In the bitter end, the difference might have been Brian Roberts, after all. Maybe he wouldn't have overcome the walks in Game 1 or the errors in Game 2, but the Cubs' woeful lack of playoff hitting comes down to two big deficiencies: First, they have no left-handed hitters whom opponents respect. The second one is that the Cubs aren't built to hit in the postseason.
BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox brushed aside the Los Angeles Angels in four games, dismissing their 100-victory regular season as old news.
On paper, the Tampa Bay Rays' 2008 season is one of the biggest turnarounds in major-league baseball history. A franchise that lost 96 games the previous season playing in a horrid domed stadium in a small market with no tradition wins 97 games to take the crown in the American League East, baseball's toughest division.
White Sox bounce back 5-3 over Rays to stay alive DeRosa takes blame, again Rays can still see the light Bashed in Brew Town K-Rod, Napoli help Angels avert another sweep
Cubs swept again in first round, lose 3-1 to Dodgers A defining role Resilient Brewers get back in series Beckett's good to go for Red Sox Emotional rescue for Rays' Garza
Tampa Bay takes 2-0 lead over White Sox Talking the talk Drew-good Red Sox take 2-0 series lead Phils look for Moyer of the same Rays' Baldelli back with passion Kazmir settles the issue Get Cubs, Sox alerts, scores on your phone
Dodgers crush Cubs 10-3 Its liftoff for Longoria An 0-2 hole reminds Torre of his 2001 Yanks Cubs, White Sox drop the ball. Will they recover? Angels' job: Just forget about it Rest assured that Phils are in control Rays have gotten used to Longoria's heroics Rays have gotten used to Longoria's heroics
Cubs left with Loney feeling White Sox together forever Crawford coming back for rested Rays Angels' defeat has a familiar ring Loney's slam sucks life out of Wrigley faithful Phillies hang on
Sox play-in it just right Pressure packed Pairing pits longtime friends again Fans have high hopes after White Sox salvage season Blagojevich: I'm the Piniella of politics Angry Davis finally lowers boom on Kiffin Sox' AL Central crown is respectfully theirs Phils' hitters eye redemption Cubs, Sox Playoff Schedule
A 'common' theory All tied -- and tide has turned Twins opt to go with Blackburn Brewers tab Gallardo to start Game 1 Cliff Lee, Brad Lidge win comeback player awards
No making up, just a makeup for Sox Dodgers bigger, better Brewers survive wild ride After blanking Royals, it's wait and see for Twins Lincecum dominates playoff-bound Dodgers Final game at Shea can't keep Mets alive Mussina achieves 20 victories for 1st time
Ajar-ing loss for White Sox Two for the foe These aren't the same old Rays Minnesota keeps the door open Phillies clinch; Mets get even This day in Cubs history
Pressure-cooked again White Sox lose again, remain half-game behind Twins Lilly, Cubs down Brewers 7-3 Lou puts his faith in 'Z' Surging Royals hurt Twins' playoff chances Zambrano to get playoff tuneup Sunday AL HIGHLIGHTS: Rays claim title after Red Sox loss Phils, Manuel can taste clincher The meaning is clear Twins' ace falls flat vs. Royals
Garko's grand slam spurs Indians to win over Sox Sox fall to Twins in hex-tras Weeks homers to lift Brewers past Cubs Cubs' playoff rotation set 2 big of a question for Cubs Brewers to start Sheets on Saturday Carl Crawford activated from disabled list by Rays Rays' party on hold NL HIGHLIGHTS: Brewers keep pace with Mets Cubs recap
With 'Z' struggling, Piniella eyes Dempster for Game 1 Mets, Phillies win Wild Card coin flip White Sox lead shrinks AL HIGHLIGHTS: Rays win, but division title party delayed NL HIGHLIGHTS: Brewers pull even for wild card
White Sox take strike one No easy outs for Cubs AL ROUNDUP: Red Sox wrap up berth in playoffs NL ROUNDUP: Fielder HR lifts Brewers Daley to Wrigley bars: Curb booze sales or go dry
Cubs clinch home-field edge Storm brewing in Twin Cities City may curb booze sales near Wrigley Rays boost lead in East Phillies keep on rolling Got Cubs, Sox playoff tickets?
A.J., Sox ready to reverse fortunes in Minnesota Cubs aren't taking week off Twins ready for White Sox' visit Mets lose ground in East, wild-card races Yankee Stadium going, going, gone
White Sox blank Royals 3-0 Dempster gets 17th win as Cubs win Punchless Sox suffer bad loss Cubs provide magical summer Ginnetti: What I'll remember Wittenmyer: What I'll remember Rays clinch playoff berth, keep Twins off Sox' backs Brewers sink to a new low Cubs' middle relief becomes focal point Phillies loom as biggest threat Yankees down, Stadium bows out Cubs recap This day in Cubs history Sox recap
Ramirez has grand old time Fate evens the score with 'Z' Piniella tired of World Series talk White Sox fall to Royals 5-2 Red Sox win, could clinch wild-card berth today Murphy's pinch double vaults Mets back into first Sox recap Cubs recap Rays 11, Twins 1: Starter fails Twins once again Reds 11, Brewers 2:Reds' long balls make short work of Brewers Cubs clinch, win NL Central title
Ramirez, Wise power White Sox past Royals, 9-4 Cardinals jump on Zambrano early in 12-6 victory Sox' glass is half full Bubbly? Try Soto pop Brewers lose, Cubs' magic number down to 1 Twins rally past Rays, Longoria Mets roll over Nats; Phils win
Hey, dud: Pen fails again Brewers snap Cubs' five-game win streak AL HIGHLIGHTS: Twins deny Lee but can't prevent sweep by Indians NL HIGHLIGHTS: Phillies, Howard stay hot with sixth straight victory Reinsdorf: Sox-Cubs Series would be 'fabulous'
Cubs homing in Konerko, Sox on the mend Cubs, White Sox release 2009 schedules Martinez's homer sinks Twins in 11th Marlins finish Oswalt's scoreless streak Yost still true to Brew Crew
Yost has no hard feelings toward Brewers AL HIGHLIGHTS: Indians shut down Twins NL HIGHLIGHTS: Nats' Lannan stifles faltering Mets Brewers sack Yost in last-ditch effort
Brewers fire manager Ned Yost Zambrano fires MLB's first no-hitter at 'neutral' site Sox have a grand time Liz, long ball help O's top Twins Phils sweep Brewers, tie for wild-card lead
Players heal as games pile up Calm amid the storm Stone back in picture as Hawk's TV partner Rodriguez breaks Thigpen's record Phils a sweep away from catching fading Brewers Bats boom, Twins in virtual tie at top Delgado jeers now 'MVP' cheers Fixing Yanks up to Hank
Cubs and Astros will play in Milwaukee Ozzie attempting to fix bridge to nowhere Rest may be best for Lee Stone to team up with Harrelson in 2009 Tigers-White Sox rained out again Red Sox roll with Wakefield's 8 shutout innings Baseball roundup: Red Sox roll with Wakefield's 8 shutout innings
Harden victorious in return White Sox would host Minnesota in tiebreaker Guillen's cats go clawless Tigers' reliever has fracture in shoulder AL ROUNDUP: Twins fall; Rodriguez notches save No. 57 NL ROUNDUP: Phillies overpower Sheets, Brewers
White Sox' win features small ball, but big dreams Cubs get bumped up as Lilly pitches, hits his way to win Twins' pen blows another one; Royals win in 10 Slowey, Twins stay right on Sox' heels Brewers avert sweep by rallying past Reds Batting down metal bats? Angels 1st team to reach playoffs
Another loss: Piniella erupts Kapler hurt in Brewers' victory 3-down territory Twins win, close in on first place Stumbling Brewers fall in 11th Ald. wants to ban metal baseball bats
Red Sox blank Rays, set MLB sellout mark
Former Sox manager Gutteridge dies Not a total loss for Sox Cubs not panicking -- yet Mets' Wagner out through 2009 season Cubs recap Twins fail to gain on Sox Young close to perfection Sox recap This day in Cubs history Unhappy endings