Milwaukee Brewers

By Al So it was a little surreal to "experience" the Cubs winning the NL Central title last night with about 100 other Cub fans at the Rock Bottom Brewery in downtown Cincinnati when Trevor Hoffman struck out Rickie Weeks in Milwaukee, eliminating the Brewers and nailing down the Cubs' fifth pl...

By Al MIAMI (AP) -- Panic, Cubs fans. The Cubs' grip on the NL Central lead became shaky Wednesday night, when they were shut out over the final 5 2-3 innings and lost for the second night in a row to the last-place Florida Marlins, 7-4. By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer September 26, 2007

By Al Daniel Barone is yet another young pitcher who the Cubs have never faced. Usually, that's the kiss of death -- but this kid has walked seventeen and given up ten home runs in only 37.1 innings this season. I say the Cub bats light him up early and often. Incidentally, he is the grandson of Dick Baro...

By Al Two years ago Willis dominated the National League, winning 22 games (he and Chris Carpenter, who won 21 that year are, in fact, the last NL pitchers to win 20 games) and losing out on the Cy Young Award to Carpenter, likely because the Cardinals made the playoffs and the Marlins didn't.

By Al Record possibilities: the 38 HR the Cubs have hit this September have tied the team record for HR in September, set in 2004. And Alfonso Soriano's 12 HR this month is one short of the club record for HR in September -- 13, set by Ernie Banks in 1957.

By Al Since the Cubs had the day off yesterday -- and apparently, I didn't miss much by missing most of the Brewers' 13-5 blowout of the Cardinals -- I decided to take in this new film, particularly since it was free (a DGA sponsored screening). I'll have the usual game post this afternoon. Go Cubs!

By Al 41,364 fans stood as one and did the Braves' Tomahawk Chop not once, not twice, but three times, as the Braves took the lead over the Brewers with a four-run seventh, then extended it with two in the eighth, and finally, when the 7-4 Atlanta win over Milwaukee was posted on the scoreboard.

By Al After last night's 6-2 win over the Astros, which put the Cubs back in sole possession of first place by half a game over the Brewers, maybe Lou's on to something. Onward. We will know much more about the shape of this race on Sunday evening.

By Al The critical error made by Ryan Theriot, dropping a Mark DeRosa throw in the Brewers' four-run seventh inning, was the play on which the Cubs' 6-1 loss to the Brewers turned, and here I'm going to blame a guy I've praised so often -- DeRosa.

By Al Who's going to start for Milwaukee on Wednesday and Thursday? Could Ben Sheets return? (The Cubs should hope so: Sheets has a 4.76 ERA vs. them this year.) MLB.com Gameday for today's Reds/Pirates doubleheader game 1 (4:05 pm CT start time)

By Al Lou says he thinks there will be one more move before September 1. It could be a relief pitcher. And maybe, just maybe, Alfonso Soriano will return for the Brewers series next Tuesday. Or not -- Lou says he's going to be very careful with Soriano.

By Al All of you know that Jacque Jones was the hero of today's sweet 2-1 win over the Cardinals, which has put the Cubs in a tie with the Brewers for first place and (Let's Go Reds!) perhaps in first place by themselves after tonight. In any case, round 1 of this huge series to the Cubs, and now we all be...