Oct. 15, 2003: The Night Chicago North Side Baseball Died (And A Recipe How To Revive It!)

While Oct. 14, 2003 is a date celebrated in many baseball circles (see: Cardinals, White Sox fans), it was really one day later that marks the beginning of the end of the Dusty Baker Era.

Kerry Wood admitted he choked on the mound as he allowed seven runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.2 innings in the Game 7 loss.  It happened one night after Mark Prior's infamous collapse that was aided by a fan's hands, a shortstop whose hands disappeared and a manager who made talented young throwing arms disappear.

And at this point, I'm so glad I didn't have Twitter, Facebook or YouTube at my disposal.  It would have been ugly.

So, how do the Cubs get back to within five outs of their first pennant since 1945?

Someone needs to keep an eye on Brad Lidge

Maybe I'm the only person who remembers the last time Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge was in the clinching game of the NLCS.

It was Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS and last I checked St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols hit a home run at Minute Maid Park that still hasn't landed.

Three years later, Lidge is lights-out once again and his team is one win from clinching the NL Pennant.

But with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, can Lidge be trusted?

Will he have visions of Pujols dancing through his head?

I guess we find out tonight.

Good night from Carbondale.