The Gist: Calm Blue Ocean...

Normally we shouldn't fear going into an opponent's stadium knowing that most of the 15,000 or so fans will be cheering for us. Normally we shouldn't fear playing against a 9-15 pitcher with an ERA around 5-1/2 when we're sending out a guy who's arguably been our best and most consistent hurler. Normally you don't fear playing a team in last place, one that's also vying for the dubious honor of Worst Record in the League. Normally.

All of that being said, former Cub farmhand, Dontrelle Willis had a one-hit shutout working into the eighth inning. The D-Train certainly didn't look like the guy whose pitched this season, he looked like someone else entirely, allowing only two hits in eight innings of work. Outside of a bad second inning, Lilly was fairly effective, giving up some cheap Texas-leaguer hits, but hits nontheless. Apparently the offense never got the memo to play, as The Cubs lost, 4-2.

Right on cue, the Cardinals roll over to The Brewers and our lead is down to two games with five left to play. I'm not panicking, I'm not panicking, I'm not panicking. It's Marquis Time for Wednesday's game, and hopefully he can break our horrible streak of eight consecutive losses to The Fish.

Here's a little F-U going out to WCIU: quit broadcasting games which force me to travel all around town to find someone who has the game on. I'm much more comfortable watching them with my own home field advantage. Jesus, now I'm all worked up again! Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean...