Horrible 30 hours for Chicago baseball

After what looked like a most promising postseason for Chicago baseball, a sense of gloom has engulfed fans.

The Chicago Cubs, owners of the best record in the National League, have looked terrible in two home losses to the LA Dodgers. Pitchers can't pitch (Dempster), fielders can't field (four errors in game two by Cubs infielders), and hitters can't hit (the first six hitters in the line up are a combined 10-46 in the first two games). This has been the best Cubs team in my lifetime -- strong at virtually every position, a great pitching staff, decent reserves, and a great manager. What happened? Virtually everyone has already given up, but with Harden and Lilly starting the next two (hopefully) games, the Cubbies still have a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The White Sox were not expected to win game one on the road with struggling pitcher Javier Vasquez pitching. Vasquez was fourth in the AL in strikeouts, but has been stinking up the place his last several outings. Tonight's game, with Mark Buehrle pitching, is huge. It is entirely possible that the Sox could sweep the next three games with Danks and Floyd following Buehrle. However, the hitters need to bring their bats. The Sox can't depend upon another 1-0 victory as they did in the playoff with Minnesota. If a game five is needed, Buehrle would have sufficient rest to start.

Will the Cubs come through, show their regular season form, and return to Wrigley Field for a deciding game five? Will the Sox pitching staff get them through to the next round? After waiting over 100 years for both teams to be in postseason play in the same season, the fans deserve some payback.