Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

Friday – 7:05 p.m. Comcast SportsNet Plus – Ryan Dempster vs. Jeff Suppan

Saturday – 2:55 p.m. Fox – Ted Lilly vs. Ben Sheets

Sunday – 1:05 p.m. Channel 9 – Angel Guzman vs. C.C. Sabathia

You have been the best Cubs manager I have seen in my 22 years of living and probably the best any true Cubs fan has ever seen. You took this team from the cellar to one of the best teams in baseball. It took talent, skill and some luck.

If Chad Gaudin, Kevin Hart, Neal Cotts or Bob Howry are on the playoff roster, then do not bother going to the playoffs. Please save us the frustration and do not even show up.

Monday – 6:10 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Jason Marquis vs. Jonathon Niese

Tuesday – 6:10 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Sean Marshall vs. Johan Santana

Wednesday – 6:10 p.m. Channel 26 – Carlos Zambrano vs. Oliver Perez

Thursday – 6:10 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Dick Harden vs. Pedro Martinez

We all know here that our starting rotation is pretty much set for the playoffs. However, the bullpen is a mess. I like what I am seeing from Randy Wells but MLB rules are that players must be on the 40-man roster by September 1st and his contract was purchased on the 9th so he cannot be on the playoff roster. So without further due, this is who SHOULD be on the roster:

Rotation: Zambrano, Dempster, Harden and Lilly

Bullpen: Marquis, Marshall, Gaudin, Samardjia, Marmol and Wood

Lineup: Soriano, Edmonds, DeRosa, Ramirez, Theriot, Fontenot, Lee and Soto

Bench: Johnson, Blanco, Ward, Cedeno, Hoffpauir, Fukudome and Pie

– I would put another pitcher on this staff but you figure there is no need for a fifth starter so that means there can be an extra bench player which is Pie. I think Pie is needed for defense in late innings. Unfortunately, there are not many options in the bullpen so I decided that an extra position player is a must.

Friday – 1:20 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Carlos Zambrano vs. Adam Wainwright

Saturday – 2:55 p.m. FOX – Theodore Roosevelt Lilly vs. Joel Piniero

Sunday – 1:20 p.m. Channel 9 – Ryan Dempster vs. Braden Looper

Tuesday – 7:05 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Ryan Dempster vs. C.C. Sabathia

Wednesday – 7:05 p.m. Channel 26 – Jason Marquis vs. Ben Sheets

Thursday – 1:20 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Dick Harden vs. Dave Bush

Sunday – 7:05 p.m. Channel 9 – Carlos Zambrano vs. Randy Wolf

Monday – 1:05 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Jason Marquis vs. Brian Moehler

"I like you better when you don't swing at curveballs in the dirt."

The Cubs squeaked out two wins but not without giving us all heartburn. Right now, we are winning ugly but as I mentioned in the last thread, I would rather be lucky than good.

If Lou is complaining about this team sucking ass the last couple weeks, then why doesn’t he make some changes in the lineup? Bench that piece of shit Derrek “6-4”-Lee for a few days. Play Daryle Ward at first and Micah Hoffpauir in right field but take him out in the later innings for defense. Play Reed Johnson more because Jim Edmonds needs a few days off. ANYTHING TO GET THIS TEAM GOING.

Last but not least, Bud Selig is a moron. Instead of canceling the first two games of the series, why wouldn’t he try to reschedule the games in another ballpark like Arlington or St. Louis? This does not make any sense. The hell with the Astros owner being pissed off. The Astros are still the home team so what is the difference? Must be that 275 foot left field that all of his right handed batters hit the ball too.

– I will have a game thread for this series as soon as the schedule is announced for Sunday and Monday.

– Also, credit to refugee Nemo for giving that asshole Kerry Wood’s new nickname: “Kingsford”. EXCELLENT!

Tuesday – 7:15 p.m. Channel 9 – Ryan Dempster vs. Kyle Lohse

Wednesday – 7:15 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Theodore Roosevelt Lilly vs. Braden Looper

Thursday – 7:15 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Dick Harden vs. Todd Wellemeyer