Baseball.... It's almost done for the season and I know I've talked about it a lot already on this site, but this will be the last time until the spring. I just need to get some last thoughts in here concerning the playoffs.

First off, we had the makings of what could have been one of the most historical World Series match-ups ever, Cubs vs. Red Sox. And now, due to the cruel hands of fate, we get one of the most boring. Yankees vs. Marlins? Lamesville, population: The 2003 World Series. Seriously, nobody outside the New England area, with the exception of some bandwagon jumpers who just want to root for the team that wins all the time, ever want to see the Yanks in the series. They've been there enough already. If I ever become a Billionare, I'm going to buy the Yankees and make them suck for a decade. Marlins?, hardly anyone in Florida cares about them much less the rest of the country. There were a few Cardinals games down there this year where they had only about 6000 fans in the seats and 4500 of them were Cards fans. It's sad really. So bottom line, I could care less about this series. I suppose I'm rooting for Florida, but only because I don't want the Yankees to win it again.

Let's backtrack a bit now. NLCS game 6..... You already know what I'm gonna talk about right? This Guy...... Steve Bartman. I would rather have a hot oil enema than be in this guys shoes even for a minute. Not because he cost the Cubs a world series birth, but because most Chicago fans apparently don't understand baseball very well and they certainly aren't forgiving. Steve, move away from Chi-town now or I doubt you'll live to see next season due to some of the most irresponsible media coverage in history. But before you go take with you this knowledge backing up the fact that you DID NOT cost the Cubs a trip to the world series:

1. All you did is reach for a foul ball. Was it stupid? Yes, but 95% of us would have done the same damn thing. At least 10 people around you did the same thing. It wouldn't even be an issue if the ball was 10 inches more into the stands or if the wind hadn't been blowing the ball back onto the field.

2. If memory serves me correctly, the pitch count before that pitch was 3-1 and after it was 3-2. So in essence you actually helped Mark Prior's pitch count. It was Prior that walked the batter right after that. He still had his chance to get the man out but he failed. Not to mention that it would have only been the second out of the inning not the last.

3. Moises Alou even realized that he over-reacted to the situation not to mention the fact that he said he would have done the same thing had he been sitting in that seat.

4. Your gold glove candidate shortstop Alex Gonzalez botched an easy little league ground ball that could have ended the inning.

5. After you touched the ball, the threat of "The Curse" began to creep into the minds of the Cubs players. After that, it was just a complete mental meltdown for Prior and the rest of the team. To maybe have allowed one run off that lost out is acceptable, but not eight.

6. The harsh ignorance of the Cubs fans helped to change the tone of this game more than anything. The attitude of winning and cheering on the team quickly changed to violent mood of despair. Instead of helping your team shake it off by just dropping the situation and cheering them on, you booed and chanted profanities. Way to help your team out Cubs fans.

7. How about the fact that the Cubs still had to play a Game 7, at home, with a Cy Young quality pitcher on the mound?

Cubbies, I was actually rooting for you to win. I would have liked to see that Cubs vs. Red Sox series, but after you lost the series after being up 3 games to 1 with two of the best pitchers in the league going for you in the final two games at your house, I realized you didn't deserve it. Not to mention the fact that most of your fans showed their true ignorance that game and that Dusty Baker (you know the manager that can't win anything beyond Game 5 in a series) refused to absolve "the fan" of any wrongdoing. Admit it and be a man, you and your team blew it just like last year. BTW, here's a good place to go laugh at the Cubs misfortunes.

Now the Red Sox losing that's just crazy. That's the kind of shit that actually makes me believe that both these teams really are cursed. Each team was five outs away from the Fall Classic and each team had a three run lead late in the game but you both blew it?!? Spooky, man. It's just not right.

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 2:25 PM