With the eight innings Big Z logged for Chicago in Tuesday's second installment of the four-game series between the Brewers and Cubs, the door is wide open for the Cubs to sweep.
The Cubs boast a refreshed bullpen and favorable matchups. Oh, and by the way, they've also got a blue boatload of momentum on their side.
With Alfonso Soriano, Geovani Soto and (even) Ararmis Ramirez looking primed for personal offensive eruptions, even the emerging Manny Parra won't be able to hold down the Cubs in game three.
And then there's Rich Harden, who simply has to not be unable to work five solid innings (enough negatives in that sentence?). The Cubs have a surprising luxury that the guy, you know, the "afterthought" in the Harden deal, Chad Gaudin, can take the ball for two, three, or even four innings if needs be. Not to mention the converted lefty starter Sean Marshall looks solid as well.
It's never easy to sweep a four-game series, particularly when there's so much at stake for a late-July set. But, the Cubs have survived the Brewers' big dogs.
So where's the boldness in this faux-prediction? Here you go: Cubs hold on for a 5-3 decision on Wednesday and run up the electric bill against Dave Bush in a convincing, 11-4 getaway game Thursday.
The Cubs boast a refreshed bullpen and favorable matchups. Oh, and by the way, they've also got a blue boatload of momentum on their side.
With Alfonso Soriano, Geovani Soto and (even) Ararmis Ramirez looking primed for personal offensive eruptions, even the emerging Manny Parra won't be able to hold down the Cubs in game three.
And then there's Rich Harden, who simply has to not be unable to work five solid innings (enough negatives in that sentence?). The Cubs have a surprising luxury that the guy, you know, the "afterthought" in the Harden deal, Chad Gaudin, can take the ball for two, three, or even four innings if needs be. Not to mention the converted lefty starter Sean Marshall looks solid as well.
It's never easy to sweep a four-game series, particularly when there's so much at stake for a late-July set. But, the Cubs have survived the Brewers' big dogs.
So where's the boldness in this faux-prediction? Here you go: Cubs hold on for a 5-3 decision on Wednesday and run up the electric bill against Dave Bush in a convincing, 11-4 getaway game Thursday.
