Last night the playoff chase officially ended for the 2009 Chicago Cubs. For the past two years the season ended abruptly after a loss in the playoffs. This year it felt different, as the Cubs playoff run ended before the playoffs even started and before the season has even ended.

When did you know that the 2009 post-season was not going to include the Cubs?

I was hopeful for many months and I always felt during the first two-thirds of the season that the Cubs were the most talented team, eventually Soriano and Bradley were going to start hitting, and I never really believed the Cardinals were for real.

For me the realization occurred when the Cubs dropped a game vs. the Padres on August 17. Gregg was 1 strike away from a save and gave up a 3-run HR and the Cubs ended up losing 2 of 3 to the hapless Padres. At the same time up the road in Los Angeles the Cards took 2 out of 3 from at the time a very good Dodger team. When the series started we were only 5 games back and when it ended the Cubs were seven games back and the Cubs were heading to Los Angeles and the Cards were heading to their series vs. the bad Padre team.

For me that series on the West Coast  was when the realization hit that the Cubs were not the best team in the division, getting into the playoffs was not going to be just a matter of time and that the 2009 season was one we would likely want to forget. As a Cub fan, I did not totally give up hope, but that was the series for me when I pretty much knew .....the season was over.

When did you know it was over?