Cubs vs. Nationals

Two teams going in completely opposite directions. My beloved Chicago Cubs come to D.C. this weekend for their only trip to Nationals Park this season, barring a playoff berth for the Nats (stop laughing!).

After a 3-0 start the Nationals are now the worst team in the National League. Pitching was supposed to be suspect, but has actually been pretty good. It's the hitting and defense that have let this team down.

The Cubs, on the other hand, moved into first place in the NL Central yesterday after completing their sweep of the also woeful Pittsburgh Pirates. A 12-6 start was just what the doctor ordered. Pitching and defense have been there all season, and Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kusoke Fukudome and Mark DeRosa have been blistering the ball.

The Cardinals are not as good as their record and the Brewers are ... well, the Brewers. So a second consecutive playoff berth is definitely possible. I know, the whole 100-year thing. But if there was ever a year the Cubs were going to do it, it would seem to be 2008.

But then I said that in 2003, when with five outs to go Steve Bartman and Moises Alou ... oh God, I don't want to relive that. You live, you learn, you move on.

Anyway, Cheryl and Val are coming from Iowa on Friday morning. We have five tickets to all three games, but there's some softball thrown in there too, so we'll see if we actually go to all three.

Cheryl, Val, Josh (pictured at his first-ever baseball game, at Nats Park) and I are huge Cubs fans. Ed is too, but I think he'd like to see the Nats pull the upset. It'll be the only time all year I cheer against the Nationals. A sweep would be wonderful. There's probably going to be more Cubs fans in Nationals Park than Nats fans. Would love to see 40,000 people break out in Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago whaddya say! The Cubs are gonna win today!

Nothing like a Cubs victory and an Old Style beer. Saaaaweeet!