Baseball is a weird game.  A guy like Rich Hill who has outstanding movement on his curve ball can keep batters at bay for pretty much the entire of 2007.  He can then spend a couple of months sitting on his butt, and when he starts pitching again in February, he's a different - and less effective - guy.  Hill has had trouble with his location all year long, and it caught him yesterday as he only went 3 innings, throwing 71 pitches, 34 of which were strikes, walking 4. 

Luckily, Jim Hendry took out a policy on pitching insurance this past winter, and it paid off last night.  Jon Lieber swooped in and went 4.1 strong innings against the hapless Pirates.

I keep saying that it's tough to write recaps about games you can't watch, and last night is no exception.  There are dozens of nuances that I'm going to miss out on, which is why I'm looking forward to future recaps from our Goat Riders who actually go to the game.  (HINT, HINT)

Anyway.  The Cubs again had to come from behind, after Hill coughed up 3 first inning runs, putting our team in a two run deficit.  The Cubs managed to threaten a lot - they left 2 on base in the 2nd, Geo Soto hit a wasted double in the 4th, Derrek Lee got his second RBI of the night in the 5th (neither of which came from a hit), and then the Cubs exploded in the 6th.  It's not that their offense is an unstoppable force, it's not that they out-hustled the Pirates, the reason the Cubs took off like a rocket ship was because Pittsburgh had a dead bullpen and their starting pitcher - the ever-lovable Matt Morris - needed to go seven innings last night.

And so, Geo Soto homered - and he finished the game 4 for 5, raising his season average to .333.  Reed Johnson singled home Ryan Theriot, and Mike Fontenot displayed some of that rare Cajun Power by lofting one into the Pittsburgh bleachers.  When the dust finally settled, the Cubs were up 7 to 3 and Matt Morris was crying like the little baby he is.  

I'm honestly not sure what's more shocking - Fontenot's display of power, or the Cubs lack of defensive miscues and errors.  

One other note - Fukudome had an 0-fer, but he still managed to get on base.  It's refreshing that the Cubs have a player who gets on base even when he's slumping.  

All told, the Cubs played four games worth of baseball in three, and they won them all.  I'm pleased to say...

Series recap: Use your favorite cliche.  How sweep it is.  Sweep Jesus, the Cubs won again.  In my best Cartman voice: Dude, the Cubs won?  Sweeeeep!  

Current Record: 6-3
Standing in the central: Tied for 2nd place, .5 games back, up from 4th place before the series started
Best possible record: 159-3
On pace for: 108-54 (up from 81-81 before this series started)
Winning percentage needed for 120: .745

Cubs play Philly tonight at 6 central.