All I can say is, "Boy, was I wrong!"

I didn't get anything right. I figured that Davis would beat the Cubs in game 2, but I thought it would be like 2-0, and that Lilly would look like a major league pitcher.

I was right about Rich Hill giving up 3 runs, but I thought he might spread them out a bit, and not give up 2 in the first inning. And I assumed the Cubs would be able to hit Livan Hernandez, who did not look unhittable to me watching on TV by any stretch (and I've seen pitching performances where guys DO look to be nearly unhittable...including Rich Hill on Saturday before the season ended in Cincinnati).

But alas, no bats. A curse? Maybe, but only in the minds of the Cubs players, who, I'm sure, to a man, would deny that it affects them. But how can it not? Everyone knows about the supposed billy goat curse, and about the Cubs' history of futility. Even if you pay lip service to the idea that there is nothing there (and really, there isn't, unless you as a player/performer let it be, either consciously or subconsciously), I can't see how it doesn't affect you.

This Cubs team is headed in the right direction, and if they don't improve on this year's showing next year, I'll be very disappointed.

Needs: a top of the rotation starter (like everyone else), a rightfielder, preferably lefty, who can hit for some power and get on base, and stability and consistency out of the bullpen, especially the closer. And a change in the batting order to bat Soriano somewhere between 3rd and 5th.

That's not asking for too much, is it? After all, it is now 100 years since the Cubs last won the World Series...and a long time since they've even been there.