The Cubs and Marlins are playing a doubleheader today. Both teams are in the thick of a 6-team wild card race (if you count Philly). With their respective division leaders seemingly beyond reach, this might be the first make-or-break series of this year's playoff run.

The Marlins goose-egged the Cubs in the first game behing the pitching of Carl Pavano, but the Cubs figure to get even with Mark Prior facing A-ball call-up Logan Kensing in the second contest.

But what is most significant is that this is not one of those day-night separate admission doubleheaders, but rather one of the traditional two-for-one-price variety.

Not a bad deal. Two ballgames in a row, and you get to see Kerry Wood and Mark Prior for the home team. Wow.

Plus, a guy who's 16-5 thrown in. That's some pitching fun.

Not to mention a pitcher making his "League-With-More-Than-One-Letter-Debut", not seen since the days of Jeremy Bonderman.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-marlins-ivan&prov=ap&type=lgns
Because of Hurrican Ivan the Expos and Marlins will play the first two games of their five game series at U.S. Cellular Field this Monday and Tuesday. The site for the other three games has yet to be determined. Cheap tickets, but it'll be interesting to see what the crowd is like. COMN.

As there is no specific thread relating to off season changes, I will use this one. Just wanted to go on the record in predicting that Durazo and Wilkerson will be Jays next season.

I didn't listen to Jim Rome this morning but he had Dave Stewart on this morning and he blasted the Blue Jays, Paul Godfrey, and JP.

He said he didn't get hired as the GM because of his skin color. He said he was more qualified than JP and looking at JP's track record thus far said maybe "they both should be fired" Refering to Godfrey and JP.

Stewart came on 10:30=10:45am

A little bitter he wasn't chosen for the job maybe?...

Dave Stewart can eat applesauce.

He was a bad pitching coach, a bad assistant GM, and now he's a bad ex-assistant GM. He can go.

Crozier is starting. Finally. I haven't checked the standings lately, but I'm assuming Texas is out of it, since Gibbons has killed the "integrity of the game" by starting 5 rookies tonight.

Russ Adams leads off with a single (that statement must make Ricciardi very happy), but is thrown out at home.

Miguel (BB)Batista on the hill for the good guys.

http://www.chancetolive.net
Ewww... throwing error by Adams. As much as I like the guy, I Somehow sense that phrase may be uttered a fair bit with him at short.

2-o for the Rangers as Young doubles home Blalock, then advances to third on an error by Adams and home on a wild pitch.

Gibbons has killed the "integrity of the game" by starting 5 rookies tonight.

I'm aware you are being sarcastic, but the team is likely better off now, never mind in the future, playing Adams and Crozier vs a RHP, rather than Gomez/Woodward and Johnson. And they're probably not losing much playing Quiroz over Zaun.

Ugly first inning. Butterfield made a terrible decision sending Adams, who seemed to be just rounding third when Mench picked up the ball. And of course Batista is having his typical first inning, being entirely unable to find the strike zone, not just with his breaking stuff, but with his fastball as well.

I wonder if there's any beach volleyball on any of the other channels.

Well, on a positive note today, Daniel Nestor won the U.S. Open men's doubles tournament today with partner Mark Knowles.

Knowles was aboslutely brilliant with his net play making some fantastic volleys and a couple of killer lobs, including one to end the match. With his play and Nestor's usual serving expertise, they looked in control the entire match and dispatched of Raes and Riki.

Congradulations to Nestor and Knowles, especially after all their Grand Slam heartbreak previously.

Yankees are losing 10-5 to the Orioles. Javy Vazquez imploded again.

6-0 Texas. They have five straight hits in the fourth. Looks like Batista's night is coming to a quick end.

Batista's ERA balloons up to 4.64. At least he only walked 2 batters.....in 3.1 innings. Bob File in. This will be a long night.

Wow - Dallas Cowboys 10, Toronto Argonauts 0.

Congrats on your first big-league hit, Mr. Crozier.

Wow. Really quiet here tonight.

Kudos to Crozier, not so to Batista. Wonder if he's hurt -- wasn't there something with his back?

Look, I know the Jays were well out of it and perhaps even Texas may have slacked off in the later innings but Vinnie and K.L did a nice job mopping up tonite. Chulk especially. Frasor and Speier last night. The pen looks to be in reasonable shape.

Adams hitting has been impressive so far. Hope he keeps it up!!

Congrats to Crozier on his first big league hit.

Wow, really dead.

I missed the game to go see Resident Evil.

Even though the Jays lost 10-3, I wish I had chose the game.

In other news, the Indians are two games below .500; if that doesn't change it will cost me a pair of field-level Jays tickets.

No fair reverse-jinxing the Tribe, Robert. I'm going to reverse-reverse-jinx them by saying that as much as it pains me to say it, the Indians are showing a lot of pluck down the stretch and will certainly finish above .500.

So there.