It seems like it's been far longer than just 4 1/2 months since we watched our beloved '08 Cubs be rode out of the playoffs like rented mules at the hands of the Man Ram infused Dodgers. I remember the countless posts and replies to posts from most BCBers declaring the end of their Cub fandom. Moving on to other passions.

After all last season was the one. It was an even 100 years. We were atop of the NL Central most of the season. Leading in most categories for the NL. Nothing was going to stand in our way. It was World Champs and we could taste it as easy as a Red Hot and an Old Style sitting in the sun drenched bleachers in the afternoon.

And then came the tensions of game one, falling behind. The Curse? No stop that. Don't jinx these guys and then the eventual collapse, which I won't make you live through again.

But here we sit in Late February; spring training is underway and we have the promise of a new season. Some offseason roster moves have plugged some holes and we are going to spend the next 30 + days tweaking the line up and the pitching staff.

And suddenly I realize that the awful pain that I felt last fall is all gone. The anidote is the anicipation of winning it all this year. Remembering the feeling of watching a walk off homer that clinched the sweep of the Brewers. The 1, 2, 3 punch out by closer (insert Cub closer here) to beat the Red Birds in their own stadium yet again. And knowing that we'll be seeing that all again and more in just a few short weeks.  And I wondered if I was in good company? It's almost baseball season again folks. The pain is gone. The promise is now. Go Cubs!

Unfortunately I was not selected. Did anyone else get lucky? This is important because we WILL be in the NLCS. I predict a win tonight and then Rich Harden will win on Saturday. We'll come back home tied 2-2 and then wrap this up at home.

Lee, Fonzi and Soto will come out of their slumps tonight. Edmonds should also contribute some more offense tonight. This will give them the spark needed for at least one road win.