The Pride Playoff

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Sure it's fun to rip on the Cubs, and all, laugh at their misfortune, giggle at the long suffering fans.  But have you forgottne the last week?  The Cardinals have won only one game in their last six.  Now take a look at the pitching pairings.  This is playoff calibur stuff.

Smoltz versus Lilly...Carp versus Dempster...Waino vs. Zambrano.  And unlike the local nine, the cubs have started to hit again.  When they have Aramis Ramirez in the lineup they can be tough.  And they have been lately.

Dempster has been inconsistent but very capable on a given day...Zambrano is always just as close to a meltdown as he is throwing a gem...but you never know.  And Lilly?  Well Mr. Lilly is one of the few big league pitchers that has a working formula that stops Pujols.  Breaking pitches away.  Albert has not fared well generally against this stratedgy and specifically Lilly who's stopped the great one his last six times with the breaking ball.

The Cardinals' problems are still there.  And getting well against Chicago won't be easy.  the Redbirds may get the last laugh in October but I don't forsee many chuckles this weekend at Busch.