Desert Cubs There was a rally held downtown here on Monday to celebrate the Cubs qualification for the baseball play-off's, slightly premature I would say. But in what was one of the closest ever finishes to the American League season, Chicago Cubs were joined by the Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies and the Cubs first round opponents the Arizona Diamondbacks from Phoenix. After 162 games it is incredible to think that the 3 divisions all came down to the last weekend.

From the American League the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and the LA Angels make up the octet, no place for my New York friend's Mets. Cubs qualified from conceivably the weakest division but it no longer matters, nor does it matter that they have the worst record of any playoff-bound team in 2007. None of it matters, because as soon as the 162nd and final regular game is played, all statistical categories go back to zero.

What doesn't reset however, is the wave of momentum the Cubs will triumphantly ride into the Arizona desert. While the Cubbies suffered a 2-4 record against the D-Backs this season, things are looking much better for them than they are for their opposition, and most MLB analysts are picking them to take the series.

The first of a best of five series starts tomorrow night 9pm Chicago time and I will keep you up to date on the right hand side of the page.  ¶ 17:47