We’re actually looking at a run here, folks, from our dear old Cubbies. The Cubs were expected to take care of the Padres handily. They’re one of the worst teams in baseball and the Cubs had their three best starters (Prior, Wood and Zambrano) going.

And … they actually did it. They swept the Padres. Does this make the Cubs a pennant contender? Not really. But it indicates that here they are in mid-August trying to make a race of this thing and taking care of the team sthey’re supposed to take care of. And by a healthy six-run margin no less.

Heck, that’s the kind of lead where it doesn’t even bother me to see Baker go to Alfonseca.

Now the Cubs have second place clear and only trail the barely evil Astros by a game and a half. But … now the Cubs’ usually anemic offense faces the best pitching staff in the league in the Dodgers. We shall see.