Cubs Clinch Division and Home Field for the NL

Last Saturday, the Cubs beat their main rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals to clinch the Central Division for the second consecutive season. The last time that the Cubs made the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, they won the World Series.

Also on Saturday, I was in New York City and saw a game at Yankee Stadium for the first (and last as the stadium's historic run is over) time. I thought I'd offer some photos from that experience as this is a Baseball blog...









Here's the front of the iconic stadium...





Here's the front of the new stadium, opening next year, right next door...



I thought the Yankees and MLB did a great job ushering this stadium out in the fashion it deserves and even though I am not a Yankee fan (not even close) I am glad that I can say I've seen a game at this historic stadium. It will be missed.

This sign on the old stadium says it all, "Thanks for the memories."



On Monday night, I was at Shea (also closing this season) and witnessed the Cubs clinch home field throughout the NL Playoffs. The last six games of the season won't mean anything for the Cubs, and their Tuesday lineup reflected that. However, the Cubs got another win yesterday and if they win the last four (I'm assuming that the Astros are done and the third game of the last Cubs/Astros series will not be necessary and therefore will not be played) then the Cubs will win 100 games. It would be something, as well as make the playoff race very intersting. The Cubs have one more game with the wild card leading Mets then finish with three against the team tied for that Wild Card lead, the Brewers. Regardless they will have an impact on who else makes the playoffs in the NL.

Here are some shots from Monday's game against the Mets for the Central Division Winners.

ZAMBRA NO-NO!!!

Twice in my life now, I've been headed to a baseball game where a no-hitter was going to happen and events outside of my control kept me from attending that game.

As a teenager I had tickets to see Kenny Rogers perfect game at the Ballpark in Arlington, but instead of witnessing history, I was at my little sister's softball game (which didn't include a perfect game).

Yesterday, Zambrano threw a no hitter, facing only one more batter then the minimum as the Cubs magic number became 7. The game was supposed to be in Houston and I was supposed to be there. Hurricane Ike had different ideas and the game was played in Milwaukee.

I have seen a handful of no-hitters on tv, even more if you count just watching the end of the games after ESPN cuts to them, but a few of them from beginning to end, and none have meant to me what yesterday's did. I was living and dying with each pitch right there with the damn near life size Carlos Zambrano (I was watching the game on a 100inch projection screen, so I felt like I was there. There will be no other place to watch sports from now on.)

The last time that a Cubs pitcher threw a no hitter was in 1972 (Milt Pappas), so this was the first no hitter for my favorite team in my lifetime.

For all of the Cubs fans who have been sure that the recent slide meant that the curse was asserting itself, Harden's start on Thursday and Big Z's start yesterday should alliviate those fears. Not only that, but despite losing 8 of 9 games, the Cubs only lost two games on their best lead over Milwaukee (from 6.5 to 4.5) and after this weekend, the Cubs actually have their largest lead of the season with a 7.5 game lead.

A Cubs win today means the Cubs could have the division officially won by Thursday.

We'll obviously be keeping an eye on this, but right now, the main thing is to enjoy history. A Cubs No Hitter!