After a week of playing meaningless games for themselves and trotting out makeshift lineups, the Cubs are ready for some playoff action.
"This has been a unique situation for me as a manager and probably as unique a situation for any manager," Lou Piniella said Sunday. "You clinch a week before, and you're playing two teams that are directly involved in postseason. I've never been involved in something like this. "Usually, you're playing teams that have been eliminated, and you can basically do what you want without anybody scrutinizing it. But it so happens that we played the Mets. It so happens that we're playing Milwaukee at the end of the year."
Even though the Cubs have rested their regulars at times in the past week, Piniella said he's "put a little more attention" into otherwise meaningless games for his team.
Against CC Sabathia and the Brewers on Sunday, Piniella started left fielder Alfonso Soriano, first baseman Derrek Lee, third baseman Aramis Ramirez and shortstop Ryan Theriot. The Cubs finished with a 3-4 against the Mets and Brewers after clinching the division title.
BREWERS 3, CUBS 1: RHP Bob Howry gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Braun in the bottom of the eighth, breaking a 1-1 tie. The Cubs used seven pitchers, including RHP Angel Guzman to start. Guzman worked two scoreless innings, giving up one hit. The Cubs had four hits, two singles by SS Ryan Theriot and two singles by 3B Aramis Ramirez. The Cubs finished the season 97-64.
