Agony & Ivy

A Contrarian View of the NL Central

I remember fondly throughout my childhood the February day in which my father would bring home a stack of baseball preview magazines.

I would devour those things and have continued the practice into adulthood. All of that reading material has helped me get through those final few weeks without baseball, but I learned long ago that such publications should not be believed as gospel.

Greatest Moments: No. 21, The Exclamation Point on a Magical Season

(Editor's Note: Tenth in a series recalling the 30 greatest moments in Cubs history.)

On Sept. 18, 2008, the Cubs' magic number for clinching the NL Central appeared like it was going to be stuck at four. The North Siders trailed the second-place Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and nobody on base.

Greatest Moments: No. 22, Eight-Run Lead Isn't Enough for Rockies

(Editor's Note: Ninth in a series recalling the 30 greatest moments in Cubs history.)

The Cubs were riding high when they played host to the Colorado Rockies on May 30, 2008. They had won their previous four games to improve to 33-21 and held a 1.5-game lead over second-place St. Louis in the National League Central.

Ex-Cub Report No. 3

For the first time in my life, I felt sorry for the New York Yankees when they fell to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series.

2003: When the Cubs Decked the Cards

The rivalry between the Cubs and Cardinals is generally considered as one of the three best in the major leagues, placed on a pedestal alongside the Yankees-Red Sox and Dodgers-Giants antagonisms. But when it comes to late-season drama, Cubs-Cardinals ranks far behind the other two classic rivalries.

Cubs 15, Brewers 3

Hero: Geovany Soto went 3-for-5, scored three times, and knocked in five. Soto hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning off former Cubs right-hander LaTroy Hawkins.

Ex-Cub Report No. 2

While Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome adjusts to his part-time status and awaits an imminent trade, a Cubs export (after brief stops in Oakland and Colorado), Matt Murton, is thriving in "The Land of the Rising Sun."

Ex-Cub Report No. 1

Some are sorely missed. Others have happily exited the Wrigley Field stage.

With four weeks of the baseball season complete, it's an ideal time to check on how some prominent former Cubs are faring with other teams throughout the majors, minors, and Japan.

The [Thursday] Sports Pages

It's early, but a loss like Wednesday's 3-2 setback is pretty hard to swallow.

John Grabow's failurewas the postgame focus, but the Cubs' offense was equally to blame. The North Siders managed just seven hits - only one was for extra bases - stranded 11 baserunners, and hit into five double plays. It's no excuse for a 3-and-1 changeup to a future Hall-of-Famer with the tying run aboard and first base open, but Grabow had no margin for error.