Has Hell Frozen Over??

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There’s a buzz in the city of Chicago that hasn’t been heard in quite some time. Both of the city’s baseball teams sit a top their divisions in September at the same time since 1906. The city is electric, and Chicago baseball fans live and die with every day that goes by. I’m a long suffering Cub fan that hasn’t seen us advance one round in the playoffs since I’ve been alive, but the 2003 Chicago Cubs have the goods to make a serious run at the Championship.

This tremendous run started way back in January when the Chicago media caught word that GM Jim Hendry was about to ink Dusty Baker as the next manager of the Chicago Cubs. Cub fans began to see the light as the organization was about to bring in a proven winner that brought his team to the World Series a season ago. His presence alone brought in a completely new form of baseball to the Windy City. The players showed up early to Spring Training, and even the great Sammy Sosa himself showed up on time. The Cubbies had themselves a solid MLBX, but what were Cub fans really supposed to take from that? The Cubs began the season with a few question marks, but Cub fans were excited to see the brand of baseball that Dusty would bring to the Windy City.

The first stop of the season was in NY to take on the hated Mets. Any doubts in the Cubs offense were soon extinguished as the Cubbies pounded Tom Glavine & the Mets to a tune of 15-2. Corey Patterson had himself a day he’ll never forget by going yard twice, and knocking in a total of 7 runs while Kerry Wood picked up his first win of the year. The 15 runs tied the Cubs' record for Opening Day, set in 1899 when the team posted a 15-1 win over Louisville. I remember thinking to myself that very day, “Boy, this team sure looks different.” They moved runners over, didn’t make any errors, played solid defense, and their bullpen looked great. That brand of ball found the Cubs in first place for the majority of the first half of the season. Their pitching staff was out of this world, and the bullpen was getting the job done as well. No name Joe Borowski had himself 15 saves at this point, and came through in the clutch numerous amounts of times. Cub fans were in ecstasy, and Dusty Baker would’ve been elected mayor if he decided to run.

A few of the wheels started to fall off in June, and it all began one dreary night at Wrigley Field. Sammy Sosa had been on the DL in May after Solomon Torres beaned him in the head with a fastball in Pittsburgh. Sammy had been off it for about a week when he strolled to the plate to face ex Cub Jeremi Gonzalez. He routinely grounded out to the second baseman as his bat shattered into a few pieces. Home plate ump, Tim McClelland, picked up his bat and began inspecting it. The rest of the crew gathered around him, and then out of nowhere Sosa was ejected. The details were sketchy, but the Cubs TV announcers said there was a foreign object in the bat. We all know the final result of that mess, so I find no reason to get into the details. Bottom line, the guy was looking for an edge and got caught. As if things couldn’t get worse for Chicago, the NY Yankees strolled into town for a 3 game series. I believe this was a defining moment for Chicago as they took 2 of 3 from the Bronx Bombers. Eric Karros’ 3-run blast off Juan Acevedo is a memory that will stick with Cub fans forever.

In the midst of all this controversy, the Cubs were developing a dominating starting staff. Kerry Wood was the #1 guy followed up by the phenom Marc Prior, and Venezuelan stud Carlos Zambrano. These guys were striking out batters at a record pace, and had the guys on baseball tonight drooling. Matt Clement got off to a rough start, but quickly turned things around and had a stretch where he hadn’t given up a run in 23 innings pitched. The bullpen continued to get the job done with Remlinger, Guthrie, Farnswoth, and Borowski.

The Cubs entered July very positive, but out of first place. The Astros and Cardinals had finally caught up to them, and the NL Central had quickly turned into a 3-team race. The Cubs were dealt a few bad blows right before the All-Star break. Mark Prior barreled over Marcus Giles, which knocked him unconscious, and ultimately sent Prior to the DL. Then Corey Patterson tore his ACL trying to beat out an infield hit against the Cardinals. These were two main ingredients to their success this season, and Cub fans across the world were all ready to jump off the Sears Tower.

GM Jim Hendry quickly got on the phone and looked to make some deals for the Cubbies stretch run. He didn’t have to look to far to find the needed help. The entire Pittsburgh Pirates scoring nucleus is now wearing the Cubbie blue pin stripes. Kenny Lofton is now roaming center field in place of Patterson, and Aramis Ramirez has provided stability at the hot corner where the Cubs have been without a solid 3rd baseman since Ron Santo. Tony Womack, Doug Glanville, and the Brat Bomber, Randall Simon, were also picked up off the waiver wire. The Cubs are a completely different team right now, and they’ve just started to gel.

The Cubs are in the final stretch of the season, and they’re by far the hottest team in the NL Central. They just took 4 of 5 from the Red Birds at Wrigley in one of the greatest home series in Chicago Cubs recent history. Then they completed the sweep in Milwaukee by beating the Brew Crew in all 7 meeting at Miller Park this year. Chicago has 18 games remaining on their 2003 schedule against some very favorable opposition. The quest begins tonight in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the band box known as Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The Expos are the only team playing .500 baseball that the Cubs play to close out the season. The remaining schedule is tailored made for Chicago to get into the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

Get out your winter coats folks, because that Red Devils frozen!!!!!
 

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Thanks, I'll keep a closer eye on the Cubs. Tonights Final Cubs 4-3. Good Luck!!!!!
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al watts
 

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