Though it became apparent pretty quickly that the Dodgers were the better team this weak, if only for this week, I am still shocked that any team managed by Lou Piniella couldn’t show more fight than these Cubs showed.  I so disagreed with Bill Plaschke a few days ago about the Dodgers first win seeming ‘magical’ but right now it seems like it might be.  I have to like the Dodgers over the Phiilies (or the Brewers, just in case).   The funny thing about this series, on a personal note, is that the team the Cubs lost to is managed by Joe Torre.  My friend Brian has long exhorted Joe Torre for becoming so beloved by New Yorkers for managing a team to four World Series victories with an enormous payroll, and then for not making it out of the first round.  He has called Torre every inept name in the book.  Did I mention that Brian is from Chicago and a life-long Cubs fan? On the Brian E. stage, no better story line could have been written– though I think Crazy Brian would have preferred that the Cubs won.  Still, after years of harping on Torre, guess who will still be playing golf next week?  The Manager of the Cubs, Lou Piniella.  So if there is a curse, its not a curse on the Cubs.  They just didn’t play well.  There was no black cat, no Bartman, no goat.  And with Roger Rubin writing stories about a Dodger/Rays World Series, with Joe Torre and Rays Special Advisor Don Zimmer playing on while the Yankees are home, one might think of the Curse that George Built.  But a look at how the Dodgers played down the stretch.  A look at how Joe Torre sorted out the mess of injuries, and the veteran vs. rookie feuds, and you find he might know something about managing. No, there isn’t a curse on the Cubs. Nor should the Dodgers sweep be shocking to anyone. If Cubs fans though need someone to blame, perhaps it is my friend Brian, who incited the gods of irony to show the weaknesses of the Cubs.

Oh, remember a couple of weeks ago, when the Mets were still a possible opponent for the Cubs in the first round? Well, Phil Rogers suggested the Dodgers would be an easier opponent in the first round.  If Rogers was right, imagine what the Mets would have done! Good job there Phil.

Lastly, its just chance that puts the photo of the Cubs at spring training at the top of the page today. But irony is a wonderful thing.