Just When I Think I'm Out...

...They pull me back in! Yes, I speak of Sunday night's Cubs-Cards classic and it's taken me two days to finally set down and analyze what just happened.

Prior sucked early (3 HR's in the first) sizzled thereafter (one hit that shouldn't have been) and in the eighth red-hot Ramirez hit a two-run homer to give the Cubs a one run lead. I wasn't confident then, but after Dempster got two quick outs and went 0-2 on some nobody pinch hitter, I could taste it. Dempster stuck with his out pitch, a hard slider, and threw four straight balls. Then all hell broke lose.

That dirty man LaRussa tried to steal second with his pinch runner, Blanco didn't make a great throw but it was good enough, replays showed the runner was clearly out in a close play. He was called safe. Eckstein then hit a single and the third out, I mean tying run, scored. At this point, I was ready to write off the season. How could the Cubs recover from a blown lead via a blown call? It was just the sort of play that totally turns a season. After Michael Barret struck out with the sacks stacked and one out, I was sure it was the end. Then it happened.

Neifi Perez pulled a first pitch fastball straight down the line for his first career homer in Busch Stadium. With a four run lead I had to care about this season again, even though the Cubs are still way behind in the wild card and Kerry Wood is heading to the DL again.

The Cubs fought from behind yet again last night, winning on the ninth on a mini sac fly from Burnitz. So the heartbreak is delayed a bit further. When I honestly look at this team, I don't think they could win a playoff series, not with their bullpen as it is, but the Cubs are like the mafia. Once you're in, no matter how badly you want to, you can never get out.