CUBS VS CARDINALS

Wow, last weekend's Cubs and Cardinals series lived up to expectations and certainly put me through the ringer. In fact, I reached critical mass in the bottom of the ninth last night when the Cardinals tied the game and I murdered my stress ball--a constant friend through the three tight games--by squeezing it so hard that the damn thing exploded, shooting sand all over my keyboard, desk, and clothes. Only thanks to Neifi Perez and his grandslam homerun in the tenth did I avoid a heartbreak/heart-attack.

Coming away with two wins--and a "shoulda won" in the case of the loss--against the best team in the National League should have me ready to climb to the top of the mountain roaring "Cubs rule the universe!" It should, but it doesn't. In fact, as much as I try, I cannot elevate my status above "guardedly optimistic" and often, I even find myself drenched simply in "guarded." But we've done well since the All-Star break, and I am happy (guardedly) with the direction things are going.

Giants tonight. Andrew, are you ready? What should we expect?