Something has happened to Ted Lilly. I don't know what it is, but he's been a different pitcher since his ridiculously disheartening start to the season. Since Lilly flipped the switch, he's gone 3-1 with an ERA of 2.83, and he's had 36 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35 innings of work.

He's still not the #2 pitcher the Cubs will need in the playoffs, but he very well might give them the kind of season they need to get to the playoffs. Thank the Buddha for that.

Although last night's game was mostly a modern day Ted Lilly Experience, it was also the Soriano-Soto Show. Alfonso and Geo combined to go 4 for 9 with 2 homeruns and 6 RBI - not bad from the two guys who are essentially on the periphery of the "heart" of their lineup. In fact, every starting Cub aside from Derricles got a hit, and every starting Cub who got a hit aside from Reed Johnson actually got at least 2.

Consequently, the Cubs have set themselves up to win this four game series, although they will have to tee off on Cub great Greg Maddux in order to make it happen. Recently on the Jon Miller Show, I was asked about how we would feel if Maddux returned to the Cubs in a trade this year, assuming that the Padres play dead in the water through July. I think it's almost a no-brainer to be ecstatic about the idea, not only because it falls right into the heart of my Cub Sentimentality, but also because, even though he's a zillion years old, Maddux remains an effective piece to any rotation's puzzle.

Not that I expect it to happen. Jim Hendry has been incompetent at making good trades since around the 2004 baseball season, and my gut instinct tells me that he wouldn't bother to look to San Diego.

One last tidbit that Colin already touched on - Jim Edmonds is a Cub. I think I can summarize this acquisition in a single word: crap. But do not worry, Goat Rider Army. We've going to adapt to this news in a way that only we can. We're going to set up a DFA pool - predict the date the Cubs will abandon this reclamation project. Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Me personally? June 15th. Anyway. The Cubs go for the series win tonight. We'll send you off with a photoshop that I failed to use in March, when I made it: