today, that bullpen is resting up nicely.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

That is real nice to see. Not so nice, is the news that Soriano has a non-displaced fracture in that left hand. Fortunately, its a position (left field) thats not so difficult to replace and Theriot is a pretty good fit at the leadoff position. I will be anxious to see who they put at #2. Fukadome? I like him at 5, but he would be a nice fit at 2 as well.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Great Win, with Dempster going the distance, giving the whole bullpen a night off, without anyone even warming up. Tomorrows game has Zambrano facing Tim Hudson-their ace. It should be a pitchers duel, but you never know how the wind might be blowing. With storms possible tomorrow, the wind may be blowing pretty strong. But the Cubs are already assured of a winning series, with only the possibility of a sweep, left to decide. Hopefully, the brooms will be out again, as the Cubs look to win their 4th in a row and their 11th straight win at the shrine.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Could he have gotten worse?


My buddy broke the same bone(s) in his hand last summer, and needed surgery to set them. If thats the case, Cubs could be without him for a while.

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