Magic Number: 4

Cubs Win: Check

Brewers Loss: Check

Prove for the second time that CC Sabathia is actually human: Check

Aside from some late inning drama, everything seemed to go as planned for the Cubs tonight. I'll be the first to admit that I was one of the many Cub fans that was freaking out at this time last week. And now everything seems to be going right. The Cubs have the chance to clinch early enough to get rested and ready for the playoffs, but not so soon that they rin the chance of being rusty by not having to play a ton of meaningless games (*cough*Angels*cough*).

Jason Marquis takes the mound tomorrow. Surprising fact: Marquis' ERA in July and August? Under 4. And his ERA in 2 September starts? 2.70. Of course, now that I've said that he'll most likely get shelled tomorrow.

In Other News...

- The Mets continue their now-annual tradition of losing big games to the Nationals at the end of the season. And the Phillies got a big late-inning homer from Ryan Howard to win, taking sole posession of first place in the NL East. Remember 2 weeks ago when Carlos Delgado was getting MVP talk despite his low batting average? What about Ryan Howard? He's got more homers, RBI's and wins. And a much surlier attitude.

- The race between the Rays and the Red Sox is much more interesting than I thought it would be. The Rays came back and beat the Sox on a walk off hit despite a fantastic start by Josh Beckett.

- The Yankees: Still suck.

ESPN3?

It seems like the Worldwide Leader In Sports is an avid reader of our very own Monday Afternoon Hangover. DJ Gallo has unveiled a new NFL wrapup column as well. The title? Monday Afternoon Hangover.

Check out this selection from this week's TMS Hangover:

Reggie Bush is a prick. Remember in the playoffs in 2007 when the Saints were sticking it to the Bears in the NFC Championship game and Bush taunted Urlacher on his way into the end zone on a long score? Remember how the Bears got pissed and smashed the Saints for the rest of the game? Well Bush did a similar taunt to the Redskins on a punt return for a TD. Same result: Saints lose.

This is from Greg Easterbrook's TMQ column today:

Sour Play of the Week: As Reggie Bush ran a punt back 55 yards to put New Orleans up 24-15 over Washington at the end of the third quarter, he pointed at Redskins defenders and taunted them. Reggie, didn't you learn your lesson when you taunted the Bears during the 2006 NFC Championship Game, and the Saints promptly collapsed? Following Sunday's taunt, the Saints promptly collapsed, and the Skins came back to prevail 29-24.

Now we don't really think that anyone over at ESPN is actually ripping us off. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. But if ESPN.com has up to the minute OJ Simpson news tomorrow morning, I'll be looking into this more closely.