Are the Cubs really Good?

To answer that titular question...I think they just might be and I'm not quite sure how to handle that.

On Sunday, the Cubs went down 5-0 to the Astros but came back to win thanks in large part to five scoreless innings from the bullpen. Monday, after a seven-inning pitcher's duel between Linscomb and Hill, Chicago got two 8th inning runs and a blistering performance out of, can't believe I'm typing this, Bob Howry to win their fourth straight.

They're doing things right right now. Lou Piniella managed the Cubs to their win against the Giants. Can't remember the last time that happened. Aramis Ramirez saved the game with a brilliant diving stop on Sunday and had the game-winning RBI on Monday. Over the last month and a half, the unthinkable has happened. The Cubs are clutch.

For most of this season, Chicago had the stats of a National League contender. Now they are one. Baseball Prospectus loves them. It's a great time to be on Chicago's Northside right now, which is nice because...

The Plains go dark starting Tuesday...when I will be making my first trip to Wrigley Field since 1999. Bonds will be there, so will Zito, but really we'll be heralding the debut of Jason Kendall in a Cubs uniform.

Probably won't be back here until the weekend which means we'll miss the unveiling of NCAA Football 08, but once I'm back and get a few games under my belt college football season can officially begin.

And finally...I'm not sure there will be a better movie this fall than the Coen brothers' "No Country for Old Men." Just watch the trailer:



Cormac McCarthy is probably the best American writer of the past half-century and while "No Country for Old Men" isn't his best book it is the most cinematic which should make for one hell of a film.

Mark my words, Javier Bardem in the role of Anton Chigurh could go down as one of the all time great movie villains.

"Ultimate badass?" Indeed.