Here's the plan: get swept by the worst team in the National League, but only lose one game to the Brewers because Milwaukee is going to go make five errors in one game anyway.

Thankfully, there are just three games left. The Cubs need to win just one, or have the Brewers lose just one, to assure themselves of a tie for the division. And they have their three best pitchers lined up for the Cincinnati Reds: Zambrano, Hill, and then Lilly on Sunday, if needed. The Reds, meanwhile, will give the Cubs two of their best, with Bronson Arroyo on Friday and Aaron Harang on Saturday. It would be best if the Cubs just won on Friday and Saturday and concluded the matter.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of Steve Trachsel has been a disaster. If it is any consolation (it's not), Rocky Cherry has been even worse for the Baltimore Orioles.

Speaking of the Orioles, they are 68-91 on the year. They have given 813 plate appearances to Corey Patterson, Paul Bako, Freddie Bynum, and Scott Moore and 199 innings pitched to Trachsel, Jon Leicester, Cherry, and Scott Williamson. Glad to see the Cubs could be of service.