F My Life, Volume 75

So two nights ago was like Christmas Eve. I was so excited and keyed up about the Cubbies making the playoffs and having Home-Field that I literally couldn't sleep. I have believed all season that there was something different this year about this team, and that after 100 years without a championship, this was the season where all the stupid curses would be put to rest. Zambrano's no-hitter, along with countless other moments throughout the six month grind made me believe that this was something different. I decided to wear Cubs shirts every gameday of the playoffs. I went to Gamer's and bought a score book to commemorate every game along what I hoped would be a championship journey. I bought a 12 pack of Budweiser cans to summon the ghost of Harry Carry, knowing this was his beer of choice as he got tanked and rambled on for nine innings when I was little. It all went to shit with one pitch.


James Loney is probably a nice guy, but I honestly wouldn't have minded if he got hit by a bus after the game. That grand slam silenced the sell-out crowd and made me feel as though someone kicked me in the stomach. Dempster pitched like shit, but he somehow wiggled his way out of trouble until the 5th, where like Langston stated earlier, he tempted fate one time too often and paid the price. Despite all the gloom and doom, we can still win the series. Here are 5 things that need to happen in order for the Cubbies to get off the mat and advance.

1. Big Z needs to be a hero: Zambrano's first half was the most controlled and consistent I've ever seen him pitch. His second half was terribly inconsistent, ranging from a dominant no-hitter to getting shelled on a regular basis. He had some arm problems, but when everything is right, he is the Cubs ace. He needs to come out and dominate tonight, setting the tone and quieting all the doom and gloom that Cubs fans inevitably are feeling right now. If he gets shelled, all bets are off.

2. Soriano needs to put the team on his back: Fonz is the catalyst of the offense. We have some extremely gifted hitters, but no one who can dominate and carry the team except for Soriano. When he's hot and hitting line drives, everything else seems to flow into place. When he's swinging at bullshit pitches and chasing everything in the dirt, the life seems to drift out of everyone else's bats. He needs to get it going, and get it going quick.

3. Wrigley fans need to stop acting like they're scared: The vibe last night was one of "Oh shit, here we go again." Instead of waiting for something bad to happen, they need to be confident and raucous from the start. Stop waiting for them to F up, stop waiting for Bartman 2.0, and show that you're team had the best record in the National League and that you know they're going to keep advancing. This is the best team we've had in years, and after winning 97 in the regular season, all we have to do is win 11 more. Start acting like it.

4. Keep the webgems coming: This team has played great D all season, yet they made some boneheaded plays late in the year that can't happen. Fukudome and Soriano made great plays last night, and knowing that everybody's favorite head case is on the mound, they need to help his confidence by making plays behind him.

5. Don't let Manny hurt you: Manny's homerun last night was basically a golf swing. With the Dodgers lineup, he's the only one who scares me. He should not see anything close to the strike zone. Make the other hitters beat you, keep Furcal off base, and you're going to win game 2.

I'm still confident, but last night definitely was a stomach punch. We've comeback all season long, so we're not out of it yet. All it takes is one.